Has anyone been to this place? I%26#39;m travelling with two teenage boys who like the beach and swimming and we%26#39;d like to be within driving distance of malls, shops, restaurants, etc. Is this a good place?
bahia mar beach resort and yacht club
I stayed across the street from it 2 weeks ago, it is straight across from the beach, there are restaurants within walking distance and it is a short drive to Las Olas Boulevard (don%26#39;t try to walk to it like we did!) where there are numerous shops and restaurants.
Sawgrass Mills a huge shopping mall is about 45 minutes away by car.
bahia mar beach resort and yacht club
Thanks - did you go into the hotel? I%26#39;m trying to find out if this is a good property for families.
There is a Water Taxi stop right near your hotel and while it won%26#39;t go to Sawgrass Mills the merga mall which is quite a drive west from the beach, you can take it up to Galleria Mall on Sunrise Blvd and you will find many nice shops - quite a few which have trendy teen stuff and there are a few nice restaurants and a large food court which has none of the usual fast food chains but rather a more upscale version of the typical pizza, mexican, and oriental choices.
It would also be a good choice if you should happen to have a rainy day ( not really likely) as it is all indoors.
I am a local and have not stayed in your hotel, but I%26#39;m sure it would be fine for a family, I just can%26#39;t speak to the quality of the sleeping rooms- I am sure there are reviews on this site. It is in a fairly nice location right across the street from the beach and there are several restaurants within walking distance ( the Oasis has outdoor swings as tables which kids like) but I would agree that Las Olas, which has a wide choice of restaurants should be driven not walked- it is just a bit too far. If there is not a Cheesecake Factory restaurant where you come from, the one on Las Olas would be a major hit with your kids though likely to have a bit of a wait.
If you do make a drive to Sawgrass Mall, be sure to get the boys to the Ron Jon Surf Shop- really a popular stop for teens- there is a Cheesecake Factory and a Gameworks Cafe there as well.
It is across the street from the beach. You can use a ped bridge to avoid the traffic on A1A to get to the sand. It was formally managed by Radission, but they stopped a while back.
Currently, it is under ownership and management of a group that purchased several other hotels in the area (the Hyatt pier 66, the Marriott near the Hyatt. Believe they also now control the Boca Club and Resort....the Blackstone Group. THey are planning major removations to these hotels. (A lot of functions have been stopped)
I don%26#39;t know if Hyatt %26amp; Marriott will continue to manage those, but I don%26#39;t know who manages the Bahia Mar now. There is no major hotel brand on the building.
I also can%26#39;t tell you how the interior is.....but, I might want to consider a few other places....
The Sheraton Yankee Clipper (is also under renovations), managed and now majority owner by Starwood. It sits in the sand, next to the Best Western Oceanside, and the Marriott Harbour Beach ($$$$) hotel. All of these places are on the beach side of A1A, you can walk to the water taxi stop www.watertaxi.com , and prices vary.
The Sheraton has several sections also under renovation, but I don%26#39;t know to what extent it might impact a stay there. You might also check out further N on the beach. Most of the Best Western Pelican is brand new ans d pretty nice, but a bit of a walk to the water taxi.
The SHeraton Yankee Trader is across A1A from the beach, but an easy cross over (also a ped bridge there. The Marriott Beach Place Tower and St Regis have a tunnel under the street (just S of the Yankee Trader)
Between the Trader and St Regis Hotel/ Marriott BEach Place T/Ss (2 bed 2 bath) are two small T/S that you might find OK. WE have checked out the Silver Seas www.dailymanagementresorts.com and think they are OK....built after WW2, this apt hotel was switched to timeshare in about 1977. One bedroom one bath sleeps 4 in private, 6 total,,,tight. Just remember, its an older place.
As Lulu %26amp; everyone said, you will be within easy acess of all the malls and shops....within walking distance of tons of restaurants.
Another idea....if the kids are into sports....try the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World (you will need to drive). This just doesn%26#39;t have fishing stuff, but lots of sports equipment. Its easy to get to...you don%26#39;t have to us I 95. Simply go S on A1A and follow to the US RT one turn (left) toward the airport. Continue on US Rt 1 (will also be A1A S) to just past the airport entrance. Once past the airport, stay in R lanes, and at light turn (or bear R) onto Griffin Road. Con%26#39;t W on Griffin and pass under Interstate 95. When you see Tropical Acres Steak House on your left, aim toward left lane on Griffin, as you are going to L onto Anglers Road (Was once Ravenwood). Stay in left lane on Anglers, and turn where it says Bass Pro/Outdoor World, Isalmorada Fish Co (a fish restaurant in the Bass Pro Shop).
If you want to try Sawgrass Mills....and are near the S end of the beach on A1A, follow directions above to US Rt 1 S....toward airport. When you turn off 17th (turn L) then stay in your right lane...you will be leaving Rt 1 just BEFORE the airport onto Interstate 595W. Stay on 595 West to the Sawgrass Expressway and exit onto the Sawgrass. (Its a toll road, but you will get off before the toll). Stay in R lane on Sawgrass Expressway, because your getting off on the first exit...which is Sunrise Blvd. WHen on Sunrise, stay in Left Lane....as signage will guide you to the Sawgrass Mills. Of course, the Oasis is where the kids stuff is (and the Cheesecake Factory, Wolfgang Pucks, Legal Seafoods), but its not the outlet section.
I would not attempt t Sawgrass Mills from the beach area of Sunrise Blvd. It takes too long %26amp; too much traffic.
I forgot the Sawgrass Expressways route number......
Just so you know, there isn%26#39;t a tunnel under the street near the St. Regis/Marriott Beach Place. The only tunnel is at Birch State Park which is north of Sunrise Blvd.
Bahia Mar is very nice and I would stay there again!
http://www.sunny.org/webcam/camapp.cfm
The above link show a live pix (only see in daylight) of a small building with a tiny roof by the Cortez Street Showers.
Unless Wilma or another flooded and loaded sand to block it off, this WAS? a tunnel entrance connecting the Beach Place complex to the sand on the beach and under A1A to the building side.
I don%26#39;t know, it may be closed now....but we used it last June.
The Bahia Mar is nice. Has been there for quite a while. Decent security and staff.
Unless you like to shop till you drop avoid, the Sawgrass. The drive is long and a pain for us locals. I can only imagine what the stress level is for the tourists. If you want to take the boys where the locals shop for surf wear and beach wear? Go to Island Water Sports in Deerfield Beach. I would just stay on A1A until I hit Island Water, should only take about 30 minutes. The beach is more picturesque than on the strip in Lauderdale. When you are done shopping you can cross the bridge and go to the Cove restaurant. Get a table on the water, the food is great.
Also, the best sub shop in town is LaSpada%26#39;s Subs in Lauderdale by the Sea on Seagrape. They are truly amazing. If your boys like subs, you HAVE to take them there.
http://www.islandwatersports.com
http://www.thecoverestaurant.com
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