AC Hotel by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport

We really enjoyed walking around the open air mall right beside the hotel. It has restaurants, shops, a movie house, comedy club, and bars, and felt clean and safe even at 11 p.m. There are electric bikes to rent downstairs, a $20 per person shuttle to the cruise port, and a free FLL airport shuttle. After landing and collecting your bags, you call and wait at the pickup spot they specify for your flight, E or K, I believe. The shuttle runs back and forth. Breakfast is available for $18 per person. We arrived at FLL at 10 a.m. after a red-eye and had hardly slept. We expected to wait until 4 p.m., but they found us a room and checked us in without us even asking. The bed and several soft pillows were so comfortable we fell asleep for the afternoon. Our room was spacious, with a coffee machine, fridge and two chilled water bottles, ironing board, large TV, desk and swivel chair. The bathroom was spacious too. The handheld shower was a bit quirky: the water sometimes stopped and its holder wouldn’t stay firm, so we had to find a position for it. Luckily, there was also an overhead shower. The second-floor lobby has a modern, beautiful design, the gym is big and well equipped with free water bottles, and the staff were very friendly. The only other small downside was the shower setup. I was looking for somewhere close to food, and AC Marriott worked out great. If we're in the area again, we’ll plan to stay here.

The bed and pillows were comfortable, the shower was amazing, and everyone we spoke with was great. We had some nice conversations with the staff. The bar downstairs was a little pricey, and the bill had an 18% service charge, ouch. We booked at the last minute after our flight was canceled, and the military discount was a HUGE blessing. The room was just right for the four hours we had to freshen up before catching the next plane. We’d been told the free airport shuttle ran every hour. We arrived early, but they picked us up ahead of schedule. Thank you for that! I love AC hotels, they feel luxurious and are affordable.

The AC Hotel staff were friendly, courteous, and helpful, and we’d stay there again next time we’re at FLL. We spent one night before our flight the next morning. The room was very clean, with clean, comfortable beds and pillows, coffee and tea, and a fridge stocked with water. It was raining, so we couldn’t enjoy the pool, though it looked very nice. There were lots of restaurants within walking distance. We had dinner at Siroco, a Mediterranean restaurant, and the food was delicious with excellent service. The next morning we went to Crema Gourmet for breakfast. Their coffee was the best we’d had in a long time, and the menu was excellent.

The fitness center was amazing, and I liked the single picture in the room. The person who checked me in was very nice and helpful. But nobody asked how the stay went when I checked out, and the coffee pot in the lobby was empty at 9 a.m. There were only two tea bags for four people, too. What’s the point? The shower had black mold at the hinge, and the door made a loud crack every time it opened. Water flooded the floor whenever I got out, because there was a gap between the shower door and wall. There was also a strange porcelain square leaning at an angle against the toilet base. I’ve stayed at an AC Hotel in Grand Rapids. It was minimalist too, but had a cool, almost brutalist look. This one felt like a Fairfield Inn painted different colors. I only have Gold Status with Marriott properties, but I feel like I’ve stayed enough to know the ecosystem. Not impressed.