Country Inn & Suites Lake Buena Vista

[wayneg]

Anyone stayed here?
We like to stay at Courtyard by Marriott on Palm Parkway but just around the corner is this hotel, gets good reviews on Tripadvisor. Got a rate of $43/night incl tax. Also incl free breakfast and Internet access.
Works out at $20/night cheaper than Courtyard (saving $480 for our 24 nights)
Anyone stayed at both to compare?
Thanks.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...es_Lake_Buena_Vista-Orlando_Florida.html#MIDC

http://www.countryinns.com/orlandofl_wdwresort

 

[Jenfrog79]

how did you get such a cheap rate? i checked their website and it says its about $120 a night?

 

[wayneg]

how did you get such a cheap rate? i checked their website and it says its about $120 a night?

Rather not say until I make my decision about staying here, once booked I will gladly post. We sometimes get a lot better rates for hotels on UK sites than US sites.
Quick eg for our 24 nights in August. Courtyard by Marriott LBV direct with Marriott's site $5103.00 (Marriott’s Look No Further® Best Rate Guarantee. ) UK site $1710.53 (I also get a % off this by booking via a cashback site)
Another trick is to book the 24 nights in 2 seperate bookings of 12 nights each, brings rate down $1,567.98 (less my 3.5% cashback -$54.88) payable$1,513.10 or $63/night incl. Marriott direct $212/night

 

[Detailor]

Haven't stayed at that hotel, but we did stay at a Country Inn & Suites in Rochester, NY, in November and we thought that the hotel was nice enough. Fairly basic hotel, but nice and clean with continental breakfast.

Dick Taylor

 

[swilshire]

I haven't stayed in this particular one, but I've never been very disappointed with any other location of this chain. They seem to be comfortable and have a decent breakfast.

Sheila

 

[DLBDS]

We just had a regular hotel room there, not a suite. It was just ok. The breakfast there was GREAT compared to Hawthorn Suites (Palm Prkwy). We only spent one night there which is why we didn't spring for the cost of a suite. We headed over to the WL the following morning. I really liked our room at Hawthorn Suites but the breakfast buffet was gross and didn't have the selection that CI&S had.

 

[DJT]

We stayed in a regular room there about three years ago. We enjoyed it very much. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I told our housekeeper that I was saving the little soaps and shampoos to send to my nephew in Afghanistan. She said that was really nice. The next times she cleaned, she left several extra soaps and shampoos for me to send to him. I thought that was very kind of her.

Breakfast was just fine and we'd grab an apple on our way out each morning for a mid-morning snack. We stayed there for four nights and then went to Pop to stay for three nights. After two nights at Pop, my DH asked me if we could call Country Inn & Suites and see if we could spend our last night there and cancel Pop. He liked CI & S better! So that's what we did.

I'd stay there again in a heartbeat especially if I could get the rate you are getting. It would be so worth that! So, if you book it, please let me know where you got that rate, as I am VERY interested myself. TIA.

Donna

 

[wayneg]

Thank you for your responses. Booked it for out 1st 17 nights, than going to book somewhere else for the final 7 nights, then if anything is not 100% at least we have another 7 nights somewhere else(probably wish we had booked all 25 nights there but we will see) after discounts and cashback I paid $44/night inclusive

The site I used is Hotelopia.com, it is owned by Tui which is one of the biggest tour operators in the world.
http://www.tui-group.com/en/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TUI_AG

You can book in the US using them no problem, top left allows you to change country and to $US.
To get the best price you need to enter discount code 31245630. This gives 15% off their very low prices.
I also get 6% cashback from rpoints.com, not sure if you can join from US but have a look or look at US cashback sites see if Hotelopia is an affiliate company.

Alpharooms.com is also another very good company for low hotel prices, only a small company employing about 70 people, 20 miles from me in Sheffield but they are very good, they give 3.5% rpoints cashback.

Thanks again for replies.

edit: Also booked using Virgin Amex card, so got 402 flying miles added to my account.

