Driving Resource: List of Hotels along I-95 (May 2010 thru Jan 2011)

[disneydreamingdebby]

Which hotels would you recommend for an overnight stay traveling to/from WDW on the I-95 route?
Which hotels would you avoid at all costs?
Specifically, I am looking for a clean hotel. Breakfast and pool would be an added bonus, but not required.
Thanks in Advance! Debby

I will do my best to give an idea of cost; dates and special influence rack rates. So, this is a approximate key - based on July rates:
$ under $50
$$ 50-100
$$$ 100-150
$$$$ over 150

RECOMMENDED

Selma/Smithfield, NC
$$$ Hampton Inn (continental breakfast) http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=SELNCHX (919.965.6151) 1695 Industrial Park Drive, 27576


Wilson, NC
$$ Comfort Suites NEW - clean http://www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-wilson-north_carolina-NC566?sid=zufW.P9D6rgn3B.13&sarea=408050&sname=Wilson%2C+NC%2C+US&sstate=NC&scountry=US&sradius=80.00&slat=35.72171&slon=-77.91615&schain=CS&exp=&scity=&sort=&type=&map=n&rstart=Starting+Location&rend=Ending+Location&srp=RACK&nroom=1&nadult1=1&nchild1=0&nadult2=&nchild2=&nadult3=&nchild3=&nadult4=&nchild4=&nadult5=&nchild5=&sstate_country= (252.265.8850) 6415 Southern Village Drive, Wilson, NC 27896

Lumberton, NC
$$ Fairfield Inn continental breakfast http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/faylb-fairfield-inn-lumberton/ (910.739.8444) 3361 Lackey St, 28360

Florence, SC
$$ Sleep Inn http://www.sleepinn.com/hotel-florence-south_carolina-SC106 (843.662.8558) 1833 Florence Park Dr I95&52, 29501
$$$ Springhill Suites (new; breakfast) http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/flosh-springhill-suites-florence/ (843.662.7000) 1735 Stokes Road, 29501
$$$ Hampton Inn (continental breakfast)http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=FLONOHX (843.317.9050) 2670 Hospitality Blvd, 29501

Walterboro, SC
$$ Microtel (new; breakfast) (can be secured on the low side of $50) http://www.microtelinn.com/MicrotelInn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=29534&brandInfo=MT (843.539.5656) 130 Cane Branch Road, 29488
$$ Holiday Inn Express http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/rbwwb/hoteldetail (843.538.2700) 1834 Sniders Highway, 29488

Kingsland, GA
$$ Comfort Suites http://www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-kingsland-georgia-GA513 (912.576.7555) 1322 Hospitality Ave, 31548
$$Microtel http://www.microtelinn.com/MicrotelInn/control/Booking/check_avail?variant=&id=29333&propBrandId=MT&force_nostay=false&bmInSession=true&tab=tab1 (912.729.1555) 1325 East King Ave, 31548
$$ La Quinta http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ6141 (912.882.8010) 104 May Creek Drive, 31548

Brunswick, GA
$$$ Courtyard newer, breakfast, quiet http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bqkcy-courtyard-brunswick/ (912.265.2644) 580 Millenium Blvd, 31525
$$ Comfort Suites (Exit 29): clean, breakfast (busy) http://www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-brunswick-georgia-GA641?sid=zufW.P9D6rgn3B.13&sarea=&sname=brunswick&sstate=GA&scountry=US&sradius=&slat=31.14976&slon=-81.49556&schain=CS&exp=&scity=&sort=&type=&map=n&nadult=1&nchild=0&city_code=SSI&sstate_country=GAUS (912.267.4440) 25 Ashton Drive, 31523

Port Wentworth (15 min north of Savannah)

$$ Days Inn (Exit 109) larger, more modern rooms; free buffet breakfast with fresh waffleshttp://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=30530 105 Travelers Way, Port Wentworth, GA 31407

Savannah, GA
$$ Marriott SpringHill Suites (off exit 94) (2) queens and sleeper, breakfasthttp://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/savin-springhill-suites-savannah-i-95-south/ (912.629.7777) 4 Gateway Blvd East, 31419
$$$ Hampton Inn (off exit 94) clean, large room, breakfast http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=SAVGWHX (912.921.1515) 591 Al Henderson Blvd, 31419
$$ Four Points by Sheraton (exit 104) http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1987 (912.629.1500) 15 Jay R. Turner Dr, 31408


Jacksonville, Fl
$$ La Quinta Inn http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ969&propId=969 (904.296.0703) 4686 Lenoir Ave., 32216
$$$ Embassy Suites Hotel http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/JAXJAES-Embassy-Suites-Jacksonville-Baymeadows-Florida/index.do (904-731-3555) 9300 Baymeadows Road, 32256



AVOID
Dortches- Rocky Mount, NC
$$ Econolodge (nicknamed The Bates Motel)

You might post on this thread For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers if you don't get any responses here.

