FLL Hotel with Boat Parade View

[cruisenshopper]

We are flying in to FLL a few days before our Dec. 13 cruise on Solstice, and I was happy to learn that we'll be there the night of their wonderful holiday boat parade on the Intercoastal. When we lived in So. Florida years ago, this was one of the highlights of the season. Now I need to find a hotel with excellent views of the boat parade from their deck or our balcony. I know the Hyatt Pier 66, but does anyone have other suggestions for a great hotel to view the parade? I'm a frequent guest program member for all the major chains, so plan to use points for the stay---any major brand hotel with a great Intercoastal view on the parade route will be fine. Thanks for your suggestions!

[TrentS]

Well they changed the route last year and it no longer goes past Hyatt Pier 66. It now starts on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale and goes to the Intracoastal and then up to Pompano Beach.

 

Here is the new parade route... http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/acrobat/2008-11/43426041.pdf

 

Winterfest Boat Parade... http://www.winterfestparade.com/index.cfm

 

These hotels are on the route:

 

Riverside Hotel... http://www.riversidehotel.com/

 

Bahia Mar... http://www.bahiamarhotel.com/

 

Doubletree Gallery One... http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/FLLTSDT-Gallery-ONE-A-Doubletree-Guest-Suites-Hotel-Florida/index.do

 

iL Lugano... http://www.illugano.com/

[BlueHerons]

We are flying in to FLL a few days before our Dec. 13 cruise on Solstice, and I was happy to learn that we'll be there the night of their wonderful holiday boat parade on the Intercoastal. When we lived in So. Florida years ago, this was one of the highlights of the season. Now I need to find a hotel with excellent views of the boat parade from their deck or our balcony. I know the Hyatt Pier 66, but does anyone have other suggestions for a great hotel to view the parade? I'm a frequent guest program member for all the major chains, so plan to use points for the stay---any major brand hotel with a great Intercoastal view on the parade route will be fine. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

Will you have a car? If you don't want to spring for a hotel on the route (my vote goes to The Riverside but I cannot remember if they have balconies) I would head over to the state park and sit on the grass. Also, if you are up too high, the view will not be that great.

[royalcruz]

I would recommend the Doubletree Gallery One, if they can guarantee a room on the water. The rooms are parallel to the intracoastal and very close to the water. But traditionally, it has been the media headquarters, so they book up well in advance. Il Lugano also has rooms directly on the intracoastal, but it is further up the route, and the energy level on the boats may not be as high.

[cruisenshopper]

Thanks so much for the great advice, everyone! I really appreciate it. I had no idea that the route had changed. We will have a car but would like to stay at our own hotel, so I'll get to work right away on this. Cruise Critic members are the best!