Offsite at Universal

[Bowman]

Ok I'm getting a little nervous here. I posted asking for your comments on the Rodeway Inn on International Drive. We made reservations for 8 nights in August. I chose this place because it's close to Universal, offers free transportation to there and Sea World. It has a fridge and microwave in the room. The kids eat free breakfast sounds like a good deal and I got it for $45 a night (We're not looking for anything fancy). I read some good reviews but now I'm reading some not so good. I know that no matter where you go you will hear good and bad. We have never stayed off-site whenever we went to Disney World but this trip is for Universal, Sea World, Busch Gardens and KSC. I refuse to pay $200 to stay onsite at Universal even if you do get front of the line. Is there any place that you suggest that is in this price range that we'd be better off at, or will we be ok here???? HELP!

Thanks

 

[kgilchri]

I would suggest either checking on Expedia or Travelocity, or maybe Priceline as well. I know Priceline is a bit risky, but you may find something much better for a just a little bit more a night. I would definitly check on Expedia, b/c I've found really good deals before.

Good luck

 

[crazelion]

Check www.hotelkingdom.com for hotel rooms in your price range.

Then go to hotel reviews:
travelocity.com
tripadvsior.com
biddingfortravel.com

 

[Planogirl]

Are you a member of AAA or do you have the Entertainment Card? I would go to http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/orlando/default.asp , click on reservations and check on rates for your dates using discount code AAA and ENT. If you're willing to get an annual pass, you can check using APH. Or of course, you can check using no code too. I know that people find rates well under $200 often but $45 is a really good rate!

Two offsite hotels that have regular transportation and are just outside the Universal gates are the Holiday Inn Universal and Radisson Universal. You may be able to find real good rates for a suite at the Holiday Inn or just a room at Radisson by checking the websites the others have mentioned.

 

[jgates]

maybe something at a Hampton Inn? They are normally very consistent hotels.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by jgates
maybe something at a Hampton Inn? They are normally very consistent hotels.

I would also try the Hampton Inn, I've stayed at both HI's that are close to Universal. They are typical HI's but you can pretty much count on them to be clean. If not you get your money back. I don't think I would ever stay at a Rodeway Inn, too many bad reviews.
There are lots of good deals for Universal hotels, you can get RP as low as $119.00 ER.

 

[Straitlover]

There was a hotel I was looking at last year. I believe it was the Clarion Universal??? I do remember it had either a restaurant or bar called Sharky's in it. Anyway, it was across the road from Universal and was supposed to be pretty nice. not real fancy, but way better than a Rodeway. In October 03, the rates were running around $60/night.

 

[champagne93]

When we went to Orlando last July we stayed at the Radisson right across the street from Universal. We got a great rate of $45 per night. This was through hotwire. The only thing with hotwire is you do not know what you are getting until after you pay then they show you which hotel. I know that is not much help, but maybe you could find a better rate for this hotel through expedia or something similar. We loved this hotel and would stay again. We even stayed an extra day because we liked it. We couldn't get the hotwire rate for the extra day, but they did give us a discount for AAA which was $67 a night. If you have any questions you can PM me.

 

[IowaGirl]

Bowman,
If it is your first trip to Universal, I would keep trying to get onsite. I am going in August and got a really great rate at the Royal Pacific, although I used some inside ties to get my rate.
The front of the line is priceless, even if you just do it part of your trip, like exactly when you plan at being at Universal rather that the other parks.

When you are going, with it being hot and more crowded than usual, you will vastly appreciate FOTL.

We went two years ago and stayed at the Portofino with the entertainment card for $150. We could only afford two nights at that rate, but we actually got three days of FOTL with that. We just dropped off our luggage at the front desk and went to the parks, and that started out FOTL even though we were not technically checked in yet. They just gave us a dummy room card till we did check in.
we made up for our two expensive nights by staying at the Country Inn and Suites Calypso Cay Way for $39 a night.

We would never stay onsite at WDW again (unless way cheap) but we would never stay offsite at Universal.

 

[BarryHom]

Try the offsite hotels advertised on www.usoinfo.com

They are:
Clarion Universal
Best Western Movieland
Best Western International

I've stayed at the Clarion and Best Western Movieland and have had good stays there. They're both about a 3-5 minute drive to Universal.