Hotel recommendations for Festival Bay end of IDrive?

[Hilary]

I'm trying to get a cheap (Airmiles) trip booked for me and DH in March and want a hotel for the night we arrive before we head off to the coast. I'm looking for recommendations for somewhere cheap at the Festival Bay end of International Drive.

Current contenders (although I'm not sure yet that they're all in the right location) are:
Holiday Inn ID
Doubletree Universal
Quality Inn ID

If I could get a hotel near Festival Bay, DH would be kept happy with a visit to the Bass Pro shop before we drive off Cunning plan, eh?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Hilary,

I have stayed at the Holiday Inn I-drive and the QI I-drive also.

Sorry really would not recommend the QI, although to be fair it was several years ago we didn't like it all, the room was poor even by budget hotel standards.

The HI was much nicer, although I do suspect it will be more expensive, for hotels on that part of I-drive it could well be your best bet.
The rooms were clean/restaurants were ok and the pool was excellent - again I have to say though it is many years since we stayed there.

The Rosen Center is very very nice, but much more expensive and at the south (much nicer) end of I-drive.

 

[wilma-bride]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with Johnny. Having stayed at both the Quality Inn and Holiday Inn (QII in Sep 04 and HI in Sep 05), I actually preferred the Quality Inn. Having said that, I think it depends where your room is at the HI - the tower rooms are supposed to be better and less noisy however, despite requesting a tower room when we booked, we were put in one of the resort rooms. Whether this made a difference, I don't know. The other options you have at that end are the Travelodge Universal (never stayed there but have read both good and bad reviews of it), the Howard Johnson Plaza (we stayed there 1 night in Sep 04 and then moved to the QII the next day because we hated it but I understand it's under new management now and have since read good reviews). Also, there is the Radisson Barcelo but I don't know anything about that - sorry.

 

[Shane]

Hiya, I would have to reccomend Holiday Inn, it was very nice,quite,clean although we did have a couple who where ermm very noisy some nights . Another hotel we stayed in when I was young was "Gateway Inn", nice, cheaper than Holiday Inn, I think but not as nice

 

[Soprano]

Yeah, Holiday Inn was fine for us in '04. Wasn't in the tower, but no problems with room or noise.

 

[UKDEB]

I haven't got any recommendations, but this map shows you the hotel locations.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for all the advice so far

I haven't got any recommendations, but this map shows you the hotel locations.

There I was, quite happily limiting myself to something budget, and along you come with your map, Deb, and where am I instantly drawn to? Those Universal hotels are just sitting there screaming "check out the AP rates!"

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with Johnny. Having stayed at both the Quality Inn and Holiday Inn (QII in Sep 04 and HI in Sep 05), I actually preferred the Quality Inn. Having said that, I think it depends where your room is at the HI - the tower rooms are supposed to be better and less noisy however, despite requesting a tower room when we booked, we were put in one of the resort rooms. Whether this made a difference, I don't know. The other options you have at that end are the Travelodge Universal (never stayed there but have read both good and bad reviews of it), the Howard Johnson Plaza (we stayed there 1 night in Sep 04 and then moved to the QII the next day because we hated it but I understand it's under new management now and have since read good reviews). Also, there is the Radisson Barcelo but I don't know anything about that - sorry.

Fair do's Joh - it's all about opinions. It was the noise that put us off at the QI, when you contstantly have people shouting and screaming outside your door in the evening and the hotel will not do anything about it, it sort of puts you off, we were only there for 2 nights thank heavens....maybe the same people were at the HI when you were there

With all due respect to Hilary, we are grateful that we stay in villas these days - however, for close proximity to Universal these hotels are ideally located.

 

[floridalol]

We stayed at QI on our first trip in 1987 and it was ok then but it looks very shabby now and someone I know stayed recently and said it was awfully noisy with poor facilities. I have stayed at HI I-Drive three times and a tower room is essential because the resort rooms are poor. Insist on a tower room - they always have them but prefer to hold them back until resort rooms are full. The pool is great and the bar is atmospheric, also has games room and deli. I think the Rosen Plaza is a better bet now although slightly more expensive, it's also farther away from Festival Bay but it's only a short drive away.

 

[Amyrlin]

Sheraton Studio City is quiet nice, the beds are comfortable and the rooms are big. It is also very clean, but if yoyu do go there if you get a lower room check the room for a mildew smell first. Theu do seem to have a problem with the lower floor rooms, but they will happliy move you. The higher rooms are very very nice.

 

[Miffy2003]

Thanks for all the advice so far

There I was, quite happily limiting myself to something budget, and along you come with your map, Deb, and where am I instantly drawn to? Those Universal hotels are just sitting there screaming "check out the AP rates!"

Go on Hilary, you know you want to

 

[Hilary]

Well, despite all the advice, I've booked the Doubletree No justification really, just that I thought "what the heck, it's only for one night..." I hope it's not one night too many!

 

[UKDEB]

I admire your restraint! I was convinced your post would say you'd booked one of the Universal resorts!