Onsite Review: W Fort Lauderdale

MURALW Fort Lauderdale By Paloma Villaverde de RicoI must confess a harsh reality: My stay at the fabulously chic W Fort Lauderdale was a bleisure getaway, and thus my hours lounging by the pool or sunbathing along the stunning stretch of Fort Lauderdale Beach that’s on view from the hotel was, unfortunately, kept to a minimum. Champagne problems, I know, especially when you consider I did enjoy a very spacious guestroom with to-die-for views, a best-of-the-best treatment at the AWAY Spa and a delicious dinner at the very lively El Vez, the resort’s onsite Mexican eatery. I was, in fact, able to perfectly marry business and leisure. ACCOMMS SUITE Whether your clients are headed to Fort Lauderdale for a leisure vacation or a bleisure stay, the W Fort Lauderdale, with its iconic sail design and subtle homages to the sand and sea throughout, offers amenities that will “wow” them. Those aforementioned views? Each of the 517 rooms and suites at the dog-friendly W Fort Lauderdale come complete with water views—either ocean or intracoastal—and a private balcony, the latter the perfect place for your clients to go over their emails while sipping their early morning coffee. And your clients have quite a few options when it comes to accommodations, as the resort offers a bevy of room categories, including the 2,607-sq.-ft., 2-bedroom Extreme WOW Penthouse Suite, located on the 24th floor and featuring the hotel’s largest terrace (ideal for dinner under the stars). There are quite a few residential suite options, in fact, all of which come with a full kitchen—perfect for clients seeking a longer bleisure stay. My 360-sq.-ft. king guestroom was quite comfy with all the amenities I needed at my fingertips, including a must-have in-room Nespresso machine and one of the most expansive bathrooms this writer has ever seen in a room this size. TABLES Slip out of those stunning accommodations and hotel guests will find an array of amenities. There are not one, but two rooftop pools—WET East and WET West, because…why not? East, with its ocean views, is where the party is happening (DJs, transparent pool walls for that perfect Insta post and a cocktail list that isn’t for the faint of heart); West, with views of the Intracoastal, is where one can go to find a bit of Zen, with comfy lounges and an infinity-edge hot tub. The intimately sized, 5-treatment room AWAY Spa, though, is where one truly finds a hushed oasis. Among the many treatments on the menu, I opted for the 50-minute De-Stress Massage, after which I hopped off the massage table feeling like a brand-new person. The spa, by the way, offers a full beauty menu because we all need to go out on the town looking radiant. Recommend clients complement time at the spa with the hotel’s complimentary beachfront bootcamp and yoga classes, which are led by certified instructors daily. Or they can hop on one of the cruiser bikes that are available to guests if they want to explore the surrounding neighborhood. POOL The handful of onsite F&B options run the gamut from Steak 954, helmed by James Beard-award winner Stephen Starr, to SOBE Vegan, offering a menu of traditional American fare with a healthy twist. Do tell clients to dip into the very fashionable El Vez—the decor is spectacular, the cuisine even better and the cocktail menu superb. A must is a sampler of the various guacamoles (with chips, of course) as well as the kale Caesar salad, and any of the assortment of tacos or enchiladas. One of my fave spots, though, is the Living Room Terrace, where I passed the time people-watching before heading to my next meeting. Contact InformationW Fort Lauderdale: marriott.com

SEABOURN COVERSEABOURN IFCCOVEREXPLORA JOURNEYSPALLADIUM HOTEL GROUPTable of ContentsTURKISH AIRLINESEditor's NotesSANDALSATLAS OCEAN VOYAGESIndustry Insights: The Cruise Industry Sails Forward into a Very Bright FutureREGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISESAdvisor Speak: Travel Advisors Talk Luxury TravelHILTON HOTELSCaribbean/Mexico: What's New, What's LuxeCruise Happenings—New Luxe Ships, New Itineraries to MatchOnboard Review: A Marvel-ous Cruise on Disney DreamOnsite Review: W Fort LauderdaleNorth America: Alaska Railroad—New Packages, FAM OpportunitiesEDU.RECOMMENDSEABOURN IBCSEABOURN BC