Need help with VERY budget trip

[hinodis]

We have plane tickets down to Orlando, leaving in 3 weeks. We have to either completely change our plans or cancel the trip. Do to a very large budget buster we have to make a drastic change. It will be DH and I alone. We just need a nice bed and a nice pool to keep us happy. I have NO idea where to start here. We have a rental car that is $132 for the week I hardly think I can get that cheaper. We do not need to be near WDW as we will not be going now. I would like to keep the budget around $1,000 for the week and still have fun. I am willing to cook if it saves money. Our dates are April 7 to the 15th. So, where do we stay?

 

[andrews_dad]

Lots of cheap hotels/motels around Old Town for $25-35 per night. Places like Seralago. If you aren't picky maybe just priceline it for $17-19 per night and see what you get. Those won't get you a kicthen to cook, though. Condos with kitchens will cost you more, but might be worth it if you cook on your own. Near Old Twon you'll find tons of eateries like McD's, Taco Bell, Bob Evans, Red Lobsyer, Uno's, etc. etc. etc.

WalMart is easy to get to from that area.

For free stuff at the Diz, window shop and stroll around Downtown Diz. Free parking. Things to see. Preformers at night, some times. Tour the Diz hotels. Free parking for short stays. Tell the guards at the gate that you are coming in to take a look at the gift shops and eateries.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I've stayed at www.extendedstaydeluxe.com just checked for your dates can do fo $40-50 night. They have a full size kitchen and lots of amenities. I highly recommend

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I don't know if you have any museum membership at home, but we like to visit the Orlando Science Center when we're there and our museum membership gets us in there free.

I'd definitely try Priceline or Hotwire for a place to stay.

 

[Planogirl]

Check the hotel listings on Expedia. This will give you a good idea of how much the various places cost and who is having sales. You can also go to Tripadvisor and check the ratings for the different places that look appealing.

I would keep that car rental too. That is a great price!

 

[bamor]

OK
Rental car price is great!!
Hotwire has a 3 star in maingate/celebration area with free brkfst
$36.00/night 4/7 to 4/10
4/10 to 4/15, go to www.travelzoo.com, $59.00/night for a villa (kitchen) under the bookit.com special You would be able to cook meals.
Buy food, beer and wine at Super Walmart.
check out all the free things to do around the Disney resorts from www.mousesavers.com (Boardwalk would be great to walk around in the evening)
read up on how to save $ on meals from mousesavers.com (Sweet Tomatoes, Earl of Sandwich, Cici's Pizza, etc)
restaurant.com certificate for the House of Blues in Downtown Disney, spend the evening strolling around
Check out the 2 day passes for Sea World (mousesavers would have any offers available listed)

 

[bamor]

$106.45 in advance for 14 days at Sea World and Busch Gardens...add in Aquatica for $117.10 (per mousesavers.com).
$403 plus tax for the rooms
$236 for the passes
$300.00 for food/acohol for the week

 

[kbheap]

You can definitely do budget. Since you have a rental car, pick an inexpensive place with a small kitchenette and go to the grocery. Make sandwiches and cereal. Explore the national forest for a day(it's free). I think Orlando Brewing Company offers free night tours for the brewery. Winter Park does outdoor movie nights for free but only certain times of the month so check their calendar. Head into downtown Disney for a free Disney fix. If you guys do enough free or inexpensive things on your trip, maybe for your budget you can squeeze one day into Disney World. You are only a couple hours from the beach, make the drive and spend the day there. Have fun and you can totally do Orlando Budget!

 

[hinodis]

Thanks for all these great ideas! I was so worried that I would have to cancel. can anyone here tell me about using priceline? I am kind of scared to try it.

 

[bamor]

Priceline
Have a look at www.betterbidding.com or www.biddingfortravel.com for hotel listings and tips.
You will not be guaranteed a kitchen this way, though.
Have a look at hotwire (try booking as a package just to get an idea what the hotels are).

There have been some great deals on travelzoo.com under Orlando

 

[circhead]

Try Vacations to Go to get room pricing cheap. Also Hotels.com offer good prices. I just priced a 2 bedroom for August at Sheraton Vistana Resort in Lake Buena Vista for around $100.00 per night. This is a gorgeous resort with lots of amenities and recreational opportunities.

If I was able to get a 2 bdrm for that amount I'm sure you could do even better on a studio.

Good luck and happy hotel hunting

 

[CherylA]

I've stayed at www.extendedstaydeluxe.com just checked for your dates can do fo $40-50 night. They have a full size kitchen and lots of amenities. I highly recommend

This doesn't seem like a bad choice. Not sure which one Luvchefmic was speaking of but you can get this one: Homestead Studio Suites - Orlando - John Young Parkway for only 39.99/nt plus taxes. Not exactally luxury but they have a kitchenette and a decent pool.

