Has anyone stayed in Lake City, FL?

[PolyAddict]

On the way to WDW. Can you recommend a hotel? I was looking at a Comfort inn of trip advisor and one comment was that it was an unsafe area. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks

 

[ekball]

On the way to WDW. Can you recommend a hotel? I was looking at a Comfort inn of trip advisor and one comment was that it was an unsafe area. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks

I cannot recommend a hotel in Lake City, I can just tell you a little about the town itself. I had a dear college friend (U. of Florida) that was from LC and we went there for the weekend a couple of times. It was an...experience, to say the least. LC is VERY rural....very (I hope I don't offend anyone from LC here by saying this, but...) 'hick' - at least that's how it seemed to me when I was there 13 or 14 years ago. I can see where someone may go to LC and feel like they were in an 'unsafe' area, only because like I said, it is so very rural. If you can drive a little farther, there's Gainesville (where UF is), where there are plenty of lodging options that are perfectly safe, with lots of options for dining and a fun night out if you are up to it!

Again, no offense to Lake City folks....I had lots of fun when we were there. Good times...

 

[PolyAddict]

Thanks for the 1st hand info. I just don't want have that feeling of insecurity.

 

[RobbinsDad]

I have stayed at Comfort Inn at Lake City, and will be there again on June 8. It's about what you would expect from a Comfort Inn, but it does have an above average continental breakfast.

 

[crusoe2]

We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites there on our way to WDW in 2001 and plan to do so again when we go in May (in just 25 days ). We felt perfectly safe (and we arrived around midnight). The hotel was very clean, had a nice free breakfast, and IIRC was not far off the highway (but far enough that noise was not an issue). Hope this helps.

ETA If you're not going for awhile I could pm you or post a review when we get back and let you know how it went, if anything has changed, etc.

 

[lulu71]

On the way to WDW. Can you recommend a hotel? I was looking at a Comfort inn of trip advisor and one comment was that it was an unsafe area. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks

We stayed at that Comfort Inn once - it was just an average motel type place off the interstate. Arrived after 6pm and we were out by 8am, so it was fine. I see you are driving from Louisiana too. I find that Lake City is on the farther side for a stop on the drive to WDW, we usually stop in Tallahassee. We can get there in about 5.5 hrs and the morning drive is about 4 hrs. From Lake City, it felt like we should have just gone on all the way!

Have fun on your road trip!

 

[PolyAddict]

Thanks for the info.

Lulu-I know it does seem kinda silly to stop so close but I am following my sis and her DH so I'm just going with the flow.

crusoe2- we will be there at the beginning of June so I don't know if I could get a report from you that soon?

 

[crusoe2]

PolyAddict, we're staying there on our way down (on 5/25) and we're taking a laptop and getting I'net access so I could take a minute to post sometime during our first day or two at the World. (Didn't think of that earlier - I hadn't had my morning caffeine yet. ) Sounds like it might be cutting it too close for you guys to change your plans but I might be able to pass along something helpful. Just let me know.

 

[Maggi May]

We have often stayed at the Best Western in Lake City when attending a music festival in LIve Oak. The hotel is close to the Interstate, and we've always found it to be clean, friendly and safe. Nothing fancy, but a quick continental breakfast and a good place to spend the night.

If you decide to stop in Tallahassee, please PM me -- I'd be glad to give you some suggestions here in town.

 

[Jenn]

We stayed at the Best Western in Lake city about 2 years ago. Right off the highway there are a bunch of hotels, gas stations and restaurants, so its very convienent for the one night stay on the way down. The hotel was clean, had a great breakfast and was about $70 for the night. We were back on the highway within minutes the next morning. My sister and her husband also stopped there on another trip and were pleased as well.

 

[PolyAddict]

PolyAddict, we're staying there on our way down (on 5/25) and we're taking a laptop and getting I'net access so I could take a minute to post sometime during our first day or two at the World. (Didn't think of that earlier - I hadn't had my morning caffeine yet. ) Sounds like it might be cutting it too close for you guys to change your plans but I might be able to pass along something helpful. Just let me know.

sounds great, thanks

 

[PolyAddict]

maggimay and jenn-

Is the Best Western a motel, like with exterior corridors? I am trying to avoid those. I found a Country Inn and Suites that looks nice.

 

[mm_ja]

We have stayed at the Hampton Inn at Lake city before and had no problems. All rooms are open to the outside, which I dont like but there werent any problems. Lake City is a good stoppping point for us, it has a Cracker Barrel, on the drive down it is past halfway and allows us to get the majority of the trip behind us, an early start the next day and in WDW before lunch. On the way back it is still close enought to give us almost another full day at the park and get a good start on the drive back.

 

[perdidochas]

On the way to WDW. Can you recommend a hotel? I was looking at a Comfort inn of trip advisor and one comment was that it was an unsafe area. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks

Well, from what it sounds that particular Comfort Inn may be too close to something. I know I've stayed in the Holiday Inn there, and had no problem.

 

[PolyAddict]

We made a ressie at Country Inn ans suites for $87 plus tax a night. kinda pricey, but it looks nice.

Thanks for all the responses. Still keeping my eye open.

 

[Maggi May]

maggimay and jenn-

Is the Best Western a motel, like with exterior corridors? I am trying to avoid those. I found a Country Inn and Suites that looks nice.

Yep, the Comfort Inn has exterior corridors.

I recall driving past the Country Inn on I-75, and it looks pretty nice, too. Hope you have a safe trip and a great time at WDW!

 

[2 princes 1 princess]

We stopped in Lake City twice on our way down. Both times were great. I am very picky when it comes to hotel rooms with the kids and I was happy with both the Holiday Inn and even the Days Inn.

I was nervous about the Days Inn because I've had very bad experiences with them before but it was the only place left. I was very pleasantly surprised when we saw the room. Very clean and comfortable. We were only there about 11 hrs. but for a nights stay it was perfect. The breakfast was great too. The Holiday Inn had a free hot breakfast and the Days Inn had individually wrapped pastries and fruit with coffee and juice. Lake City in now on our list of good places to stop for the night.

I can name a few places in GA that were terrible but not Lake City right off the highway. The Comfort Inn looked nice too but it was booked when we stopped there. All the hotels are in competition with each other so I would assume they are all clean.

 

[rparmfamily]

Lake City is not unsafe, it's rural (as in country!!!).

Have fun on your trip!

 

[crusoe2]

Just checking back in as promised. We did stay at the Country Inn & Suites last night on our way down. It's beginning to show signs of needing a refurbishment but overall it is fine - clean, comfortable, and easy to find. The free breakfast isn't anything to write home about but it will do to get you off to an early start - I went down and filled plates to take back up to the room so that we could eat while we were getting ready to leave. I did notice more noise from the highway this time but nothing that kept us up. Hope this helps.