SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Miramar

I was in Florida for a friend's wedding vow renewal and stayed here. The hotel sits between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, so getting to things in either place was somewhat convenient. There’s no room service, but the free breakfast and pool were nice. They also had Dips in the little store, which I liked.

I've been coming here for business for about a year, and this is long overdue: Patricia is still here, and she’s the sweetest. I’m a light sleeper, so she looks out for me at check-in and helps find the right room. Customer service is always good, but Patricia really stands out and makes my stays better. For a 2 star hotel, it’s quite nice, and sometimes you can’t beat the price. Breakfast could be a little better, but I don’t have many other complaints.

I showed up late Sunday night for a four-night reservation made three weeks earlier, only to hear from the front desk that it had been canceled and there were no rooms. The clerk’s solution was a nearby Hampton. I got no restitution. Later, when I asked another clerk why it happened and how to avoid it, she said I should call the day before next time. Not much help. I did complete the rest of my stay starting the next day because my co-workers were there, and that part was fine. The room and amenities were good. I can’t recommend the place based on this, but if you do stay, calling ahead might help you avoid losing your room.

Service, breakfast, pool, and cleanliness were excellent. The one thing that bothered me was the $10 nightly parking fee. This isn’t a downtown or crowded area, and the lot is huge, with lots of empty spaces in nearby buildings’ lots too, yet the hotel still charges for parking.