where to stay for a solo traveller

[j9000]

Hiya,
planning my first solo trip to Orlando this november, and first time not in a condo, and was wondering if anyone can recommend hotels ideal for solo adult travellers (just not in that way) and more importantly cheap!

a quick look through trip advisor ranged from 'great' to 'mugged outside my room' so was wondering if anyone could recommend anywhere good?
J

[Supergoofy20p]

Hiya! 1st time solo traveler here same thing with me so I found dirt cheap! With all meals and theme parks and snacks it ran me around 2g the cheapest place is the value resorts which I am going to asmovie around 82$ a night that is the cheapest but if you bargin hunt with travelocity or others travel agents you might find a cheaper price!! Good luck!! Have fun!

[jenscourt]

I have always felt safe on Disney property as a solo traveler. I uaually stay at Fort Wilderness in a tent which is cheaper than even the value resorts. If you are not comfortable camping, the value resorts are the best deal.

[j9000]

thanks,
was planning on staying off property due to the cost, (was north of £600 for the value resorts.)
Not thought about camping, but what happens with fun things like alligators and rattlesnakes in the campground, would i have to share my beer with them?

[nurse.darcy]

Stay on property. ABSOLUTELY no transportation costs, can include the dining plan, and no stress about how to get to a park when you REALLY want to go commando.

Look, you can stay at Days Inn Maingate for maybe 15 dollars a night less, BUT the transportation sucks. What if you have a dinner ressie? You just might have to take a taxi to make it. And what if you want to go back to your room after park hours? Its much more difficult.

I realize that 600 pounds for your entire stay may seem a bit "steep" for a budget concious person but that translates into about 82 to 95 dollars a night. Here if it is under a hundred a night, its pretty much a bargain.

[dauser]

I agree with the PP who suggest to stay on-site at a value resort. The reduced transportation costs by using the Magical Express shuttle and the added convenience easily make up for the $15 per night that you would save by staying off-site.

[j9000]

the aspect of reducing the travel costs is a fair point, but the difference isnt $15 i really wish it was!

comparing the all star resorts with say, the ramada gateway,the difference comes out around £400! which is almost would pay for my tickets and a car!

plus with hogwarts up at universal studios i really need to be going all over orlando.

[Carmen NC]

Unless Disney has updated the bus schedule for the Value Resorts and given each resort its own set of buses, you may want your car. We were there in March staying at the All Star Movies. It is the last resort on the Value strip and 2x by the time the bus got to us it was beyond standing room only and one person got off and there was 30+ people in front of us. Thankfully I had my car and was parked close by. That was my only issue - Movies has a good food court and it was relatively quiet (Dalmation building 3rd floor, end room by the pool).

[aggielawyer]

the aspect of reducing the travel costs is a fair point, but the difference isnt $15 i really wish it was!

comparing the all star resorts with say, the ramada gateway,the difference comes out around £400! which is almost would pay for my tickets and a car!

plus with hogwarts up at universal studios i really need to be going all over orlando.

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples...from what I recall, if you price a trip out on a Disney website they include all taxes and fees in the price quote, but if you price it out on a travel sight like travelocity they don't include taxes or fees in the price quote.

For what it's worth, I'd stay at a value (I really like Pop Century) before going offsite. If you consider camping, keep in mind that you'll have to bring your camping gear with you.

[spiceycat]

where are you coming from?

if flying - then you need to add a rental car to your price.

now if you really want to do US instead of WDW - then definitely stay offsite.

however if most of your trip is WDW then value or Fw is a good option.

if you really want cheap - was very happy (much to my surprise) at Motel 6 - West - it is close to AK. you definitely need a car here. so you also need to be 25 or older (to get the cheap rental rates for cars)

[j9000]

where are you coming from?

if flying - then you need to add a rental car to your price.

now if you really want to do US instead of WDW - then definitely stay offsite.

however if most of your trip is WDW then value or Fw is a good option.

if you really want cheap - was very happy (much to my surprise) at Motel 6 - West - it is close to AK. you definitely need a car here. so you also need to be 25 or older (to get the cheap rental rates for cars)

im coming in from the uk, and i had already factored a car in as there are a few places further afield i want to visit like the ringling brothers museum

thanks for the suggestion of the motel6, will look into it, also been looking at the Ramada Gateway Plaza and the Liki Tiki Village as both have good rates on Expedia.

aggielawer,
Expedia in the uk adds in all additional fees into the price, which is why i was so shocked at the hefty difference!

[spiceycat]

disney is expensive - even the value resorts are expensive. but not having to drive is generally worth it.

you do understand how far US is from WDW - it is a good 30 to 45 minutes.

the airport drive is probably about an hour.

[j9000]

disney is expensive - even the value resorts are expensive. but not having to drive is generally worth it.

you do understand how far US is from WDW - it is a good 30 to 45 minutes.

the airport drive is probably about an hour.


Ive been to Orlando before, just always with other people in a house, never in a hotel.

[spiceycat]

sorry.

you are so brave - first to come to another country, Secondly to drive on the opposite side from what you do in GB.

you are definitely brave.

this is the motel 6 - that I like - it is not directly on US 192 - but back from it.

it got new owners earlier this year and they are definitely trying.

http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.aspx?num=436&VID=&NOA=1&aYr=2010&aMo=06&aDa=18&dYr=2010&dMo=06&dDa=22&CP=&TA=&BTR=/AccorMaps/M6ProximityResults.aspx?searchtype=C


they give a discount for a week or more.


this is probably the one you heard bad stuff about
http://www.homesuitehome.com/specials-extendedstay.php

can't believe it has gone down hill so fast - before they were very nice Holiday Inns.

