Sands Harbor Resort and Marina

I visited for the first time just before Memorial Day weekend and booked a 10-night stay. It was my first vacation since my mother recently passed away. The staff were kind, welcoming, and friendly. Raymond, Daniel, Brittany, Joe, and Rina at the front desk made sure everything went well. The views from both my room and the pool and bar area were great. The restaurant staff at Lola's were exceptional and worked hard to make sure guests enjoyed their stay. Lydia, the deck floor manager, Jacob, the bar manager, and everyone I met made my time there special: Renee, a sweetheart and hard worker, Steve, Jean, Larry, my fellow Knicks fan, Kelly, Mary, Haley, and Dimitri. The valet staff did too, especially Daniel. Thank you all! Most sincerely, Keith

We booked and paid for a Premier King room with a direct marina view. When we arrived, we were given a double queen room overlooking a rooftop, with only a side view of the marina. They said they were fully booked and could not provide the room we had reserved. What? So yes, it was disappointing. The location is great. The inside and outside areas, bars, and pool are nice and beautiful. I also liked the idea of a boxed breakfast 😋

I would describe this as a true three-star experience. The location is amazing, the views are beautiful, and the hotel has a cute boutique feel. However, service is lacking, and most of the staff we met were not especially helpful or friendly. The valet staff were the exception: they were very nice and took great care of our vehicle! Breakfast is a box of mostly packaged sugary items. There was coffee, but they ran out of cups and had no solution or anyone go get more, so we walked to a local place for breakfast instead. Only one elevator was working for all floors. The rooms are cute but could definitely use updating. If you want to sunbathe, get a chair outside in the morning, since the pool area is shared with the marina.

They must have given me the worst room. Water from the showerhead sprayed across the floor, so I had to get another room. I was charged resort fees, though I do not know what for. No food or drinks were included. The only thing was pool access, and the pool closes at 7 p.m. every day. I had to pay a daily parking rate, and valet was the only option. I had to ask for my keys to get things from my car. Eventually, I just kept my keys and did not return them. The building is as old as my great-grandmother's shoes. The vertical blinds were ancient, uneven, and had no control to open or close them. They pointed in different directions, and some were broken. The first room had a utility kitchen sink, but the second did not. The single-unit AC in the first room did not cool it. The place needs a major renovation; fresh paint will not be enough. I do not recommend staying at Sands Harbor and paying resort fees for a place with no amenities. The resort's vibe was like a motel. The only good thing was that it was within walking distance of Pompano Beach, which made the stay worthwhile.