Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Pompano Beach/Oceanfront — Hotel in Pompano Beach

I was at the higher tier Marriot under construction a few weeks back and saw this place from the beach. Guy playing guitar on the back patio, bar was open with a decent seating area. Later, out front, I saw the sign about M-F happy hour and decided to try it for a 5 day work stay. Valet - $35 a day but the valet guys are on the ball, always moving, always friendly, they were great. Desk - Have the expected polish and smile for the brand. Had to do a bit of work "selling" a resort fee to everyone I will explain in a bit. High marks for courtesy and attention. Room - showed it's age a bit, the door opens to a balcony walkway and mine (904) was missing the door seal. Wind was whipping under the door making the AC struggle and adding a bit of a funk and dampness to the room and sheets. Hint of mildew on the ceiling, a few tile cracks and obvious caulk, tub stopper was gone. Not much for hot water in the shower and no "real" coffee was replaced after the second day. Not exactly a "nice" room, but you are on the beach with wet sandy people coming and going so keeping it looking new is a losing battle. Big room, great views via big windows. Breakfast - the usual eggs (appeared real and not powdered,) some meat (bacon or sausage), whole fruits, cereals, coffee and the waffle station. Kind of an odd small circle set up that nobody could really navigate. Not enough seating, the area is set up like a casual lounge not for dining. They could have at least opened the restaurant for seating so people were not wandering around holding plates. Breakfast Staff - part of the navigation issue was two of the staff just standing there blocking the entrance talking while the third ran about doing everything. They seemed completely indifferent and watched me bus my own table as well as help a family with theirs. It was as if "work" was invisible to them. Pool - not huge, but enough seating and pleasant enough. Pretty shaded due to palms etc. Nothing going on really, bit of music, but zero vibe on a weekday, no food or drinks service, and no real resort like features. Gym - fairly large and complete, not a closet like some places. Restaurant / Bar - This is where they are intentionally misleading guests. The portable sign was still in the driveway but neither bar nor restaurant is open Sunday/Monday/Tuesday. Not sure about Wednesday as I was not there that evening but it was open Thursday and mostly empty. I enjoyed the bartenders and bantered with the staff but was not going to eat there after drinks and the reason why is next: Resort Fee - The front desk tried to explain it to me when I checked in Sunday but I was bleary eyed and just wanted to get a drink and go to bed but the bar/restaurant was closed. I assumed I had just gotten there too late. The next morning I got clarification. $20 of it is a food and beverage credit. It has to be used daily or it expires and the restaurant was not open for at least three of my five days. To soothe you they say you can also spend it at the sundry shop next to the desk where a $2.79 liter bottle of water is $8. You also get "free 2-hours" of bicycle rental. However to get it you have to download an app and provide all your personal information including a credit card. I have elite status so it cracked me up that the fee is also for "internet" which is already free. I was not able to get my daily "gourmet" coffee as that bar was also not open any morning of my stay. Yes, its Pompano so nothing is cheap. Yet, this felt completely cheapskate: $35 dollars a day from every guest, every day. Guests Sun-Wed should be rolling their eyes. No way to justify this with the sign out front. It's clearly misleading and clearly intentional. A overtly cheesy gesture you would never expect from a legitimate hotel. Valet (which is also taxed) and the Resort fee can add 30-40% to the room rate. I waked next door to Seaside for dinner and the Tiki Bar, I recommend that to...

Wow, what a hidden gem!!! Our Girls Beach Trip getaway a few weeks ago, could not of been at a more fabulous place than at the Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Pompano Beach/Oceanfront. Great location, on the beach with a pool, onsite restaurant, workout room and variety of entertainment, really pleasantly surprised!

However, the one thing that makes this such a wonderful place to stay is the hotel staff. They have their customer service down! Unusual for today, with all the 'help yourself', self-serve trends.

A big shout out to Jason Stern, who was an absolute delight and made sure that our stay was nothing short of a 10! He went above and beyond, my girls were very grateful. All of his staff were very friendly, incredibly insightful, extremely accommodating and generous with their time and advice. From prior to our arrival with Q.s I had about their amenities, recommendations of restaurants and ice cream parlors, they shared the convenience of their free grocery delivery and  getting around Pompano Beach Pier area utilizing the local Ride circuit, all which was so helpful!! Definitely will be paying it forward and frequenting this establishment many more times in the future. Being in the service industry myself, I greatly appreciated their hospitality. Overall, had a wonderful time, location is beautiful, and we will spread the word about this awesome establishment!!!! 10/10

The hotel room was spacious and clean with a full kitchenette, the bed was very comfortable with variety of pillows and the bathroom was modern and roomy, enjoyed the balcony as well. They provide a complimentary breakfast which had a delicious variety every morning.

