Newbie needs help choosing NICE hotel !

[kar123]

Hi, after years of lurking I have finally decided to post a question. We have been to Florida lots of times but have always been for 2 weeks and usally stayed in a friends villa. This year we have decided to be a bit different and visit new york ( just for 2 nights ) on the way out, then 5 nights Orlando ( over Columbus day weekend I believe 8 - 13th Oct ) and then we have a villa in Cape Coral for 7 nights.

My question is should I stick to the villa for 5 nights or should we spalsh out on a really nice hotel. If so which one ? We are not intending doing much Disney, probably stick to IOA and just 1 Disney park. Is PBH a good choice or could we get more for our money offsite of Disney or USF ? Also if anyone has any New York hotel reccomendations that would be great.

The trip is for me. DH ( not a Disney person ! ) DD 15 and DD 9

Many thanks.

 

[tyke]

Hi

Orlando Hotels

We got married at the Wyndham Orlando Resort on I-Drive last year.

The resort setting is excellent - just picture lush gardens and tropical lagoons !

The accommodation is situated within several two storey chalet style buildings located throughout the resort.

The buildings to the front of the resort - near to I-drive - consist of motel type accommodation with the rooms being accessed from external corridors.

The rear of the resort - which we much prefered - has hotel type buildings with internal corridors (buildings 8 to 13).

The king room we had was very nice and clean - they also have family suites available.

The resort has the following facilities -

3 Swimming Pools - 1 heated !
2 Kiddy Pools
Whirlpool
Tennis + Basketball Courts
Market Deli - serving coffee, deli sandwiches + snacks
Augustines Bar
Augustines Grille Restaurant - open for breakfast, lunch + dinner (highly recommended !)
Gatorville Pool Bar + Restaurant
Screams Ice Cream Parlour + Gift Shop
Health Club - fitness room, steam rooms + saunas
Games Arcade
Kids Club

The overall service of the resort staff was excellent.

The Wyndham is a great family resort - my niece + nephew loved all the facilities available.

You can also join the Wyndham ByRequest programme ! - its free to join and allows extra benefits and privalleges during your stay - including amongst other things a welcome snack pack and specific rooms requests.

Check out this link - Wyndham Orlando Resort

We have also stayed at the RPR at Universal - which is an amazing hotel - although much more expensive to stay at.

The added bonus of staying at a USF hotel is the FOTL access with your room key-card - no more waiting in line - fantastic !!!!


New York Hotel

On our recent trip to NYC we stayed at the Le Parker Meridien.

We found the hotel staff to be very friendly and most helpful during our stay.

The rooms are contemporary style, comfortable, very clean and by NY standards quite large - they have to be - the TV is the massive !!!

The hotel is in an excellent location - within walking distance of most places - situated on a quieter side street away from the mad honking taxi drivers !

2 min walk to the nearest subway station - on 57th street

5 min walk to Central Park

5 min walk to 5th Avenue Shopping

10 min walk to Times Square

10 min walk to Rockefeller Center

2 hours walk to Battery Park - I know - we did it !!!!

We did not get chance to dine at either of the hotels restaurants - heard great reviews of both - however, for a slice of real New York check out the burger joint behind the curtain in the hotel lobby - mmmmmm !

There are loads of delis, diners and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.

The hotel also has a very nice indoor heated rooftop pool - with amazing views of central park - and an extensive fitness center.

Check out this link - Le Parker Meridien - New York

 

[Pootle]

I've stayed at a few places in New York but the one I like most is the Beacon at 75th Street and Broadway (upper west side). Each room has a small kitchen with fridge and microwave and there is a good deli opposite (so ideal for breakfast and a take away when you are worn out from a day's sightseeing). The neighbourhood is pleasant but convenient. As well as being a Fodor's choice hotel, it is also one of the Holiday Which? recommended hotels. When I last stayed there we were given a suite with a separate sitting room (for the same price as a room) and it was huge. Here's the link: http://www.beaconhotel.com/

 

[annette_tr9]

i agree that the wyndham resort on international drive is excellent, we went to look around there for our wedding and it's huge!!!!! You wouldn't believe that somewhere so pretty and quiet is right on international drive in the middle of everything!

 

[richard3330]

Hi

In my opinion you should choose a Universal Resort Hotel (Portofino Bay like you mentioned perhaps) to enjoy the front-of-the-line/express ride access with your room key card. Portofino Bay Hotel is my absolute favourite hotel in Orlando. The price is wonderful (compared to similair deluxe Disney resorts!!) and the bonuses of staying onsite at Universal outweigh the Disney onsite resorts dramatically IMO. Packages are delivered to your ROOM (not the hotel shop like at Disney) plus the resorts have superb transportation via the water taxis - although they are all within a walking distance as well. The hotel's facilities and rooms are great and I personally cannot recommend this hotel enough. You can quite often get a good deal by using the APH (annual pass holder) AAA (AA) or ENT (Entertainment Card Rate). Check out the universal resorts board for more information.

Richard.

 

[UKDEB]

We've been to New York twice. The first time we stayed at The Omni Berkshire Place. A very nice hotel situated between Madison and Fifth Avenues at 52nd Street, so perfectly located for just about everything. There is a swanky, but not intimidating bar, an upscale restaurant and a lobby lounge, with pianist, where you can order drinks and bar food. Doesn't look much from the outside (as with many NYC hotels), but the rooms and bathrooms are lovely.

In December we stayed in NYC for 3 nights and then flew to Orlando on New Year's Day. This time we stayed at The Regency (A Loews Hotel ). Again, a lovely hotel, this time on Park Avenue on the corner of Central Park (although not overlooking it) - a bit further up, but still well located. We absolutely adored the Library Bar - great bar food, drinks and friendly service. It's famed for its Power Breakfast (for business men and women), but that makes it sound pretentious and intimidating, which it isn't at all. It's intimate and friendly and we enjoyed a relaxed breakfast there.

In Orlando we've stayed at both the HRH (twice) and PBH and, in fact we're staying at the PBH for two nights again in July. They're both fabulous hotels (as is RPR which we've visited several times, but haven't stayed at as I understand the rooms are smaller than the other two onsite hotels) and are worth the price alone for the FOTL benefits.

BUT, in January we stayed at the Ritz Carlton at the new Grande Lakes resort and it is simply stunning. It is opulent, brand new and the staff are unbelievably friendly, helpful and courteous. Also at Grande Lakes is the J W Marriott which is also incredible. If either of these resorts offered benefits at WDW or USF I would never consider looking anywhere else!

I should mention that we didn't pay anywhere near rack rates for any of the hotels mentioned - it's a case of shopping around and picking up the hints and tips on these boards to get good deals.

PS - Glad you decided to post after years of lurking!

 

[kar123]

Thank you all for replying and being so helpfull. Now its just a case of trying to find the best rates and booking up !

Think the PBH still looks like being a favourite and I will check out all the links to the New york Hotels. Once again many thanks.