Well, I'm currently on an MR to FLL... arrived past midnight, leaving at 6am. So why bother with a hotel (and really, it's only until 3am PT, and I'm usually up anyway).

But since I need to kill time, here are some FAQs for if you want to sleep at FLL. Some of these answers are specific to T3, where I'm at right now, so YMMV.

Can I stay airside?
- No... they lock down the concourses after the last flight... you'll have to spend your time landside and wait for the checkpoints to open up the next morning.

Are there good places to sleep?
- Actually, there is. A number of comfy couches in the lobby. Some wooden park benches in the retail area (behind the ticket counters). A couple flat platform benches. Plenty of floor space.

How quiet is it?
- There is janitorial staff vacuuming and polishing the floors (and chatting of course, but can we blame them?) There are also periodic LOUD security announcements.

Is there anything open at night?
- Surprisingly, there's a Dunkin' Donuts that's open all night long, and it has other things beyond donuts, such as sandwiches, bottled drinks, and snack.

Is there Internet access?
- YES! FLL has free WiFi.

Power plugs?
- Quite a number of them around, though most will require you to sit on the floor against the wall. There are a couple of cafe tables between Concourses E/F in T3 which are next to plugs.

Anything nearby?
- Not that I can tell... maybe a local can answer that, but nothing seems to be within walking distance.

Any public transportation?
- Sorry, seems like the public buses stop around midnight, and start up again around 5am.

Anything else interesting?
- Not really... I'm just happy for free WiFi u

Interesting post. I have to wonder how frequently these questions are asked, though. One you didn't ask, but the answer was implied. Any hassles from the authorities? I wonder how long a homeless person could live at FLL full time.

Honestly, I think a homeless person could set up permanent residence here. For example, I got bored so I walked around, and I saw an AA employee leaving. Before going, he collected those Smartcarts and returned them for a reward (FLL still has 25c back). So just for s- and giggles, I walked around and made a cool $1 for 5 minutes of work

The parking garages must be a veritable treasure trove... but I quit because it was too humid

So, no problems with the authorities (in fact, didn't see them at all after I left the secure area). PS - You can't tae a cop seriously if he's wearing shorts.

Since the airport is located near the port, there really is nothing close by. Also, parts of the neighborhoods surrounding the airport are not the greatest. There are no real sidewalks either.
I guess you could grab a hotel shuttle. The car rental ones put you in the middle of nowhere. So they wouldn't help/
If you really wanted to go somewhere, I would walk to US1, head south to find the most stuff. But it is a long walk and I wouldn't recommend it.

Closest thing (which also happens to be open 24 hours) might be Lester's Diner, which is about 2 miles north of the terminal area. The food is decent and the ambiance is perfectly OK. Unfortunately it's not really walkable - you'd really need to take a short cab ride.

When I work information at nights, I constantly tell those with overnights to hang around in T3 until their morning flight. Most especially like the 24 hr. Dunkin Donuts. It seems pretty pointless though to have the security announcements playing over, and over, and over...

I never thought to send a few to Lester's though. Great idea NonRev!

You might find some posts about FLL on this website.

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

Neither would I, especially as that takes you into Dania Beach area which can be iffy after dark. Personally, think north on US1 would be better - more eating options that way. But whichever way you go, it's a long walk

(Yes, I am a Brit but lived in FLL for 6 years - hence the "sunrise" part in my name! )

Unfortunately true - the roadways aren't especially pedestrian-friendly, either (ramps with no sidewalks, and awkward railroad track lines, for instance).

For example, if you were heading to Lester's, you could walk from the lower level of T1 to the northern part of Perimeter Road to SW 4th street, which would bring you to State Route 84 and Lester's. But this route passes through some badly-lit semi-industrial areas.

Yeah, once I saw the Google sat map of FLL, I decided to find a quiet corner to internet the night away.