The Tel Hollywood Beach

I’ve spent years traveling around South Florida as an attorney, so I’m particular about where I stay. The Tel in Fort Lauderdale has been an excellent find. For a very reasonable nightly rate, it’s the best value I’ve found in the area, and I’d recommend it for business or vacation. The apartment-style suites feel comfortable and roomy, and they’re consistently spotless. The beds are especially good. You can get to the beach, high-end shopping, Las Olas, and Downtown easily. The management is another strong point: the staff and manager are always available and go out of their way to make the stay a good one.

The location is great, close enough to throw a rock to the beach, and there isn’t much nearby to make noise. The off-street parking was handy, and the walk-in closet would be great for staying several nights. The TV was the right size and had the apps I needed. This place looks like it’s been renovated recently. Compared with older hotels, you avoid thin ceilings and walls, bad pillows, and bad Wi-Fi. There’s no manager on site, so you have to call. The woman I spoke with was fabulous and walked me through everything, all the way into the room. My Wi-Fi was just enough to stream, with a little buffering every few minutes. I don’t know how it would be if other rooms were occupied, but I’d worry that more people on the network might make it insufficient. I had a few suggestions for the management, since it seems newly built and I’d like them to succeed. The shower pressure was too low to use the horizontal spray settings, especially when switching from the downward spray. There was plenty of hot water in the shower, but the sink never got warmer than barely warm, even after I let it run much longer than I wanted to, so I couldn’t shave in the morning. The bathroom light switch also turns on the vanity lights, which shine directly toward the bed at night. A separate switch for the bathroom would help. There was no price menu for the drinks and snacks, so I didn’t use them because I couldn’t tell whether I’d be charged $5 or $10. The window above the bed faces east, so the room gets bright around 5:30 a.m. I like the natural light because it makes the room feel more open, but that’s early. Finally, there’s a significant gap under the door. A door sweep and weather stripping around the edges could help with the light and noise from other guests.

For me, The Tel gets a 10 out of 10. It’s clean and modern, with fun decor, smart TVs, comfortable beds, a microwave, and a mini fridge. It’s steps from the beach and there are no parking fees. They also have reasonably priced drinks and snacks, a balcony, and a choice of showerheads, including handheld ones.

We stayed a week in #201 and enjoyed having coffee and breakfast on the ocean-view balcony every day. The beach is truly close by. The king bed was very comfortable, and the bathroom had double sinks and a nice shower. Towels and linens were very nice, and they can provide beach towels too. There was lots of storage for clothes and suitcases, plus a small kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave, sink, toaster, and K-Cup coffee maker. They provided K-Cups as well. The cleaning staff were friendly and helpful. Don’t hesitate to stay here!