 

[msmayor]

This is not really an easy question to answer. Where are you coming from? Where are you planning to stop?

Many hotels are franchised, and any chain can have locations that are great in one city, terrible in another.

 

[happily single]

Since your leaving from PA I would assume you would stop in GA? I don't have any hotel recomendations, but all brands are typically available. If you prefer any brand just try tripadvisor. The rest stops have all kinds of coupons available and you should be able to get a decent room for about $70 I would guess.

 

[WdwJon]

We have driven from PA also and have stopped in SC, GA, and NC on the return. We have had good luck with Hampton Inns, having stayed in Florence, SC and Selma, NC. Both offered free continental breakfast. Don't remember the pool situation. Good luck and have fun.

Jon

 

[patclairesmom]

We stayed at a great Comfort Suites in Kingsland Ga, right before the Fla border. On the way home we stopped in Florence at Sleep Inn.

 

[mrodgers]

Also, since I'm coming from the same area, do folks generally make reservations or just go by the seat of the pants when you feel like stopping.

I have no idea how far we will make it being our first family vacation with 2 girls, 9 and 6. I could make it to Savannah, GA (according to googlemaps and gps) in 12-13 hours to stop or I could make it hardly to North Carolina in 16 hours. I have no idea what it is like to travel with the kids that far. Heck, I might be feeling pretty good still and decide to continue into Florida before stopping...

I've asked before, I just want to gather more info from different folks that might not have been in other threads.....

 

[HeatherC]

I booked the Holiday Inn Express in Florence, SC. They get good reviews on tripadvisor and have a free breakfast. I think you can cancel until either 4pm or 6pm so it wouldn't cost you if you want to keep on driving.

We're driving from Mass. to Hilton Head in July, so I've also been researching the "drive". Should be fun.

Have a great trip!

 

[Vickis3js]

We've really liked the Springhill Suites in Savannah. Its off of exit 94. It was super clean and the rooms were nice. We have a family of 5 and its hard to find rooms for us. The rooms had 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa. Breakfast was included and they had a bunch of options. It was also under $100. There was several restaurants within walking distance of the hotel as well.

If you search its this one SpringHill Suites® by Marriott® Savannah I-95 South

 

[mamapajama]

We're driving from LI and we're tentatively planning on stopping in Florence, SC. I wanted to make it to Savannah but i think that's going to be too far. We're looking at the Courtyard. We had a very bad experience at what we affectionately refer to as th "Bates" Motel the last time we drove and didn't make a ressie so we're not doing that again. I'd rather pay a little more than get stuck at a dump like that again.

 

[mamapajama]

Also, since I'm coming from the same area, do folks generally make reservations or just go by the seat of the pants when you feel like stopping.

I have no idea how far we will make it being our first family vacation with 2 girls, 9 and 6. I could make it to Savannah, GA (according to googlemaps and gps) in 12-13 hours to stop or I could make it hardly to North Carolina in 16 hours. I have no idea what it is like to travel with the kids that far. Heck, I might be feeling pretty good still and decide to continue into Florida before stopping...

When we drove last time we didn't make a reservation and that's how we ended up at the "Bates" motel (which was an Econolodge in Dortches, NC) so we won't be doing that again. Most of the bigger chains let you cancel by 6:00 so we are planning on checking the cancellation policies very carefully and booking in Florence and maybe Savannah or Kingsland and then judging by where we are at about 4pm, cancel one of them. I would love to get to GA but I think that may be overly optimistic with 2 teens and a 2 year old!

 

[sharadoc]

We like the Springhill Suites in Florence SC - only a year or so old and very nice. But we like to drive further, so we probably won't stay there again.

We prefer Walterboro SC, and really like the Microtel. Great price, just opened this year so it's all nice and new!

On the way home, we've stopped at Santee, but nothing there seems especially great, just okay. Lumberton has a nice array of new hotels, too. We stayed in a Marriott last year and liked it.

Overall, we usually like the Country Inn and Suites, too. They have a 1 BR suite with a separate living room and two TVs, which is great for our family when everyone is grumpy and bored on the way home.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Thank you Sharadoc, patclairesmom, wdwjon, vickis3js, mamapajama for specific places you liked or didn't (Bates - UGH!)Those of you who are booked at other places, please check back and let us know how those hotels were.

I've updated page one to show an idea of what I will do with the information. I will play with it and order it differently, etc. but I wanted to start the list.

This is not really an easy question to answer. Where are you coming from? Where are you planning to stop?

