Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Beach Hotel vs. Hilton Yacht Club

I haven%26#39;t been to Ft. Lauderdale in about 30 years...have no idea what it%26#39;s like now. Am looking for a nice (warm!) place to spend a few days during the first week of November - have Hilton Honors points to use and found these two properties. Have also considered both the Hilton Naples/Hilton Longboat Key on the Gulf side of Florida, but the Ft. Lauderdale area looks so nice now.

Can someone compare these two hotels for me? Being on the beach would be great, but I%26#39;m also intrigued at being on the Intracoastal.

And..if you also have thoughts on the Naples/Sarasota area vs. Ft. Lauderdale, I%26#39;d welcome those, too!

Thanks!

Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Beach Hotel vs. Hilton Yacht Club

Well, let me start by saying that I%26#39;ve been to all three Hiltons. The Hilton Naples and Towers is a really pretty hotel but it%26#39;s on a very busy street and not at all close to the Gulf of Mexico (or any water for that matter). Naples itself is a nice town, much ';sleepier'; than her cousin on the Atlantic.

As far as the two Fort Lauderdale Hotels, I happen to like the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach property better. The rooms are larger than the Fort Lauderdale Grande (the correct name of the Hilton Yacht Club) and you have more dining options in the beach property. Le Marche - an really nice deli type restaurant - and Ilios, their regular restaurant. They will be putting in an Aquaknox in the not-too-distant future, which will really be nice! The Grande has a China Grill (open for breakfast and dinner only) and it%26#39;s pricey.

If you decide on the beach, be sure to ask for a one-bedroom suite as opposed to a studio......

Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Beach Hotel vs. Hilton Yacht Club

LMB, from personal experience, I would also recommend the Hilton at Marco Island. Not too big, right on the beach, and very friendly last time I was there, which was about 4 years ago. Having said that, Marco Island is not the liveliest of places, but Naples is not that far away, if you want a shopping trip!