Three Fave Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBTQ-Friendly Hotels

Feeling the chill of winter and yearning for the kiss of a warming sun? Greater Fort Lauderdale beckons year-round, but perhaps never so much as in the winter season. Here are three of the best among the destination's hotels – some new, some newly renovated, all LGBTQ+-friendly.

AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise

The AC Hotel, belonging to a Marriott sub-brand, has bragging rights for being the first hotel in a decade and a half to be built in the community of Sunrise, Florida –�and it's a brand-new property, having opened less than a year ago. Another point of pride is the property's location: Right by Sawgrass Mills Mall, and close by to sports and concert venue FLA Live Arena.

The hotel's European-influenced design includes "an emphasis on technology," the property's website notes, including "flat-screen Smart HDTVs" in each of the hotel's 174 rooms, along with "complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout." To get the day off to a good start, the AC Hotel's breakfast options include "freshly baked croissants, artisan cured meats and assorted quiches."

Kimpton Goodland Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach

Located in the same spot as the historic Escape Hotel (which was first opened in 1949), the Kimpton Goodland Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach, as its website notes, retains "the welcoming coastal spirit" of its famed predecessor.

"With two pools, a coastal-inspired restaurant and bar, and lush secluded courtyards, each setting is a postcard of possibility," the site says. Sea and sand are nearby, and the hotel features on-site amenities that include "lush tropical courtyards," two heated outdoor pools (one at the lobby level and one at the rooftop), as well as the 8th-floor Rooftop at The Goodland with its expansive ocean views. The property even throws in beach chairs, yoga classes, two hours of bike rental, and so much more!

Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina

Only a few miles from the airport and right next door to the Broward Convention Center, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is the first and last word in convenience –�and that includes a water taxi and beach shuttle.

With 589 units (including 17 suites and condos), this cosmopolitan property offers "a palm-lined pool area and a walking trail around our grounds," not to mention "all-day dining at our outdoor tropical restaurant." The hotel even boasts its own marina –�just as the name promises!

Five Can't-Miss Highlights

IGNITE – The free annual art festival, is a "family-friendly immersive art experience featuring exciting interactive video and light installations created by leading contemporary artists and designers," the event's website says.

"Site-specific artworks will illuminate and activate locations in Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach from Jan. 26 - 30, 2022."

DUNE by Laurent Tourondel The beachside establishment at Auberge Beach Residences and Spa, "brings Fort Lauderdale an elevated dining experience unlike any other," the restaurant's webpage promises.

"Helmed by globally-renowned Chef Tourondel – whose unrelenting passion brought forth an award-winning portfolio of restaurants throughout the world – DUNE ushers in a new era of contemporary American cuisine characterized by an emphasis on creativity and innovation."

The National Senior Games presented by Humana – An athletic event running May 10 - 23, is so exciting you might not want to just drop by; you may even want to build your Greater Fort Lauderdale experience around it!

Visit Lauderdale notes that the National Senior Games are "the world's largest multi-sport championship event for adults ages 50+."

"For the first time in history, open registration is now offered for the Games. Anyone 50 and over by December 31, 2021, can register and compete in the 2022 Games without first qualifying."

The LOOP – Standing for "Las Olas Oceanside Park System," the LOOP is a "$65 million parks project located in the Central Beach area of Fort Lauderdale beach," Visit Florida details. With an array of events – including live music, markets, and food and wine festivals – the LOOP is "a destination in and of itself for authentic experiences."

Getting there – It's half the fun, after all, and it's easier than ever...and getting more so. For domestic travelers, both Avelo Airlines and Frontier Airlines are adding new nonstop routes. Avelo is already flying nonstop between New Haven and Fort Lauderdale, while Frontier is about to kick off a dozen new nonstop routes from as near as Orlando and as far as New York, Trenton, Green Bay, Portland, and other points across the U.S. – all of them are scheduled to go into service in mid-February.