Fort Lauderdale

[starvenger]

I haven't stayed at the SHS, but the Hyatt Place has a very small lobby. There was a small counter/bar that seats maybe 8 (if I remember right), and 3-4 tables that seat 4. It wasn't a big deal for us because we got in really late and had offsite plans for breakfast. With a big group though, you'll probably fill up the whole lobby. The location however is very convenient. You're walking distance to the grocery store (and wine store) if you forget to pack anything or are needing beach toys (sand buckets, rakes, etc.). We always walk over and pay $8 for a bag of the beach toys and then toss them at the end of the trip. Same for sunscreen - much better prices at the grocery store than a CVS/Walgreens. There are also some casual restaurants for dinner or breakfast that could handle a large group in walking distance too. That 17th Street corridor is pretty perfect for pre-cruise. Have fun!

It's good to hear that the place was renovated. Bad if they reduced the seating area in the lobby, although my experience (pre-covid) was that people come and go pretty quickly so not a big deal. Plus there is a lot of space in the rooms (you could probably fit 6 adults comfortably), so you could get food and eat in the "lounge" area of your room.