"So, can you give us the wide-angle view of this place? Where is it, and what's it like?Though it’s home to more than 200 rooms and suites, there’s something about Lago Mar that makes it feel rather intimate. Part of that is likely due to its secluded location in Fort Lauderdale’s tony Harbor Beach neighborhood, which is close to all the action—the city’s downtown Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District is just a 10-minute car ride away—but still far enough away from all the bustle to offer you some peace and quiet. Located on its own private 500-foot stretch of pristine beachfront, the resort exudes an old-school tropical style that’s both sophisticated and comfortable.
Well, it sounds lovely. Who else is staying here?Let me preface this by saying that there are plenty of quiet nooks to be found for you and your significant other, if you want to feel like you have the place to yourself—but, the resort is popular with young families who appreciate its beachfront location as well as its slew of unique, family-friendly amenities including a mini golf course, basketball, and volleyball courts, ping pong and foosball, plus a children’s playground right on the beach. So, couples looking for a romantic getaway shouldn’t count the resort out—there are enough activities to keep the kids busy and tired. We even met a handful of honeymooners on our last trip.
Got it—good for kids, good for couples. Can you tell us about check-in?For more than 50 years, the resort has been run by the same family—and hospitality is clearly in their DNA. The check-in process was quick and painless—better, even, than we expected. (We arrived several hours ahead of the appointed check-in time, just to drop our bags off, and were thrilled to learn that they had a room ready for us.)
Oh, we love it when that happens. Now, onto the good stuff: Tell us about your room.Because our trip was a bit of a working vacation, we opted for an Executive Suite, which is made up of one bedroom, a living room with a sofa bed, and a balcony—ensuring that my tap-tap-tapping on a keyboard into the wee hours of the morning wouldn’t interfere with my spouse’s sleep. Though the rooms are fully equipped with plenty of modern amenities, the décor channels an Old Florida tropical style that marries a traditional sensibility with state-of-the-art amenities. The neutral palette mixes nicely with the rooms’ custom wood and rattan furnishings. It’s elegant without being flashy, which works for the property—especially if you opted for an oceanfront room (which is worth the splurge), as the view is the real star.
Also, the rooms embrace technology, but don’t go over the top with it. The complimentary Wi-Fi was as high-speed as they promised (which isn’t always the case with a beachfront property—especially one with hundreds of rooms), and iPod docks are always a nice touch.
And splurge, we will! You mentioned the WiFi—is there anything else we should know about in advance, or any little extras we can expect?The only thing worse than Wi-Fi you have to pay for is free Wi-Fi with a weak signal. Fortunately, Lago Mar doesn’t have that problem. I spent a few hours each day online getting work done and didn’t experience a single hiccup with my connection. In addition to a Keurig coffeemaker, each room comes with a microwave oven—which is a great little bonus if your eyes are often bigger than your stomach when you’re dining out (read: me). The higher up you go with your room type, the more extras you’ll find; Executive Suites had a wet bar and refrigerator, while the Deluxe Suites have all that plus a miniature Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer, a convection microwave oven, and a double-burner cooktop. If you’re traveling with kids, these can be a lifesaver.
Sounds like they have all the bells and whistles. Now, how about room service, and the dining options, in general? What can we expect?With four restaurants and two bars, it would be easy to spend a few days at Lago Mar and never leave the property. And why should you? For breakfast, the casual Palm Dining Garden Room offers a hearty start to the day with a well-stocked breakfast buffet (which costs an extra $17.95 per person per day) and à la carte lunch options. The pool area’s Ocean Grill is the perfect place to grab a quick sandwich or burger in the midst of your sunbathing, while the Soda Shop—a sort of hybrid ice cream shop, coffee bar, deli, bakery, and wine and cheese shop—is always buzzing with activity. When the weather allows for it, the pool’s Promenade Bar offers a nice selection of light bites and drinks (and is so close to the pool itself that you can literally sip on a cocktail while your kid splashes around). Given the resort’s throwback feel, ordering up a frozen drink—be it a daiquiri, a piña colada, or a Miami Vice (which is one half piña colada, one half strawberry daiquiri)—just feels natural. When the sun sets, you’ll want to hit up Wine Cellar Lounge for a pre-dinner glass of vino; there’s always a featured selection or two, plus a few sparkling splits and more than 20 varietals by the glass. Dinner at Acquario—where executive chef Phillip Damien Kahn and his team spend each day sourcing fresh and often local ingredients, then devising a menu around what looks good—is a must. Naturally, seafood is one of the menu’s stars, but it’s served up in ways you might not expect (like a plantain-crusted snapper). If you’re ready to tuck in and try a little bit of everything, opt for the three-course (which is a steal at less than $40 per person). In keeping with the resort’s family-friendly mantra, there’s also a kid’s menu, so everyone will be happy.
How was the service? Was there any staff member in particular who impressed you?Truth be told, I can be a bit of a lazy traveler; so if I’m at a hotel that offers a range of culinary options, I’ll often just stay put to try them all, which is exactly what we did here. We ended up dining at Acquario twice, and were waited on by the same server both times. She remembered key details about our first meal and specific dietary considerations, and took it upon herself to suggest some plates on our behalf. We welcomed the suggestions, and were thrilled with her choices.
Any other services or features you want to shout out? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.Though many would consider Lago Mar a grande dame of a property—and rightfully so—it’s hard to ignore the fun vibe that permeates every corner of the hotel’s common spaces. Whether it’s a giant (playable) chessboard or the regular games of shuffleboard, there’s always something going on and someone encouraging you to join in (if it’s not a hotel employee, it might be a fellow hotel guest). The best thing you can do is jump right in and enjoy the atmosphere.
Perfect! So, bottom line: worth it, and why?Definitely. The hotel is well-priced, especially for the amount of space that you get, and it offers so much to do for every type of guest—group games, great restaurants, a fabulous wine bar, a heavenly spa, a private beach, a gorgeous lagoon pool area, live entertainment, tennis courts and a range of other sports—that there are very few reasons to venture beyond the resort at all." - Jennifer M. Wood