Also on hotwire for your dates there is a 2.5* with 80% positive rating for $27.00/night you can even choose your bed size from their choices. It's in the celebration area. The total with taxes and fees would be $250.13 It has a pool. Lookingat tripadvisor I have figured (about 99.5% sure) that this property is the Baymont Inn and Suites 7601 Black Lake Road, Celebration, FL 34747 Actually looks like it could be perfect for you. It has a small fridge/freezer (not mini more like chest high with it's own door for the freezer) a nice pool with a pool bar and towels at the pool, a huge flat screen tv in the room... (The rate on their website for those dates is $60 night plus fees.) I'm kinda excited for you, it seems like a great option!

 

[NeedaVacation03]

Travelzoo has some great rates right now. Through bookit.com you can get a 2 bedroom villa( more room than you need) but it has a full kitchen and laundry for $59 a night. It is located at SunLake villas. The reviews look good.
You can do 2 people for the $1000 easy with all this great advice.

 

[Bren's Mom]

You can get a good deal on Hotwire. I just plugged in my guess at your dates, found one 3.5 stars in the SeaWorld I-Drive area for $54 per night.

Hotel details
Location: SeaWorld - I-drive South
Star rating: silkHotelStarRating:3.5-star
Check-in date: silkCheckInDate:Sat, Apr 10
Check-out date: silkCheckOutnDate:Sat, Apr 17

Price summary
Hotel rate per night: silkPricePerRoomPerson:$54.00
Nights: silknoOfNights:7
Rooms: silknoOfRooms:1
Subtotal: silksubTotal:$378.00
Tax recovery charges
& fees: silktaxesAndFees:$54.89
Total price: silkgetTotalPriceWithAddOns:$432.89

This hotel features the following amenities:

Fitness Center
Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply. Pool(s)
Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal. Restaurant(s)
Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary. Business Center
Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply. High-speed Internet Access
Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply. Spa Services
Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

Based on that info, I then went to betterbidding.com and my best guess is this hotel is likely:

3.5* Doubletree Resort International Drive
Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Spa

If you are interested in doing Priceline OR Hotwire, do some reading here first. Generally with Hotwire you can figure out which hotel it's most likely to be. With Priceline that's not so easy, but it IS easy to block out undesirable hotels. I've used both many times with much success!

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=14&

Also check VRBO, find an affordable small condo and since you'll be booking somewhat close to the date you're going see if they'll will bargain with you on the price. I just did a quick look and this one seems like it would fit your needs, it would also allow you to do some meals in the condo saving additional money:

http://www.vrbo.com/286077

 

[CherylA]

Thanks for all these great ideas! I was so worried that I would have to cancel. can anyone here tell me about using priceline? I am kind of scared to try it.

If you decide to go with something on Hotwire or Priceline you can PM me and I will walk you through it step by step. Its not hard but it can be intimidating. Hotwire is mcuh easier than Priceline though although Priceline can be cheaper, you just never totally know what amenities you'll get with Priceline where as with Hotwire you can not only see all the amenities but usually you can figure out exactly what hotel you're getting.

 

[circhead]

On the Hotel.com website the Baymont is averaging $44.oo per night. I don't know the hotel so I cannot give any advice either way. There look to be some very good hotel deals on this site for your dates have a look.

I am not a priceline type of person because I don't like bidding on things like hotels site (pun intended) unseen.

 

[Straitlover]

Endless Vacations (Wyndham Resorts) has Celebration World Resort 1 B for 4/9-16 for $379.00:

http://www.wyndham-vacations.com/main.taf?p=1,2&resortid=5389&month=04&year=2010&chkLenghOfStay=

You don't have to stay the whole week. Also, do a search on that site for Orlando area for April. They had lots of other places listed for that price. They have Hotel room at Silver Lake-Silver Points for the same price. Nice place!

 

[beansmom]

On the Hotel.com website the Baymont is averaging $44.oo per night. I don't know the hotel so I cannot give any advice either way. There look to be some very good hotel deals on this site for your dates have a look.

I am not a priceline type of person because I don't like bidding on things like hotels site (pun intended) unseen.

we stayed at the Baymont on Black Lake Road last year and while the outside areas looked like a ghetto flophouse, the rooms themselves are GORGEOUS! We'd stay there again in a minute. It was close to the Maingate but had lots of restaurants, etc nearby.

 

[CherylA]

we stayed at the Baymont on Black Lake Road last year and while the outside areas looked like a ghetto flophouse, the rooms themselves are GORGEOUS! We'd stay there again in a minute. It was close to the Maingate but had lots of restaurants, etc nearby.

From the photos (taken by real people on tripadvisor not just the ones the hotel posts) the interior does look really nice. Judging from the street view in Googlemaps the outside isn't nearly as impressive but I think perhaps getto flophouse might be a bit of an exageration. Course, I haven't been there in person...

 

[hinodis]

WOW You guys are gooooood! I was worried about having to cancel my trip this morning and now I have so many choices I don't know what to pick! What a geat problem to have!!! I am in the process of lokking at everything and book marking them to show DH! Thank you so much!!