The Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach's facade is white with glass balconies. Indoors, the spacious lobby includes a wall cut-out adorned with several matching glass vases filled with white orchids. Light-blue velvet sofas and white club chairs are clustered together on a brown and blue circle patterned rug. Pots of bromeliads and white planters with green ferns are plentiful. Gray settees are placed in front of tall windows overlooking the hotel's front drive. Abstract paintings of palm trees line the walls. Most of the guests are families and couples who want to enjoy the beach and pool, though business travelers stay here as well.

The Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach has a hard-to-beat location near Collins Avenue in Hollywood Avenue, just across a busy street from the sandy public beach. Aventura Mall is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Other nearby attractions include Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Gulfstream Park Casino. Fort Lauderdale is just 10 minutes away, but plan on at least 20 minutes to get to Miami's South Beach via car. There's a daily charge for parking at the hotel.

There are 311 rooms and suites at The Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach and each comes standard with a kitchenette, furnished balcony, and coffeemaker. Decor is contemporary but still generic. Think: dark wood furniture, an ergonomic desk chair, and brown and white bed runners and bolsters on beds. White chaise loungers are a comfortable spot to watch the flat-screen TV. Bathrooms mostly consist of glass-encased showers with square-shaped bowl sinks. Templespa toiletries are nicer than average. Views range from the water to the parking lot. The Quiet Zone Floor is a great feature: No kids are allowed on the floor and housekeeping won't show up until after 10 a.m.

Though there are some convenient and fun features at Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach for both tourists and business travelers, the best feature has to be their huge outdoor swimming pool. It's located on the edge of the bay and has plenty of sun loungers plus a large whirlpool. There's a poolside Tiki Bar for drinks, lunch, and dinner. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and tickets for the water taxi are sold near the pool. Inside, Elements Bistro serves a buffet breakfast, and a la carte lunch and dinner. 24-hour business and fitness centers include state-of-the-art equipment. The lobby holds a convenience store for quick snacks and Starbucks coffee. Room service is available, and there's free Wi-Fi throughout.