The Best Way to Relax in Pompano Beach: a Stay at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa

My husband and I celebrated ten years of marriage (10! that’s a milestone!)… and we wanted to do a romantic retreat for just the two of us without our toddler. While Florida offers tons of getaway options, since we live in West Palm Beach we wanted somewhere that was within a one-hour drive – and we definitely wanted to stay at a hotel that is beachfront, luxurious, not-too-crowded and with dining amenities.

So when we first arrived at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa, I could tell as soon as we walked into the lobby that we had made the right choice. I sniffed the air and then said to my husband, Nathan, “It has that beautiful Marriott scent!” Fresh, clean and like a lovely vacation smell is wafting around you. What a great first impression!

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

The resort offers stylishly appointed hotel accommodations with contemporary comforts, premium amenities, marble bathrooms and lovely ocean views. We stayed on the 7th floor, and were excited to see the size of our room and balcony – they’re honestly huge! Click here, here and here to see 360-degree photos of the room, balcony and bathroom. The property was built less than 10 years ago, which is relatively “new” in the tourism/travel industry.

It offers corporate event space, and there was a stunning on-site wedding while we were there. There are two swimming pools, water sports and the Funky Fish Ocean Camp, a kids club open daily for children ages 4-17. More on the dining options later, as they deserve their own section.

The property is conveniently located in Pompano Beach, a charming beach town just minutes from Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield Beach that boasts the motto of having “Florida’s Warmest Welcome.” The easiest airport access is through Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport. We explored the town one night since we stayed for the entire weekend, although honestly I felt like we could just have stayed happy in our resort – which we actually did for all of Saturday! Never even left the property, LOL. It’s just so nice! But if you do feel like venturing out and about, there are options of things to do here.

CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY

The resort is certainly a safe place to visit right now, with such a big focus on cleanliness and safety practices. I saw every staffer wearing a mask, signs reminding guests they are required to wear masks in public spaces and practice social distancing, abundant hand sanitizing stations and signage that listed how frequently public spots such as elevators were being cleaned (it was truly around the clock). I felt comfortable and protected.

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DELICIOUS DINING OPTIONS

I’m really excited to tell you about how good the food is at this property, because I believe they are outstanding! Delight your palate with fresh, sustainable seafood, made-to-order steaks and innovative cocktails at the property’s restaurant and bar. Click here to find out more information.

We had room service for breakfast, and we ate on our balcony overlooking the beautiful beach. My husband ordered the All American breakfast, and I satisfied myself with scrambled eggs (I’m dieting, by the way, and you’ll see that my choices were filling, yummy and healthful).

For lunch, we opted for the PATIO 1200 poolside restaurant and bar. I was thrilled with my Caesar salad with an addition of Mahi fish, and my husband loved his wrap and sweet potato fries. The covered canopy kept us protected from the sun, and I kept saying over and over how much I loved the flavor of my fish.

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Last, but not least, we had our official anniversary dinner at “AND fish kitchen + bar.” As soon as we arrived, our server, Craig, greeted us with a “Happy anniversary” welcome because I had booked it through Open Table, and listed that it was our anniversary occasion. I would be remiss if I did not include a phrase here about how every staffer we interacted with offered spectacular service and hospitality – but Craig was truly a shining star. I was so impressed with his warm personality and how extensively he knew the menu – his descriptions of the food were spot on and detailed, exactly what we needed to help us make our food selections. Plus he brought us complimentary glasses of champagne! How sweet!!

Nathan chose a quesadilla, although he admitted it was not the “fanciest” choice the menu offered. There was a steak option he had his eye on, but he was a little bit full from lunch, still, since we had eaten late. As for me, I chose once again to go with a fish, since it’s simple for me to eat low carb while dining out. I marveled at how perfectly my salmon was cooked, and I requested two veggies instead of the rice pilaf that it typically comes with… perfection on a plate!

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OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

If I had to summarize my overall impressions of the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa, I would say it’s the perfect getaway for anyone who wants a South Florida experience full of relaxation, good dining and fun – without the crowds. I do not personally enjoy an overly crowded getaway, and with much of the nation still in quarantine and practicing social distancing, now is a great time to consider a vacation in this spot.

Click here to book your vacation at this resort – and cheers to your future getaway!

Thank you to the resort for hosting me for a wonderful weekend getaway! As always, all opinions are my own.