Hotels on International Drive?

[cherjp]

hi there

we have stayed at the quality inn plaza which is opposite wonderworks/pointe orlando twice, that was clean, breakfast was good, and it suited us fine right in the middle of everything and provided shuttle to seaworld/universal,and a i ride trolley stop right outside although we had a car. last time we stayed at the clarion universal which is the other end near to wet and wild, great location without a doubt hotel clean and functional, restaurant food rubbish tho' 15 mins walk to universal and definately had the easiest access to get to disney by car, looking at enclave suites for next visit which is almost next door to clarion, we now need 2 bedrooms as our boys are getting older 14 and 11, i need privacy!! would love to stay at a disney tho for the experience.

hope this is helpful
cheryl

 

[wayneg]

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!

Have a look at this map for an idea, not easy from a map.
1. Crossroads shopping and Dining
2. Courtyard By Marriott, Our fave place to stay.
3. Orlando Ale House, Very cheap sports bar, Fosters $1/pint etc and we like the food. Last visit we had there I had 35 garlic shrimp on pasta with Garlic bread cost £4.85. Their chicken nachos can feed a family of 4-6 for about £5-6.
4. Marriott Fairfield Inn
5. Premium Outlet
6. Downtown Disney. and start of all the Disney parks beyond there.
You can see how close I4 is. Either use that or Palm parkway to get to Seaworld and Universal.
Just about anything around here can be reached within 20 mins, from the Old Town on Hwy192 upto Universal and Primeoutlets north Idrive.
Within minutes there is a Black Angus, McDonalds, Olive Garden, Hooters plus loads more.
We have stayed at Fairfield but prefer Courtyard on Palm, the junction at Fairfield at peak times gets very busy, Easter was ridiculously busy. but you do get access to all 3 hotels in the Marriott village if you want a different pool so swings and roundabouts.
Hope this helps, ask anything else you want to know.

 

[lost_in_hollywood]

Quality Inn Internation was good, when i stayed there in October. I would definetly recommend it.

 

[Tinkerbell1986]

Wayneg, thank you so much for that map! It is really helpful!

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice, it is so useful!

 

[WiganTony]

Hi Laura,

In August, we stayed on both I-Drive (Comfort Inn at junction of Sand Lake Road), and at LBV at the Springhill Suites.

We spent four nights at the Comfort Inn, but didn't find that part of I-Drive as "tacky" as I had been led to believe. Cost approx £30/night, rooms very clean, hotel generally good and free breakfast.

After staying at CBR and three nights in Clearwater, we finished off with five nights at the Springhill Suites in the Marriott Village at LBV. The area seemed more upmarket than I-Drive, but the hotel was within walking distance from Bahama Breeze/Golden Corral, and a couple of minutes drive from Crossroads shopping/dining area and DTD. We paid £40/night here, but the hotel was superior to the Comfort Inn.

When we go again, I think we would be tempted to stay at LBV rather than I-Drive as it is a bit quieter, yet within easy reach of Seaworld/Aquatica and I-Drive should we want to visit there.

 

[Miss Stitch]

A couple of years ago, we stayed at the Hawthorn Suites, Palm Parkway, LBV. It was in a very quiet area but with plenty to do just a short drive away. Would recommend this area to anyone. Sept 2007, we stayed at the Hawthorn on Westwood Boulevard, just off the bottom of I Drive, near Sea World. This also is avery quiet area, but on the trolley route. I wouldnt recommend the Hawthorn on Westwood but the one in LBV was awesome and very cheap. Cost us £2500 for five including flights for 14 nights, and it has a separate bedroom, living area and a small kitchenette. Great value for money.

 

[Lisa1976]

I can recommend Hotelopia.co.uk for booking, they are very good and have some fantastic prices.

 

[wayneg]

I can recommend Hotelopia.co.uk for booking, they are very good and have some fantastic prices.

yes they are very competative plus there is a 10% discount code knocking about some sites(think its valid for travel in 2007) and to make them even cheaper 6% cashback if you book via your rpoints.com account.

 

[castanea1985]

Hi Laura

I would go for LBV over I Drive - its next door to Disney and has a 'lovely' feel to it!!
My DD (20) and her BF (21) stayed at the Comfort Inn in September and had a fantastic time! They were close to DTD and Pleasure Island and could walk round to all the restaurants etc at Cross Roads.
We have stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott, just opposite the Comfort Inn and would recommend it too!

