OverviewLocated on the beach and about a 15-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale's city centre, Ocean Sky Resort Fort Lauderdale is popular with travellers who prefer a resort-style, beach-front hotel with on-site dining, extended kitchen amenities and meeting/banquet facilities.
This smoke-free hotel has 225 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a balcony, an in-room safe, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a table with two chairs, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Standard rooms offer two double beds or one king bed, while rooms with a separate bedroom, a jetted tub, a living area with a sofabed and a kitchenette are also available.
Hotel amenities include a heated outdoor pool with a Tiki bar, a hot tub, a fitness centre, meeting/banquet facilities, a business centre, a gift shop, a games room, a concierge service and vending machines. There is also a nine-hole mini-golf course that overlooks the ocean. Poolside cabanas are available to rent, but poolside towels are provided free.
The hotel's on-site restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Room service is available. Parking (self or valet) is an additional $12 per day, pets are not permitted and the hotel is wheelchair accessible.
The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale offers shopping roughly an 11-minute drive southward, while the International Swimming Hall of Fame can be found 12 minutes south of the hotel by car. Riverwalk is about a 20-minute drive southwest and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is about a 25-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, parking $12/day, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: July 8, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive overall, with praise going to the hotel's location, staff and rooms.
Many guests enjoyed the hotel's location. They found it to be on the beach, as well as close to restaurants, shopping, a grocery store, Fort Lauderdale's downtown, Las Olas and Fort Lauderdale by the Sea.
The hotel's staff were the source of numerous compliments by lodgers, who characterized them as polite, helpful, friendly and accommodating.
Several reviewers praised their accommodations at the hotel. They described their rooms as clean, modern, spacious and well equipped, with great ocean views and comfortable beds. It should be noted, however, that some guests were disappointed with aspects of their rooms (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive on the whole, there were some common complaints about the restaurant, the rooms and the parking.
Some guests had complaints about the hotel's on-site restaurant. They reported a limited menu, average and fair food quality, high prices and slow service. These reviewers recommended eating outside the hotel.
While the majority of reviewers were pleased with their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few lodgers had complaints. They reported noise transfer from adjacent rooms and rooms near the elevator, worn carpets and decor and poor balcony views.
A few lodgers were disappointed with the additional parking charge at the hotel. They felt it was expensive and that it should have been included in the daily rates.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #59 out of 135 Fort Lauderdale hotels with an average rating of 3 out of 5 from 711 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.5 out of 5 with an 86% recommendation rate from 222 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 7.5 out of 10 from 195 reviews.
The author called the hotel on July 8, 2013 to verify some information.
