Name: The Drift Hotel
Address: 3005 Alhambra Street, Central Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
Price range: $51–$205 per night
Rating: 7.38

What guests think

Across many reviews of The Drift Hotel, guests consistently praise the walkable, near-beach location and low prices, while noting a very basic, no-frills setup with limited onsite parking and amenities that vary widely between rooms.

Cleanliness and maintenance are mixed, with recurring mentions of musty smells, mold and occasional roaches alongside reports of remodeled, tidy rooms. Service is split between friendly, accommodating staff and frustrations with language barriers, after-hours unavailability, and security-deposit or check-in communication issues. Wi-Fi and streaming TVs can be unreliable, and nearby construction or neighbor noise is common. Expect a simple, budget stay best suited for short beach visits.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Amenities are basic: no pool and no ice machine, a small courtyard, and some beach towels/chairs available at the office. Onsite parking is very limited and often unavailable, so guests frequently use nearby paid options.

Related guest reviews

8

Ezra

May 22, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Property doesn’t have an ice machine smh. It’s sfla and no ice? Wow

8

David

Aug 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great hotel for the price. Rooms are clean and staff are friendly. Love the location close to the beach and restaurants. Only draw back is the lack of onsite parking if you leave there may not be a space.

8

Dawn

Feb 13, 2025

·

Basic accommodations, clean rooms. Short walk to the beach. Liked that chairs and beach towels included. Friendly staff.

8

Julio César

Aug 2, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel is close to the beach. Yadira is very kind. It needs an ice machine and some remodeling in the gardens.

6

Colton

Jul 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

They need more parking options for their guests. I had to pay $50 for overnight parking in a parking garage quite a ways from the hotel because of the limited parking.

6

DAVID

Jun 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Proximity to beach was nice. Room was clean. No pool.

6

Lisa

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Parking situation was very poor

10

julie

Nov 21, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice hotel, small, clean rooms and close to beach. Two floors but no elevator. Wish they had coffee in the rooms, but they did have it in the office. The only real negative about this hotel is their limited number of parking spaces.

10

Sean

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Not meant for the people expecting top notch first class service. This is a family owned and run business. Very hard working family that is more than happy to help with any issues you may have. They do have beach towels and several chairs to bring to beach. Coffee and microwave are located in the office for use. Very quiet place to stay

10

kimberlyn

Jun 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I really enjoyed this hidden gem of a hotel. The location is unbeatable for the price. The beach is less than a 1/2 block walk. The only drawback is that parking is limited and you are not guaranteed a parking spot. There is no street parking in that area. Staff were friendly. Air conditioner worked great in my room!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Cleanliness and upkeep are inconsistent, with repeated reports of musty odors, mold, and occasional roaches, while others found rooms clean. Housekeeping and small repairs (towels, trash, fixtures) vary notably between stays.

Related guest reviews

2

Mary

Dec 23, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Room appeared clean but was dirty. Floor was unwashed and comforter was not washed

10

Nicole

Jun 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location, clean and quiet

2

giuseppe

Mar 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

property it was dirty and the bathroom was full of mold

6

Ashley

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall it was quiet, however it did look like the place had not been cleaned in YEARS. My only hope was that the bedding was clean-it appeared to be- and the shower itself was clean. Everything else was not. Did the job of somewhere to lay our heads for one night, but it needs major upkeep.

4

Maria

Jun 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The air conditioner was full of mold. I had to turn it on out of necessity, but they should definitely clean it. I honestly didn’t see any spoons, but I had to request a room change because the ground floor room was full of humidity, it smelled really bad. I left the hotel with a headache due to the mold smell coming from the air conditioner. The hotel is very close to the beach, and overall the room is okay. They charge you 100 UsD as security deposit, my bank days that deposit will take 7 business days to reflect in my account, son i'll wait

2

Matthew

Nov 8, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Dirty smelly room. Just all around horrible property and experience. Checked in opened door and walked out.