Hope you get sorted

Tracy

 

[penlanspice]

Another vote for LBV we love this location and you can't get much closer to disney.

Beginning of the year we stayed at a timeshare resort in LBV called cypress point, we booked it through someone on ebay and I think we paid 270 pounds for 2 weeks. We will probably do this again next year as it worked out much cheaper than a hotel and we had a 2 bed apartment for that price.

 

[maggs]

Homewood Suites is great accommodation on I Drive. Its hard to believe that it is 3*. For around 60 pounds a night you get a large bedroom with the most comfy huge bed, ensuite, and TV. The living area has a kitchenette with large fridge complete with ice machine, hob, coffee jug, microwave and dishwasher. I really dont know how they do it for the price. There is also a cooked buffet breakfast each day with a make your own waffle station - yum, yum. From Mon - Thurs there is also a managers reception with food wine and beer.
It is such a great hotel and the staff are so friendly. Its a bonus that it is right beside Bahama Breeze and of the other great restaurants. We are staying there for the 3rd time next August. It sure deserves its No 4 rating on Tripadvisor.
We have stayed at Quality Inn further up the Drive but didnt rate it at all. In fact we didnt like it. For just about 15 pounds more we had superior accommodation and all that food and drink. Homewood is a fab hotel!

Maggs

 

[wayneg]

Homewood Suites is great accommodation on I Drive. Its hard to believe that it is 3*. For around 60 pounds a night

We paid £22/night, if I see that rate again I would not look anywhere else. We got an invoice pushed under the door by mistake, should have gone under next rooms door, they had paid almost £100/night. We get great rates in this country for hotels sometimes.

 

[crabbie1]

Another vote for LBV-We stayed at the Holiday Inn Idrive and didn't really like it that much-ok as a base but had to pay for transfers to the parks as we didn't have acar.We have stayed at the holiday inn on LBV which was really nice(10 min walk to dtd) and also the comfort inn(again ok but not my favorite). not so commercial as Idrive.Have stayed on site last 3 times and are now hooked but are going to stay off site for 5 nights next year before staying on DVC property-probably waynes choice FFI/CBM.

 

[wayneg]

also the comfort inn(again ok but not my favorite)

We stayed there at Xmas and shared the room with dirt and cockroach until I caught it. One of worst palces we have stayed.

 

[earthelves]

We paid £22/night, if I see that rate again I would not look anywhere else. We got an invoice pushed under the door by mistake, should have gone under next rooms door, they had paid almost £100/night. We get great rates in this country for hotels sometimes.

Wayne Does This Include Free internet access?? I Might Go and Have A Look At This Hotel While I'm Here

TTFN

 

[wayneg]

Wayne Does This Include Free internet access?? I Might Go and Have A Look At This Hotel While I'm Here

TTFN

Yes Homewood suites include free internet access but I did not have a laptop when we stayed there. I have seen the rate as low as £35/night recently but never back down to teh £22 we paid.

 

[disneydopey]

We've stayed on International Drive and lake Buena Vista and much prefer Buena Vista.

International Drive-Best Western Plaza, 3 times. Loved it and booked a room direct with the hotel so much cheaper.

Rosen Plaza-Ok but room a bit small for 4 people.

Quality Inn-Never again-room dirty,bathroom dirty and that was in an upgraded Executive room!

Lake Buena Vista-Buena vista Palace-fantastic, although expensive now as all hotel refurbished. It was cheaper when we went as only some rooms were upgraded.
It is just across the road from downtown disney so walking distance from hotel.

-This year booked for Regal Sun as just refurbished and also very close to Downtown disney.

Make sure your hotel is walking distance to Downtown Disney whereever you book. We have a son who needs a wheelchair so know what you mean about Virgin been good at looking after you. We didn't need especially adapted rooms for him though as he only needs the chair for long distances!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

If staying on I drive the south end is much nicer.

Many years ago I drive was THE place to stay but now there are so many accomodation options now available. It's ok if you don't have a car but otherwise I would avoid.

The Rosen Center is a nice hotel, although aimed more at the business man than the holiday maker (not necessarily a bad thing!) and it is located at the better/quieter end.