Jonathan’s House · Blog

Fort Lauderdale, by someone who lives the experience

Local picks, neighborhood guides, and the answers I give my guests when they email asking where to go. Updated as I find new spots worth sending people to.

Every Guide

All 29 Fort Lauderdale guides

Booking Direct · Oct 31, 2026Life Is Better Without Airbnb: How Booking Direct Supports the Small Business OwnerBehind every short-term rental is a small business owner. What changes for both sides when you book direct instead of through a platform, and how to do it well.Read the guide → Who It Suits · Oct 30, 2026A Family of Four Finds Their Home Base in Fort LauderdaleNicole and her family of four are planning a week in South Florida. What they want from a vacation rental, in their own words, and why Fort Lauderdale is top of the list.Read the guide → The House · Oct 29, 2026A Family Vacation Where Everyone Ends Up in the Same PlaceA family-friendly Fort Lauderdale rental with a private heated saltwater pool, open-plan kitchen and fenced backyard. Book direct at Jonathan's House.Read the guide → The House · Oct 29, 2026Fort Lauderdale By Owner: A 3-Bedroom Rental With a Heated Saltwater PoolWhat booking a Fort Lauderdale vacation rental by owner actually means, and what you get at Jonathan's House: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, sleeps 8, private heated saltwater pool.Read the guide → Booking Direct · Oct 28, 2026How Much a Family of 5 Can Save Staying in a Vacation RentalSee how much a family of five can save by staying in a vacation rental instead of hotel rooms, plus the benefits of cooking, quieter stays and more family time.Read the guide → Eat & Drink · Oct 28, 2026The Best Seafood Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale for DinnerThe best seafood restaurants in Fort Lauderdale for a dinner out, with Google ratings, review links and picks near Las Olas, the Intracoastal and the beach.Read the guide → Things to Do · Oct 27, 2026Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2026: Dates, Tips, and Things to Do the Following WeekendThe 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs Oct 28 to Nov 1. Get dates, ticket tips, and the best things to do the weekend after, plus where to stay.Read the guide → Booking Direct · Oct 27, 2026Why Booking Directly With a Homeowner Is Better for Your VacationBooking directly with a homeowner means a real person to talk to, clearer policies and perks you won't find on the big platforms. Here's why it's worth it.Read the guide → For Owners · Oct 27, 2026Why Homeowners Are Struggling With Airbnb in 2026Airbnb hosts are reporting slower bookings, higher fees and tougher local rules. Here is what is driving the frustration and what homeowners can do about it.Read the guide → Eat & Drink · Oct 26, 2026Cook at Home or Eat Out? How to Save on Food During a Fort Lauderdale Family VacationSave money and stress on your Fort Lauderdale family vacation. Why a vacation rental with a full kitchen beats eating every meal out, plus a simple family meal plan.Read the guide → Getting Around · Oct 26, 2026Do You Need a Rental Car in Fort Lauderdale? Why Uber and Lyft Are EasierDo you need a car in Fort Lauderdale? For most visitors, no. Rideshare from FLL and around town is more convenient and flexible than a rental car.Read the guide → Eat & Drink · Oct 26, 2026El Camino on Las Olas: Tacos, Margaritas and Mezcal in Fort LauderdaleCraving Mexican food on Las Olas Boulevard? El Camino serves tacos, margaritas and mezcal in a relaxed Fort Lauderdale setting.Read the guide → Who It Suits · Oct 26, 2026Fort Lauderdale for Senior Travelers: A Relaxed, Private Home BasePlanning a Fort Lauderdale trip for seniors or retirees? A private 3-bedroom home with a heated pool, full kitchen and laundry offers comfort and a relaxed pace.Read the guide → Things to Do · Oct 26, 2026Fort Lauderdale Golf Courses: Public and Semi-Private Places to PlayPlanning a Fort Lauderdale golf trip? Play American Golfers Club, Jacaranda or Plantation Preserve, then relax at a private home with a heated pool.Read the guide → Who It Suits · Oct 26, 2026Fort Lauderdale Holiday Home for European Travellers: A Private Villa with PoolLooking for a holiday home