Close off-site hotel for Universal?

[mickeyfanz]

We are going to spend a couple of days at Universal at the end of our Disney trip. The prices of Universal's on-site hotels seem way to high to me. I am sure they are nice and I know the front-of-line option would be nice but I would like to see what cheaper options there are close to the Universal parks. It would be me, DH, and 2 DSs (3 and 6-years old). The place needs to be in a safe area, clean rooms, but doesn't necessarily need to be anything special. Any suggestions?

 

[spiceycat]

Universal is closer to DD than WDW - so safe areas are harder to find.

these are pretty close - Holiday Inn & suites at Universal Orlando, DoubleTree Hotel at Universal Orlando, Days Inn Maingate to Universal, AmeriSuites (orlando/universal)

from AAA.

 

[katallo]

Does anyone have a preference between the Holiday Inn and Doubletree?

 

[Melisa1]

I would not pick the Doubletree at Universal. We stayed there this past February and it was very dirty and the service was horrible.

 

[widget]

Universal is also only a 20 minute stroll from International Drive too so there are oodles of cheap options there. We were down near Seaworld but on the IRide trolley it tok 10 minutes to get from hotel to bus stop 16 on IDrive and then cross the road and 20 mins pleasant walk later we were heading up the escalators by the buses at Universal!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

There is a really cheap Travelodge near Universal (American Way is the road I think). I wouldn't recommend it unless you are only concerned about location and money. It wasn't the cleanest (yet not actually dirty) and we had to switch rooms because the elevator made a terrible noise behind our first room . Although we didn't actually go to US during our stay I am pretty sure it was just a few minutes away. We only paid $30 a night for the room - for that kind of money it wasn't too terrible