Residence Inn By Marriott Fort Lauderdale Plantation

We left the next morning and were very glad to be out of there. The first room we were assigned, a double suite with a shared kitchen and living area, had what looked like extensive black mold in the vents in all three rooms. There were blobs stuck to the vents, and the wall behind one was covered too. It looked like it had been growing for a long time. There was no way we were staying overnight, so we asked to move. The next room was a little better, with no black mold in the vents, but there was lots of different mold under the sink. I’ve stayed in many Marriott hotels over more than 30 years, and they’ve generally met decent or above average standards. This one didn’t feel that way. It seemed like a rundown hotel that had somehow become part of the Marriott family, and the cleanliness standards weren’t being met. I was disgusted by what we found. See photos.

The service was fine, and housekeeping did a pretty good job. The linens were clean, which matters. The rooms could use a little updating, but they’re good enough for the price. The location is excellent, close to pretty much everything, which is helpful when you’re far from home.

This feels like an overpriced motel pretending to be a nicer place. The rooms aren’t nice, and the beds are really uncomfortable. The vents are badly designed and blow straight on you. It’s also very loud.

I booked through a third-party site more than a month ahead for the F1 Grand Prix and paid in full, thinking everything was settled. On the day I was supposed to check in, Residence Inn Plantation called to say there were no rooms available. They offered no real fix and took no responsibility, leaving me scrambling at the last minute. I honestly suspect they gave away my room because I’d booked at a lower rate, which is completely unacceptable. I wouldn’t rely on this place for an important event. It was poorly managed, unreliable, and showed no customer care. Avoid it.