Lodging Fort Lauderdale..

[bigvalboy]

Heading to Fort Lauderdale Jan 11th...does anyone know of a good gay Bed and Breakfast in Ft. Lauderdale or Wilton Manors. Thanks in advance guys.

[shadowcatzxxx]

There is a wide selection, and Yah gottah tell us what it is you're looking for. Do you want a gorgeous, gay-owned place to stay with beautiful rooms, pool, hot tub, beautiful gardens good service, that is happy to allow guests to entertain "visitors," and offers all the accoutrements (free condoms and lube, porn & soft-core gay videos, nice continental breakfast) ... and is priced accordingly in reason? Or do you want a glorified rent-by-the-hour-motel-serving-as-a-bathhouse? FTl offer quite a spectrum and large range of prices.

[Steven_Draker]

I've enjoyed the Royal Palms on several occasions in the past. I've heard the management changed recently and there were several changes in the property. Probably someone can fill you in with first hand information.

[rickx]

The Royal Palms is all new and better then before, We stayed ther twice in the last 2 months. It is actuallly a new hotel, several blocks away from the old one. Once a month they have a great tea dance by the pool ussually 300 to 400 locals. Great way to meet people. Great new energy. Investors bought 24 of th old hotel, motels and apartment buildings.

 

http://www.robinashley.com/tag/swedish-investor-par-sanda/

[bigvalboy]

There is a wide selection, and Yah gottah tell us what it is you're looking for. Do you want a gorgeous, gay-owned place to stay with beautiful rooms, pool, hot tub, beautiful gardens good service, that is happy to allow guests to entertain "visitors," and offers all the accoutrements (free condoms and lube, porn & soft-core gay videos, nice continental breakfast) ... and is priced accordingly in reason? Or do you want a glorified rent-by-the-hour-motel-serving-as-a-bathhouse? FTl offer quite a spectrum and large range of prices.

 

Yes looking for a really nice gay owned resort with beautiful rooms and great service, other than the Royal Palms, any other suggestions? I want a couple to choose from. thanks guys

[bigvalboy]

The Royal Palms is all new and better then before, We stayed ther twice in the last 2 months. It is actuallly a new hotel, several blocks away from the old one. Once a month they have a great tea dance by the pool ussually 300 to 400 locals. Great way to meet people. Great new energy. Investors bought 24 of th old hotel, motels and apartment buildings.

 

http://www.robinashley.com/tag/swedish-investor-par-sanda/

 

Thanks rickx, the article was very interesting. Thinking of buying there myself and according to what I read, this might be a good time.

[shadowcatzxxx]

To reply to several things in this thread at once:

 

First, the place that I inadvertently described ini my first post here was Pineapple point (oddly enough, @ http://pineapplepoint.com/). Upscale, beautiful grounds, nice pool, VERY nice rooms, and charming hosts and staff. I did not see any of the hunks pictured on the website during my stays, and I have only stayed there off-season ... so I don't know how much "happens" on-site in terms of hookups and such. But the owners are very nice, they remember me even though I only visit once or twice a year, and the location is quite convenient ... as long as you have a car. I have had (ahem) a number of visitors there (sometimes more than one at once), and no one has ever raised an eyebrow. At the same time, it would be a delightful place for couples as well. Not in the center of things, so it is actually quiet there when you want it to be.

 

Second, re: real FTL estate

Just remember that real estate in any place like southern FL is always a gamble; sometimes it pays off big-time, sometimes it tanks. I'm toying with the idea of buying something in FL as well (although elsewhere), and my sources say that prices are still at or near (depending on location) historic lows. Whether they are starting a permanent rise to former heights (as some people say) or whether they are poised to drop even further in the short-term (as other people say) I do not have the prescience to decide. As long as you buy a place that YOU would enjoy, and get your money's worth out of through the inevitable ups and downs of prices, go for it. If you're looking for JUST an investment property, be careful, and spend enough time there first to become good friends with a few realtors you can trust first. Good luck!