in Fort Lauderdale? A private 3-bedroom villa with a heated saltwater pool, full kitchen and laundry, ideal for longer European holidays.Read the guide → The House · Oct 26, 2026Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rental with a Heated Saltwater Pool: Swim Day or NightLooking for a Fort Lauderdale vacation rental with a private heated pool? Jonathan's House has a saltwater pool held at 87 degrees, ready day or night.Read the guide → Eat & Drink · Oct 26, 2026Gulf Stream Brewing: A Family-Friendly Brewery in Fort LauderdaleLooking for a family-friendly brewery in Fort Lauderdale? Gulf Stream Brewing is a relaxed taproom with beer brewed on site, an easy outing from Jonathan's House.Read the guide → Booking Direct · Oct 26, 2026Leave the Stress at the Door: Why Jonathan's House Beats a HotelVacation rental vs hotel in Fort Lauderdale: privacy, a full kitchen, a private heated pool and laundry on site. Why families choose a whole home over two hotel rooms.Read the guide → Eat & Drink · Oct 26, 2026Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza: Coal-Fired Pizza on Las Olas in Fort LauderdaleLooking for the best coal-fired pizza in Fort Lauderdale? Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza on Las Olas bakes pies with a charred, smoky crust.Read the guide → The House · Oct 26, 2026Mango Season in Fort Lauderdale: Fresh Fruit from the Backyard at Jonathan's HouseWhen is mango season in Fort Lauderdale? June through August. Jonathan's House has a live mango tree in the backyard, a sweet perk of a summer stay.Read the guide → Things to Do · Oct 26, 2026Things to Do with Kids in Fort Lauderdale: Year-Round Family FunLooking for things to do with kids in Fort Lauderdale? From fishing charters and beach days to a private heated pool, here's year-round family fun.Read the guide → The House · Oct 26, 2026Vacation Rental Near Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL): Jonathan's HouseLooking for a vacation rental near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)? Jonathan's House is a short hop away, a private 3-bedroom home with a heated pool.Read the guide → Things to Do · Oct 26, 2026Where to Stay for the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat ShowWhere to stay for the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show (Oct 28 to Nov 1). Skip the hotel: a private 3-bedroom home with a heated pool and full kitchen.Read the guide → Booking Direct · Oct 26, 2026Why Book Direct Instead of Airbnb? A Fort Lauderdale Host ExplainsShould you book a vacation rental direct or through Airbnb? A Fort Lauderdale host explains the fees, the rules and why booking direct is better for guests and hosts.Read the guide → The House · Oct 26, 2026Why Jonathan's House Exists: A Fort Lauderdale Host's StoryJonathan's House is a single-owner Fort Lauderdale vacation rental, built from a love of travel and a belief that a better stay is possible. Here's the story.Read the guide → The House · Oct 24, 2026Why Fort Lauderdale Is the Place to Be This WinterEscaping the cold? Why a winter stay at Jonathan's House in Fort Lauderdale works for a week or a few — mild weather, a heated pool, a real kitchen and a quiet neighbourhood minutes from the beach.Read the guide → Getting Around · Oct 17, 2026Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), Brightline Rail to Miami & Port Everglades GuideFly into Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), stay near Las Olas and Fort Lauderdale Beach, and take the Brightline Rail straight into Miami — a travel guide from Jonathan's House.Read the guide → Eat & Drink · Oct 17, 2026Fort Lauderdale Beach, Las Olas, Elbo Room & Best Restaurants GuidePlanning a trip to Fort Lauderdale? The best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas Boulevard dining, Fort Lauderdale Beach and the world-famous Elbo Room — all from a private vacation rental minutes away.Read the guide → Things to Do · Oct 17, 2026Where to Stay for the Fort Lauderdale Yacht Show, Fishing Charters & Hard Rock CasinoComing for the Fort Lauderdale Yacht Show (FLIBS), booking Fort Lauderdale fishing charters, or heading to the Hard Rock Casino? Stay minutes away in a private 3-bedroom house.Read the guide →