2

Darnecia

Aug 11, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Roaches and a hot mess. Will not recommend at all. It’s a dirty motel

4

Isaiah

Dec 31, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The front desk staff was amazing. Unfortunately the room smelled like mildew. Due to this I will not be returning. A few minute walk from the beach

2

Eliott

Oct 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

0/5 — Checked Out Immediately!! Absolutely vile. Filthy, broken, stinking rooms that should’ve been condemned years ago. Don’t be fooled by the beach location — this place is a dump. Hotels.com had to refund my stay because it was that hideous. Should be shut down immediately. Avoid at all costs.

4

Troy

Dec 23, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

In a good location. One downside was that noise travelled very easily through the walls. A big downside was that there were roaches all over the place, including some big ones. The little roaches were less noticeable, but were absolutely everywhere if you payed close attention. We had to try very hard to not take any back home with us.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are simple, some recently updated, with firm beds and minimal furnishings; thin walls and upstairs noise are common. Wi-Fi and TVs can be unreliable, and layouts may lack chairs or storage.

Related guest reviews

8

Daniel

Oct 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

No issues with the property or staff. It appears rooms have been remodeled recently. Parking is difficult nearby if the parking out front is full which it was the ENTIRETY of the stay. We paid about $80 in parking fees nearby during a 1 night stay

8

Stephen

Nov 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was a great location. One block off the beach. It looks like there was recent renovation. Bathroom remodel with a nice walk-in shower. Furniture looked newer. Ask for a second floor room.. noisy on the first floor.

6

Carlos

Jul 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Can't beat the price but you get what you pay for. It's a minimalist place if you just need the basics. Beds were pretty terrible it must be said

8

Nancy

Jul 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed at the Drift for one night before leaving on a cruise. The hotel is basic but did the job - beds were comfortable, A/C worked, bathroom functioned. Great location a block from the beach but surrounded by high rises. I would stay here again.

6

Ukeylla

Jul 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great Location. Poor Wifi

8

Laura

Jun 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location and price makes this a great hotel find. It's just a short walk to the beach and great restaurants options. Limited parking. Our room 18 was large but offered no chairs. The TV was horrible, every 10 minutes it closed out your program and requested to connect to the WiFi. We heard every footstep from the unit above us from 6:30am on. The room was very clean but only included 2 towels for 2 woman. We asked for more with no problems. The outside is dated, old and in desperate need of a landscaper. There are several postings in the office, threatening more charges if you lose a key or evidence of smoking. Honestly, if you are just looking for clean, spacious, safe place at a more than reasonable price, the Drift is your place to go. We would only go back if it had a pool.

4

Ukeylla

Jul 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Wifi is horrible. I'm a remote worker and was unable to work efficiently

6

Brianna

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Terrible wifi, everything else was great! thank you!

8

Paige

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I only stayed for one night, but location was great and walkable to the main restaurant areas. it was good for the price. very thin walls, i heard my upstairs neighbors walking and talking all night. probably wouldn't stay here more than a night or two but good budget hotel.

4

Christopher

May 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The air conditioning was musty. No WiFi in the room. The tv didn’t work. Floor was sticky. Someone was yelling on there phone for hours in the middle of the night until early morning and an alarm was going off all night from someone’s door. Wouldn’t recommend for more than the night before an early flight at most.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Many guests describe staff as friendly, helpful, and accommodating, including early check-ins. Others cite language barriers, absent or unresponsive front desk—especially after hours—and occasional issues with deposits or follow-up.

Related guest reviews

4

Kylie

Nov 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

No one was in the office when I came to check in. It states check in is from 8am-12am and I got there at 7:30pm. I waited for 30 minutes before someone finally came. It was too late to change my reservation without losing my money. I tried calling and the phone was left at the desk. The rooms weren’t clean. There was mold in the bathroom from no ventilation system. The window didn’t open so that was a fire hazard.