[j9000]

:confused3 sorry? for what?

anyway, its either braveness or stupidity with me depending on who you talk to!
The thought of Orlando traffic scares me, but ive driven through alot worse, (LA, Nashville, London)
plus when youre sat on the correct side of the car, its very hard to screw up.

thanks for the motel 6 info, that is a REALLY great price, but due to the length of time im planning on being in florida, I think items such as a fridge would probably be beneficial. definitely keeping on file though!

If anyone knows of hotels with a kitchenette or small kitchen,
please yell.

[Luvchefmic]

How long are you staying and what kind of rate are you looking for? I have stayed many times at www.extendedstaydeluxe.com they have many sites in between WDW and US ..really really nice!

[j9000]

knew i forgot something :blush:

planning on going beginning of november for 10 nights, been getting reasonable rates combining with flights on expedia for £700-850 including taxes. (cheapest was £640)

prices of around £30-40 is best (up to about $60)

hope this helps

[Luvchefmic]

knew i forgot something :blush:

planning on going beginning of november for 10 nights, been getting reasonable rates combining with flights on expedia for £700-850 including taxes. (cheapest was £640)

prices of around £30-40 is best (up to about $60)

hope this helps

here's the link for you...I used Nov 1 thru checkout Nov 11 and got the one nearest Universal...they gave weekly discount rates of $49.99 night to $79.99 night depending on what you wanted :thumbsup2

http://www.extendedstaydeluxe.com/Reservations/SelectRoom.html?sid=d745e0b1-5dcb-4ef6-a5c0-df7eedd684ef

[SeattleRedBear]

I would second the recommendation for ESD. In general the Extended Stay chain is a really good value...we've stayed at a number of Extended Stay Americas over the years. The specific ESD in question has gotten pretty good reviews on TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34515-d87754-r63782586-Extended_Stay_Deluxe_Orlando_Universal_Studios-Orlando_Florida.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT). The only thing I don't like about the ESA's we've stayed in is the beds are always much firmer than to my liking. But I'm usually so tired after spending the day running around a theme park that the bed doesn't affect me one bit.

[j9000]

that extended stay looks nice, but on expedia comes out really expensive.

Ive finally chosen a hotel, thanks to weird Expedia offers mixed with discounts, settled on the Radisson Lake Buena Vista, as it comes in smack dab middle in my price range, and is only £120 more than the 'mugged outside my room' hotel.

Thanks everyone for your tips & this forum is a fantastic help,

[SeattleRedBear]

that extended stay looks nice, but on expedia comes out really expensive.

Ive finally chosen a hotel, thanks to weird Expedia offers mixed with discounts, settled on the Radisson Lake Buena Vista, as it comes in smack dab middle in my price range, and is only £120 more than the 'mugged outside my room' hotel.

so if you don't mind me asking...why are you limiting yourself to purchasing through Expedia? Expedia is the last source I would ever use, instead typically using pricline/hotwire bidding or going direct for specials.

[Luvchefmic]

so if you don't mind me asking...why are you limiting yourself to purchasing through Expedia? Expedia is the last source I would ever use, instead typically using pricline/hotwire bidding or going direct for specials.

:confused3 I had the same thought...hope you are happy with your selection OP I have found though a lot of times over the years when not staying on property I have found the best deals going directly through the hotel chain web site direct (which is why I posted the link/info re-ESD) no matter you will have a wonderful holiday/vacation merely because of your destination :goodvibes

[j9000]

9/10 i agree with you, Ive nearly always got better prices via going to hotels direct, and alot of great hotels Ive stayed in are not on expedia (especially in Nuremburg)

this time however, it was a better deal.
but combining the flight and hotel gives some discount on top of the hotel offers which were running, meaning I saved about £170 on top of the hotel deal (about 40% off).
basically removing the cost of the flight it works out at £29 a night (around $45) all in, via the hotel site the best rates for the radisson was 78 + tax advance purchase. Im close to food, supermarkets DISNEY! etc, only issue is getting in the hotel car park, just looks a little dicey on google maps.

seattle red bear,
i wasn't limiting myself, was just finding allot of the best deals money wise on the site. Priceline did come up with some good stuff, Hotwire scared me a little,

once again, thanks to everyone for their help,
Just 5 and a bit months to go,

[Luvchefmic]

you should check out the threads and maybe find a Dis Meet for when you're here :thumbsup2 so nice to put a face to a user ID and a lot of times you end up being lifelong friends :hug:

[j9000]

you should check out the threads and maybe find a Dis Meet for when you're here :thumbsup2 so nice to put a face to a user ID and a lot of times you end up being lifelong friends :hug:

i may just have to do that!

[mtblujeans]

Don't let the driving bother you...it's much easier to get around in Orlando than in LA...you'll be fine! :thumbsup2

[j9000]

Don't let the driving bother you...it's much easier to get around in Orlando than in LA...you'll be fine! :thumbsup2

Driving through hollywood on halloween night,
NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!!!