Sky Islands Hotel

We decided not to stay at the Sky Islands Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, FL, after seeing the room's gross, unkept condition. The manager lives on the premises with his wife, and told us she would not clean our room during the stay. My wife was so upset by the state of the accommodations that she cried. When I called to ask for a refund, the manager wouldn't consider it, even though the hotel wasn't full. I'd paid a week in cash, which turned out to be a costly mistake. He then talked about going from near-homelessness to his current hotel job, as if that excused the condition of the place. When I said we weren't staying, he replied, "Good, we can rent the room to someone else." I took the issue to the owner, but still got no refund. The manager came across as a thief and an insufferable person, with poor communication skills and a self-absorbed attitude. This was a nightmare, and I strongly advise people to avoid the hotel. The conditions and disregard for guests made it a terrible choice.

The photos are misleading. We got their "best" room, and it was filthy. The oven and microwave were dirty, ants were all over the kitchen counter, and the towels were so worn that pieces came off while drying. I showed an owner what was going on. Management was polite and seemed nice, so I bought cleaning supplies and tried to give the place a chance. After two nights of being bitten, I left to stay somewhere else. I hadn't checked out because I planned to return, but when I did, the lock had been changed. I booked before reviews appeared, so that's my loss. The property needs a lot of work. The staff are polite, but the facilities need major improvement.

The owner and staff are friendly and easy to approach, and if you need something, just ask. Rooms are old-fashioned but clean, and the king bed in Room 118 is incredibly comfortable, like sleeping on a cloud. It's quiet and secure, with a beautiful pool that gets afternoon sun. The location is phenomenal, right in the middle of the action on A1A and within walking distance of the beach and amenities. This place is great. Come see for yourself.

The room was spacious, comfortable, and spotless. Some of the fixtures and decor are a little aged, but that gave the place a quirky, old-time beach-house feel, and the furnishings were comfortable. We chose Sky islands for its boutique character and affordable rate, with Fort Lauderdale beach only yards away. After a tough first leg of our trip, the staff's warm welcome, genuine smiles, and helpfulness made it easy to relax. We'd love to come back. Thanks Sky Island :)