The Pelican Grand Beach Resort is an upscale resort with the grandeur and traditions of Florida hotels of the past. The facilities, amenities, and staff at the Resort make it an excellent locale for family vacations, weddings, and business meetings. The ocean view from most rooms and elsewhere in the Resort plus the direct access to the private beach makes it a special destination. This review of all the features the Resort has to offer provides detailed information for planning your stay.
Accommodation type: 4-star hotel
No. of Rooms & Suites: 156
Pricing: starts at $255 for guest rooms, $349 for suites, and $1,900 for the penthouses.
High season: Spring break (March), holidays, and during summer vacation.
Nearest airport: Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Ft Lauderdale, Florida (25 minutes).
Suitable for: Family vacations, destination weddings, and business meetings.
Awards:
- 2016 – Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards #11 – Top 20 Resorts in Florida
- 2016 – U.S. News and World Report Best Hotels in Fort Lauderdale no. 2
- TripAdvisor – 2014, 2013, 2012 – Certificate of Excellence Winner
- OpenTable – Diner’s Choice Winner 2015 & 2014
- TripAdvisor – Certificate of Excellence Winner – OCEAN2000, 2014
Accommodations
Opened in 2004, the Resort was designed to recreate the grandeur of Florida resorts of the past with modern amenities included. It was built in British Colonial-style with granite countertops on the bar, marble tile flooring in the lobby and wood flooring everywhere else. In spite of some renovations in 2015, the Resort retains its elegant style.
The Pelican Grand Beach Resort offers guest rooms, suites, and premier suites. The guest rooms have either an ocean or city view. Suites have ocean views and a separate sitting area with a loveseat sofa bed. The Pure Suite and Sky Suite Penthouses are large private suites on the 11th and 12th floors respectively. In addition, laundry facilities are available to all guests.
Facilities
Dining choices include the Ocean2000 waterfront restaurant, the O2K Lounge, The Emporium Ice Cream Parlour, pool and beach fare, and in-room dining.
- The Ocean2000 Restaurant offers American charm with a Southern flair and a little Latin spice. The kid’s menu has all of their favorites. The pool and beach menu also has a wide selection. Just place your order with the waiter without leaving your beach chair and relax.
- At the O2K Lounge, you can enjoy more light fare with your favorite drinks.
- In-room dining offers an extensive list of food and beverages including wines.
- The Emporium is an old-fashioned ice cream parlor with gourmet bakery items and an assortment of coffee treats. All these choices should satisfy any culinary cravings.
- For pampering and relaxation, visit the Pure Spa on the 11th floor. It is a full-service spa with indoor and outdoor treatments and hanging chairs.
In addition, the Resort has venues from small meeting rooms to ballrooms for weddings and business gatherings. For weddings and receptions, the rooftop and the beach are also available.
Complimentary Activities
The Pelican Grand Beach Resort has a zero-entry outdoor pool, a private beach, a lazy river, beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, tubes for the lazy river, and attendants and waiters beachside and poolside. It also has a fitness center and a business center. All rooms have private balconies and a kitchen with a mini-fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker with coffee. There are also flat screen televisions, a safe, high-speed internet, Wi-Fi, and in-room movies, gaming, and music. In addition, you can enjoy a free American breakfast for two at the Ocean2000, and if you stay three nights, you can get the fourth night free.
There is also an event planning staff available for weddings and business meetings. They will assist guests with choosing venues, activities, and catering. Also, the staff will oversee the preparation for the event as well as make sure that every detail proceeds smoothly during the event.
Travel Options
The Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Fort Lauderdale is 25 minutes from the Pelican Grand Beach Resort. Car rentals, public bus service, and taxis are available to transport guests to the resort.
Main Attractions around Hilton Sandestin Resort
The Pelican Grand Beach Resort provides a list of events in the area. For golfers, they have information on golf courses near the resort.
If you want more water fun, such as paddle boarding, parasailing, or kayaking, they provide information on opportunities in the area. Buses, taxis, shuttles, Amtrak, and even water taxis are available to get you wherever you want to go.
The Stranahan House
The Stranahan House was originally a trading post built on the New River in 1901 by Fort Lauderdale’s founder, Frank Stranahan, for trading with the Seminole Indians. The upper floor was a community hall. In 1906, when he built a new building for his business, he converted the original trading post into a home for himself and his wife, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale’s first teacher. For those who want to visit this historic place, they offer guided tours daily at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 PM.
Address: 335 Southeast 6th Avenue | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Bonnet House
The Bonnet House is a plantation, an estate, and a house museum focusing on historical and environmental preservation as well as learning and creative expression. It was built in 1920 as a winter home by a Chicago artist, Frederic Clay Bartlett, and his wife, Helen Louise Birch. The land, given to them by her father, Hugh Taylor Birch, an attorney and naturalist are a true pleasure to visit. The grounds are beautiful and home to monkeys, swans, and other species. The Bonnet House is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Address: 900 Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
The land for the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park was a gift to Florida from Hugh Taylor Birch as well. You can canoe, fish, hike, bike, and skate in this beautiful park. You can also use the pedestrian tunnel to get to the beach. The park is open daily from 8:00 AM until sundown.
Address: 3109 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Final Words
The Pelican Grand Beach Resort is located on its own private beach and strives to give guests a true resort experience. The menus from their various restaurant facilities should satisfy any cravings, and if you are poolside or on the beach, you do not have to leave your chair to order. Waiters and attendants are there to take your order and deliver your food. In addition, all rooms have a great view of either the city or the ocean. You can go to the pool, the beach, or take a ride on the Lazy River. However, if you want a different Florida destination with different cuisine, you can try the Eden Roc Hotel with its famous Nobu restaurant.
If you have any questions or have been to the resort and would like to share your experience, please share your comments below.