AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills / Sunrise

The location made it easy to get to Amerant Bank Arena for hockey, and the mall is right beside the hotel. There are plenty of places to eat nearby, and Walmart is only about a five-minute walk away. We were able to check in a little early, which was a nice start. The room was spacious, with a really comfortable bed, a fridge, and plenty of storage. The bathroom was great for showering and getting ready. I’d recommend staying here in Sunrise.

I rarely leave a review this serious, but what happened during my two-day vacation stay was frightening and unacceptable. After arriving late the night before, I called the front desk in the morning to extend my reservation. They clearly told me it was approved, and I received a confirmation email, so I went back to sleep. Then someone started pounding on my door so hard and persistently that I thought there was an emergency, or that I was in trouble. They opened the door themselves and told me my time had run out and I had to check out. I calmly explained that my extension had already been approved, but the staff member walked away without apologizing or explaining anything. I thought it was settled and went back to bed. Another male staff member then tried to enter my room while I was completely undressed. He came in anyway and insisted I go downstairs right away to pay because they supposedly didn’t have my card on file, even though I had already provided it for incidentals. When I told him I wasn’t dressed, he gave me five minutes to come downstairs. I felt harassed, unsafe, and completely disrespected. My privacy was violated, and my personal security was compromised. This went beyond a simple misunderstanding. It was a serious failure of professionalism and basic decency. I called the front desk to escalate the issue and speak with a manager, but I was brushed off. I was told the manager wasn’t available, and the staff member suggested I had been properly warned and needed to pay, as if I were trying to avoid the bill. That assumption was offensive. No one apologized. I was treated with hostility and suspicion and effectively pushed out, left scrambling to find somewhere else to stay without dignity or respect. No guest should feel threatened or humiliated in a place meant to offer comfort and security. This was an awful, frightening experience. Solo female travelers, please don’t stay here.

Being right next to Sawgrass Mills was very convenient for outlet shopping, and the free parking was a plus. Elizabeth, who I think was a supervisor, was especially helpful. She canceled and rebooked our room by phone, arranged a complimentary upgrade as a Gold Elite member, and guaranteed late checkout. Kelly also helped us add an extra day while keeping us in the same room. Both made things easy. The hotel was decent otherwise, but it was disappointing that some basics like Q-tips, robes, and slippers weren’t available. Housekeeping also tended to arrive late in the afternoon, usually after 2 pm.

We booked here very late at night at the last minute after our previous hotel fell short, and what a relief it was. The lobby looked beautiful, the whole place was stunning and extremely clean, and the staff were genuinely welcoming and friendly. I’d definitely come back.