Florida is a funny place, it seems rather separate from the rest of the United States. I’ve been to Fort Lauderdale twice, the first time with family and the second time with a friend, both in winter.
If you don’t have a car, getting around can be rather difficult as the bus systems are crap, to say the least (although quite cheap). People drive everywhere, so if you want to see all the area has to offer, I advise you rent a car!
The second time my friend & I stayed in a youth hostel a few minutes from the beach, and that hostel made our stay. We met fabulous people, spent time on the beach, partied a lot and it was altogether an unforgettable experience.
There’s more to Fort Lauderdale than the beach and marina, although that’s where most people flock to. Although some citizens can seem rather fake, we met nice Floridians too who were asking the same questions about life that we were. You can relax here and have a great time – eat well, party hard – and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Plus you’re bound to meet plenty of new friends :)