Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort

The Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a vibrant and stylish stay in Fort Lauderdale. Guests frequently praise its blend of retro charm with modern amenities, excellent service, and prime location near the beach.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests rating it as "Very Good" to "Exceptional". Reviewers often highlight its cool, retro vibe and welcoming atmosphere. The hotel consistently receives high marks for its staff and location.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently love several aspects of the Kimpton Shorebreak:

• Rooftop Pool and Bar: The 18th-floor rooftop pool with views of Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway is a major draw, offering a stunning spot to relax, enjoy drinks, and watch sunsets.
• Design & Vibe: The hotel beautifully blends a "postcard perfect retro vibe" from its 1950s origins with modern touches, featuring Art Deco design and lush tropical courtyards.
• Amenities: Guests appreciate the complimentary offerings such as free bike rentals, beach bags, beach towels, and often complimentary beach chairs. The Kimpton's signature evening social hour with free wine is also a much-loved perk. The hotel is also noted for being pet-friendly with no deposit or fees, and offers a "Plant Pals Program".
• Two Pools: In addition to the rooftop pool, there is a second heated pool located in one of the resort's tropical courtyards, ideal for families.

Room Quality

The rooms at the Kimpton Shorebreak are described as stylish, comfortable, and clean, featuring a retro/throwback or Art Deco design with light and natural hues. They offer modern comforts such as air conditioning, state-of-the-art televisions, refrigerators (often a retro mini-fridge), Marshall Bluetooth speakers, and USB charging ports. Bathrooms are well-appointed with luxurious Atelier Bloem bath amenities, soft bathrobes, and hairdryers. Some guests have noted that rooms are spacious, while others have found them to be on the smaller side.

Dining Experience

The hotel's signature restaurant, La Fuga, serves modern, coastal Italian cuisine, infusing local South Florida flavors with classic Italian staples. La Fuga offers indoor and outdoor dining with views of the courtyard and is open for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is available daily for a fee. Guests often enjoy the "crave-worthy Italian dishes" and a fantastic kids' menu. The hotel also features two poolside bars. The evening social hour includes free glasses of wine.

Service & Staff

The service and staff at Kimpton Shorebreak consistently receive high praise for being incredibly friendly, helpful, welcoming, and attentive. Guests have reported being greeted with personalized notes and dessert plates, and appreciate the staff's assistance with early check-ins and late check-outs. The team is often highlighted for going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay.

Location & Accessibility

The resort boasts an excellent and convenient location in Fort Lauderdale. It is situated right on the Intracoastal Waterway and is just a block away, or a short walk, from Fort Lauderdale Beach. The hotel offers a complimentary Cadillac golf cart shuttle to the beach. Nearby attractions include the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1 mile), Bonnet House Museum & Gardens (0.4 miles), Las Olas Beach (0.7 miles), and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (0.8 miles). The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is approximately 8.7 miles away. Public transport options like the water taxi are also accessible nearby.

Value & Pricing

While the Kimpton Shorebreak offers a high-quality experience, some guests have expressed concerns about the value and pricing. Typical rates start from around $136 per night for a standard room. However, an additional resort fee of $38.00 plus tax per night is applied, which covers amenities such as daily yoga classes, beach chairs, bottled water, boogie board usage, in-room water, two-hour bike rentals, kids' beach toys, pool services, and upgraded Wi-Fi. Valet parking is also an additional cost of approximately $47 per night. Some guests feel these additional charges are high and not always clearly communicated upfront.

Common Complaints

While generally well-received, some recurring criticisms include:

• Room Variability: Some guests found rooms to be small or the "motel-style layout" challenging. There were also mentions of some rooms feeling "dated" and in need of a refresh.
• Mattress Comfort: A few guests found the mattresses to be too soft.
• Noise Levels: Specific rooms, particularly those on the ground floor facing the street or at the end of the hotel on a residential street, have been reported to have privacy concerns requiring drawn blinds, and some general noise due to shared walkways.
• Connectivity Issues: On occasion, guests have experienced issues with Wi-Fi and TV services being down for extended periods.
• Resort Fees and Parking: As noted above, the additional resort fee and valet parking charges were a point of contention for some guests.

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