South Florida can be amazing for family vacations. Here is our guide to the best family hotels in Fort Lauderdale.
Pelican Grand Beach Resort
The Pelican Grand Beach Resort offers style and class in this Victorian high-rise beachfront hotel. I’ve mentioned elsewhere on Suites and Lobbies that “the Pelican fulfills a nostalgic Floridian vacation that harkens back to the heydays of early Atlantic coast vacations.” This is absolutely true and it may be a way to share some of those memories with a new generation.
Outdoor space is paramount at the Pelican. Wooden decks with rocking chairs and balconies in guest rooms bring in the fresh breeze and Floridian sunshine. We love the style that blends modern and classic notes in a family-friendly environment. Sea tones, white linens, and light colors keep rooms feeling fresh and open. A good example of the blended style is modern bathrooms with dual sprayers and rainfall showerheads with SMEG minifridges.
The Pelican made Condé Nast’s #20 resorts in Florida in 2020 and 2021.
Kids and parents alike will enjoy the hotel’s soda fountain. Upscale dining and sunset views for more formal evenings are available.
The Pelican offers a spa and fitness center, business facilities, and meeting space. Additionally, the hotel has a rare 500 feet of private beach space and a pool. Kids will be busy in the hotel’s lazy river and family pools are a great break from the sea.
Rates begin in the low $300s for a standard room, and $100 more for an ocean view suite.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
We covered the twin property to the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, with a similar name (Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina) in our post regarding luxury properties in Fort Lauderdale.
The two properties share more than similar names. Here are just some of the amenities:
- Business center
- Fitness center
- Tanning decks
- Swimming pools (several)
- Hot tubs
- Meeting facilities and event space
- Nail salon
- Several restaurants and bars
- Spa
- Prime beach space
The Hilton Fort Lauderdale has recently remodeled guest rooms, many of which feature balconies with at least a partial if not full ocean view. The suites on the end of each floor facing the sea have unimpeded views.
Families really couldn’t choose a more complete resort setting for a vacation to South Florida.
The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is available for earning or redeeming Honors. In this writer’s opinion, it’s not a good value for a points redemption at 70,000/night. For more information about the Hilton Honors program, check out our post here which covers it comprehensively.
Standard rooms start at $300/night, suites about $100 more.
Lago Mar Beach Resort
Our top pick in the category of Best Family Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
Families searching for luxury accommodations in the Fort Lauderdale area will love the Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club. The property is beachfront and has plenty to keep kids entertained and their parents happy.
Outdoor games (like beach chess), a variety of pools, tennis courts, a children’s playground, and a fitness center are just a handful of the reasons Lago Mar is so popular with families. The hotel is beachfront and offers many beach amenities. The resort is famous as a wedding destination and also has meeting space available.
The property is home to a European spa with treatments for discerning guests.
Standard rooms start at just $255/nightly; small suites run about $300/night.
*It’s important to note that Lago Mar Resort & Club is not the same as Mar-a-Lago, the Donald Trump-owned property further up the coast near West Palm Beach, Florida.
Hotel Dello Fort Lauderdale
Families on a budget love Hotel Dello Fort Lauderdale. This Hilton-affiliated (Tapestry) hotel gives the quality the company delivers across its brands, with the value families need. Spacious rooms (some very large) give the extra room for families that need more space than business travelers or couples.
Many rooms have ocean views which invite guests to soak up the sun and enjoy the sights of nearby North Beach. The property offers plenty of beach toys for families to enjoy the nearby waves (though the property is not waterfront.) For those that like looking at the beach but not swimming in the ocean, Dello also offers a swimming pool.
The hotel offers all of the amenities expected of a major hotel chain. There is a business center, fitness center, and a small takeaway convenience store. An updated mid-century modern bar and restaurant welcomes guests in the lobby.
The Hotel Dello Fort Lauderdale is available for earning or redeeming Honors points from about 30,000 Honors points per night. For more information about the Hilton Honors program, check out our post here which provides extensive information on the program.
Standard rooms start just above $100/night.
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
We saved the best for last, the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. Impeccably designed, beachfront, yet family-friendly, this Marriott has just about everything a family could want.
The property features fresh and modern decor with spacious guest rooms, sea views, and walk-in glass showers. For families with smaller children, rooms with bathtubs are available. Plush bedding, flat-screen TVs with plenty of entertainment, and a desk for remote working parents are some of the reasons that the Marriott Harbor is a favorite.
Above all else, the facilities of the property are second to none. A modern fitness center (with spin classes), on-site restaurants, and a business center are available to suit any traveler’s need. A massive swimming pool with deck chairs and service keeps guests relaxed and sunkissed.
The sandy beach is just steps from the hotel, most rooms have an ocean view that welcomes the sunrise.
The hotel is part of Marriott International. Guests who participate in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program will have an opportunity to earn and redeem Bonvoy points for their stay. For more information about the Marriott Bonvoy program, check out this comprehensive post.
Standard rooms start in the high $300s, suites begin in the mid $500s.
