No longer a rowdy spring break mecca, Fort Lauderdale charms sophisticated beach bums with luxury resorts, culinary delights, and a burgeoning cultural scene to complement the year-round outdoor activities.
No longer spring break central, this newly upscale resort town offers everything you require from a beach vacation – sun, sand, surf, and shopping.
$118+: Save 15% or more on low US fares (round-trip) Delta
$170+: Low fares (round-trip) to Florida beaches Expedia
$85+: Low domestic fares to US cities (round-trip) Major Provider
$180+: Last-minute domestic fares (round-trip) Major Airlines
$122+: Spring hotels and resorts in all neighborhoods Hotels.com
$89/nt+: Last-minute Orlando & Tampa hotels Hotels.com
$89/nt+: Low peak-season rates at condos across Florida Hotels.com
$233+: Last-minute Florida trips this weekend or next Travelocity
$684+: Luxe Ft. Lauderdale trips at top beach resort Travelocity
$320+: 3-nt Ft. Lauderdale stay at beachfront resort w/flight Orbitz
$333+: Family trips to popular beaches with airfare Travelocity
$179+: Flight & 3-nt hotel stays in major US cities Major Provider
$269+: Celebrity cruises up to $100 onboard credit Celebrity
$229+: 3- to 11-nt Royal Caribbean sails this spring Travelocity
$269+: Premium cruises with up to $100 ship credit Celebrity
Under $300+: Affordable cruises to Alaska, Europe, more Royal Caribbean
$178+: 2-day Bahamas cruise w/oceanview cabin Cruise.com
$399+: Affordable weeklong cruises on new ships Major Providers
Save up to 50% off transatlantic voyages Editors' Review
No longer primarily stocked with mom-and-pop motels, Broward County (which includes Fort Lauderdale) has recently broadened and deepened its offerings to include more than 600 hotels and resorts, with a growing number of higher-end properties which go for over $300 per night. Though the new crop of luxury hotels is getting most of the attention, several good moderate and budget options remain.
Gone are the days when Fort Lauderdale dining was little more than greasy-spoon diners on the budget end and surf-and-turf on the fancy end. Among the 3,500-plus local restaurants, interesting options ranging from Brazilian to Thai are springing up like porcini mushrooms all over the county. And don't be put off by a fancy restaurant in a strip mall: Outside the Las Olas pedestrian corridor, that kind of setting is pretty common. Whenever possible, call ahead and make reservations, especially at the hotter spots along Las Olas Boulevard and A1A.