Just noticed LaQuinta Lakeside into BW

[Magalex]

Just noticed today that the Laquinta Lakeside is now Best Western Lakeside(since June 2005). Will Best Western be in the process of remodeling? I always have seen mixed reviews of the offsite resort. Has anyone been there since the conversion?

[Lewisc]

The property went from Sheraton to Four Points to La Quinta. Downgrading their affiliation as an alternative to renovating and raising rates. I'm not sure if BW is higher or lower than La Quinta. Both are budget oriented chains. The website doesn't say anything about renovations.

I wouldn't expect any major renovations unless they think they can substantially raise their rates.

[Brian Noble]

My own personal rating system would put BW below LQ, but not by that much.

In any event, when a hotel changes brand affiliations more than a couple of times, it's usually not a good sign.

[spiceycat]

this could be a great resort!

oh well I won't stay there again - it no longer excepts pets.

[brer rabbit 28]

i have booked this for next year,looks fine if you just want a bed to crash in

[Brian Noble]

spiceycat: I believe most (if not all) LQs accept pets---the LQ property in Sandusky (near Cedar Point) is one of the few that will.

[merseynighthawk#60]

i am going in april next year and it looks good to me .

[KevinM]

We stayed a LaQuinta Lakeside for 1 night on our December trip (we decided to take a late flight the day before our check-in at the Dolphin). I got a room through Expedia or Priceline for $29.00.

For $29.00, it was OK to sleep for 7 hours. Otherwise, it was pretty nasty. :crazy2: :crazy2:

[tinaluis]

We stayed at the LQ about 1 1/2 years ago and liked it (Priceline bid of $22 a night). The first room we were assigned was very dirty so we complained and we were placed in a poolside room which was very clean and well appointed. I'm not sure how the new name will affect things there but it was a decent place when we visited.

[A Mickeyfan]

I just won this off Priceline for July 25 (4 nights). I am now worried about the condition of the place. I had stayed there 2 times when it was the Sheraton Four Points & it was nice then. I was happy to have won it from Priceline (at $28 per night), am I having second thoughts now. I do only plan on sleeping & showering there. The rest of my time will be at Universal & shopping :goodvibes
Yes, I know this place is a hike to Universal, but I couldn't get anything from Priceline in the Universal zone (went up to $47 on a 2 1/2*). I will let you all know how it was when I return. If I do have a dirty room, Priceline or not, I will be at the front desk complaining... as well as letting Priceline know.

[merseynighthawk#60]

its not that far to universal

.25 mile(s) from barber/beauty shop
1.8 mile(s) from Disneyworld Maingate
2 mile(s) from Orange Lake Resort & Country Club, golf course
10 mile(s) from Wet n Wild, waterpark
10 mile(s) from Seaworld, home of Shamu
10 mile(s) from Kissimmee Lanes, bowling
12 mile(s) from Universal Studios
12 mile(s) from Lake Tohoe
18 mile(s) from TD Waterhouse Arena, basketball
22 mile(s) from Citrus Bowl, stadium
63 mile(s) from Kennedy Space Center, space shuttles and museum
66 mile(s) from Busch Gardens


off the hotel wesite :)

[Melynny]

They have been in the process of remodeling for the last 3 months, new beds, new furniture and new bathroom sink tops. I could see all of these items in large trash dumpsters when we took the back way into WDW from Summerbay and while were staying at Silver Lake over Memorial day. It seem to be taking a long time, so maybe they are doing a good job.

[A Mickeyfan]

They have been in the process of remodeling for the last 3 months, new beds, new furniture and new bathroom sink tops. I could see all of these items in large trash dumpsters when we took the back way into WDW from Summerbay and while were staying at Silver Lake over Memorial day. It seem to be taking a long time, so maybe they are doing a good job.
thanks for your input, I do feel a little better now. I stayed at Silver Lake over Memorial Day weekend too (5/29-6/5), I basically used the back entrance so I never really took much notice to what was going on over at the BW the few times I did go thru the front of Silver Lake.

[A Mickeyfan]

As far as the distance to Universal, I know milage wise, it isn't that far, but driving time with traffic, it can take up to 30 minutes. I stayed at the Quality Inn Maingate West, which is almost next door to the Best Western Lakeside & it too us 30 minutes to get back one night. Traffic was terrible & it was pouring rain. For $28 per night, I will not complain about the commute though. :)

[floridagirrl2]

We stayed one night 2 months ago (May 2005). I had read that the unrenovated rooms were nasty, so we asked for a renovated room at check-in. They told us that almost all the buildings had been completely renovated (I think there are 13 buildings, and half of one building hadn't finished renovations).

Our room was clean and everything in it looked brand new. There was a refrigerator, a good-sized safe (big enough for our lap top), and the room faced a nicely landscaped courtyard.

We didn't use the pool so I have no idea what it was like. However, we thought the hotel was a good, clean budget hotel. We had no problems whatsoever.

[Magalex]

Thanks for the current review about BW Lakeside. I assume that it already had change hotel brand when you stayed there in May? How long did it take you to get to the WDW parks? What kind of restuarants are near by?

Magalex :flower:

[A Mickeyfan]

I read on the BW web site that it took it over in June 2005. I am wondering if they have a resort fee now. The web site dosen't show any. I know the Best Western Lake Buena Vista never use to have one. Shortly after their renovations, they started up with the resort fee.

