Conference in Nov. Hotel & Traffic Questions

[Choirmom]

So, I'm toying with the idea of attending a Conference/Class Nov. 9 thru 11 at the Rosen Centre. I noticed this hotel is quite expensive. For those of you in the area, what would be the best option for me? I have no problem driving from the hotel to the conference, but not sure what the traffic is like in the area. Any suggestions on good, safe hotels? I may be traveling alone.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I would check in the Sea World area for hotels. Another option, though a tiny bit further away, would be Drury Inn on Sand Lake. Depending on the time of day, traffic on I-Drive can be a mess. There doesn't seem to be any conventions during that time so it shouldn't be that bad in the morning, but the evening still might be an issue.

 

[writerguyfl]

The concept of "traffic" can vary by person. If you're coming from a small community, the traffic in the attractions area of Orlando might seem daunting. If you live in a major city, it's not going to be that bad. Google Maps has a feature that lets you enter an "Arrive By" time for a trip. When you do that, it shows estimated travel times like "typically 12-18 minutes". That feature might help you decide on how far you want to be from the host hotel.

Remember, you will have to pay for parking at the Rosen Centre. Although their (poorly designed) website doesn't show it, Expedia says parking is $15/day.

The International Drive area is very safe. As long as you use common sense and don't walk around by yourself at 3am, you should be fine. There are any number of hotels from which to choose. According to the Expedia map, there are three hotels within walking distance to the Rosen Centre: Red Roof Inn I-Drive/Convention Center ($80/night), Clarion Inn I-Drive/Convention Center ($93/night), and Days Inn Convention Center ($54/night). Note: Those rates are for November 9-12.

If you don't want to deal with traffic, you might want to check out the I-Ride Trolley. The Trolley is a shuttle that runs from 8am to 10:30pm along International Drive and Universal Blvd. The cost is $2 per ride or $9 for a three-day pass. Using the Trolley will help you avoid paying for parking at the Rosen Centre. More information here: http://iridetrolley.com/index.html

 

[Choirmom]

Thanks to both of you for your advice. I commute one hour each way in heavy traffic (stop and go in places) so that is my concept of traffic. I didn't know about the cost of parking at the Rosen Centre. That, along with the cost of renting a car, may make staying within walking distance easier.

 

[writerguyfl]

Although unlikely, it's still possible that your group negotiated free parking for their event. That might be something to investigate. Still, I think staying elsewhere is probably the best bet.

Keep in mind there are more than just the three hotels I mentioned that are within walking distance. The Hyatt Regency Orlando, Hilton Orlando, DoubleTree at Sea World, and Best Western Plus Convention Center would be a 15-20 minute walk.