Hotels on International Drive?

[Tinkerbell1986]

Anyone stayed at any of the hotels on I-Drive?

We're looking for a cheap but clean and comfortable hotel for a 3 week stay next October. We're not fussed about it being particularly special as we'll be out 7/8am to 10/11pm so it'll just be a place to sleep (clean and comfortable is a much though, particularly the CLEAN bit).

Any good or bad information about hotels would be great!

Thanks, Laura

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Cant advise on any just yet but we have just booked 14 nights at Best Western Plaza International for next May/June. We got a very good price, £380 which is about £27 per night.

The reason we are going here is because all the rooms are currently in the process of being refurbished ready for Jan 2008 so they should be nice and clean (we hope!).

 

[wilma-bride]

We have stayed at 3 I-Drive hotels:-the Quality Inn International, the Holiday Inn and the Renaissance.

Of the 3, the Renaissance was by far and away our favourite but it probably doesn't necessarily fit in with your requirement for 'cheap'. It isn't expensive but can run to over $100 per night if booked independently.

Out of the other 2, we preferred the Quality Inn. It was cheap, clean and provided a shuttle service to the Universal Parks and Sea World (although not Disney). If transport isn't a requirement, this would be your best bet.

Another alternative, depending on how many are in your party, may be one of the Homewood Suites hotels (Hilton owned and run). We have stayed at the one at the North end of I-Drive but there is another one further south which, in my opinion, is a better location. You can often get quite good deals on them and they are very good for what you pay. You get a suite as opposed to a standard hotel room, so have separate bathroom and living area as well as a kitchenette with full size fridge/freezer.

We stayed there in Feb this year for just 2 nights and really enjoyed it. If you choose the Homewood Suites, don't forget to sign up for Hiltons rewards programme (www.hhonors.com) and earn yourself some points on your stay.

I am sure there are other nice hotels on I-Drive too and others may come along who enjoyed the Holiday Inn but I can only speak from our experience - and the Holiday Inn was not a particularly enjoyable experience for us.

 

[Tinkerbell1986]

Relatives of ours just stayed at the Holiday Inn and didn't like it much so it is out of the question anyway.

There will be just the two of us on the holiday. Transport wont be an issue as we're hiring a car. I'll have a look at the ones you've mentioned

Simon, the Best Western Plaza looks like a good option! Do you mind me asking who you booked it through? Was it direct?

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Hi Laura,

we booked through Broadway Travel, the website is

http://www.broadwayfloridausa.com

Have you booked flights yet? We got really good prices on our flights with them too, £229 each for direct flights with Mytravel!

Also Best Western Plaza Int has shuttles running to all the parks and unlike a lot of the hotels located in the I-drive area, this hotel is right in the middle and actually ON I-Drive which is good if you are not driving!

 

[wayneg]

We have stayed most areas around Disney/Universal. IDrive would be the last place I would stay if I had a car. Different times of year traffic varies a lot but the last few times I have been up its been a nightmare.
Consider Lake Beuna Vista lots of places to eat and drink, Our fave hotel is Courtyard by Marriott on Palm Parkway always get out of hotel on 1 change of lights, 3 minute drive to Downtown Disney (can be walked if you wanted) 3 minutes to I4 either direction. Last twice we have stayed at Courtyard we have paid £25/night, free wireless internet inroom.
If you are set on IDrive then Homewood suites near Universal are very good incl breakfast and managers recepion 4 nights a week, we paid £22/night there, not seen it so cheap since.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcobn-courtyard-orlando-lake-buena-vista-at-vista-centre/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...na_Vista_at_Vista_Centre-Orlando_Florida.html

 

[Tinkerbell1986]

WOW Simon how did you get your flights so cheap??? The cheapest I can find is for about double that. We would really like to fly Virgin because my partner is disabled and we know that their special assistance is excellent. Flying with someone else would always be a bit of a risk as the problems we might encounter could ruin our holiday. I will have a look on my travel though, thanks for the advice.

Wayneg, I will have a look at elsewhere. I hadn't realised the traffic would be so bad. I went with my family 10 years ago and my dad drove I-Drive a lot and never said anything but then he probably wouldn't have complained to me my mom would have got it all! lol

Is Lake Beuna Vista far from the "action"? We had also looked at staying Kissimmee. I'm not fussed about staying on I-Drive but my partner would prefer it. Some gentle persuasion may be in order!

Thanks again everyone!

 

[wayneg]

hmm far from the action? depends what you are going to do, we spend a lot of evenings at Downtown Disney so its just minutes away. For us LBV is the perfect location easy to get anywhere.
I don't know how to say how I feel about Idrive without being insulting Its not blackpooly but its very English compared to other areas. We don't go on holiday to go to the English pub or have fish and chips. LBV has just a nicer feel to the area for us. So so difficult to explain.
Other people love IDrive but its not for us. If you do stay on IDrive have a drive around the Crossroads shopping/dining area and Palm Parkway just to look for future, like I say its only a few mins from DTD so easy to find.