[#1 TITANS FAN]

Just because a poperty changes affiliation, doesn't mean it's necessarily going downhill. Changes in the tax code have allowed corps. to much more rapidly depreciate hotel properties; it is often better tax wise to hold a property for 5 years, rapidly depreciate it, and then move on.

[A Mickeyfan]

Just because a poperty changes affiliation, doesn't mean it's necessarily going downhill. Changes in the tax code have allowed corps. to much more rapidly depreciate hotel properties; it is often better tax wise to hold a property for 5 years, rapidly depreciate it, and then move on.
Can you explain your post? I know LaQuinta didn't have the property 5 years. We aren't saying that it changed hands because it is going down hill. I think it is from what people have experienced. Forgive me if I sound stupid, but I really do not understand your post???? :confused3

[Jane E.]

We also stayed there in May for one night before our stay at the Dolphin. We had no problems with it at all. We arrived at about 7pm at night, had dinner & drinks there (pizza, salad etc.)& went to bed early because we had the Segway Tour first thing at Epcot. We had coupons for a free breakfast which was fine with us. It was lite - juice, cereal etc. (After the Segway Tour we went to Morocco for a heavier lunch.) They also had a "buffet" breakfast which has cooked foods -all you can eat for one price. When we were there I could tell they were doing renovations. There were workers at one of the wings of the hotel. I guess we were fortunate and obtained a renovated room for our priceline fee of $38. I would gladly stay there again. I wonder if they've kept the continental and buffet breakfast buffet. It was a quiet hotel. We liked the fact that we could check in, grab a bite (without leaving property), wake up early, & have breakfast all on site. Our trip to Epcot was quick too. We hardly had any traffic.

[floridagirrl2]

It was still LaQuinta when we were there in May. It's very close to the parks, no more than a 10 minute drive. I don't remember what restaurants were close by, but that area of 192 is full o chain restaurants--Cracker Barrel, TGIFridays, etc.

[Lewisc]

Just because a poperty changes affiliation, doesn't mean it's necessarily going downhill. Changes in the tax code have allowed corps. to much more rapidly depreciate hotel properties; it is often better tax wise to hold a property for 5 years, rapidly depreciate it, and then move on.

Most hotels franchise with the chains. A hotel that changes affiliation doesn't necessarily mean a change in ownership. A hotel that doesn't change affiliation can still change owners.

[AUTUMN SUN]

We stayed one night 2 months ago (May 2005). I had read that the unrenovated rooms were nasty, so we asked for a renovated room at check-in. They told us that almost all the buildings had been completely renovated (I think there are 13 buildings, and half of one building hadn't finished renovations).

Our room was clean and everything in it looked brand new. There was a refrigerator, a good-sized safe (big enough for our lap top), and the room faced a nicely landscaped courtyard.

We didn't use the pool so I have no idea what it was like. However, we thought the hotel was a good, clean budget hotel. We had no problems whatsoever.
ARE THE ROOMS INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR? THANKS

[A Mickeyfan]

AUTUMN SUN...they are outside walkways.

My recent stay (7/25-29th) was very good. Arrived at 10am for check in.
The room wasn't ready & I didn't expect it to be. I ask for one of the renovated rooms, on the first floor & did get it. My room overlooked the parking lot, but I really didn't care. I parked infront of my room...very easy with the luggage :goodvibes My room was clean & everything new. Fridge was cold upon my arrival so I didn't have to wait for it to cool down. There was a resort fee of $3.50 per day. I asked what it was for & was told the fridge, the safe, free local phone calls & inroom coffee maker/& coffee. I used everything except the safe so I didn't have any problems paying it upon check out. I cannot tell you how the pool was, we didn't use it, but I can tell you that the towels out there were paper thin. I grabbed one to use in our room. The room towels were ok...not thin but not super thick (not bad for a 2* hotel though!) If anyone is going to be staying there shortly, don't panic. It is an OK place to stay. Rooms are bigger than Disney's All Stars! I thought it was very clean (no mold or mildew in the bathroom :goodvibes ) as I said, I did get a renovated room.

[AUTUMN SUN]

AUTUMN SUN...they are outside walkways.

My recent stay (7/25-29th) was very good. Arrived at 10am for check in.
The room wasn't ready & I didn't expect it to be. I ask for one of the renovated rooms, on the first floor & did get it. My room overlooked the parking lot, but I really didn't care. I parked infront of my room...very easy with the luggage :goodvibes My room was clean & everything new. Fridge was cold upon my arrival so I didn't have to wait for it to cool down. There was a resort fee of $3.50 per day. I asked what it was for & was told the fridge, the safe, free local phone calls & inroom coffee maker/& coffee. I used everything except the safe so I didn't have any problems paying it upon check out. I cannot tell you how the pool was, we didn't use it, but I can tell you that the towels out there were paper thin. I grabbed one to use in our room. The room towels were ok...not thin but not super thick (not bad for a 2* hotel though!) If anyone is going to be staying there shortly, don't panic. It is an OK place to stay. Rooms are bigger than Disney's All Stars! I thought it was very clean (no mold or mildew in the bathroom :goodvibes ) as I said, I did get a renovated room.
Thanks so much for the info. Im staying at the pop but we decided to come a day early and will need a room for a night. I think this will do just fine! :earsgirl: Thanks again.