As part of my assessment of some Royal Caribbean offerings in the Caribbean, I recently found myself with many hours to burn at the Fort Lauderdale Airport, a place as busy as the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Moving between terminals here is no walk in the park; it’s more like a battlefield with endless corridors and disconnected structures. As far as the eye can see are cruisers waiting to eat, or withdrawing from eating, but without a buffet nearby, they meander endlessly with no sense of purpose; something the vet in me can’t handle for long. A quick Google found me the Escape Lounge of FLL (Terminal 3, past security on the walkway to Gates E1-10)

Escapes can be hit and miss, but this one I must admit was worth the forced march from the Southwest hub at Terminal 1. The size and selections of grub at this lounge are impressive. Unlike some cramped and chaotic spots I’ve seen over the years, this place is well laid out, making it easy to find everything you need without breaking a sweat.

The food and drink offerings here are plentiful and fresh, not the typical pre-packaged nonsense you usually get in airport lounges. As a man who appreciates a good, hot meal after years of MREs, the quality here is a pleasant surprise. It’s like they actually care about what they’re serving, which is a rare thing in this day and age.

For all you active and retired military folks out there, considering the chaos of airport travel, the Escape Lounge makes a strong case for carrying an American Express Platinum card. Escape allows companions to enter the lounge (and even maybe eat or drink), which makes the cost competitive to an entree and drink in most airport restaurants, offsetting nearly a month of the $600+ annual fee. If you travel at least once per month, you are financially ahead and maybe even a bit mentally ahead. If you’re like me, a salty old vet who values every dollar, and you’re on the fence about whether that shiny card is worth it, just think about the comfort and peace you’ll get before your next flight. Trust me, it makes the difference between arriving stressed out from a light division of the Golden Girls or actually enjoying your journey.

Stay Salty