4

Chanaay

Mar 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel room itself was nice enough for an overnight trip, but tje customer service is non existent..i have emailed and called about my deposit and no follow up. No receipt. Just silencw

10

Sheri

Feb 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly, knowledgeable staff, perfect location to beach, shops, and bars.

4

Jose

Jul 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

No staff to address the issue

2

Charles

Nov 12, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Worst customer service I’ve encountered! we booked this months prior to our trip and after a full day traveling across the country, we were told they gave our room away, then we were told it was our fault for not seeing the email they sent earlier that day (just after midnight), telling us our card was declined,(not clear why they ran the card at midnight, since we chose the “pay at the property” option. Also Interesting, since my card worked just fine at the MUCH nicer AC Marriott next door (which was beautiful and took great care of us; VERY highly recommend!) The woman at the desk in the grungy office didn’t speak one word of English and made zero effort to fix the issue or even apologize. Getting snubbed by this dump turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Good luck if you trust this place as your destination.

10

Pedro

May 12, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The staff was attentive and friendly, rooms cleaned daily, beach towel service.

2

Ashley

Mar 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Called the property’s phone number several times on several different days and never got an answer. It always said the voicemail was full. Messaged the property on their two different emails AND through Expedia and still never received a response leading up to our stay. Room smelled of mildew/mold and was extremely humid and damp inside. Only nice thing about our stay was proximity to the beach. We had a one night stay and that was more than enough. I would never book again.

6

Kaitlyn

Apr 8, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Don’t “stain” there white towels or you’ll get charged a fee. It wasn’t mentioned to us until after check out when we were charged for makeup on the white towel. The parking situation is terrible. There’s about 9 spots they have available or you’ll get blocked in & have to call a tow truck. We also got locked out of the room for an hour yet no accommodations were made for that. Nice room inside just terrible parking, language barrier, & a charge that wasn’t mentioned until after it was charged

10

Sean

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Not meant for the people expecting top notch first class service. This is a family owned and run business. Very hard working family that is more than happy to help with any issues you may have. They do have beach towels and several chairs to bring to beach. Coffee and microwave are located in the office for use. Very quiet place to stay

10

kimberlyn

Jun 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I really enjoyed this hidden gem of a hotel. The location is unbeatable for the price. The beach is less than a 1/2 block walk. The only drawback is that parking is limited and you are not guaranteed a parking spot. There is no street parking in that area. Staff were friendly. Air conditioner worked great in my room!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Excellent location a short walk to the beach, dining, and the strip. Some note construction noise nearby and a lively area that can be loud.

Related guest reviews

10

Peter

Mar 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location to port, airport and the beach!

8

Julie

Mar 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room itself was nice, lots of room. Location is very convenient. Construction is happening across the street, so the noise starts very early.

10

David

Nov 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room and location were perfect

8

Ricardo

May 5, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Perfect location

8

Timothy

Apr 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Overnight stay perfectly adequate for this and close to Pharmacy and other outlets for evening food snacks The beach is at the end of the road 100yards. New tower blocks around it only serve to show its art deco exterior and plan is unique and should be preserved. Interior is shabby in places but not enough to say it’s neglected Just wish I win the lottery to buy it and give it the face over it deserves. The surrounding area full of bars marinas and very close to water taxi. Definitely stay here again.

8

Joanne

Feb 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Construction across the street early banging unfortunately

8

Euleric

Sep 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

No frills hotel and a good location near the beach.

10

Stephanie

Mar 4, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lovely older, small hotel, near the beach. Only drawback was the very loud construction noise, every weekday, all day, all around.

6

Cathy

Jan 17, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel is older but in a fabulous location and is very reasonably priced for the area. However, the walls and ceiling are flimsy. We could hear very heavy footsteps from someone above us at night and we could very clearly hear conversations in the room next to us until about 1.00 am in the morning. Parking was challenging at times as there are only 15 parking spaces. There is also a construction zone across the road.

