Imperfect personification of luxury
Written: May 21 '08 (Updated May 22 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros:
Rarefied atmosphere
Personal touches
Great location
Cons:
Quirky electronics
Surprising oversights
Odd layout
The Bottom Line: The St. Regis is a ritzy resort that offers- escape from and all the benefits of - a Fort Lauderdale beach.
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| daperlman's Full Review: St. Regis Fort Lauderdale Resort |
Sometimes a traveler might wonder what one gets with a "five star" resort. What could possibly be worth three times the price per night then a Holiday Inn or twice that of a Doubletree? Like any other industry, these extras differ from place to place and company to company - but the short answer is a constant aura of style and luxury - and personal attention. That said, the St. Regis Fort Lauderdale has all of those. However my expectation for a place like this is based on stays at other five star hotels. After all the St. Regis is really Starwood's answer to other luxury resorts, such as the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton.
Trip details and basics
This review is based on my May 2008 stay in an Ocean View room at the St. Regis Fort Lauderdale. The hotel is located right on A1A next to a busy bar and storefront area called Beach Place, as well as several standalone bars and restaurants along A1A. This beautiful structure stands out among the beach theme dives and small hotels nearby. Entering the St. Regis is like being transported to a different world after walking out of a place like Blondies or any other local bar - practically adjacent to the property. Walking past the exotic cars lined up at the valet and into the lobby of the St. Regis, you quickly forget the smell of sweat and sun screen and the sound of Harleys - just a few feet from you. The grandiose lobby is the kind of setting you'd expect to see in the background of a celebrity benefit. The courteous staff greets you with a cold bottle of water and a smile. This is the kind of place where you can request a butler and they ask if you have special requests before your trip. It is the kind of place that has fresh brewed coffee waiting for you (although like even the best hotels - it is slightly better than the coffee in jail). The vibe at this place is rich CEO types with hot girlfriends that spend the day shopping and tanning.
The Room
Before entering I could picture the Jacuzzi, a large deck with an ocean view and the HD plasma screen. Upon entering I inspected the bathroom where I found a standard bath/shower combo, granite counters with his/her sinks, a separate toilet room and a 15" LCD TV right b/t the sinks - in the center of the vanity with remote. The shower bath was a bit under whelming, but the TV was a nice touch and perfectly placed. Also a nice touch- was the supply of cotton balls and qtips. Also upon using the shower I observed excellent water pressure and a good supply of hot water. The drain was a bit slow for my taste, but not slow enough to make a bad impression. The room itself was about 500sq feet (about average) with very neutral and tasteful deco. The king size bed was plush and layered with a soft comforter and many down pillows. Missing from my room was a do not disturb sign, so I made my own with a piece of paper. Later I had a note about not cleaning the room (cause of my sign) but still no do not disturb sign (weird). The TV in the room itself was an HD 32" LCD monitor. The cable system was digital (probably CPU based). It took an annoyingly long time to get started and change channels etc. The channel selection was disappointing (not very many) and none is HD (why bother with the HD set?). I am guessing my remote was low on batteries cause every command took a very long time (they later replaced them without me asking). The phone by the bed was an LCD based computer with lots of exotic options, but alas the gremlins caused the LCD display to often render itself upside down. The gremlins also got to the digital thermostat that included a sensor, I am guessing - to sense people in the room. You leave the fan on hi... and later you return to find it on low or off - which really got under my skin. The deck area, on the other side of 2 glass doors - allowing complete access to it, was very nice. It was bigger than expected and showcased a view of the city, the ocean and the intercoastal. It was a good place to have a Zen moment as long as no one else was out there. The next room's patio was only an opaque cloth divider away. I can't say if there were noisy neighbors or construction above me, but I can say that the noise level was higher than I would like. I actually complained about it, but wasn't around enough to really measure if it made a difference. The front desk was courteous and apologized profusely.
The Pool and other diversions
The pool and spa of the hotel are located near the elevators on the 7th level. For a hotel of this size, the pool is not a large as I expected and it is not right on the beach. But it was well maintained, adequately crowded and an all round great place for people watching and overpaying for frozen drinks. BTW stay away from the Lobster Club. There is also a medium sized hot tub, outdoors, adjacent to the pool. The spa is large, peaceful and impeccably clean. When you buy a spa treatment, you get a locker and spa robe. I myself went for the Swedish massage. I was very happy with my masseuse, who was a chatty, attractive and friendly young lady (no happy ending at the St. Regis). The bathroom was very nice and the shower included a rain showerhead and a detachable for those hard to reach places. I was pleased to observe they ran independent of one another. The quiet area was huge and they were a little overbearing with the enforcement of the quiet policy (almost daring patrons to pass gas). Glaringly absent from the spa - a sauna or steam room (GASP!). So I had to sweat out a fifth of bourbon and various pharmaceuticals outdoors. Surprisingly, the fitness center is located on a different floor (the 8th floor) which is kind of a pain in the rear end, because the fitness center doesn't have locker rooms. That said, the equipment in the medium sized fitness center is top notch. The treadmills and step machine were shiny new, clean and sophisticated. They have built in TVs and heart monitors (compatible with personal monitors). They have a full set of free weights and barbells, and at least one machine for each major muscle group. You also get a slightly obscured view of the intercoastal. The bar and lounge, featured on the ads and reviews, is kind of tucked in a corner- and a bit stuffy for such a large property.
Verdict
So how does the FLL St. Regis stack up? Well in this particular area, for five star properties, it is kind of the only game in town (or at least in the area). While the St. Regis does give you personal attention, they aren't quite on the same level as the Four Seasons. Also compared to a Four Seasons Resort, the St. Regis layout isn't nearly as smart. A Four Seasons spa simply wouldn't open without a steam room or sauna. For now, the Ritz and Four Seasons also give you a more useful and dependable features in your room. Even the (Gallery ONE) Doubletree right around the corner - includes a bigger TV and HD... for example. That all being said, the atmosphere and location of the St. Regis just cannot be beat. Even compared to a Four Seasons or the Ritz, the guests at this place are exclusive. There was a new exotic car to admire at the entrance, every time I walked outside. In just its first year, the St. Regis provides a unique experience. I think, in time, they will improve on the little things.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
daperlman
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Reviews written: 51
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Mission: Find recipe for Nabisco Space Foodsticks. Foil conspiracy responsible for disappearance of Foodsticks.
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