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Last Update: Feb 9th, 2016
Margaritaville in Hollywood Beach

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort

1111 N Ocean Drive
Hollywood FL, 33019
954 874-4444
Overall Rating
2.9
Food
Service
Ambiance
Location
Value
Last Review
09/28/2015

Details

Parking: Self Parking: $3/HR Weekdays, $4/HR Weekends. Overnight Valet ($35) for resort guests.
Suite: 559
OffSeason Basic: 249

Pros

Brand New Property
Self Contained Fun

Cons

Not much for Kids to do at Night
Hotel is in a Seedy Area

Margaritaville is now "open", but before you head down to check it out there are some things you need to know. The place is still under construction, literally, so many of the advertised facilities are not available.

Margaritaville From Broadwalk

It is a beautiful facility; a true oasis is otherwise creepy Hollywood Beach.

The only parking available is the valet, I called and they told me that the only parking available currently is the valet at $17 for 4 hours. Only 2 restaurants are open plus a coffee shop: The Landshark and the Margaritaville Restaurant; 5 O'Clock Somewhere across the street is months away from opening.

They are not accepting reservations online until October 1, but if you call you can get a reservation before that. Note that it seems that they charge about $20 more on weekends, and they're pretty much booked up through Thanksgiving on weekends.

Also, only hotel guests are allowed to use the pool.

I drove down on Friday hoping to check it out, but I wasn't going to pay $17 to park just to get pictures of a hotel lobby and have the $13.99 "Cheeseburger in Paradise" I have a feeling that when Jimmy wrote the song a burger was about $2.50. Then I decided to go back on Saturday morning and park at the Garage down the street. The entire area is under construction, so whatever street parking there was in the area is largely gone.

The Lobby

The decor is surprisingly conservative, with sparse furnishings in the vast lobby.

Mv lobby

The Pool

The pool area is the big pull of the "resort", but its only available to hotel guests. There are gates with locks on them that require a room key.

Margaritaville Pool

The wave pool is pretty cool if you're a surfer and don't want to walk the 50 yards to the ocean.

Mv wavepool

Not Kid Friendly

While the pool is a lot of fun for the kids, one criticism of the resort is that there is nothing for kids to do at night. Margaritaville Restaurant is for drinking and partying, and the pool is closed to kids at night.

Florida Resident Rate

We inquired about the resident rate a few months ago and got a cryptic answer, and now we know why. There is no real resident rate. The Florida Resident rate is $20 less than the "pay later" rate and $5 more than the "pay now" rate. Since a resident isn't likely to book much in advance, it's almost like there is no resident rate. No discount on parking, no free drink or discount on the $15 "resort fee" which lets you use the wireless and fitness center.

They actually have another package that's better for residents, assuming that you're driving. The "Travelin' Machine" package is $18 more than the resident package, and the regular parking rate is higher than that. So you're getting the resident rate plus $18/day for valet parking.

Maybe once they get an idea of their occupancy they'll do something for locals, but nothing much to begin with. This place is just about the same price as the Marriott Hollywood Beach, which is just about the only other quality hotel in the area.

Dining Options

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville

Margaritaville invites guests to raise a glass and take a bite out of paradise and most of all to relax and have a great time. Its fun and has something for everyone; its current and contemporary and offers an escape to paradise, if only for a few hours. Music is the key ingredient that seasons the crazy concoction of coastal-inspired food, hand-crafted beverages and island atmosphere.


Now Open, Check out our full review.

JWB Prime Steak and Seafood

Their marketing description. Not yet open.

Margaritaville invites guests to raise a glass and take a bite out of paradise and most of all to relax and have a great time. Its fun and has something for everyone; its current and contemporary and offers an escape to paradise, if only for a few hours. Music is the key ingredient that seasons the crazy concoction of coastal-inspired food, hand-crafted beverages and island atmosphere.

Mv jwb

Jwb inside

License to Chill Bar

There's a nice rooftop lounge at the resort, but with a major caveat. It's restricted to hotel guests. Not open yet, but you won't be enjoying it unless you get a room.

License to Chill Rooftop Restaurant Artist's Rendition

LandShark Bar & Grill

The Landshark is the pool bar; one of the bigger and better one's you'll find. It's 2 floors, with seating by the pool.

Mv landshark

And a bar upstairs.

