Live rates and availability plotted around the venue.
Top 3 rooms · our picks, never paid placements
Premium
AC Hotel by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills Sunrise
Sawgrass Mills Circle, Sunrise · 12 min walk
$$$consistently 8.5+ class
Best-rated hotel on Booking's list for the arena and the closest, 3,050 feet away on the mall's ring road. Restaurant, bar and a terrace. Guests keep mentioning the parking.
Fan pick
DoubleTree by Hilton Sunrise - Sawgrass Mills
Sunrise Blvd, by Sawgrass Mills · 16 min walk
$$consistently 8.5+ class
A clear step down in price from the AC with a mid-8s score across nearly 3,000 reviews. Booking puts it 0.8 miles from the arena; the walk is through the Sawgrass Mills lots, so most people drive the mile and park. Heated outdoor pool, restaurant and a Starbucks on site.
Budget
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Sawgrass
Sunrise, 2 miles out · 7 min drive
$7-class
Cheapest bed near the arena that clears our bar, and only just: it grades 7.0, so read the recent reviews before you book. Make sure it is the Sawgrass one. The La Quinta Sunrise at the same price grades 5.1, and the WoodSpring in Tamarac is cheaper still at 5.5. The Hampton Inn in Tamarac is the step up, mid-8s for a little more, ten minutes out.
The money play
Three moves, in order
1Book refundable, todayThe first demand spike hits when a home game becomes possible: a series lead, a clinch scenario. Lock a free-cancellation room in Sawgrass Mills before certainty, while prices are still normal.
2Watch the bracket, not the ratesThe second, much bigger spike lands the moment the date is official, usually days before the game. Rooms near Amerant Bank Arena go first, then demand ripples outward through Sunrise.
3Cancel free or cash inIf your team doesn't get the game, cancel before the cutoff. It costs nothing. If they do, you're holding a room everyone else is fighting over at double the price.
FAQ
What airport do I fly into for Amerant Bank Arena?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the main airport, roughly 25 minutes from the venue by car in normal traffic. Expect longer on game days.
Which neighborhoods are best for an NHL playoff weekend in Sunrise?
Most visiting fans stay in Sawgrass Mills, Plantation, Downtown Fort Lauderdale or Fort Lauderdale Beach. The arena sits at the edge of the Everglades next to Sawgrass Mills mall, so either grab a hotel by the mall for convenience or stay on Fort Lauderdale Beach and accept a 30-minute drive.
When should I book a hotel for a playoff game at Amerant Bank Arena?
Book a refundable rate the moment a home game becomes possible, even before the matchup is official. Playoff-round dates firm up only days in advance and prices jump immediately, so a free-cancellation booking made early beats waiting every time.