Valdosta, GA

[nicknamy1996]

We are looking for somewhere to stop on the way in to Orlando. It looks like we will be around Valdosta by the kids bed time and I have a couple of questions...

1) About how much time does it take to get to Disney World from Valdosta?

2) Is this a nice place to stay?

if so 3) Is there somewhere you recomend for dinner?

if not 4) is there somewhere else along I-75 that is a nice place to stop for the night?


Thanks

[Mom+4]

We have stayed in Valdosta at a Holiday Inn, I think. It was very convenient to the interstate. I can't remember where we ate, though. Maybe in the motel restaurant. Another nice town to stay in is McDonough, GA. It is a bit further north.

[DC7800]

We stayed in the Valdosta Holiday Inn in 1997, and it was nice. Valdosta is a pretty nice (and seemingly safe) place, not a large city, but with many of the major restaurant and hotel chains.

On the other side of the Florida line is Lake City, which I much prefer. Smaller than Valdosta, you still have the major chains. The Hampton Inn I can recommend - we were there in July. They have a suprisingly varied complimentary continental breakfast. I think its about three and a half hours from WDW directly, we take our time.

One VERY important, vital piece of advice - make reservations in advance! Unless you are planning to stop for the night before 6 p.m. or so, you cannot count on finding a room (weekends are worse, I understand). We arrived at the Lake City Hampton Inn about 11:30 p.m. on a Thursday to find desperate families going literally from hotel to hotel looking for any room for the night - with everything sold out (whatever happened to Vacancy/No Vacancy signs?). Fortunately, we had reservations paid in advance, or else we would have stayed in hotel Oldsmobile! I would have assumed this was just a summer phenomenon, but the Hampton hotel clerk assured me they were busy most of the year. You might not have to stop by 6 this time of year, but I wouldn't want to take the chance.

[nicknamy1996]

Thank you very much, I will look into the Lake City idea as well.
Great advice on the reservations too, that had not crossed my mind at all.

Thanks again,
Nick

[travelcoupons]

I've stayed at the Days Inn, Lake Park, GA which is about 15 miles south of Valdosta. Excellent motel right next to Cracker Barrel restaurant. Rate is about $33-39 this time of year.
Photos: http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/allphotos?pid=04054

It is nicer in person than in the photos (unlike most hotels which look nicer in the photos.)