 

[DJT]

I just priced a room at Country Inn & Suites for my DS and his wife and kids for when school is out. It's $45 a night. Fantastic price. I honestly don't see how it can be that low for that time of year. It almost seems too good to be true. That $45 is with your code but no cash back deals.

 

[wayneg]

The codes they issue don't usually last for long, this is the first I have ever used for 15%, the one they sent me 2 weeks ago was only 8%, last week 10%. Hope you can make use of it before it expires.
What dates are you planning?

 

[chaoscent]

I tried using the number & my booking was refused? I guess because I live in the states? Thanks, Penny

 

[chaoscent]

I tried using the number & my booking was refused? I guess because I live in the states or I only wanted it for one night? Thanks, Penny

 

[DJT]

Wayneg, I'm trying for May 31 - June 6. We would probably need three rooms. It shows availability but I didn't go ahead and put my cc info in, etc., since I first must make certain that the other two families want to go as well. I wonder if my booking would be rejected also if I completed the booking process with my cc info, etc.

I signed up for their newsletter. Is that how you get the promotion codes that you use? Honestly, I know this hotel, and this is the best deal I have ever seen. Other hotel prices that are shown on the website aren't nearly as good a deal as this one and some of the hotels aren't as nice either.

Donna

 

[SnowWtch]

This is one of our favorite hotels. We spent our honeymoon there in 05. Our favorite room is the king with the whirlpool in the room next to the bed. It's always been a nice place to stay.

 

[wayneg]

Wayneg, I'm trying for May 31 - June 6. We would probably need three rooms. It shows availability but I didn't go ahead and put my cc info in, etc., since I first must make certain that the other two families want to go as well. I wonder if my booking would be rejected also if I completed the booking process with my cc info, etc.

I signed up for their newsletter. Is that how you get the promotion codes that you use? Honestly, I know this hotel, and this is the best deal I have ever seen. Other hotel prices that are shown on the website aren't nearly as good a deal as this one and some of the hotels aren't as nice either.

Donna

Not sure if they send the code out to newsletter readers or if they just send it out if you have previously booked thru them.
You will know immediately if the booking goes thru or not, If there is a problem with the code it will not be accepted when you try to enter it.
I have never booked thru hotelopia without a code, they are always available but sometimes only 8%, just now is a great offer at 15%.

It is the best rate with the 15% off but we get very good rates in UK from many other sites. For your dates its also available with hotelsrus.com for $55.
I remember staying at Homewood suites for $44/night, American family in next room paid almost $200.
Not all UK/European sites allow bookings from US but many do.
Doubt the 15% off will be around long, hope you get to use it.

 

[IcePrincess467]

I just tried the cose for fun to see if it would work and it did Travel Dates are from July 5-19th, 2008!

 

[DJT]

Thanks, Wayneg, for all that good info. I really appreciate it. I'm going to make notes of those websites and keep them handy (and your name) so when everyone makes up their minds, I'll have places to check for some good rates. I love to get a deal!

Donna

 

[wayneg]

Thanks, Wayneg, for all that good info. I really appreciate it. I'm going to make notes of those websites and keep them handy (and your name) so when everyone makes up their minds, I'll have places to check for some good rates. I love to get a deal!

Donna

When you decide you want to book, send me a PM with dates and best rate you find, I will look at companies I use and let you know if there is anything better around.

 

[Heluvsme]

Wayneg, you are a wealth of information!! Thank you for your tips, I am always up for a challenge when it comes to saving money!

I'm wondering, have you used Hotelopia before this booking? I am curious as to their reputation and/or any issues that may have arisen with the bookings. I read on their web site that they are the booking agent, but any issues the customer may have should be taken up with the hotel....did you receive confirmations from both Hotelopia AND the hotel?

Thank you again for all your information on this, it certainly is a welcome sight to my family!!

 

[DJT]

When you decide you want to book, send me a PM with dates and best rate you find, I will look at companies I use and let you know if there is anything better around.

I certainly will do that. Thank you so much!

Donna