Background and Booking
Since I was taking a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), I needed a one-night stay pre-cruise. I had a Hyatt Category 1-4 certificate to use and it was a perfect opportunity to try out the Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale since it is a Category 4 property. I’ve stayed at two Hyatt Centric before, in Waikiki & most recently in Mountain View, California. I had a great stay at the Hyatt Centric Mountain View, so I was excited to give this hotel a try. It would also be nice to compare this to the Dalmar Fort Lauderdale part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio which I stayed at last year pre-cruise.
The Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale opened in 2020 and features 238 rooms. It’s in a mixed-development building, where the Hyatt Centric is housed on the first 15 floors, and luxury condominiums are located on the 16th floor and above.
Currently, the Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale is a Category 4 in the World of Hyatt Program, which costs:
- 12,000 points for off-peak nights
- 15,000 points for standard nights
- 18,000 points for peak nights
Additionally, category 1-4 Free Night Certificates can used at the hotel, which is what I used from my World of Hyatt Credit Card.
Cash rates can vary from around $150 in the low season to $500 in the high season. Rates during my stay were in the $400s, which made it a great use of a certificate.
Takeoff Points
Room Type Booked: Two Queen Beds
Room Type Received: Balcony Two Queen Beds
Pros: Solid, modern rooms and great location.
Cons: The valet/entrance was designed a bit inconvenient.
Location and Arrival
The property is in a prime downtown location, steps away from Fort Lauderdale’s lovely RiverWalk. It’s also just 4 miles from both the Fort Lauderdale Airport, and the cruise ship port (Port Everglades).
The valet design is a bit off, there is one small section that is shared with a parking garage entrance. There is another section on the street, which is initially hard to notice, but is the better option. When we were trying to get dropped off, the small porte cochere was blocked. It’s best to just get dropped off on the street, and there’s an indentation and signs saying it’s for valet.
We were quickly checked in and handed the keys to our room which would be located on the 10th floor. The front desk agent let me know that with my Explorist Status, we got upgraded to a room with a balcony.
Room
As you enter the 350-square-foot room, there is an open-air closet with plenty of space. There was an iron/ board with three shelves and the top contained robes. The robes were interesting as they had more of a sweater material. Of course, there were hangers and a place where you could put your luggage, as well as a safe and some drawers.
To the left, there was a sliding door that takes you to the bathroom. The bathroom contained a large vanity area with a single sink, a water closet to the left, and a large standup shower to the right. The standup shower had a rainfall showerhead, as well as a wand which was nice.
Toiletries were provided by BeeKind. There was also a grooming kit, which came with Q-tips, a sewing kit, a nail filer, Band-Aids, and carbon swabs. Also, there were makeup removal wipes, as well as a shower cap provided. I was actually impressed by the amount of amenities given. And, the Drybar hair dryer is a nice touch.
As you enter further into the room, there’s a large mirror to the left, and to the right there is a desk area with a chair and coffee maker. Provided were capsules for English breakfast tea as well as decaf and non-decaffeinated coffee. There is also a mini fridge for personal use. Two bottles of water were provided complimentary for World of Hyatt members.
The room featured two queen-sized beds, and there was a nightstand in the middle. The nightstand also featured a JBL alarm clock/speaker, as well as plenty of charging ports. On the headboard next to each side of the bed, there were bedside lamps.
There was a 55″ television from LG and a TV stand that could also serve as a luggage rack. Next to the window was a floor lamp plus a chair and side table.
Balcony
The balcony looked over Las Olas Boulevard, and there were two chairs and a table. The balcony was quite large, but the view was alright. It was a bit blocked by a building in front, though there was more to see on the left.
Overall, I found the room to be quite comfortable, and a solid 4-star hotel room stay.
Amenities
On the 8th floor, is an outdoor pool. I didn’t have time to take a swim, but it looked quite nice for a city hotel.
There is also a solid-sized fitness center with Peloton bikes.
Dining
Harborwood is the main restaurant located on the lobby level and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The space is actually on the smaller side, and I did have breakfast in the morning. It was pretty standard, and the food was nothing special.
Room Nine01 is a unique dining option, open for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday (reservations only). It’s a speakeasy inside a hotel room, with cocktails and gourmet bites. Fun!
And of course, the pool deck has the ELEV8 Pool Bar with cocktails and light bites.
The Verdict
Overall, I had a solid stay at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale. Depending on the time of year that you are traveling, it can be a solid use of a World of Hyatt Category 1-4 Certificate or using points. The location is very convenient, within walking distance to the shops and restaurants on Las Olas Boulevard, or a quick Uber ride to Port Everglades to catch a cruise ship. I would definitely consider staying here pre-cruise again.
Have you stayed at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale before? How was your experience? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
