Bayview Crown

Apartment #1 has a big patio where I worked and did yoga during the day. In the evenings, we grilled by the pool and enjoyed the December weather. We liked it enough to add two weeks to our stay. Restaurants, shops, parks and the water, both the Intracoastal and ocean, are a short walk away. The host was accommodating and made sure we had what we needed. I'd recommend the place to travelers passing through Ft. Lauderdale or anyone planning a longer stay. Thank you!

We loved living at Bayview Crowns. Our home was spacious, nicely decorated and had all the amenities, including TV, internet and cable. The pool and grill made it easy to cook and relax at home, and the nights were wonderfully peaceful. The location in Coral Ridge is beautiful, with mansions and gorgeous tropical plants around us. There's a lovely canal across the street where I liked to meditate. The Galleria and Publix are within walking distance, the beach, restaurants and clubs are a quick bike ride away, and Las Olas is a short drive. Faye, our host, is from Sweden and is such a sweet, friendly woman. We adore her and have really appreciated our time in this little sanctuary amid busy Fort Lauderdale.

The way our host handled things left me disappointed, disgusted and livid. I asked for basic issues to be dealt with, and it felt like a fight each time or nothing happened. I wanted to support a business with a positive review, but this was far from the hospitality we expected. The problems started as soon as we arrived: the unit didn't look properly cleaned, cabinets had roaches, and there were roaches outside by the pool too. Rats were also around the pool. The toilet kept clogging, along with the bathroom sink, tub and kitchen sink. The host blamed me, even though a toy car and feces came up through the tub. Nobody in our household owns or plays with a toy car, and neighbors renting from the same person had the same issue. The A/C failed more than once. My boyfriend and I had to spend two nights at the Marriott down the street because nobody could come fix it. Since we'd lost two days in the house, I asked to extend our contract by two days as compensation. The host said she couldn't, though she'd work on getting the A/C fixed. She told me I could leave and check out that day if I wanted a refund. Then she texted that she'd switch us to nightly rates instead of monthly, while telling our neighbors their monthly stays would be extended until November. It felt like she was trying to get rid of us, in the middle of a pandemic when it wasn't clear where we could go. The most disturbing part happened when friends came over for a quiet pool day and to use the grill, since things outside our home were restricted. My boyfriend, who is African American, and his African American friend were told to stop grilling immediately and leave. The host said we were breaking COVID-19 rules, but the limit was groups of more than 10 and there were eight of us, four adults and four children. I could see other people doing the same thing every night from my kitchen window without being bothered. It made me wonder why we were singled out, and made the discrimination feel shameful and unacceptable.

A lovely hostess and a convenient location close to everything made this place feel like a great choice. I'd recommend it for a perfect stay in Fort Lauderdale.