Crowne Plaza Fort Lauderdale Airport / Cruise Port

There is a four-story parking garage and the hotel itself is 11 stories high. The entranceway is clean but sparse, with marble counters for check in; conveniently, a flat-screen TV has updated flight information, and guests can print boarding passes at a kiosk. The lobby is bright and sleek, with mod white couches and metallic wall art. Hallways, too, are modern and fun, with colorful drapes, geometric carpeting, and unique wallpaper. KiKi’s Restaurant and Bar invites guests with red walls, multi-colored tile, and several flat-screen TVs -- including at the bar. Most guests taking advantage of these common spaces are business travelers on short stays, although families may appreciate the pool.

The hotel is located in an industrial area, surrounded by car lots, storage units, and construction-related businesses. There's a pizza restaurant within a five-minute walk, and Harbor Shops -- with stores and restaurants on the popular 17th Street strip -- are about a 15-minute walk away, best reached by car or taxi. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a five to 10-minute drive, and the hotel offers a free shuttle service by request. The port is a couple of miles away and is also accessible by shuttle, but for a fee. The Broward Convention Center is about one-and-a-half miles away.

Rooms are decorated in fresh, modern style with textured blue carpeting, baby-blue walls, and green floor-to-ceiling window treatments. Beds are navy blue and white with fluffy pillows, while furniture is dark wood, save for a green couch. Guests have access to free Wi-Fi and premium cable channels on flat-screen TVs. Each room includes a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and microwave. Bathrooms are clean and tidy with walk-in showers and modern vessel sinks.

For dining, KiKi’s Restaurant and Bar on the fifth floor serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a menu of American and Latin-inspired dishes. The 24-hour fitness center is mid-sized with no windows, and stocked with basic exercise machines, medicine balls, mats, and free weights -- towels and a water dispenser are also available for use. The hotel's four meetings rooms are decorated in the property's standard modern, geometric design. There is also a business center with computers and a printer. On the ground floor, the Sundry Shop sells beach gear, as well as beer, wine, and some snacks. Outside, the swimming pool has long hours and is large enough to swim laps. However, it doesn’t provide a very interesting view.