A Visit With Scarlett at the Ask Me Inn, Fort Lauderdale
Written: Nov 01 '04 (Updated Nov 20 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A small, charming hotel of character in the heart of Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Cons: This is a small property and may fill up quickly--Book Ahead!
The Bottom Line: One of Fort Lauderdale's hidden gems, the Ask Me Inn is a great travel value. Excellent hospitality and location.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Ask Me Inn |
Fort Lauderdale is so full of hotels which are either pretentious piles of marble or plastic tidbits of nothingness blowing in the wind. Happily for the adventurous and wise traveler, there are a few small places of real character still hiding in Fort Lauderdale. One such place is the Ask Me Inn on North Birch Road, just one block from the fabled golden sands of the strip.
The Building
The Ask Me Inn was previously known as the Catharina Inn, and possibly had other names too, in its life. The building is a three storied guest house of the type you just don't find much anymore in southern Florida. The temptation to destroy this type of hotel has been too great in all too many places, Fort Lauderdale included.
Thanks to the energy and efforts of the irrepressible Scarlett Rabalais, formerly of North Carolina and Houston, Texas, the hotel has been given a new lease on life. Its eleven rooms have been refreshed and the charming courtyard pulses with a welcoming warmth. Scarlett will truly make you feel as though are a guest in her house. This isn't just another generic hotel room.
The Rooms
I have had the opportunity to see a number of the recently renovated rooms. Each has its own unique character, but all boast the comforts you would expect to find at home. The rooms are quirky and fun. You just might find a medieval suit of armor in one or a leopard print fabric in another. This place has real character. All of the rooms I have seen have both ceiling fans and air conditioning.
Scarlett is always busy upgrading the place with new features, so don't be surprised to find wireless access for your computer in the rooms. New televisions have also been installed recently.
My favorite is the suite on the third floor. That's the one with the suit of armor, but the room also has beamed ceilings, an inviting dining area and large windows which do, in fact, have a view of the sea. Most rooms have French doors or large windows. Only the rooms on the top floor really have a view, but the view of the courtyard should be view enough for most.
Some of the suites have kitchens, but all rooms include a refrigerator, microwave oven, toaster and so on. As there is no dining room, this can be useful. Who needs a dining room when there are so many restaurants nearby?
Baths
While they do vary in size, all of the baths have piles of fluffy towels, reliable hot water and all the basics work well. You can't always count on this in a small hotel. You don't have to worry here about anything not working.
Ambience
Normally, I'd be saying something about service in this spot, but it's important to remember that this is a small property without the usual large staff of a larger hotel. Your room will be cleaned by Desilia, a charming woman from Martinique, and Scarlett will take care of the rest. Scarlett once ran a chain of restaurants in Texas, so she knows her business well. You can ask her just about anything about the area and she will have the answer for you, delivered with great flair.
The center of activity at the hotel is the lovely courtyard, dripping with bougainvillea and other flowering plants and trees. Drift outside your room with your morning coffee and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the courtyard. You might forget that you are just steps away from the bustle of Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard with its restaurants, clubs and the shops at Beach Place. It's easy to let the time slip by here. Come see for yourself what a beguiling little spot Scarlett has created in the center of it all in Fort Lauderdale.
Rates
The rates are quite reasonable, especially when considering the great location and the value received. The most expensive room is the suite on the third floor, which goes for $200.00 in the high season. Rooms can be had for as little as $59.00 in the low season, but do check beforehand. Scarlet gives good deals for longer stays. Many guests here return year after year, so booking ahead of time is essential. The rating given here is relative to the service and value present at this hotel. Remember that this is more of a small guest house than a typical hotel and you should be in the right mindset here.
Ask Me Inn
300 North Birch Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Tel. 954-760-4211
FAX 954-760-4211
Toll free 800-695-8284
http://www.askmeinn.com/index.html
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 100 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 675
Trusted by: 435 members
About Me:
The King Edward rises again! Watch for it in 2009!
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