[bigvalboy]

To reply to several things in this thread at once:

 

First, the place that I inadvertently described ini my first post here was Pineapple point (oddly enough, @ http://pineapplepoint.com/). Upscale, beautiful grounds, nice pool, VERY nice rooms, and charming hosts and staff. I did not see any of the hunks pictured on the website during my stays, and I have only stayed there off-season ... so I don't know how much "happens" on-site in terms of hookups and such. But the owners are very nice, they remember me even though I only visit once or twice a year, and the location is quite convenient ... as long as you have a car. I have had (ahem) a number of visitors there (sometimes more than one at once), and no one has ever raised an eyebrow. At the same time, it would be a delightful place for couples as well. Not in the center of things, so it is actually quiet there when you want it to be.

 

Second, re: real FTL estate

Just remember that real estate in any place like southern FL is always a gamble; sometimes it pays off big-time, sometimes it tanks. I'm toying with the idea of buying something in FL as well (although elsewhere), and my sources say that prices are still at or near (depending on location) historic lows. Whether they are starting a permanent rise to former heights (as some people say) or whether they are poised to drop even further in the short-term (as other people say) I do not have the prescience to decide. As long as you buy a place that YOU would enjoy, and get your money's worth out of through the inevitable ups and downs of prices, go for it. If you're looking for JUST an investment property, be careful, and spend enough time there first to become good friends with a few realtors you can trust first. Good luck!

 

Many many thanks for the info.. this is for a permanent home in retirement. I know that real estate is at historic lows and I want to jump in while I can. Think I am going to stay at the Royal Palm for now. Thanks for the advice. If I do not find something this trip I will return in a month or so. Thanks for taking the time to respond. regards, BVB

[shadowcatzxxx]

If you are looking for a permanent retirement home, GO FOR IT! Prices are low ... and as long as you want to actually live there, prices are good enough that you should be fine. Just be sure you find a reputable RE Agent (don't just choose the hottest one ), and check out real comps. I would also suggest that you determine whether the place you're looking at was built before or after the (relatively) new and improved building codes ... which were revised (I believe in both Dade and Broward counties) after hurricane Andrew to require better construction in ways that help protect against hurricane damage. Good luck!

[bigvalboy]

If you are looking for a permanent retirement home, GO FOR IT! Prices are low ... and as long as you want to actually live there, prices are good enough that you should be fine. Just be sure you find a reputable RE Agent (don't just choose the hottest one ), and check out real comps. I would also suggest that you determine whether the place you're looking at was built before or after the (relatively) new and improved building codes ... which were revised (I believe in both Dade and Broward counties) after hurricane Andrew to require better construction in ways that help protect against hurricane damage. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the advice shadowcat...actually at first I went looking for the cutest agent but finally hired a guy who is a native of Fort Lauderdale and 30 years experience, and yes I am concerned about hurricanes, insurance I have found out can be really steep, but I am thinking about sticking with a Condo since I feel that in the event of a hurricane at least they are less susceptible to damage, and I really am done with the constant upkeep when you own a home. I just want to lock the door and go. Many thanks for your input, BVB

[ncc1701d]

Bringing this thread back as I wanted to ask the same thing. Looking for a clean safe reasonably priced hotel with firm beds and a hot tub (going in Oct so doubt it's pool weather) and a variety of guests in age/size etc for some fun on the side if things click like the nice ones in Palm Springs. Thanks

[Karl-G]

Pools

 

.

1. What's "reasonably priced?" It can be very different for different people. There are 32 gay guest houses in Fort Lauderdale (more or less). Nov. - Mar. (more or less) is high season, June-August is low season, and the rest is "shoulder" season. Rates vary greatly during the year. If you stay more than 5 days, you will almost always get a better deal.

 

2. You can swim comfortably in outdoor pools in Fort Lauderdale every day of the year. Even if I am busy, I always swim in our outdoor pool on Christmas and New Year's just so I can tell my friends up north. : - ) And I do not belong to the Polar Bear Club. After Nov. 1 pools have heat pumps which keep the water pleasant but never warm. After May 1 pools have chillers to keep them comfortable during the summer. Right now our pool is very pleasantly cool and refreshing, thanks to the chilling pump. Without it, the water becomes warm during the day and unpleasant for swimming. You can swim very comfortably in the ocean on Christmas and January 1 (and all year long) off of Fort Lauderdale. The Gulf Stream keeps it a pleasant temperature all year long. (I have picked up some of the nicest college boys on vacation at the beach between Christmas and New Year's as they sample the waves and sand.)

.