Overlooking the ocean, Pelican Grand Hotel is an upscale resort in Fort Lauderdale Florida, roughly a 20 or so minute drive from the airport. If you’re coming in from Miami, expect anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.
The Grand Pelican not only overlooks the ocean, but it sits on the ocean, literally….does it get much better than this?
Above is a view of the beach from my hotel room balcony and below is a view of the property from the beach, which is worth strolling down, any time of day. Blissful right?
Oh so glorious – I had an incredible three days here.
There were no shortage of people taking advantage of beach side lounging, reading novels, relaxing and even taking a nap. Children played in the sand and some even went swimming, meaning it was warm enough to dive in despite the fact that it was still only late March.
The open porch that faces the ocean is one of the most magical things about this luxury property. When I first arrived, I immediately flocked to the porch even before I offloaded my luggage. It was hard to wait, as if I was an overly excited child who hadn’t seen the sea before.
The wide open porch reminded me a bit of New England, although the swaying palm trees and people sipping on Margaritas were immediate reminders that we were far far away from Newport and Boston.
It’s especially incredible during sunset.
The Rooms
Their rooms are elegant and colorful rooms and come with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, microwaves, fridges and coffeemakers. I had a suite which included a balcony with ocean views, as well as a living area with a sofa, coffee table and separate TV area, a great option if you’re traveling with kids in tow.
Inside room photos: Pelican Grand
While there is a restaurant (scroll down to Dining) and the ambiance is glorious, I’d also recommend ordering room service at least once, particularly if you have a balcony with a view of the sea. Open a bottle of wine (or champagne), and order a plate of cheese, fruit and nuts or if its still too early for alcohol, then brew a pot of fresh coffee.
I love the energy of the hallways as well — rich, warm colors that both brighten your mood and make you relax.
Below, the view from my room and from the spa respectfully.
And from my lap….
The Pool & Lazy River
Yup, they’ve got a pool and it’s heated, so regardless of what time of year you’re there, you can swim. Below is the view of the pool from the spa on the 11th floor – stunning, right?
I’m not sure if you notice the wonderful lazy river that wraps around the outside of the pool. Both kids and adults alike will enjoy this – I passed other women in fabulous sunhats with a cocktail in hand as they floated down the river as well as giddy children who couldn’t stop laughing.
Below, a view of the property from one of the lounge chairs.
And then, there’s the pool at sunset.
Photo credit: Pelican Grand
Dining & Bar Scene
Morning coffee and breakfast on the veranda is a must. They serve a wonderful breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, and you can sit inside or out — I’d recommend the latter if the weather is nice, which is almost always the case in Fort Lauderdale.
Now for lunch. Imagine a cold glass of Chardonnay and a healthy salmon salad on the veranda with palms swaying over you and breathtaking views of the ocean in front of you. Seagulls. Children playing in the sand. Laughter. The sounds of the waves crashing up against the shore. ALL of this, while you’re having lunch. Exquisite right?
You can also get fresh oysters on the half shell, there’s an ice cream parlor on the ground floor, a trendy lounge/bar and the porch is beautiful any time of day. When I arrived, they had a live musician playing, a perfect time to sit down, relax, take it all in and order a Margarita.
The O2K lounge overlooks their pool and the ocean. Other resort amenities include business and banquet facilities, the outdoor pool and lazy river shown above and a fitness center, which I used every day. It’s small but it has what you need and of course, an ocean view like everywhere else on the property.
Pure SPA
Their spa is located on the 11th floor which means sweeping views of the ocean from their massive wrap around windows. See my stand-alone spa review for the details.
They have these fabulous hanging chairs with great views of the beach where you sit and sip on champagne while you wait for your appointment to start.
DETAILS:
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