LandShark Bar

Inspired by the great beach joints that once dotted the Atlantic coast, LandShark Bar & Grill is the perfect blend of great food, generous drinks and good old fashioned fun. Outdoor oceanfront decks invite you to enjoy the Atlantic breezes along with a spectacular view.

Land Shark Menu

5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill

Their marketing description of the bar:

Inspired by the great beach joints that once dotted the Atlantic coast, LandShark Bar & Grill is the perfect blend of great food, generous drinks and good old fashioned fun. Outdoor oceanfront decks invite you to enjoy the Atlantic breezes along with a spectacular view.

Located across the street from the hotel on the intracoastal, it's a few months away from opening as of 9/25/15

5 O'Clock Somewhere's @ Margaritaville Resort Hollywood FL

Floridays

It appears that Floridays will be opening next. Here's the marketing garb:

Named after the 1986 album and song by Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is bringing another new concept to Hollywood Beach with its Floridays Caf. The refurbished airstream trailer will be located on the beach level just steps from the sand and feature a quick service menu with premium hot dogs, snacks, ice cold beverages that are inspired by Buffetts travels.

Floridays Menu

Lone Palm Beach Bar

Now Open.

No shirt, no shoes no problem! This quintessential, flip-flop friendly thatched roof tiki bar is a tropical oasis featuring service whether youre walking-up from Broadwalk, or relaxing poolside. Sip on a cocktail shaken or stirred or choose from a variety of beers and House beverages. If youre hungry, be sure to grab a bite from our beach bar menu!

Coffee Shop

There's a coffee shop in the lobby, which reminds me of an airport.

Margaritaville Coffee Shop

The Neighborhood

Beyond the PR and fake marketing lies there's the Truth about Hollywood Beach. As you first exit (there's an entrance/exit at the Land Shark Bar and Restaurant), you see what was Johnson Ave. You'll hardly recognize it. they've turned what used to be a dingy nook into a nice plaza.

Johnson plaza

Of course all of the parking is gone also. So coming to this beach got a lot more expensive. I used to park on the street here for $1/hour.

As you walk away from the resort, the picture changes. As you hit the broadwalk, the "elements" surrounding the hotel become evident.

Mv wide

But the real truth hits about a block away. You see what "was" Hollywood beach with the new resort in the background. It's like when your Cruise ship stops at St Lucia. You think it's a paradise, but it's really a small, useless place. Of course they have a volcano in St Lucia.

Not exactly Parrothead types hanging out on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk.

Mv verywide

To get an idea of the kind of "resorts" that are your other choices on Hollywood Beach, I present the Caribbean Resort by the Ocean.

Caribbean resort

It is, of course, "by the ocean", so I'll give them that. Check out their website for some chuckles. Many a person has been fooled by old-time internet marketing on this place.

The Garfield Garage sits between Garfield and Connecticut street; 4 blocks from the resort. When I first entered, as I was driving in the second level they have signs that say "Leave your ticket on your dashboard", and I was thinking "I didn't get a ticket". I've parked in this garage before, and as is typical in these places, you'd get a ticket on the way in and pay on the way out; this place had machines where you could pay and then just present the ticket on the way out for expedience. But now, they've changed the format to use the same kind of meters on the street. You park, pay for as much parking as you want, and you get a ticket with an expiration time on it. So I paid for 2 hours @ $1.50 for hour so it cost me $3 to park. A lot less than the $17 they get at the hotel.

Garfield garage

Conclusion

With only 2 of the 5 hotel restaurant and bars open, they're really in preview mode. They don't seem to be offering discounted rates, so I think that people who've booked for October are getting scroogled; This place isn't worth $250/night off-season in its current state. When the steakhouse and 5 O'Clock Somewhere's and the rooftop lounge opens, that will be a different metric.

For us locals, who can't use the pool, it has only marginal interest. It's a curiosity at best. How often do you go to the Hard Rock Cafe to hear a band and eat overpriced, mediocre food? Kind of the same deal here.

When complete, Margaritaville will be like a land-based cruise ship. It will be a place you can go and never leave the property and party like it's 1999. The surrounding area isn't going to be of much interest, so no need to get a car and pay for the parking. A nice 2-3 day vacation; I don't know about staying here for a week. If you have a week, maybe 3 days at this place and then the rest of the time in Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

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