 

[Neoshoegal]

we'll be staying at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott just off International Drive. Get's excellent reviews on tripadvisor and includes breakfast

 

[getready]

tripadvisor is a good resource for hotel reviews from folks...

 

[wayneg]

we'll be staying at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott just off International Drive. Get's excellent reviews on tripadvisor and includes breakfast

Been to look around this hotel last year, looks great, decided to use the Fairfield Inn down at LBV, Marriott village for this Easter just gone. Includes a nice breakfast.

 

[Portugal1000]

I would recommend either of the Homewood Suites on Indernational Drive. Had a good recommendation from Wayneg yesterday for a site alpharooms.com where the prices are very good. Not sure what your definition of cheap is as there are some really cheap places. We pay around $100 a night for Homewood and get breakfast and Managers reception plus a 2 room suite. We usually stay here when we first get there as we hit the parks. Then move onto a Disney Resot for 8 nights to relax (SSR this Year). I would not stay in Kissimmee. Looked a bit rough when we went through it on the way to Celebration last year but its probably perfectly ok. My favourite area is LBV so would stay there if they had a place as nice as Homewood.

 

[Tinkerbell1986]

I've done some researching and Lake Buena Vista seems like it might be a good idea (managed to convince the OH too!)

The Marriott Fairfield Inn seems like a good place for us to stay and a reasonable price so thanks for the recommendation!

Anyone know where I can get general information about what there is there (e.g. what restaurants, shops, etc) and how close it is to the theme parks (Disney, Universal and I-Drive)?

Your help is much appreciated!

 

[martinrmn]

We have stayed on I-Drive in Best Western Plaza and Quality Inn Plaza. We are going back this year with Virgin and are staying in QI Plaza again. We have a 7 year old son so accommodation is important to us. We like I-Drive because we are close to all restaurants that we like and we are able to have a few drinks without worrying who will drive. The hotels also offer shuttle buses and we have found them to be excellent value. Also consider using Tesco clubcard deals. Virgin accept these against the cost of a holiday. £10 of vouchers is worth £40 off the cost of the holiday. We saved £600 this year.

 

[scottishsue]

We stayed at the Hampton Inn on Universal Boulevard this year, which is just behind International Drive. It's quiet but close for all the restaurants.

A friend stayed at the Comfort Inn at Lake Buena Vista and he loved it.
Said it was ideal for the Parks.

BTW I don't know where you live but have you thought about using MyTravel - I've heard they are excellent too. A friend of mine uses them and says they are excellent.

 

[Tinkerbell1986]

I live in the West Midlands, in the UK.

I've looked at My Travel and they seem to be quite good. I notice that when you try to book flight only they redirect you to the Thomas Cook website though.

I would prefer to go with Virgin though. Not just for the special assistance but also for the 2 x 23kg luggage allowance each (as opposed to 1 x 20g allowance each). We plan on bringing a lot of stuff back from Orlando!

 

[Dead-metal]

We stayed at The Homewood Suites I Drive and have booked for next year. Great accommodation, free breakfast and evening snacks with free beer and wine. Nice sized rooms with a mini kitchen, 2 big tv's and free wi-fi.

The location is ideal at the bottom end of I Drive with good access to the I 4.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34515-d217360-Reviews-Homewood_Suites_Orlando_International_Drive_Convention_Center-Orlando_Florida.html

Number 4 out of 286 for hotels in Orlando.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Last twice we have stayed at Courtyard we have paid £25/night, free wireless internet inroom.

Hi Wayne,
Could you tell me how you managed to get the Courtyard so cheap. The best price I can find (several different dates) is $129 + tax.

Mick.

 

[rpbert1]

We stay at Universal, but go down past LBV to the outlets.
Would definetly recommend staying here as opposed to I`Drive. plenty of eating places and you are close to DTD, get Google Earth up and see what restaurants and hotels are available.also its not far if you want to go to Kissemee or I`Drive

 

[wayneg]

Hi Wayne,
Could you tell me how you managed to get the Courtyard so cheap. The best price I can find (several different dates) is $129 + tax.

Mick.

To start never book direct with marriott, that is the most expensive way.
Obviously rates vary at different times of year. I just used sample date 8th Dec for 7 night.
www.travelrepublic.co.uk £27/night
www.wshtravel.com £26/night
www.marriott.com £92/night ($190 incl tax)

We stayed there for 25 nights in August, I priced it up direct with Marriott £2,086 . I booked thru Alpharooms.com but booked it via my rpoints.com account which gives an extra 3.5% cashback. Cost me £625. £1,461 cheaper than Marriott

I am looking to go back for 24 nights next August best I can find just now is £29/night but I am sure it will come down.

If you have problems finding a good rate for your dates give me a shout I will have a look.