One of Starwood's great South Florida hotel options has long been the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, located in Hollywood, Florida. With nearly 1,000 rooms it's a massive hotel, and the great thing is that they have a ton of suites, which means that historically Platinum suite upgrades were plentiful. It's not the most luxurious…
Continue reading: Westin Diplomat Leaving Starwood October 30, 2014
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
effing kidding me??!
I was literally about to book Nov 1-5.....
What else is good in the FLL area?
I have stayed here multiple times. Nice rooms but checking in is a real pain even for a SPG Platinum. Always got upgraded and liked the rooms.
@steve, @lucky:
W Fort Lauderdale is tolerable and they do a good job of upgrading Platinums. I'm not big on the poolside party scene, but many guests forget that there's a second pool that is peaceful and offers free cabanas on the west side of the hotel with intercoastal waterway views. I've consistently received upgrades, most recently to a "Sensational Ocean Front Suite" with huge balcony but most often I've requested upgrades to their residences with full kitchen and laundry which were granted.
Next year the Conrad Fort Lauderdale will be open and that should be a good option. It's being converted from the failed Trump condo hotel project which was built during the financial crisis and never opened. That also means that a one-mile strip of Fort Lauderdale's beach front will be great for mattress runs for SPG (W, Westin, Sheraton locations) or Hilton (Conrad, Hilton, Doubletree locations).
If you stay at the W, Steak 954 offers a decent brunch and is bookable for points on Open Table. Next door in the Hilton is great new restaurant called "Surf, Sun, Sand" which is good for lunch or dinner and also on Open Table. There's also a Truluck's in the Galleria Mall which is a 5 min drive from the W and has a happy hour with half-price cocktails and apps plus a piano singer.
I can't get past the part that the hotel was owned by a branch of a union. I'm not sure when it happened, but unions are all about the $$$ and not about the common worker that they "represent". Sad.......
I've stayed at the Diplomat dozens of times (sometimes once a month for certain stretches). Very sad. Always got a suite, like the lounge, and the beach 🙁
Awww.. thanks!
Do a post on what are some of the best hotels with upgrade options for the major programs. That should give us something to save those points for!
@John - I saw the W, I'm not a big fan of them in general, and not terribly good for me+DW+5 month old baby.
The Conrad doesn't open until 2015, which doesn't help me 11/1/14.
Got screwed - have had a reservation with points for months. Going on a cruise- not renting a car and needed something closer to port. What is Starwoods brainy answer? Well sir - you can pay for the room $229 a night or move to the luxurious Sheraton Fort Lauderdale. Are you serious? Did you really just say that with a straight face? So you want me to take what should have been a beach front hotel with points and stay at a less than stellar hotel at the airport?
Honestly - I have always remained loyal to Starwood - nice to see that this is their big solution. The friggen Sheraton.
The Diplomat is joining Hilton Worldwide's new Curio brand, not the Hilton brand:
http://www.curiocollection.com/