Coconut Bay Resort: A Relaxing Getaway from the Cold
by - Written: Oct 07 '08 (Updated Oct 07 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent location, large and well-maintained unit
Cons: A bit of an outdated unit, no special amenities
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this resort because of its location and the comfort of the unit.
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| jetbluefan1's Full Review: Coconut Bay Resort - Fort Lauderdale |
You either love Fort Lauderdale or hate Fort Lauderdale. I mean - come on. There's nothing better than loud New Yorkers at the bar down the street or snobby snowbirds driving Ferraris and wearing Puma hats. (For the record, I'm one of those loud New Yorkers, and I'm a bit of a snob too. Wink wink.) In any case, if you're going to Fort Lauderdale, you may want to find yourself near the beach. Yes, Downtown Fort Lauderdale is absolutely beautiful and very fun, and the beach is certainly one of the biggest draws of the city. And that's why we chose to stay at a resort near the beach, away from the crowd, but close enough to everything important. That's why we chose Coconut Bay Resort.
Coconut Bay Resort is located on Birch Street, behind a rather raunchy area with tattoo parlors and sleazy bars. There is a really good pizza parlor just a couple of blocks away, however, and the upscale Galleria Mall is located just up the street on Sunrise Blvd. There are several restaurants located in the area as well, not to mention beautiful Birch State Park just across the street. And...I know there's something else nearby, but I can't exactly put my finger on it. Wait, wait...it's coming to me. It's warm, relaxing, clean, fun. Oh yes! The beach - just a three minute walk and across A1A.
Parking for the hotel is located on-site, and you can choose to park right in front of your unit. Keep in mind that Coconut Bay Resort is resort-style, meaning that there are units with full kitchens, several bedrooms, living rooms, etc. If you're looking for a traditional hotel with room service, indoor hallways, and breathtaking views from the fortieth floor, you are looking at the wrong place. On that note, we found reservations for the resort through our RCI Points account. However, you can choose to purchase units with another form of payment if you are not an RCI member.
Check-in at the hotel was quick and pleasant. While I checked in, my wife went next door to the 7-11 and purchased sun tan lotion, water bottles, and some snacks for the fridge. Upon check-in, I was offered maps and pool towels; you are not allowed to bring these towels to the beach, but this rule is not strictly enforced from what I could see. On that note, the towels are supposed to be used at the resort's pool - which I saw from a distance, and it seemed rather modest. On that note, the pool was the location of several "community breakfasts" which were advertised in the check-in area, though we didn't attend any of these. Nevertheless, it shows the hospitality of the resort, and it's certainly a nice touch for families, couples, and friends alike.
Our accommodation was a rather large one-bedroom unit. It had a full kitchen, a living room, a dining area, a bedroom with an attached bathroom, closet space, and an enclosed back porch overlooking a small canal with oversized boats. On that note, you can walk through the "backyard" of each unit on a sidewalk along the canal's bulkheads. Unfortunately, this sidewalk ends and is fenced off before reaching the major waterway at the end, which has views of beautiful waterfront houses. However, you can get similar views across the street at Birch State Park.
The unit was clean, well-maintained, and was very pleasant overall. We never found the need to change the unit's temperature, to open windows, etc. The décor is tropical and maybe a bit outdated, but what else do you expect from a resort in Florida?
The living room is the first room we walked into. It featured a TV as well as chairs, a coffee table, and a couch (which does not fold out to sleep others). This room was very large and had ample lighting, and it was an enjoyable place to end the night with drinks and snacks while watching a movie. After the living room comes the dining area, which had a large glass table and several chairs. It was more than sufficient for the two of us, and it was nice to have something so homelike in our unit. Across from the dining area is an enclosed kitchen, which offered normal appliances such as a toaster, microwaves, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, an oven and a range. Granted, we only used about half of these appliances, but the ones that we did use seemed to work well - though they were not exactly brand spankin' new. There is ample silverware, plates, bowls, and cups, as well as cupboard space. If you're staying for a few weeks, you won't have trouble finding space here.
Our bedroom was very large as well, and it offered sliding doors to our enclosed porch. The enclosed porch was a bit on the shabby side - it had two plastic chairs and a table, but it was nice that it had netting so that bugs wouldn't bother us. Switching gears, the bedroom itself was very spacious and clean. It had an armoire which had ample storage space, as well as a closet, a TV, and a chair. The bed was very comfortable and all sheets and covers seemed clean enough.
The bathroom isn't anything special. It offered a tub-style shower, a clean toilet, a sink with a large mirror, and some cabinet space. Thankfully, there was also a dehumidifying fan - something that many normal hotels do not have. Towels - washcloths, hand towels and shower towels - were aplenty. Remember to bring your own shampoo and conditioner! Soap is provided. The bath was a bit small, but it was sufficient and clean.
So what are my thoughts on this place? Overall, I feel that Coconut Bay Resort was more than adequate. The unit was very large, clean, and well maintained, though it did seem outdated. The resort is in the perfect location - though not directly on the beach, it is only a three minute walk, and it's also close to restaurants, stores, the mall, and the national park. Fort Lauderdale International Airport is about a 15 minute drive (dependent on traffic and which roads you take), and it is definitely much more convenient than West Palm Beach International Airport or Miami International Airport. Overall, I would certainly recommend Coconut Bay Resort - it offered us a relaxing experience and had no major or even minor oversights.
Recommended:
Yes
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