By Dmitry Rashnitsov
Front of Sleep Inn Hotel Dania Beach
This 69-room hotel is within a few miles of
Fort Lauderdale airport, Port Everglades (where the cruise ships leave from) and all three main interstates. Free breakfast, coffee and a newspaper great every guest in the morning. Amenities also include a pool, hot tub, free Internet access and cable television.
Wows and Woes
The hotel is within walking distance of Dania beach's cute antique district and a Jai Alai arena---an interesting sport similar to racquetball that includes betting activities.
The Dania Beach neighborhood is a little seedy. Do not go walking outside the hotel after dark. Also, only a few restaurant choices are close.
Insider Tips
The hotel offers a free shuttle to and from the airport as well as to Port Everglades. If you are going on a cruise, make sure to give the front desk your departure information and they will get you to the ship on time.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
All of the van drivers that pick up from the airport and the cruise ships are always friendly, chatting and cheery, which is something I can't always say for hotel staff in South Florida. On one trip, the guy was friendly enough to stop at a McDonald's for us before dropping us off at the airport. That was above the call of duty.
Bottom Line
For one or two nights away from the tourist zones of the rest of the city, this hotel is perfect.
About the Author:
Dmitry Rashnitsov is a writer based out of Fort Lauderdale. His work has appeared in the "Sun-Sentinel" newspaper, "South Florida Blade" newspaper, "Cape Coral Daily Breeze," "411 Magazine," "South Florida CEO Magazine" and the Examiner.com web platform. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona.
