Sometimes our winters in New York can seem never ending and it is easy to go a bit stir crazy. One cold winter day we decided that we needed some sunshine and, at the last minute, decided to get away for the weekend. Here is how we ended up at Margaritaville in Hollywood Beach!

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We didn’t want to put too much thought into where to go and a family member had recently recommended Margaritaville in Hollywood Beach, Florida. So, we booked tickets and we were off!

Margaritaville Resort

We flew into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and then made the short, 20-minute drive to the hotel. Luckily, there is a parking garage attached to the hotel which has an elevator that brings you right to the lobby. Parking is $30 per night for self park and $35 per night for valet.

Check-in was quick and easy and we made our way to our room within 20 minutes of arriving at the hotel. The lobby is bright and beachy and will immediately put you in vacation mode.

For more information on this resort, click here!

This resort was built in 2015 and has 349 guest rooms, including multi-bedroom suites for families. You’ll find two large pool areas at ground level and an adults only pool located on the 11th floor.

The resort was well taken care of and we didn’t see any areas in need of repair or updating. The grounds, especially by the pool areas made you feel like you were in the Caribbean!

The resort also has a spa, fitness center, surfing simulator, cabana rentals, a kids club and even water sport rentals. There is so much to do here, you could spend your entire trip right at the resort and never have to leave!

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Another great amenity – the laundry room. Especially having kids that are in and out of the pool and ocean, it’s great to be able to throw in a load of laundry and be back to having clean clothes for everyone.

Resort Fee

The resort has a mandatory $35 per night Daily Resort Fee. This fee includes two bottles of water per day, the use of beach chairs and umbrella, WiFi and complimentary bike rentals. While not all Fort Lauderdale hotels have mandatory resort fees, most of the major resorts require them.

Make sure to figure this amount into your vacation budget as it can end up being a considerable amount depending on the length of your stay!

It’s just a short walk across the boardwalk before you are enjoying your toes in the sand with a cocktail in hand.

Check out my post The Best Activities in Fort Lauderdale for Kids!

The Rooms at Margaritaville

We stayed in a Sunset Queen room and opted for the Intracoastal view to save a little money on this trip. Even without the ocean view, we weren’t disappointed. We enjoyed the sunsets from our balcony each evening and saw dolphins swimming in the Intracoastal water way.

I really enjoyed the décor in the rooms. The rooms are bright, clean and embrace the beachy feel. We had plenty of room and the balcony was a great place to relax and read a book!

The Margaritaville Restaurants

Landshark Bar & Grill

This restaurant is on a deck overlooking the ocean and the pool area. The food was fresh and delicious. They also have live music on weekends.

5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill

Located on the Intracoastal waterway, this bar and restaurant is a great place to watch dolphins swimming while you have a bite to eat and enjoy a tropical cocktail.

If you head over here in the evening, you can watch the sunset while enjoying music and lounging around the fire pit. At this location you can also rent a kayak or paddleboard or hop on the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi.

Floridays Airstream Café

Located on the boardwalk, this retro food truck serves tacos and taco bowls that are a perfect snack to grab while you are hanging out on the beach.

Margaritaville Coffee Shop

This coffee shop is located in the lobby of the hotel. It’s a great place to pick up coffee and breakfast sandwich to enjoy by the pool in the morning.

JWB Prime Steak and Seafood

Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to try this restaurant out. The menu includes steak, seafood, a raw bar and sushi options. I can’t wait to try this restaurant out the next time we are there!

Margaritaville

Their namesake restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. They offer an extensive menu and kids love their activities, décor and fun seating options.

Lone Palm Beach Bar

Due to it’s location on the Boardwalk, this bar & restaurant is accessible to the public on one side and the hotel guests on the pool side. We ordered food to eat poolside which was surprisingly good even though it was just a burger and chicken tenders.

Unfortunately, the poolside service was terrible and we had to wait a significant amount of time to get drinks when we went to the bar.

Overall Thoughts

I have to admit, Margaritaville wasn’t a hotel that I would typically choose for a vacation but this quick trip changed my mind. If you are looking for an easy getaway, give Margaritaville in Hollywood Beach a try!

The bright décor and laid back vibe will make you feel like you are on a vacation in the Caribbean. Soak up some sun and enjoy a margarita or two!