Fairfield Inn or Best western - International Drive ?

[Sarah Sarill]

Hello everyone.

I usually frequent the DLRP board but am just about to book my familes FIRST trip to Orlando - Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

We will be going for 3 weeks over the Christmas period in December 2008 and have narrowed our budget hotels down to two being The Fairfield Inn & Suites just off ID or The Best western on ID.

The travellers will then be Mum (63) , DH (43), Me (41) and DD10.

There is about £100 difference between the two (with FI being the cheapest option) and was hoping you Orlando gurus could give me your opinions on either.

Warts and all please

 

[dis-happy]

Fairfield is run by Marriott and is a very safe choice IMO. My dh is a frequent stay with Marriott so we always stay in Marriott properties while traveling, and the few times we haven't we regretted it.

As far as that particular Fairfield goes, I can say I've stayed at the one in Lake Buena Vista (part of the Marriott Village w/ 3 hotels) and we liked it. Not sure if your hotel is the same one or not. If you can, request a room with the extra sofa bed, it might make your sleeping arrangements better.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[mbb]

Christmas at Disney...sigh..it's wonderful

Have you thought about renting a townhome/condo/private villa?
Much more space, full kitchen, washer dryer...all the goodies

I'll pop your question down to the "big" board for some more input

Have fun planning!

 

[wayneg]

Hi Sarah.
We have stayed at Fairfield Inn at Marriott village this Easter, great place to stay, I called in the one off I drive last August to look around, they are both very similar. Which BW is it? Personally I would go for a hotel in the Marriott group if its a reasonable price
If I was you I would try avoid I drive if at all possible. Especailly at Xmas, the traffic is horrendous, I presume you are having a car? somewhere on 192 or LBV are better areas, LBV being our favourite.
How much have you been quoted for 3 weeks?
Its very early for booking Dec 08 yet, most companies dont release prices until 12 or 11 months before you travel, the ones that let you book so far in advance are usually expensive, like Virgin.
Wayne

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Thanks everyone.

Both Virgin and tradewinds (Thomas Cook) have their December 2008 brochures out and I think the prices we have been quoted I think are good (perhaps you could confirm this for me).

The total cost for the FI is £2858. 21 nights with transferes as non of our party fancy driving on our first visit.

My only reservation about the FI is that its on Canada Drive which I understand is a 10 minute walk from ID - this may be a problem for DM and when returning back from the parks at night with DD10 who gets cranky when tired - LOL.

Any further advice ?

 

[kk812]

I stayed at the Fairfield Inn almost 2 years ago and was VERY impressed. We only stayed there one night as we had reservations at the GF and got there a day early, but we would stay there again in a heartbeat. It was clean, the staff was friendly, and it was in a good location. We went during the off season, but it was incredibly reasonable. I highly recommend it.

 

[wayneg]

Hi Sarah
Seriously consider a car, especially for 21 nights offsite, read this thread from the UK trip planning board, for us the car makes Florida. It is 10 times more enjoyable for us, nothing like driving here a lot more pleasurable.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1482659

Also price up fly drive with Virgin, you dont have to take the car but booking flight, hotel and taxi's can work out cheaper than a package, but not always.

What dates you wanting to go? How many people were included in the price you quoted?
Wayne

 

[ainemcgrath]

We stayed in Fairfield Inn on Canada Avenue for a week last year and it is one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in in Orlando. Its spotless, free wifi, washer/dryers on site, gym, good buffet b/fast and rooms are a good size.

There are 2 TV's in the room with a 2 seater sofa and a hifi system, coffee machine, microwave, etc. They also have suites for an extra fee but only pair of us with young child so didn't bother.

I can't see how it's a 10 min walk to IDrive. It about a 3 min walk from Chili's on IDrive if you know that side (very near Sand Lake Junction). There's a TGIF's about the same walking distance away.

We didn't rent a car but used the I Ride system to get around. We liked the fact that we were so accessible to IDrive and still didn't have all of the noise/traffic. Hotel has free shuttles to Universal, Wet 'n' Wild and Seaworld for def. but I'm not sure about Disney.

Hope this helps but I couldn't praise this place enough! Reception even had complimentary toilitries packs on the desk, small toothpaste, toothbrush, mini shaving foam, tampons, pantene etc - never seen that in the bigger hotels!

 

[nala-h]

hi sarah have you tried windsorhillsrent.com only 2 miles from disney and you can get a condo for a reasonable price probably cheaper than an hotel with much more space.

allan.

 

[wayneg]

hi sarah have you tried windsorhillsrent.com only 2 miles from disney and you can get a condo for a reasonable price probably cheaper than an hotel with much more space.

allan.

I am considering a Condo for next Easter but they all look over $100/night with tax included. Is this about the going rates? We can get 2 rooms at Courtyard or Fairfield for that sort of price. For Sarah Xmas at Fairfield is around $70/night so a condo would work out quite a bit more but for us with 2 rooms it might be worth considering.
DW says no to Condo or Villa as she is not making beds and cleaning sinks after us but I could talk her round if the price is right

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Hi Sarah
What dates you wanting to go? How many people were included in the price you quoted?
Wayne

That price was for 4 of us and included transferes. I thought that was a really good price for 21 nights, flying Virgin, breakfast included too

We have more orless decided on the FI as the reviews I have seen have been pretty good and its so close to the I-route and also because its our FIRST trip we dont plan to spend too much time at the hotel and ALL our time with the mouse

I did a bit of research on villas etc but the virgin flights alone are not far off what we are paying for the package so we sort of dismissed it straight away.

I have such high expectations of our first trip to Florida and especially at Christmas. We have spent the past 2 years at DLRP over the same period and Disney with snow is sooooo magical

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys - Im sure you'll be seeing more of my silly questions when the real planning begins. (I'm afraid I'm a stickler for getting everything sorted before I go - even down to where to eat each day and a rough schedule for the duration).

DH calls me a compulsive planner but really Im not..........

Kind regards to all.

 

[wayneg]

That price was for 4 of us and included transferes. I thought that was a really good price for 21 nights, flying Virgin, breakfast included too

We have more orless decided on the FI as the reviews I have seen have been pretty good and its so close to the I-route and also because its our FIRST trip we dont plan to spend too much time at the hotel and ALL our time with the mouse

I did a bit of research on villas etc but the virgin flights alone are not far off what we are paying for the package so we sort of dismissed it straight away.

For your 1st time I think you are doing the right thing, You could book a flydrive with VH and book the hotel seperate, then not pick up the car and use taxis or bus transfer etc. but for the amount you would save its probably not worth the hassle for your 1st time.
I am sure you will like the FI, Marriott know just how what people want.
We are going back to Courtyard by Marriott LBV on 2nd Aug for 25 nights, only cost £25/night great value.
I have not seen you post over on UK trip planning board http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47
If you haven't come and introduce yourself. Sorry if I have missed your posts there.
Enjoy your planning
Wayne

 

[crazelion]

Fairfield by Marriott on Canada Avenue is really close I-drive. Maybe a5 minute walk for food is more reasonable. I know stay at Hawthorne Suites last which is on the same road as Fairfield the Restaurants is really close. My MoM 54 she had a easy time walking to restaurants at night.

 

[NJtoATL]

Without hesitation I would choose the Fairfield Inn over the Best Western.