Whether you are cruising from Port Everglades or PortMiami, there is no shortage of hotels in South Florida to consider, so I decided to try out the Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale so that I could be near one of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale.
In my opinion, a hotel super closer to the port your ship sails from does not matter much since you will have to take some form of transportation to get there. Moreover, I would rather be close to something fun to do near my hotel that I can walk to the night before the cruise.
The Hyatt Centric brand is a selection of hotels located near popular destinations. The idea is these full-service hotels are close enough to the action, and Los Olas Boulevard is a Mecca of shopping, dining, and nightlife.
You will find boutiques, galleries, specialty stores, and a lot of dining. It is the perfect spot for the night before your cruise when you want to take in an evening that is easily walkable.
The Hyatt hotel is about 5 blocks or so from where the Los Olas experience begins, so it is about a 5 minute walk from the entrance to the hotel.
The hotel is right in the middle of downtown Fort Lauderdale, surrounded by office buildings, restaurants and more.
Amenities include a polished restaurant/cocktail lounge and a 24-hour fitness center, plus a rooftop pool with a bar. Breakfast and parking are available.
The hotel is brand new, having opened in 2020 and it still looks like the ribbon cutting ceremony was last week.
For this stay, I booked a King Bed Skyline room. In addition to the proximity to everything to do in Los Olas, rooms offer views of Fort Lauderdale to enjoy.
The room is what Hyatt calls "minimalist", and features Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and mini fridges, as well a coffeemaker.
It makes good use of the space offered, and the shower is quite large.
For two people, there is more than enough room. Staying in this hotel is kind of like booking an inside stateroom: you are mostly using it to sleep and shower, because otherwise you will be out and about.
Being a new hotel, everything was clean and I loved there are small touches you find in newer hotels, such as lots of plugs near both sides of the bed, as well as a USB plug.
Getting in and out of the hotel was a snap, and I really enjoyed being able to explore Los Olas Boulevard for a bit without needing to take a taxi.
My rate was $230 for the night (before taxes and fees), so it is not the cheapest hotel in Fort Lauderdale, but hardly on the expensive side either.
- Driving time to Port Everglades: 15 minutes with traffic (4 miles)
- Driving time to PortMiami: 45 minutes with traffic (29 miles)
If you want a clean and well-appointed hotel that is near plenty of shopping and dining that you can easily walk to, the Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale is a great choice.