10

kimberlyn

Jun 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I really enjoyed this hidden gem of a hotel. The location is unbeatable for the price. The beach is less than a 1/2 block walk. The only drawback is that parking is limited and you are not guaranteed a parking spot. There is no street parking in that area. Staff were friendly. Air conditioner worked great in my room!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

No on-site restaurant or breakfast; lobby coffee is available when the office opens. Several note the lack of in-room coffee makers and no ice machine.

Related guest reviews

8

Ezra

May 22, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Property doesn’t have an ice machine smh. It’s sfla and no ice? Wow

8

sonia

May 8, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

A small room, good enough for two people - no frills. TV very limited and problems with screen, close captions and audio. Great location. Microwave, coffee machine at the check in desk. A bit noisy due to vending machines,

6

Leslie

Jan 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was very helpful and efficient! The room and bathroom were very clean and tidy. The room lacked a coffee machine, which would have been nice considering the office was closed in the morning and that's where we got coffee when we checked in the afternoon before. The grounds were kept clean however there was a good bit of clutter around which almost made me think it was an apartment complex rather than a motel. The walls are paper thin so bring ear plugs if you're a light sleeper! Luckily the construction across the street didn't start until 7am. I'm also glad I brought an eye mask because the light in our closet had no way of turning off and a lot of light from surrounding buildings entered the room. Bed was clean, extremely firm mattress but we go a decent nights sleep. Overall, we would stay here again if we were in the area because everything else nearby was just too expensive!

8

Ashlea

Aug 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Spent two nights at the drift and had a wonderful sleep. The patio was relaxing where you can smoke and enjoy the coffee!! Not many amenities and parking was slim I suggest taking a Circuit to explore surrounding areas because if you stay here and leave for any reason good luck parking.

8

Julio César

Aug 2, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel is close to the beach. Yadira is very kind. It needs an ice machine and some remodeling in the gardens.

6

Robert

May 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was fine for one night. No more. Great location! Rooms are musty. No ice. No coffee until 9am. If you want to park, get there early. Staff was very friendly

8

James

Jan 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Did not want to pay for beachfront property. This location was better priced and only a short block away from the beach. Room was basic but clean and staff was friendly. No breakfast and basic coffee, just what we were looking for. If you don’t need to be pampered and are wanting a clean basic room, look no further. Central location to a bunch of shopping and restaurants.

10

Sean

Nov 26, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Not meant for the people expecting top notch first class service. This is a family owned and run business. Very hard working family that is more than happy to help with any issues you may have. They do have beach towels and several chairs to bring to beach. Coffee and microwave are located in the office for use. Very quiet place to stay

4

Rex

May 16, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Room has no coffee pots, very outdated, had mold on shower walls, no microwave, room did have mini fridge that didn’t stay cold, office don’t open till 8 that’s where the coffee is, door didn’t lock properly, tv remote only worked the channel nothing else. If your looking for a very budget room not to far from beach and don’t care this would be fine. I would rather spend 30-50$ more and have something nicer.

8

Louis

Jan 20, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Good value. Well maintained overall. Office did not open until after 8am which was inconvenient.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$120
February	$134
March	$159
April	$115
May	$89
June	$88
July	$84
August	$75
September	$75
October	$80
November	$99
December	$96

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14 $58	15 $55	16 $55	17 $62	18 $85	19 $85
20 $61	21 $61	22 $63	23 $64	24 $78	25 $94	26 $95
27 $78	28 $63	29 $62	30 $66

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $78	2 $95	3 $94
4 $80	5 $65	6 $63	7 $63	8 $64	9 $117	10 $118
11 $80	12 $64	13 $63	14 $65	15 $80	16 $95	17 $97
18 $82	19 $63	20 $64	21 $63	22 $79	23 $94	24 $94
25 $78	26 $51	27 $64	28 $202	29 $205	30 $205	31 $202

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds

Suite, 1 King Bed

Guest reviews

Good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Security deposit

Good to know

FAQs about The Drift Hotel

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Prices for upcoming dates