Good (safe) hotel to stay when going to Universa?l

[Zoemakes5]

I know I posted a long while back about hotels AT Universal, but they are so very expensive, especially for when we want to go (week of March 23).
So, can anyone give me good ideas that aren't $200-300 per night for hotels/motels in the area that are a quick drive to Universal and that are safe (I know it's really easy to make a turn and be in a bad neighborhood down there.)
I've remember hearing that one of the hotels off site has a shuttle?
Thanks!

[CairnsGirl]

HI ! The two main hotels near Universal are the Hilton and Sheraton and they are both quite expensive. I remember when I was searching that there is another one called the Beverly Garland Hotel. It runs a shuttle to the park and was much cheaper than the Hilton or Sheraton. I think it was a best western hotel so have a search on their website.

[sue1013]

The Beverly Garland is a Holiday Inn. We stayed there in May we liked it and it's a short drive to Universal. It was only 5-10 minutes on the shuttle.

[jlmarr]

Here's the link: http://www.beverlygarland.com

BTW, for a Disney tie-in, Beverly Garland is featured in one of the trailers shown at the Sci-Fi Drive-In at WDW. She was in "It Conquered The World" and her name is mentioned during the showing of that particular trailer.

[Lollipop's Mom]

We LOVE the sportsmens lodge, and you can get good deals on expedia on it. We stay there every year for nearly a week.