The Dalmar, Fort Lauderdale, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

We came for a wedding and enjoyed the very nice, clean hotel, the breathtaking view, and high-quality service. The gym was well equipped, the pool was great for everyone, and the rooftop bar was worth stopping at for a few drinks. We got conflicting information about whether the $18 resort fee credit could be carried over to breakfast the next day. Kiara, the assistant manager, kindly let us use it.

Most of the staff were lovely and accommodating, doing their best in a subpar situation. Rachel, Sasha, and Gustavo deserve credit for that. But for the price, there are much better places to stay. I booked through the Amex Hotel collection expecting a relaxing two-day trip with my partner, and the luxury didn’t show in the details. Check-in was late even though it was past 4 p.m. Room 1604 had a shower that screamed and vibrated the whole room, and they said it couldn’t be repaired. There was still bathroom garbage after the late check-in cleaning. The elevators were nuts, often taking more than 10 minutes, and their inspections had expired in 2024. A wedding took over nearly every space, leaving our reservations feeling unimportant. As I write this, the vanity is banging against the wall while my partner puts on lotion because it isn’t fixed properly. Two bathroom lights are out, too. Maybe they’ll sort it out in a few years.

I appreciated Rachel, Sasha, and Gustavo for their hospitality and service during my stay. Still, my first visit to The Dalmar will probably be my last. I booked through the American Express Hotel Collection for a birthday, expecting a high-quality hotel and service, and things were mostly meeting expectations until dinner at The Sparrow. My girlfriend found the chicken skewers completely raw inside. Gustavo offered to have them remade and take them off the bill, but by then her confidence in The Dalmar and the mood for the evening had already suffered. My lobster fried rice and egg rolls were just okay. At checkout, I asked whether the hotel would comp the roughly $100 dinner bill after the raw chicken incident. Manager AJ swiftly declined.

We enjoyed our stay and made the best of it, though we found some things could be better. The beds were extremely comfortable. We couldn’t use the pool because of the weather, and I wish it were heated since the water was far too cold. The lobby bar and dining area were uncomfortably cold from the blasting AC, so bring a sweater. The waitresses, though, were very kind and attentive, and really brightened the experience. The front desk could use more warmth and guest engagement. A cold greeting is a rough start when you’ve come to relax, and some extra hospitality training would help. These seem like fixable issues, and we’d consider coming back if we get the chance.