Best Last Minute Budget Hotels

[ProfDrPenelope]

Hey, everybody. I live about two hours from the parks (Vero Beach area) and I take day trips to Disney and Universal pretty regularly. It’s a pretty easy drive, but there are some nights, especially event nights like Mardi Gras concerts, HHN, and Eat to the Beat that I consider just getting a cheap hotel room, rather than schlepping all the way back to Vero Beach in the middle of the night.

I’d love to stay someplace like Endless Summer or Cabana Bay every time I want to do that, but even with my FL Resident discount, that’s not really financially feasible at the moment. I’d even just pitch a tent or sleep in my car at Fort Wilderness, but even the pricing for that is getting a little out of control.

Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels along 192 or I-Drive or I-4 in the $50 to $80 a night price range that would be suitable for just a quick overnight stay that aren’t crawling with bugs or incredibly sketchy?

I’m honestly not that picky, but I would like it to at least be clean and for it to feel safe since I’ll be staying there alone. I’ve read a lot of reviews on TripAdvisor and haven’t found one that I would feel comfortable staying at yet, but if there’s one you’ve stayed at that you were pleasantly surprised by, that would be incredibly helpful.

Thanks!

 

[Bete]

Wyndham has multiple chains in Kissimee that are reasonably priced. Keep in mind better rates will be available on week nights and not during holidays, school breaks, ect.

 

[Upatnoon]

I remember the good ole days when you could go on hotwire or priceline and get a room for $40 all-in.

It's a challenge to find deals now because so many people are out traveling. Also, when you shop for rates you will often find an $80 room is really $120 after all the taxes and fees are tacked on.

Weekends are especially busy, with Florida residents rolling in for the same events you are coming for.

I would not just go by tripadvisor for reviews. Generally, you will only get negative reviews on there, which will make you never want to travel. I would consider the location, chain and appearance and try to find reviews from other sources.

In the end, I think you will have to consider increasing your budget.

 

[HopperFan]

I trust anything with Rosen name and they have some good rates.

 

[Pooh's World]

Hey, everybody. I live about two hours from the parks (Vero Beach area) and I take day trips to Disney and Universal pretty regularly. It’s a pretty easy drive, but there are some nights, especially event nights like Mardi Gras concerts, HHN, and Eat to the Beat that I consider just getting a cheap hotel room, rather than schlepping all the way back to Vero Beach in the middle of the night.

I’d love to stay someplace like Endless Summer or Cabana Bay every time I want to do that, but even with my FL Resident discount, that’s not really financially feasible at the moment. I’d even just pitch a tent or sleep in my car at Fort Wilderness, but even the pricing for that is getting a little out of control.

Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels along 192 or I-Drive or I-4 in the $50 to $80 a night price range that would be suitable for just a quick overnight stay that aren’t crawling with bugs or incredibly sketchy?

I’m honestly not that picky, but I would like it to at least be clean and for it to feel safe since I’ll be staying there alone. I’ve read a lot of reviews on TripAdvisor and haven’t found one that I would feel comfortable staying at yet, but if there’s one you’ve stayed at that you were pleasantly surprised by, that would be incredibly helpful.

Thanks!

Hotel prices have started to sky rocket over the last month.
Especially on weekends it's bad. For example for March 4th Friday, the cheapest Marriot Brand hotel is around $160 (including tax) and that's the Four Points Convention Center (that particular hotel the rooms are pretty awful)

Cheapest Hilton brand is Double Tree Sea World (but they have added back the $15 Resort Fee), the $138 becomes $172 (tax and resort fee).

 

[LiteBrite]

I trust anything with Rosen name and they have some good rates.

I feel the same. We recently spent most of two weeks in the area, not a planned vacation although we did spend time at WDW. We had business to take care of that kept taking longer than expected, so we were booking one or two nights at a time, and we stayed at the Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando which was very nice and very reasonable, and also the Rosen Inn that's advertised as being closest to Universal. That was a little cheaper than the Pointe Orlando one, not quite as nice but still fine.

We have stayed at a couple of their other properties in years gone by and had good experiences then too.

We booked through Priceline all those nights, and just made sure we understood all the extra fees before we did (sometimes that meant calling the hotel and asking if they charge a resort fee). The Rosens did not charge a resort fee or for parking (another thing to look out for).

Most of the places we booked were around $100 all in. We were there on Presidents Day weekend, and prices jumped so ridiculously high in Orlando we chose to drive to Lakeland for a couple of nights, where the prices seemed more normal.