Ft.Lauderdale

[rebel]

We are planning a special vacation to FL and want to spend a week in Ft. Lauderdale. We need some advice from fellow TUGers on the best resort.

We would like to be on the beach if that is the best resort. We can use either a one or two bedroom unit. Most of our points are resale so we are not VIP.

Palm-Aire has two bedroom presidential units but looks like it is not on the beach.

Royal Vista costs the most points and does that make it the best resort.

I have observed that at some resorts you book a unit and when you check in they give you a unit with a parking lot view.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Royal vista is a best right on the beach for 1 and 2 BR units. It is actually your only choice if you want right on the beach in that size units. (As beachfront at sea gardens are all studio units.)

Point saver units at Royal Vista are parking lot views. All others have a full oceanfront, oceanview of ocean glimpse depending on the unit numbers and floors.

The 2 BR Oceanfronts are the hardest to get as owners book those up in advance all the time, and there are not that many.

Alternate is to stay at Santa Barbara right across the street and use Royal Vista beach access if you want, just by walking over.

If you are wanting Presidential your only option is Palm Aire. Non of the other properties have Presidential units.

 

[vacationhopeful]

All of the Wyndhams are actually in Pompano Beach (areas) - suburbs with many hi-rise condo buildings along the beach front. It is not the swank-cool-hip-cafe lifestyle of Ft Lauderdale fame (as in Where the Boys Are, Burn Notice, Miami Vice). That is FT LAUDERDALE beachy area - six plus miles further south.

There are timeshare resorts in Ft Lauderdale on or very near the beach. My favorite with free parking is the Ft Lauderdale Beach Resort (RCI, II, VRI). Yes, Marriott Beachplace is nice except for the $28/day parking and the scary entrance walking thru Beachplace shopping complex, by the public bathrooms, to the parking garage entrance elevator (or my phrase, try that at 10PM or 5AM as your route!) There are several small, older TS also.

My avatar was taken from the 2bdr balcony, 3rd floor unit in the "VIP" building at Royal Vista --- the only time I ever stayed in that building and first time at any Wyndham in FL. Those 12 units (which 1 is always used as the sales model) are very hard to book year round; impossible to book in-season unless you have ARP at RV).

 

[rebel]

Thanks for the info. It looks like Royal Vista is the answer.
But not sure what Linda is saying about the "VIP" building? What is that? We are not VIP because most of our points are resale.

 

[GeraldineT]

We love Fll. Have not stayed at any of the Wyndham resorts there yet with the exception of a pre cruise at palm aire. I would stay royal vista first and any of the other resorts in that area before palm aire. They may be smaller and older but they are at least by the beach and rv where you can use the facility. PA is in the misspells the "city" on the highway. Our first room ther faced a golf maintenace area the second parking and the roof of the foodstore across the street. Also the public bus between pompano and fll is actually pretty good to the beachplace area. Then we would use water taxi to go to las olas.

Agree on the beachplace entrance through the mall. But that is a great location. We prefer the intercoastal view than beach.

 

[vacationhopeful]

Thanks for the info. It looks like Royal Vista is the answer.
But not sure what Linda is saying about the "VIP" building? What is that? We are not VIP because most of our points are resale.

There are 2 buildings at RV. The smaller building has 12 units in it on 6 floor. The nickname, VIP building, is because most of the time only VIPs with ARP (advance reservation priority) book it solid during their 13-11 month window. ALso, Platinum and Gold VIPs can request a particular unit.
If you want to know the unit numbers, it is Floor #X, double zero,#Y being either 1 or 2. X is from 1-6. The other nickname is the "double O" units. So 6002 is in the smaller VIP building; 6044 is not.

If you are resale and own at RV, you also get the 13 month book advantage - which helps to get you early booking advantage.

Did you like my avartar picture?

 

[rebel]

Thanks Linda. We are resale but not at RV. How hard is it to get a 1 bed in January or Feburary?

 

[GeraldineT]

Thanks Linda. We are resale but not at RV. How hard is it to get a 1 bed in January or Feburary?

Very. Right now the only thing in Jan/fen is 4 nights in a 1 BR at sea gardens checking in the 17th of Jan. Except for palm aire. Nothing in rv or Sb.

 

[Marge007]

watch frequently for inventory from cancelled reservations, especilally 60 to 15 days out from check in.

 

[vacationhopeful]

watch frequently for inventory from cancelled reservations, especilally 60 to 15 days out from check in.

Marge, Wyndham seems to grab those before they appear on the Website. That has been my personal experience.

 

[ronandjoan]

To get into RV, I plan on reserving at the 10 month window...the next available date at RV is April 20 and May looks wide open

 

[rebel]

So if I want a 1 bed in Jan-Feb at RV would I be able to get it 10 mos. out? We like to plan ahead.

 

[vacationhopeful]

So if I want a 1 bed in Jan-Feb at RV would I be able to get it 10 mos. out? We like to plan ahead.

You can certainly try. As you are from Colorado, it is like hoping to book slope-side (walk 50 yards to a lift) at a major ski resort. It is called Snowbird season for a reason - people migrate to below Orlando for the sun and warmth. Late April and May does not have Artic winds, bizzards, and ice storms as Jan, Feb and Mar.