After five nights in Key West, we pointed our Mustang convertible northeast toward the mainland, leaving hordes of weeping bartenders in our wake, and headed to Fort Lauderdale.
We'd rented the Mustang from Thrifty upon arrival at the Fort Lauderdale airport, but indirectly, through a site called AutoSlash. Tell AutoSlash where and when you want to rent and it provides rates for various kinds of vehicles from a variety of companies. Make your choice, and AutoSlash makes the reservation for you and emails you confirmation and tracking numbers. But what sets AutoSlash apart is that it continues to seek discounts and coupons to apply to your rate and will rebook your reservation if it finds a lower rate.
In our case, the original rate was US$273 a week, all in. Within a few hours, AutoSlash had rebooked us at US$253. The next morning, we received a third email saying we were rebooked again at US$233. I was a little dubious, but everything worked out fine, and I would use AutoSlash again. Just be aware, that, as at many rental car counters, the rep will try to upsell you insurance coverage you already have with your own insurance policy and/or credit card.
We did purchase the full tank option so we wouldn't have to hunt for a gas station near the airport when we returned the car, and paid an additional $10 a day so Mrs. 500 Words could drive the car. She loved it: it brought out her inner Thelma (or Louise).
Fort Lauderdale is "where the boys are", the original home of spring break. Also known as the "Venice of America", it is built on land reclaimed from the Everglades in the early 20th century and is crisscrossed with canals. It claims to be the yachting capital of the world, and yachting repair and servicing actually contributes more to the local economy than does tourism.
Certainly we saw thousands of yachts on a trip on the local water taxi and on a short cruise along the New River. Belonging to the .01% in the sports and entertainment industries, and the plutocracy of corporate America, a common sight was a $90 million yacht moored in front of a $50 million house. There were literally hundreds of billions on ostentatious display. Mind boggling.
The Water Taxi costs $20 for an all-day adult pass and is well worth it. It stops at many of the major hotels and shopping and dining areas. The crews also provide an entertaining description of local history and celebrity lore.
Las Olas Boulevard is the main shopping and dining street. Unfortunately, a banged-up foot limited my mobility and we didn't get the chance to check it out. Same for the white sand beach with the promenade. But lounging by the infinity edge pool of our beachfront hotel wasn't a bad way to console myself.
After three nights, we headed back to February in Ontario. But Fort Lauderdale and area is a place I'd like to go back to.
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