Hilton HHonors - Florida: Fontainebleau vs. Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach

I will be traveling with my parents (around 65) to Florida and have two reservations for a GLON stay Nov. 8 to Nov. 14 - one in the Hilton Fontainebleau in Miami and one in the Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach near Boca Raton.

Here and elsewhere, I have read many very negative reviews of the Fontainebleau, especially about the attitude of the staff and lack of Diamond recognition. The reviews of the Embassy Suites hotel have been mainly positive. This is why I would be leaning towards the Embassy Suites - plus, the Suites there have two rooms (sofa bed in the living room) and two bathrooms, which would make them ideal to share.

Just wanted to check if you would agree with this decision pro Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach and against the Fontainebleau - and if you would decide differently if a confirmed upgrade to a suite in the Fontainebleau was possible.

Also, if you have any even better recommendations for this stay (with parents), please let me know.

As always, thank you very much for your help http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

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Please have a look at my round-the-world travel blog (http://sirjackiechiles.blogspot.com) and leave some comments - thanks :-).

Well, sure, if you don't plan to leave the rooms, the ES would probably win hands down. But the two properties are entirely different in terms of location, views, and atmosphere.

And I especially would not discount the nostalgia factor. When your parents were in their teens and 20s, large numbers of Americans began to think about traveling to places that were more than a few hundred miles away: the Interstate highway system was beginning to make driving much faster and safer, and jet planes made it possible for more and more people to travel long distances in no time at all.

Miami Beach was the great destination for many people on the east coast. And the two jewels of Miami Beach were the Fontainebleu and the Eden Roc. If you could afford to stay at either of those places, it means that you'd made it (sort of like staying at whatever the tawdry top-of-the-line place is in Las Vegas today).

So while the Fontainebleu would suffer by comparison to many properties today, a certain felling of nostalgia would not be lost on those of a certain age.

Which is a long-winded way of suggesting that you ask your parents about it.

Thanks, wideman.

Actually, my parents are German, so they would not really know about the history of the Fontainebleau...plus, they like to play golf...I guess that would give another point to the ES...but how would any Homewood Suites (Sunny Isles?) or the Hilton Naples fare against the ES Deerfield Beach? The ES sounds good, but I have read some very negative comments by now about its management/staff and it looks like it is one of these "good, but not great" properties...hmm...any more advice?

(If I was alone or with a girlfriend, I am pretty sure I would choose the Fontainebleau, because it is much closer to South Beach and all the action...but with elderly people...)

Thanks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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Please have a look at my round-the-world travel blog (http://sirjackiechiles.blogspot.com) and leave some comments - thanks :-).

I have stayed at the FB 3 times in the last several months. The first two visits were very nice, yesterday was not as great. The first two times, I was given very nice balcony rooms. I was there for business, so I didn't really get to enjoy the resort aspects of the property. There is a great pool and a nice boardwalk on the beach that makes a very nice place to walk - its several miles long at least walking south from the hotel. I have always been treated well at the hotel. The last visit was ok, but given a nonbalcony room with a view of the construction workers in the new fountainbleau highrise condo being built next door. Room was ok, but shower head was broken, making it difficult to shower. The executive lounge is very nice, and the meals at at the restuarants have always been good. However, I think my experiences differed because on first visit, hotels was virtually empty and on latest visit the hotel was quite busy - which concerns me that as the busy season comes along, it might not be as good as my first few experience. Not that I wasn't happy with my stay in general, but I got spoiled by the prior balcony rooms.

As for the FB - one issue you might consider is that you really have to get in the car and drive around MIA to do things, even to have dinner unless you stay at hotel or walk next door to Edan Roc. And the one thing that does make me nuts at the FB has been retreiving the car from the valets.

I have no experience with ES so can't comment. Your Naples idea might be a good one. I worked on a case in Naples requiring me to travel there generaly twice a month for over a year and learned to really like it there. I stayed at the Doubletree Guest Suites which was a very nice mon-resort property. The rooms are very large [befroom and seperate living room, wet bar area with dining table] and nice, and the staff is wonderful. I was generally given a large corner room overlooking the small river that runs behind the hotel. I always meant to try the Hilton but was always so pleased with the Doubletree that I just didn't bother, particulary since I was just there to work. As such, I can't comment on the Hilton specifically. However, there are a zillion golf courses in the Naples area. When you wait for your bags at the airport, about 80 percent of the items coming off the plane are golf bags. Naples runs the gamut from very fine restaurants to very casual places and I never had a bad meal there. Its the richsst county in Florida so if you are looking for upscale it can be found there. However, in my opinion, the attitude and atmosphere are much more relaxed in Naples, even on the upscale side. As for costs, I can't speak for the golfing part, but the meals/food in Naples would be a lot less. Its also stone crab season then and those are practically free in naples compared to miami area. I think the Hilton has beach access, but its also very easy acess to the public beaches. While it can be busy in the winter months, its still alot easier to get around than in south florida. Oh, and the sunsets are gorgeous there.

I think it really boils down to your parents' personality and what type of atmosphere they prefer. If they prefer a less busy place, then you might give Naples some thought. It might be interesting for them if you split up your trip between miami area nnd then drive over to naples for a few days if that is possible and they could experience both coasts.

If you go to Naples, you might take a little visit to the Hyatt Resort in Bonita Springs ... its beautiful.

If you want to know anything more about naples, just let me know and i will give you my email address.

good luck!

There is no comparison between the Hilton Fontainebleau in Miami and one in the Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach. I have stayed at the Hilton Fontainebleau and the attitude and status issues are true. They are nasty. The service is poor. THe hotel is aged but in good conditon.

YOu are 40 blocks from South Beach which is the place to be. I think Golf is available in the area.

THe Embassy is just so so based on location and appearance. I have not stayed there but if I recall correctly they use a totaly public beach and the hotel is across a small street. It looks like it is righ on the beach but not the way you might think.

I live in Florida and Like the west cost. Naples is nice but I have never been to a Hilton property there. With your parents this might be good.

True eleagance though is the FB in Miami.

Hope this helps and have a great trip.

Just took my in-laws (68 and 70) a month ago to ES Deerfield Beach for anniversary trip.
They absolutely loved it. Father in law is early riser and could get up at 5 AM and walk on the beach, work out in the exercise room etc, get coffee/juice without bothering us. As Diamond, got great upgrade to oceanfront with wrap-around balcony on award stay (GLON) Mother in law absolutely loved just sitting on the balcony and watching/listening to ocean. They said it was the best vacation they ever had. Side note: the art museum in Boca Raton has free admission on Thursday? night, you might want to check that out for them, they also really liked the Festival Flea Market mall, up toward Ft Lauderdale and Jungle Queen Riverboat cruise (which we got free through "Ride our Waters" Voucher from FLL Visitor Bureau).