Starwood Preferred Guest - Sheraton Yankee Trader, Ft. Lauderdale CLOSES 6/1/2008 [Master Thread]

Can anyone tell me about their experiences with the Yankee Trader in Ft. Lauderdale? We have prepaid $645 for 3 nights in May for the land, sea, & air show and want to hear whatever suggestions you have for obtaining the best suite they have availble.

We currently have calls into the manager and asst manager. Still waiting to hearback from them.

I know the place is like 2 star but I am told the location is ideal for our purposes.

We selected the highest rate on the site, but it gave no indication on the type of accomidations. Also, can anyone confirm if this is THE prime spot to view the air show?

I am told they have no balconies, but perhaps the view from the pool may be spectacular.

One word description:

DUMP

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PaulGQ:
Can anyone tell me about their experiences with the Yankee Trader in Ft. Lauderdale? We have prepaid $645 for 3 nights in May for the land, sea, & air show and want to hear whatever suggestions you have for obtaining the best suite they have availble.

We currently have calls into the manager and asst manager. Still waiting to hearback from them.

I know the place is like 2 star but I am told the location is ideal for our purposes.

We selected the highest rate on the site, but it gave no indication on the type of accomidations. Also, can anyone confirm if this is THE prime spot to view the air show?

I am told they have no balconies, but perhaps the view from the pool may be spectacular.</font>

I have never stayed at this property, but I have been inside and by it. I would caution against staying at this property.

The outside is worn and tired looking. The check-in desks and lobby area is very boring and plain. The floors looked like they hadn't been cleaned in ages...and the two staff members I ran into were both less than helpful.

Hope that helps,
Chris

During the air show dates this year (5/1-5/4), an average $215/night rate is kind of high for that place in May. A look on Travelocity shows many properties cheaper.

But since you prepaid, you're stuck I guess. You can find out what kind of room type you are confirmed in by just calling the hotel front desk and asking them to look up your reservation.

I stayed there last year for a weekend in January. As a Platinum, I was upgraded to a top floor corner 1 Bedroom suite. According to the floor map, this was the only suite on the floor. I would surmise that, from the building's simplistic block design, most or all floors were laid out the same.

The hotel is definitely dated. The room was very 80's Sheraton. The bed was hard as a rock, but looking just over my feet was a huge picturesque window with a fantastic view of the Atlantic. That was a plus.

Room was clean and had a lot of space since it was really two full size rooms(BR and LR). The LR had a wet bar, too, with an empty fridge for us to put our own goodies. The bathroom also had a changing area next to it.

I would hope that this is on the top of the list of the hotels to be rennovated. With the Westin down the road in Hollywood and the empty lot just a block or two away showing a future St. Regis, I can't imagine any Starwood loyalist staying here much more given these other choices.

PaulGQ,

I haven't had the opportunity to stay at the Sheraton Yankee Trader, but I can vouch for TrojanHorse's evaluation if the Trader resembles it's sister property, the Yankee Clipper, down the street.

My wife and I planned a trip to South Florida this fall and she wanted to stay at a beachfront property during our visit. I needed three stays to hit Platinum so we hit three HOT properties while we were in town: Sheraton Biscayne Bay, Yankee Clipper and the Diplomat Country Club & Spa. Our experience can be compared to visiting the homes of the three little pigs.

Little Pig #1's Straw House: Yankee Clipper. We had planned to stay two nights but my wife insisted that we leave immediately after our moonlight walk along the beach outside the property was interrupted by several high school kids (both male and female) relieving themselves in the sand. Sadly, she will always remember the Yankee Clipper as "the litterbox".

Little Pig #2's Wooden House: Sheraton Biscayne Bay. A decent property--certainly not a true resort hotel but the furnishings were fine, the room was nice and the location was relatively safe. Not the nicest Sheraton we have ever visited but certainly not the worst either.

Little Pig #3's Brick House: The Diplomat Country Club & Spa. One of the top five hotels that I have ever visited, definitely meriting its Luxury Collection Status. This hotel ranks right up there with Princeville in my book. The scenery isn't quite as nice but they treat you like royalty!

Bottom line: cancel your room at the Yankee Trader and move over to Westin or Diplomat in Hallandale!

I've got to be in the FLL area for three weeks on buisiness and was going to stay at the Trader (yeah I know, not one of FTs favorite properties). My family's going to be with me for atleast part of the trip, and I rather enjoy being on the beach as well. I've stayed there a few times last year, but this is my first time as a Plat. My question is has anyone had any experience as a Platinum there? I know they have atleast a few suites, but do they upgrade anyone to them? Also, I don't think they have a lounge, do the comp breakfast like some other properties do in lieu of a lounge?

I stayed there this Jan. and I am only a gold but no special treatment
except they let me check out about 1:30 pm.
The hotel was fine but no upgrades at all.
Maybe you'll have better luck as a plat.

3-4 years ago.

As Plat was first lied to, then with the help of SPG got a suite.

Although a bit worn,I like this property....the beach location is great and the staff friendly.

I have stayed at the Trader as a Platinum 4 stays in the last 5 months. I was upgraded to a suite every time but one (they gave me a corner which was also quite good). I did have to ask presistantly though and smile a lot.

The suites are all numbered "17"...ie: 1117 etc., if you want to try requesting one in advance.

Enjoy FLA!









