License to Chill at the Margaritaville Resort Hollywood Beach

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Sometime when I wasn’t looking, I got old.

That’s what I was thinking on Saturday night as a bed spring poked me in the spine.  I was annoyed that I had decided to save a few bucks instead of choosing a decent hotel.  The next night, I upgraded by a huge step by moving down the street to the Margaritaville Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach, Florida.

margaritaville beach resort hollywood beach fl pools
Overlooking the Margaritaville Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach, FL

As I make it through the last precious months of my 20s, my needs and wants are changing.  

My friends and I have talked about this a lot: we appreciate nice things and (usually) can afford them now.  But our brains are still in that cash-strapped early-20s mentality, so we feel guilty paying for an upgrade even when we know we’ll value the experience.  It’s hard to change old habits!

Inspired by a friend who just went to Colorado in style instead of roughing it, I am embracing my stay at Margaritaville this week.  After all, this is destination paradise.

margaritaville hollywood beach

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Review

An Overview of the Hotel

Within moments of arriving, the “five o’clock somewhere” vibe washed over me.  There are cold drinks in the lobby area — something you definitely need if you’re not used to Florida’s climate! — and fun decor all throughout reception.

Giant flip flops in the Margaritaville Resort!
Giant flip flop in the Margaritaville Resort!

 

I seriously want a margarita glass chandelier for my home.
I seriously want a margarita glass chandelier for my home.

Check-in was quick and easy with friendly staff, and by the time I made it to the elevator, I was already 100% in vacation mode!  They do a great job of creating a full-on destination resort.

Rooms at the Margaritaville Hotel

The resort is just the right size: enough rooms that they can offer all the on-site amenities you’ll want but not so big you’ll get lost going to your room. 

I had a standard king room which was plenty big and was decorated in whites and blues to represent that coastal feeling.

margaritaville hollwood king room

My room happened to have a side view, which meant I could see the Atlantic ocean (and the intracoastal waterway) but the oceanview wasn’t straight on.

I’ll be honest, other than taking that picture I didn’t really look out the window much (I’d rather be outside enjoying things close up!) so my favorite parts of the room were the little touches that definitely turned up vacation mode!

margaritaville whale sink
Even washing your hands is fun here!

Margaritaville Pools

It sounds crazy to mention the pools at a beachfront location, but I’m a sucker for swimming and sunbathing without sand.

margaritaville pool

Margaritaville Hollywood has three pools:

  1. The Lone Star Pool (the main pool, with lots of lounge chairs to go around)
  2. The Landshark Pool, with pretty waterfalls 
  3. The Rooftop Pool, which is adults-only

If you don’t like the vibe at one, it’s easy to move to a different one!

The Margaritaville Resort Hollywood FlowRider!

If you’ve ever wanted to give surfing a try, this is your chance.  The Margaritaville FlowRider is a surf simulator, with constant 35mph waves.  Unlike the ocean, there’s never a lull in the waves — which means you can surf anytime you want (but it’s harder to regain your balance between tries).

Flowrider margaritaville resort hollywood beach fl

One-hour sessions start with bodyboarding on your belly.  When you’ve mastered that, you’ll try kneeboarding, and then eventually traditional standing.  It’s harder than it looks, but it’s a TON of fun.  Luckily it’s fun even when you fly backward…after all, it’s like a reverse waterslide!

PRO TIP: A lot of spectators watch the surfers, so dress decently: I was really glad I had a quick-dry top over my bikini! 

Looking for something different?

Margaritaville has lots of rentals to choose from: paddleboards, kayaks, waverunners, guided fishing trips, and even a mangrove trip with free margaritas! 

Eating On-Site

I found a lot of local restaurants to be underwhelming, so thankfully there are plenty of places to eat right at this Hollywood Beach resort.  

The classic favorite, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, is open for three meals a day.  I thought breakfast in particular was great, with plenty of variety.

margaritaville breakfast

For super casual, try the Margaritaville Coffee Shop or take-out at the Floridays Airstream Café.  I didn’t try either, but they always seemed to be popular!

For something nicer, try JWB Prime Steak and Seafood.  This is the type of place I’d love for date night with my husband, but since I was traveling without him, I’ll have to save it for next time 🙂

It’s 5:00 Somewhere

Hello, vacation!

You’ll find cold drinks near all the pools, with choices including the LandShark Bar & Grill, License to Chill Rooftop Bar, and Lone Palm Beach Bar.  You’ll find live music somewhere almost every night of the week.

landshark bar margaritaville hollywood

There’s also the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill and a more upscale bar inside at JWB Prime.  

As you might expect, prices were higher than home, but not really higher than anywhere else on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk.  So, feel free to get comfy on-site and order your choice of beer or cocktail.  Happy hour is Monday-Thursday from 5-7pm, with specials like $6 mojitos.