Many hotels are franchised, and any chain can have locations that are great in one city, terrible in another.

I am traveling from Southeastern PA - near Delaware. I agree that some hotels are great in one city, and terrible in another, which is why I thought a list would be helpful. (I didn't think of the list idea until after I posted. It would have helped clarify what I was asking.

I am just looking for a list of hotels people would choose again and ones they would avoid for all different cities. I began the list on page 1 from the responses so far.

Since your leaving from PA I would assume you would stop in GA? I don't have any hotel recomendations, but all brands are typically available. If you prefer any brand just try tripadvisor. The rest stops have all kinds of coupons available and you should be able to get a decent room for about $70 I would guess.

Not sure where we will stop on way home. We will drive straight through to get there. Any hotels that stood out to you good or bad?

Also, since I'm coming from the same area, do folks generally make reservations or just go by the seat of the pants when you feel like stopping.

I have no idea how far we will make it being our first family vacation with 2 girls, 9 and 6. I could make it to Savannah, GA (according to googlemaps and gps) in 12-13 hours to stop or I could make it hardly to North Carolina in 16 hours. I have no idea what it is like to travel with the kids that far. Heck, I might be feeling pretty good still and decide to continue into Florida before stopping...

I've asked before, I just want to gather more info from different folks that might not have been in other threads.....

I suggest reservations so that you aren't tired (and then frustrated) and trying to find a place. Be sure to follow the cancellation advice of others.

Where are you? We are 20 minutes outside Wilm., DE and 30 from Philly.

 

[Vickis3js]

We've also stayed in the Hampton Inn in Savannah, that too was at exit 94. It was nice and clean and the room was rather large. I would stay there again as well but its 30-40 more per night then the Spring Hill Suites.

I am going to go through my things from last trip and see where we stayed on the way home. We tend to not make a reservation before we leave for that. We just drive and around dinner time we figure out where we will be a few hours from there and I look it up online while DH drives.

I believe one was a Holiday Inn Express in or around Emporia it was really clean and the room was HUGE!!

 

[amtag]

We stayed at a great Comfort Suites in Kingsland Ga, right before the Fla border. On the way home we stopped in Florence at Sleep Inn.

I booked this hotel for our drive down. We are driving from Northern NJ and will leave around 4am, so I hope to get there around 6-7pm, but I will be happy with 8pm LOL!

 

[mamapajama]

I booked this hotel for our drive down. We are driving from Northern NJ and will leave around 4am, so I hope to get there around 6-7pm, but I will be happy with 8pm LOL!

I am curious to know how your trip goes since we are leaving about 2 weeks after you and driving from Nassau County. Please post! I'm wondering if it is possible for us to make it to georgia on day 1 without killing each other or ourselves LOL.

 

[mamapajama]

We've really liked the Springhill Suites in Savannah. Its off of exit 94. It was super clean and the rooms were nice. We have a family of 5 and its hard to find rooms for us. The rooms had 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa. Breakfast was included and they had a bunch of options. It was also under $100. There was several restaurants within walking distance of the hotel as well.

If you search its this one SpringHill Suites® by Marriott® Savannah I-95 South

I just checked into the Springhill Suites ain Savannah and it is quoting $169 for our night. too rich for my blood, lol!

Edited to add: also says you have to cancel 24 hours in advance so that would not work for us. I just checked the Microtel in Walterboro and it is $76 for the night and the cancellation cut off is 6pm on day of arrival. We were planning on stopping in Florence but maybe we'll plan to stop here and have only 300 some odd miles to travel the next morning

 

[taximomfor4]

I know I saw La Quinta at Georgia/Florida border (Kingsland) mentioned on another thread. I just booked it, and it was only $52.20. Hope that other thread was accurate and that its ok!!

BTW, it is cancellable to 6pm the day of arrival!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I know I saw La Quinta at Georgia/Florida border (Kingsland) mentioned on another thread. I just booked it, and it was only $52.20. Hope that other thread was accurate and that its ok!!

BTW, it is cancellable to 6pm the day of arrival!

Good Price! Maybe someone can chime in and let you know what they thought too. Regardless, please let us know what you think.

 

[taximomfor4]

Good Price! Maybe someone can chime in and let you know what they thought too. Regardless, please let us know what you think.

no kidding. I keep checking tripadvisor.com, etc for reviews. Don't want a roach motel, we'll really need a good night's sleep!

 

[sharig5576]

So glad I found this thread! We're driving NY-FL in Oct. We have 3 adult/2 kids, so I'm looking for a suite. I found a Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Florence, SC that had good reviews on TripAdvisor. But, I'd like to book another hotel, in case we are too tired that first day. My husband's co-worker recommended Lumberton, NC. Has anyone stayed in Lumberton?