Fort Lauderdale Beach Hostel

Fort Lauderdale Hostel is a small, motel-type hostel on Ocean Boulevard, remarkably situated among huge developments of high-rise and high-price condominiums. The survival of this old but good, flat topped, unobtrusive-looking, two-story house gives people a small chance to have a piece of the East Coast la-la-land action at a low price. It is a short walk from the beach, where you can surf -- albeit the waves were not great when we went. It is within a half-hour bus ride of famous las Olas Boulevard, the Riverwalk, and other Fort Lauderdale attractions.

Busy at Spring Break, the hostel packs them in pretty tight, but the no-nonsense staff is both capable and efficient at managing the lively company. The party atmosphere is found even earlier in the season as guests enjoy their beer and wine on the terraces or down in the atrium. There are two large balconies and a garden down below between the balconies, which amounts to lots of outdoor space for carrying on.

The six-bunk dorms are not big -- they were converted from motel rooms -- and bathrooms are en-suite. There are three kitchens -- one is bigger, and the breakfast is available there. The laundry is ordinary and there is free use of an in-house computer. A couple of television lounges indoors are in frequent use. The front gate is always locked, but it could be climbed over. Some people go in and out of the rooms without locking them, even though they have keys, so one might assume they feel secure.

Grocery shopping at the beach is a problem because there are few stores. Twenty minutes' walk in either direction will get you to some form of food shopping -- no proper market though. A half-hour bus trip away, for interesting takeout food there is a place across from the Broward Station, or for cheap energy, the McDonald's is next door. If this were a lunch trip, the main downtown attractions are all conveniently a half-hour walking distance from the station. Also, eateries along the Riverwalk offer views of vessels in the water, along with the flavor of marine exhaust. On las Olas Boulevard there are also al fresco dining possibilities.

To get to Fort Lauderdale Hostel take the Number 11 bus at Broward Central Station, ride for about half an hour, and get off near the big, pink buildings where the road veers a little away from the beach. The Broward Central Station is a useful starting point, but to get there from the Greyhound Station, ask directions and walk the five blocks, or take a taxi. There is a bus, but usually it is faster to walk. On boarding the Number 11 make sure it is going the right way, toward Ocean Boulevard -- ask at the information kiosk. To get to the Central Station from the Tri-Rail take the Number 55 or the free shuttle. From the airport, again the Tri-Rail is best, then the same buses. Car parking is available at the hostel.

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