This hotel offers a variety of entertainment for everyone. Near their outdoor restaurant and pool side area they have jumbo games like Jenga and Connect 4, table tennis, cornhole.  Additional poolside entertainment from local musicians on Friday nights - we enjoyed the steel drummer, salsa dance instruction on Sunday nights, and water aerobics instruction on Monday mornings.

A special thank you to all of the management staff at the front desk! Manager Jason, along with his team Christian, Jessie, Dennis, Michael and Carlos, always greeted all with a smile, personal hello, occasionally would ask if we had our needs met. The pool staff Dyanna, Keno, Darya, all of whom are ready to serve, besides offering to refill ice water and pool towels, Renee at the restaurant bar cheerfully took our orders and made a variety of delicious virgin drinks for us. Bridgette and the hot breakfast servers were helpful and a hoot! Walter and other hospitality workers not only kept the place clean, yet made extra efforts to help us enjoy our stay. The Beach Hut staff Justin, Marco and another young man, not only passed out beach towels, offered cabanas and chairs for rent, provided a variety of free beach games from cornhole to frisbees. Help me get in touch with the turtle people, when was needed. They walked around taking restaurant orders, delivering and cleaning up afterwards, really went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, taken care of and keeping the place clean.

Would absolutely recommend working with this group, the camaraderie and the teamwork amongst them speaks volumes! Trust me, I overheard them talking amongst themselves, as well as when I asked others, they really enjoy working there. ~Miss...

2/14 - 2/18—A Throwback Stay with a Few Sneezes. After nine nights on MSC Explora 1, my husband booked this hotel for us. We know the area—not my favorite, but it would do. Our friend dropped us off after disembarking around 1230pm . Of course, it was way too early to check in. We tried, we failed.

I was beyond exhausted—you know, the kind of tired where even a park bench looks like a five-star bed. My husband had a meeting, and I told him, “I’ll just sleep in the car.” He wasn’t thrilled about that idea, so he rented me beach cabana for $40 while waiting for the room. Now, I am not a beach person. The sun and I have an understanding: I avoid it, and it avoids me. But that day, I passed out for a solid four hours—right there, surrounded by laughing kids, a mom arguing with her 10-year-old, four little brothers bickering, and a tiny loose beach dog (adorable distraction, 10/10). Waking up on and off !

Just as I was enjoying my beachfront slumber, I noticed my phone was dying, and I got a text from my husband around 4:30 PM: "They say the room is ready." Excited, I dragged my half-conscious self to reception. Plot twist: They wouldn’t let me check in. My husband texted over his info, I showed them photos, proof—nothing. So I sat in the lobby, waiting another hour and a half or two until my husband returned. Rules are rules, but come on, they saw us together earlier. And I was still half-asleep.

Finally, my husband checked us into Room 703. The hotel was packed—it was school vacation week, so kids were everywhere. Running, laughing, pure chaos... aka, my personal heaven (I work with children, so I love it).

The Hotel Itself We took the elevator up, walked to our room, and boom—instant flashback to the 1980s. The hallway had that Miami Vice vibe. No idea how old this building is, but it feels old.

The room? Spacious. The bed? My back approved. The view? Oceanfront, thanks to massive windows. The kitchenette? Basic but functional. Washer & dryer? A lifesaver after 15 nights of travel. But then… the carpet. The moment I walked in, my sinuses staged a protest. At night, I couldn’t breathe properly. During the day? I was out and about , Breathing like a baby. At night? Struggling. If you have allergies or sinus issues, beware—this old carpet might not be your friend. Also, since the hotel allows pets, I can only imagine what’s trapped in those fibers. If they replaced it with marble or wood, my sinuses (and probably a few others) would throw a party.

Other Notes Restaurant? Didn’t try it but looks good Pool? Looked fun but overflowing with kids, so we skipped it. Hot tub? Small. Valet parking? No other option, but the staff was fantastic. Clean sheets and comfy beds? Yes. The sofa? Could also use an update. Final Verdict If you’re looking for a nostalgic trip back to the ‘80s, this hotel has that vintage charm (and carpets that have seen things). If you have allergies, bring your meds or reconsider. It’s basic, it’s functional, it does the job. But if you’re on vacation and want modern comfort, this might not be the best choice. Oh , and make sure to play “Cherry Chery Lady “ perfect song for 80s vibe 😂

Would I stay here again? Only if they...