The Sunrise center is approximately the area of Galleria Mall and the area of Terramar Beach.
Sunrise enjoys a tropical climate. While there isn't an off-time for visiting Florida, there are some times of the year that are less expensive and slightly less crowded than others. On the Atlantic side of Florida, you'll see the deepest discounts during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30.
The summer is steamy with temps averaging in the low 90s. Humidity is often between 80 and 90 percent, and localized showers in the late afternoons are fairly common in June and July. But the storms quickly pass, and the sun returns. While temps don't begin to drop out of the 90s until October, a visit in September can be ideal. Students are back in school, and the snowbirds have not yet descended on Florida. The crowds are minimal, the pools and ocean are warm, and hotels offer discounts to attract visitors.
The average hotel rate for a three-star hotel in Sunrise is around $100 a night before taxes. December through March is peak time, and you can expect hotel prices to increase by about $30 a night.
Many Sunrise properties offer discounts, including military, AAA, senior, and government rates. The government rate at the DoubleTree by Hilton will save you about $30 a night on your stay; Government identification is required. Seniors can save about $20 on their room with a senior rate; Proof of age is required. AARP guests receive the added bonus of a 2 p.m. checkout. AAA also saves guests about $20 a night; be sure to present your card at check-in.
La Quinta Inn & Suites Sunrise Sawgrass Mills accepts AAA, AARP, senior citizen, government, and military discounts. For a room that runs around $75 in the summer, you can get 10 percent discounts with AAA and AARP, save about $4 as a senior citizen without the AARP affiliation, and about 15 percent with a military discount. Proof is required for all discounts.
The Sawgrass Grand offers a special 7 percent discount off rooms as well as an online booking rate on the HotelPlanner site. The DoubleTree by Hilton also offers a special discount and online rate through HotelPlanner.
Keep in mind that hotels in Sunrise fill up quickly when there's an event at the BB&T Center. If you're looking to plan an event and need rooms at a discount, you may want to check the arena's calendar, as you are more likely to get a deep discount when there aren't any big events going on.
Sunrise, Florida is a city of about 85,000 people, but it's a small area. It's sandwiched between the Everglades Wildlife Management Area to the west and Fort Lauderdale to the east. Big events at the BB&T Center inflate Sunrise hotel prices, so for the best value, you'll want to keep an eye on the arena's event calendar, or look just outside of town. Because of its size, the best value in Sunrise is often in one of the neighboring areas.
Nearby Inverrary is home to the All-Inclusive Inverrary Vacation Resort, where you can get a room for under $65 a night. They offer free parking and children's activities. The hotel also offers an all-inclusive rate where meals, beverages, and activities are included. Try the rock climbing wall or enjoy the fitness center.
One of the things that makes Sunrise so desirable is its proximity to major attractions like the Fort Lauderdale and Miami beaches. However, since you're not right downtown, parking is free and the pace a little less busy. The Sawgrass Mills Mall offers nice dining, shopping, and entertainment options, and the BB&T Center brings the excitement of NHL hockey and top names in entertainment.
Being close to the highways means you can create your own vacation, day by day. Plan a day at the beach, absolutely. Stroll the Miami fashion district, sure. Catch a major concert, yes please. All of this is easy from Sunrise, and the city offers one of the most economical ways to enjoy the area. It's also close to the cruise port of Fort Lauderdale, which is convenient if you're looking to extend your cruise vacation or come in a day early and enjoy the sights.
Other top nearby attractions include award-winning golf courses, soft sandy beaches, and Everglades National Park, which spans 1.5 million acres. It's ideal for lovers of the outdoors as well as people who just want to get a glimpse of wet sawgrass prairies and mangrove swamps. Visitors enjoy a number of programs and activities, including hiking, camping, tram tours, boat tours, and ranger-led hikes. Nature is the show-stopper here, with the chance to see alligators, manatees, dolphins, turtles, and more. Keep your eyes open, and you may even see an elusive crocodile. Many people prefer to get a bird's-eye view of the wildlife from the observation tower at Shark Valley.
Visitors looking for something a little more refined will enjoy the Sunrise Tennis Club with 11 Hydrocourt clay courts and 4 asphalt-based cushion courts. Sunrise's newly renovated Seven Bridges at Springtree Golf Club offers a challenging public course as well as a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse.
In nearby Plantation, the Plantation Historical Museum is a nice place to visit. While there, take in the Fire Museum Annex and the lovely Botanical Gardens Park. A meandering brick path leads visitors past indigenous plants and flowers. Watch butterflies alight on the colorful blooms.
Miami Beach is only 35 miles away from Sunrise, but the drive will take the better part of an hour. There, visitors enjoy the energy, high fashion, and beauty of this cosmopolitan city. Take in the romance of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, or spend hours at some of the top shopping spots in the world in the Design District. Shoppers won't want to miss Bal Harbour either. This luxury shopper's dream is home to major high-end retailers and is popular with celebrities.
Sunrise, Florida has come a long way since its beginning as a novelty. What was once rural Florida is now one of the premier entertainment and shopping destinations in the area. It's the ideal spot to enjoy a South Florida vacation because it's close enough to major cities and attractions but far enough that you can relax away from the party. Check out Sunrise for an economical stay in southern Florida.
A couple of choices await you in terms of cheap hotels. La Quinta Inn is a delightful choice for those on a budget. It features free Wi-fi and parking, as well as a pool. A free breakfast will also be provided when you stay. If you have pets then there are options for pet friendly rooms. Of course there is also a gym, as is common with many hotels these days. Close by is the Sawgrass Mills shopping center. A truly massive place where you are sure to find whatever products you are looking for. Markham Park is also a short way from the hotel, which offers a huge dog park and hiking tracks, as well as a gun range and other outdoor activities.
Cheap hotels are fine for some, but others may want a more luxurious experience. The Doubletree hotel is really the only choice if you plan to pay a bit extra for your hotel. This hotel features a swimming pool, much like other hotels in Sunrise. Room service and a bar area is what sets it apart, as well as the size of the building itself. A large and comfortable dining room will be a welcome place to eat your meals while staying at the hotel. There are numerous restaurants nearby as well as the aforementioned Sawgrass Mills shopping center.
All the Hotels in Sunrise are fairly close to all the attractions you would want to visit, as it is quite a small city. The BB&T center is the home of the NHL Florida Panthers hockey team. If you are a fan of the sport then it's well worth checking if there is a game on at the time of your visit. Many people visit the city simply to watch the games. Conjoined with this is also a venue which holds many events during the year like concerts and such. There will most likely be something to do or see here during your visit. Markham Park is a must if you are a nature lover or if you have dogs with you. You can hike, shoot, fish and camp there. There is also a serious RC aero plane scene there, with a miniature private runway for putting those expensive devices to good use. There is even a pool and an observatory of sorts so you can admire the night sky away from the city lights. Sunrise hotels are limited in choice but still of good quality and excellently placed for visitors.
Below are reviews of the city of Sunrise, FL from an actual visitor's perspective.
Ideal location for getting around
The lobby area along with bathrooms are always clean and fresh with floral scents.
Malls and strips are very accommodating, great people and food options.
Close to cruise port, hockey arena and shopping!
The Nova University and the Space Foundation Life on Mars event!
Pleasant city to visit. Lots to see and explore. Great shops and restaurants.
Clean area with lots to do!
Very relaxing place to enjoy family and friends.
The city of Sunrise is GREAT! The Sawgrass Mall has everything you could be looking for and the BB&T center is an excellent venue to catch a concert.
The mall was excellent and the city was pretty to walk around.