Off-property hotel help (first time visitor)

[RedOne3781]

Hey everyone!

After many trips to Disney World, I have decided it is time to check out Disneyland.

I've been looking around online trying to figure out which hotel is the best fit for myself and my mother (whom I am travelling with) and am a little bit overwhelmed.

Here are the specific things I am looking for:

Free breakfast
In-room internet access (free would be nice, but will pay extra if need be).
Smoking (in room)
Coffee pot
Swimming pool

I booked a room at the LaQuinta Inn and Suites, but after reading several reviews on tripadvisor I cancelled it.

Suggestions? Ideas?
Any and all help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks!

 

[Gisele]

Will you be driving to Dl? Or might you prefer walking distance and or a shuttle service?
What is your budget range like?

 

[RedOne3781]

Walking distance and/or a shuttle would be nice, but we will have a rental there as well so I guess distance isn't that important.

Ideally, I would like to spend no more than $120 a night.

 

[Gisele]

Howard Johnson's receives rave reviews. I have not stayed there as of yet, but am thinking about. It is not far from Dl. parking is free, and you can walk in the morning and then take ART back, or OCTA, a cab or walk back,depending upon how your feet feel.
One can save money further with the entertainment card rate. Which you might already know about. The discount is not offered everyday, but one can book their dates, see if the ent. rate becomes available, call then have the discount applied. IF the rate is not available during your time frame, then the disboards 15% discount can be applied.
Breakfast is not offered there, but right next door is a cafe I believe it is Millie's. The food is suppose to be very tasty, and well priced.


www.hojoanaheim.com

www.entertainment.com

www.millies.com

http://www.millies.com/page10.html

 

[cirquelovers]

The only smoking rooms I can think of are at the Embassy Suites, either North or South. They include a wonderful free breakfast. North even has a private shuttle to the parks, South is on ART. They have everything on your list but prices can vary. We find North to be cheaper but it is further away also.

 

[tink2dw]

My favorite hotel is Desret Inn and Suites on, 1600 S. Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim CA 92802, it is just steps from the street crossing to DL. It has a Continental Breakfast.

here is a look at the rooms and suites
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/room_suites.htm

and the amenties
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/amenities.htm

the virtual tour of the rooms
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/virtual_tour.htm#

 

[spacemermaid]

Stovall's Best Western on Katella (at the Disneyland Drive intersection) has everything you listed; here's a link to their reservations page: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/priceAvail.do?propertyCode=05185

I've stayed there many times, and though I'm a smoker, I've not stayed in one of their ok-to-smoke-in rooms, but they do have them. I can, however, vouch that the hotel has a good free continental breakfast, free parking, internet access (though I didn't use it as I didn't bring a laptop; there's a computer in the lobby that has internet & is free to use, also), coffee pot, fridge & microwave in the rooms, not one but 2 pools, 2 hot tubs, and...some of the comfiest beds, ever.

If you book 30 days or more in advance, you can get quite a deal! I just paid around $65 a night for a room for my spring trip.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[doclegler]

Don't stay at Comfort Inn Maingate on Harbor! You'll lose your belongings!!

 

[Leofoenget]

The only smoking rooms I can think of are at the Embassy Suites, either North or South. They include a wonderful free breakfast. North even has a private shuttle to the parks, South is on ART. They have everything on your list but prices can vary. We find North to be cheaper but it is further away also.

Embassy Suites North is way out by SNA airport. My husband did the free shuttle and it was fine, but knowing what I know NOW I would never stay that far away from the parks.

 

[RedOne3781]

Thank you so much, everyone.

I am going to look into the Best Western and the Embassy Suites.

Being close to Disney isn't a huge priority - we are only going to be spending three days of our trip visiting the parks. I've never been to the LA area before so there is SO MUCH I need to see and do during my trip.

Again, thanks for the help. If anyone has any more ideas please throw them my way. The more options I have the better!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Whoops ~ I messed up the quote - *Being close to Disney isn't a huge priority - we are only going to be spending three days of our trip visiting the parks. I've never been to the LA area before so there is SO MUCH I need to see and do during my trip.*

You should make it a priority for your 3 Disney days, you could always change hotels, what else do you want to see?

 

[Huff]

Is free breakfast important if you could get a hotel far cheaper without it?

This past year I have made 12 trips to Disneyland. I have booked through Priceline each time and have always gotten a 3 or 3 1/2* hotel for $45-$65. The hotels I have gotten are Hilton, Holiday Inn Manchester, Red Lion, Doubletree and Crown Plaza. All very nice hotels at a bargain price that easily allows for a nice breakfast!

 

[RedOne3781]

Not too sure about changing hotels during the visit because I don't think we are going to do Disney three days in a row. I really want to go to the parks the first and last days of my trip, and some random day in the middle.

Besides Disney, I am planning on going to Universal, doing a few studio tours, sight seeing around Hollywood and checking out a few beaches. To say it is going to be a busy trip is an understatement, but I cannot wait!

And also, free breakfast isn't really a big deal, I suppose. But in room internet, smoking and in room coffee pot are must haves.

 

[tink2dw]

Didn't California just pass [2009]a NO Smoking law?? Especially around DL area hotels??

 

[RedOne3781]

Thank you guys so much for your help.

I think we are going to go with Stovall's Best Western. Afte the suggestions here and reading some reviews online, it seems to be the best fit for me.

I really appriciate the suggestions and input. It helped narrow down the search.

Calling tomorrow to book the room. YAY!

 

[spacemermaid]

Thank you guys so much for your help.

I think we are going to go with Stovall's Best Western. Afte the suggestions here and reading some reviews online, it seems to be the best fit for me.

I really appriciate the suggestions and input. It helped narrow down the search.

Calling tomorrow to book the room. YAY!

Yay! I think you'll really enjoy your stay there! IIRC, you can save some $ by booking online, rather than over the phone. Here's a link to the page that I make my reservations with them through: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/priceAvail.do?propertyCode=05185 If you're a member of AAA, there's a discount, as well.

Have fun on your trip!!!

 

[RedOne3781]

When I called them last night, I was told that I would get a better rate by calling them directly. Because we are staying a full week I was offered a "Manager's Special": two double beds for $91.53 a night, or two queen beds for $98.60 a night.

But thank you for the link. I will play around with it a little and see if I can come up with a cheaper rate than the one I was quoted.

 

[spacemermaid]

How far in advance are you booking? I booked a couple of weeks ago for a room there at the beginning of April, and got a paid-in-advance price per night of around $65. But if you're not booking at least a month in advance, you did get a really good deal on the room

 

[RedOne3781]

My trip is from August 21st - 28th. So I am booking more than six months in advance.

Do you think I should hold off a while in hopes of a better deal?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Uh-oh ~ you may want to reconsider your dates, can you go any earlier in Aug? Check out this post ~ http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983&highlight=understanding
Specifically this post ~ http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35151351&postcount=25

And this one ~ http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33401005&postcount=147