Pineapple Point Guesthouse and Resort in Ft. Lauderdale

Last year we spent three days at Pineapple Point resort. This year we were booked for a whole week over the Christmas/Chanukah holidays. I was a little concerned because we had such a great time last year. Could it live up to our expectations on a return visit?

Our plan for this year was simple. Besides sunning ourselves around the pool, we anticipated exploring the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area and visit some of the tourist sites and check out the bars and clubs. We also planned on visiting two straight couples, long time friends, we knew in the area. In addition, we were invited at the end of the week to a pre-cruise cocktail party of friends going on the TravelPride cruise the next morning.

Fate served us a different plan. We arrived at the resort at 4:30 pm on Saturday. We had a direct flight from cool San Francisco to balmy Miami. The first thing we did was take off our flannel shirts and leave on our sleeveless black t-shirts. We started to unpack our stuff in our beautiful bungalow room but decided to attend the 5 o’clock wine and cheese social hour around the pool. We chatted with the other guests about theatre in New York City and Washington, DC. At 6pm, the group got up to leave. They were going to a holiday party hosted by neighbors next door to the resort. They invited us along. Although we were not properly dressed for any type of gathering other than around the pool (jeans, black “wife-beater” t-shirt and sandals) we accompanied the group to the soirée. We intended to stay for just a few minutes and then go back to our bungalow and shower, change clothes and find a restaurant for dinner. Four hours later we left the party with a half-dozen new friends and invitations to dinners and parties through the week.

Our social calendar for the rest of the week was booked. We never got out exploring the nightlife in Ft. Lauderdale/Wilton Manors area. Never made it to a gay bar or club. Instead we were invited to several holiday parties. A couple of the highlights were a dinner party on the first night of Chanukah hosted by south Florida’s most produced playwright and his artistic director partner. A fourth night of Chanukah party (Christmas Eve) with a charming straight couple with connections to the California Bay Area. Their son and his wife are Jewish musicians in area synagogues.

We had such a wonderful, marvelous time in Ft. Lauderdale with our new and old friends, we have tentatively rebooked our room at Pineapple Point for two weeks next December instead of one.

E’s review of Pineapple Point: The best part of Pineapple Point is the staff. I have never been anywhere in the entire world with a friendlier, more personable, more accommodating staff -- to a person. Combined with the beauty of the place and the very interesting clientele we meet there, we hardly find a reason to leave the property.

This year, we met some really important, new friends while there. We look forward to seeing them again next year.

The 'feast' on Christmas Day was fantastic. And, we always enjoy the wine hours every evening. It is a great chance to meet 'newbies' and to have time to talk to folks we only nod at across the pool during the sun hours.

So, we are very satisfied. We come over 3000 miles to spend time with you. That is a not-too-far distance for what must be America's #1 gay resort.