Margaritaville’s Perfect Location

There’s two things you need to know about Margaritaville’s location:

It’s right on the Broadwalk, for walking and biking to local restaurants, bars, and shops.

It’s right on the ocean, for you know, that perfect South Florida vacation.

It’s also worth noting that you’re a quick drive away from everything in Fort Lauderdale, so if you have a rental car, you can get out and explore!

segway things to do in fort lauderdale fl
Fort Lauderdale Waterways

The Dreaded Resort Fee

hate resort fees.  If you’re going to add a mandatory payment, I think it should be built into the room rate, not tacked on afterward.

So, you should know that the Margaritaville in Hollywood Beach has a resort fee of $32/night as of 2019.

You can actually get decent value out of it if you plan ahead and have time to take advantage of all the resort amenities.  It covers standard add-ons, like bottled water in your room and wi-fi, and some beach bonuses:

  • beach towels you can use during your stay
  • beach chairs and umbrellas, on the beach right outside the resort
  • complimentary bike rentals (great for the broadwalk)
  • free fitness runs or bike rides in the morning, depending on the day of the week

As much as I liked this resort, I really wish they’d either build these into the price of the room OR make them optional (e.g. I never used the beach chairs!).

 

Other Amenities at the Margaritaville Resort

My favorite extra was beach yoga, but there’s something for everyone here.

yoga hollywood florida
With soft sand, no need for a yoga mat.

The hotel also has a kids’ club, gift shop, spa, fitness center, meeting rooms, and plenty of parking ($30 self-parking / $40 valet).  

Your License to Chill at Margaritaville

Yes, travel is about exploration and discoveries, and there’s a lot of that to be done here in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood Beach.  

But as I often find (and subsequently forget), if you always rush through things, you’ll miss out on those discoveries anyway.  A little rest & relaxation is a good thing.  Coffee on my balcony and an hour at the pool can make the difference between going to bed exhausted and going to bed refreshed, even if you were busy the entire rest of the day.

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach gives you a comfortable place to explore from and somewhere to escape the daily grind.  In fact, that license to chill might be just as important as your passport.

changes in attitude margaritaville beach resort
Photo provided by Margaritaville Resort Hollywood; used with permission

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Book your Margaritaville Hotel stay now!

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Plan More of your Florida Vacation With sightDOING:

Hollywood Beach Florida: Things to Do in One Perfect Day

Fort Lauderdale: Been There, Hadn’t Done That

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Part of my trip to Florida was sponsored by Margaritaville Beach Resorts – Hollywood Beach and The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, but I’m so glad I tacked on extra fun in the sun on my own — it’s totally worth it.

17 thoughts on “License to Chill at the Margaritaville Resort Hollywood Beach”

  1. That resort looks very relaxing! I’m a couple of years older than you, and I finally got to that point as well, where I realized I was willing to maybe pay a little more in order to stay in a nicer place, or take a more convenient flight that keeps me from arriving at my destination completely and totally exhausted. I’m the same way about feeling “guilty” about “wasting” time on vacation, but I’ve started to get out of that mindset, too.

  2. Yes, this, THIS! Exactly how my way of traveling has changed in the past 5 years, and exactly why I loved Margaritaville too. Before, hotels and hostels were just places where you returned at the end of the night to sleep a couple hours, but now I actually like spending some down-time in the hotel, so it’s nice to have a room with a view and amenities.

    1. @Jenni, Mindset is everything. I definitely incorporate more downtime into my travels now, which is one reason why I loved the pool, beach access, and great room!

  3. I said a version of your first line of the post in podcast about my experience on the Adventure FAM. Loved your photos and perspective of Margaritaville. I have always keep vacation vs travel separate in my mind. But, I love to mix them now. Have a day exploring and then a beautiful hotel to come home to is perfect! That is my favorite way to travel these days!

    1. @Alexa, I have no idea why people feel guilty mixing vacation and travel but I’m finally realizing it’s okay! Great meeting you and hope you have many more adventures.

  4. I saw Jimmy Buffet performed a few days ago at the hotel. I’m sure that was amazing. Your travel style will definitely change as you get older. Just go with it. Ten years ago my wife and I traveled with two guy friends and another married couple on a baseball trip through the Midwest. We all crashed in one Motel 6 room that had two beds. Two guys on the floor. And we were professionals in our mid-20s. Now, as I push 40, that just isn’t happening.

    1. @Lance, It would’ve been great to see Jimmy Buffet perform there! It’s funny how travel styles change and I expect things to change for both of us in the future, too.

  5. That looks amazing! Love Hollywood, FL – that looks like a remarkable resort. Adding it to my must-visit list.
    And yes – treating yourself is so important – regardless of age!

  6. WOW, amazing! This place would have to be added to my bucket list of places to travel! Your images are OUTSTANDING! I do agree, it is OK to treat yourself sometimes! Great post!

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