International Drive

[Bunsie]

We are a family of 2 adults a 10 year old and nearly 12 year old. We don't want to rent a car, so our plan is to stay on International Drive. I hoping to get some feedback on hotels in this area, in particular Holiday Inn Express @ Universal - is this walking distance to I-Drive shops & restaurants. Also Comfort Inn Suites. Particularly interested in suites or hotels with a kitchenette as we'll be there for 2 weeks - but at the same time donesn't have to be too luxurious as we'll really only be using it for sleeping. Am I contraticting myself?

Thanks!

 

[Shooby doo]

Bunsie have a look at Staybridge Suites,we have stayed at the LBV one twice & the I-Drive one is supposed to be better.Full kitchen plus dishwasher,the biggest, most comfortable king-sized bed you'll ever sleep in! & if you go for the 2 bed,the bedrooms are seperated by the lounge & there are enough TVs for everyone!
HTH SD

 

[tttessa]

Hiya -
we stayed at HI express at Universal 10 years ago - was walking distance to loads of restaurants, a mini supermarket and (I think) Wet and Wild - the room was one of the 2 storey motel type ones though -not in the main building and was rubbish. Felt damp with the humidity, air con was LOUD and the room smelled of coffee and damp.
May have changed in the past 10 years though...

Tessa

 

[dc1964]

I alwayts recommend homw wood suites, it is in a great central location on i drive, great free breakfast included and free beers, wine and snack food on Monday to thursdays 5 till 7 ( or 8). very nice rooms and helpful staff.

 

[Dead-metal]

I always recommend homw wood suites, it is in a great central location on i drive, great free breakfast included and free beers, wine and snack food on Monday to Thursdays 5 till 7 ( or 8). very nice rooms and helpful staff.

So would I. We said there in 2006 and have re-booked for this year and next year. My son loves the make your own waffles for breakfast.

 

[Bunsie]

Homewood Suites looks great - thanks. I'll keep an eye on the rates. Dead-metal - looks like we'll be there at the same time.

 

[amberandolly]

We've just returned from Embassy suites - it's a fabulous central location, huge 1 bedroom suites and free full cooked breakfast and 2 hours of free drinks at night. It's a business hotel so fairly empty during the day, I think we were the only ones to use the pool and jacuzzi!

It was the first time we hired a car in 5 visits and I must say we couldn't have done half of what we did without one, it was great not having to rely on shuttles and we often left a park mid afternoon then returned for the fireworks or another park in the evening.

 

[Snowy-girls]

We've just returned from Embassy suites - it's a fabulous central location, huge 1 bedroom suites and free full cooked breakfast and 2 hours of free drinks at night. It's a business hotel so fairly empty during the day, I think we were the only ones to use the pool and jacuzzi!

It was the first time we hired a car in 5 visits and I must say we couldn't have done half of what we did without one, it was great not having to rely on shuttles and we often left a park mid afternoon then returned for the fireworks or another park in the evening.

Embassy Suites jamaican court or Embassy Suites I-Drive South(near the convention centre).Hope you don't mind me asking?.


To the original poster-We love I-Drive,sorry can't help you with the hotels you mention.But you won't be disappointed,there is so much choice when it comes to eating+drinking out+we love having non-park days+doing some minigolf+shopping along I-Drive.Make good use of the I-Ride trolley,and purchase multi-day tickets for yourself+dh,your children go free on these.Denny's does kids eat free on Tues evenings.We love Chuck-E-Cheese's as well on I-Drive.x.

 

[Dead-metal]

Homewood Suites looks great - thanks. I'll keep an eye on the rates. Dead-metal - looks like we'll be there at the same time.

It does, we fly out on the 12th Oct, I cannot wait.

 

[astrodrummergirl]

Last year we stayed, and are staying again, at the Hawthorn Suites n/r Universal. Its on Canada Ave, just off of I-drive, near the giant McD's and the Pirates Dinner show. Its a great hotel, very clean, free hot breakfast every morning and different things are served each day and I think snacks are served in the evening (can't remember exactly, we just found them as we were heading back to the room from the pool). They also have a fairly decent shuttle service, which goes to both the Universal bus place and to the Epcot bus place, so you can use Disney transportation to get to the other places (it wasn't that bad). Also the great thing about the transportation is that because the Hawthorn Suites are the first stop, its extremely likely you get on with a seat! I think they also run a shuttle to Seaworld, but I'm not sure since we didn't use it.

However, I think Hawthorn is a tad more expensive than the other Suites around.

 

[amberandolly]

It was the Jamaican court Embassy suites - right by Tgi Fridays, Chicago uno grill and walgreens, plus set back a bit from I drive so it's quite peaceful.

 

[Snowy-girls]

It was the Jamaican court Embassy suites - right by Tgi Fridays, Chicago uno grill and walgreens, plus set back a bit from I drive so it's quite peaceful.

Were staying at the Convention centre one+was hoping for some info about it.Thanks anyway .x.

 

[Kymie]

We've always stayed at the Quality Inn International or the Quality Inn Plaza, both on I Drive. Both have kids eat free with paying adults which was great. Quality Inn International was more central on I Drive with the biggest McDonalds next door, as well as Golden Coral across the road from McD's, and had a great adventure golf place next door. Both have a free bus to Universal 2 or 3 times a day and you can pay for a shuttle to Disney, but we just caught the trolley bus to Seaworld then the Lynx bus to Disney from there-it worked out about 2 dollars per person that way!

 

[wicket2005]

Not stayed there but if you have a look at tripadvisor.com you should be able to find recent reviews but take with a pinch of salt. I have found that the Americans are a lot more harder to please than the Brits in the reviews I have read, but saying that if the Americans give a hotel a good review you know it will be fantastic.

 

[Deedee]

We have stayed at the Quality inn plaza 7 times and never had a problem as you say you don't spend a lot of time in the hotel so why pay expensive. The QIP has everything you need it is clean has fridge, tv, shower, bath, microwave, coffee machine, iron and ironing board and air con. The deli is open 24 hours. It is directly opposite the Pointe Orlando and in walking distance of lots of good restaurants including TGI fridays and Bahama breeze. Ther is a pizza hut by the hotel. They have buses to all the parks.