I've got to be in the FLL area for three weeks on buisiness and was going to stay at the Trader (yeah I know, not one of FTs favorite properties). My family's going to be with me for atleast part of the trip, and I rather enjoy being on the beach as well. I've stayed there a few times last year, but this is my first time as a Plat. My question is has anyone had any experience as a Platinum there? I know they have atleast a few suites, but do they upgrade anyone to them? Also, I don't think they have a lounge, do the comp breakfast like some other properties do in lieu of a lounge?

corner suite during spring break ^ Was grateful but one of far too few upgrades for this plat :td:

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Stay at the Atlantic. Great rooms, especially if you're upgraded. Also, right across the street from the beach.

Stay at the Atlantic. Great rooms, especially if you're upgraded. Also, right across the street from the beach.

I'd love to, but the $100 a night difference is hard to justify on biz.

Stay at the Atlantic. Great rooms, especially if you're upgraded. Also, right across the street from the beach.
Yankee Trader has an overpass across the street to the beach. Are not almost all FLL "beach" hotels across the street from the beach? :confused:

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Yeah, as far as I remember most are across A1A from the beach... Maybe when you get down near the Yankee Clipper there might be one on the sand though.

Majority of hotels are across the street from the beach, but with no obstruction of views.

Also, I don't think they have a lounge, do the comp breakfast like some other properties do in lieu of a lounge?

From what I've read, don't expect any help with breakfast at this hotel.

Disclaimer: I read all threads related to this property before making a reservation, however, I needed to stay on the beach and the nearby Starwood properties were not an option for various reasons.

This is a basic bare bones property. Think Southwest for hotels. You need a room? The Sheraton Yankee Trader has them. It’s not a luxury property, upscale, or moderate. It is a basic hotel. PERIOD.

The pictures on the hotels website are not accurate, they appear to be stock photos & are the same photos you see on their sister property's website and are NOT an accurate representation of the style of the rooms’ available.


SUMMARY
Check-in/Check-out ^
Despite a large crowd, there were at least five people at the desk, one dedicated to Gold/Platinum members.

I was also given a coupon for one free drink in the bar.

Common Areas :td:
Welcome to 1972! The check in area was adjacent to the motor lobby & restaurant. There is also a small hotel run (in)convienience store which is a rip off. The hallways leading to guest rooms are right out of a bad Miami vice episode!

Shula's restaurant is the most modern part of the hotel. It appeared to quite busy both inside and out.

High Speed Wired/Wireless Internet Access
I wasn't in the room long enough to use it.

Guest Rooms :td:
I was assigned a decent King Bed (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/TREO123/Sheraton%20Yankee%20Trader%20Hotel/Photo_005-1.jpg)room with a partial Ocean view (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/TREO123/Sheraton%20Yankee%20Trader%20Hotel/Photo_002.jpg).

Overall First Impression: "This must have been a nice property in its back in the day!" Although clean, the furnishings are dated as well as the basic components of the room such as the Air conditioning control panel (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/TREO123/Sheraton%20Yankee%20Trader%20Hotel/Photo_003.jpg), toilet, in room safe (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/TREO123/Sheraton%20Yankee%20Trader%20Hotel/Photo_004-1.jpg)and lighting.

Bed: The Sheraton bed was very firm which is cool.
Furniture & Decor: Old dated furniture (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/TREO123/Sheraton%20Yankee%20Trader%20Hotel/Photo_006.jpg)no sense of decor. Basically this is a room with four walls.
Noise: Could not hear a thing from the hallway or adjacent rooms.
Closet Space: Super long mirrored closet.
TV: No plasma, 27" TV with a good selection of channels
View: Partial ocean view, view of adjacent property (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/TREO123/Sheraton%20Yankee%20Trader%20Hotel/Photo_001.jpg)and some new developments going up nearby.

Guest Room Bathrooms :td:
I was transported back to my elementary school days. Horrible lighting.
Sink: Nice counter space
Shower: No frills just standard shower.
Toiletries: Typical Sheraton bath toiletries

Housekeeping
No issues as I only spent one night in the property.

Club Level/Lounge
No

Fitness Center
If memory serves me correctly, there are two fitness centers, but I didn’t use it.

Pool
Was tiny and cramp. Nothing spectacular. Its the perfect place to drop a partially melted Milky Way! :D

Business Center
Didn’t see it

Concierge
There is a concierge on staff, but I didn’t use them

Parking/Valet
A mob scene. I knew it was going to be bad as the line to the valet extended out into the street. There is self parking and $12 for valet.

Dining
Shula’s: Didn’t eat there, but it was packed the entire time I entered or exited the hotel.

Would I return? No
Would I recommend? Yes, for a mattress run.
Would I recommend restaurant? N/A
Value for price paid? Good.

Overall property rating on a scale from 1 to 10 = 4

Thx for the update on this property Cheap Elite. I think you are correct. The pictures on the *wood website for this property have no correlation to reality.

Good updated review. And, fully accurate on all counts. I was there last fall for one night before a family cruise and although we knew the reviews on this place were mostly marginal, the location was solid and worked for our needs for ONE night. I cannot imagine spending a week's vacation here!

This hotel is precisely one key reason that the Sheraton brand has such loose cohesion. The Sheraton brand can mean anything from a palace in Europe to this place (and everything in between). Some Sheratons are showplaces and exceptionally well run, and others are like this place: in a word, a Holiday Inn.

I don't know why Starwood has continued to allow this sort of vast range of quality to continue to exist.

One day, this hotel will make a great Quality Inn.