Offsite hotel recommendations anyone?

[jelo]

I'm am planning our families biggest vacation, and looking for some advice. We've been to Disney twice off site 20 years ago and last May stayed at the POP on site for a wonderful vacation!

In March 2012 I've planned the 4nt. Disney cruise and planning on 3 nts at POP or if I can swing the $$ a moderate.

We will be staying 3 nts near Universal to see that park for the 1st time and maybe go to Orlando Zoo( I adopted a Llama for my dd's 16th birthday that she wants to visit!)

So I need to know of recommendations for a budget priced hotel in the Universal area. Something in line with Comfort Inn, Days Inn...has anyone stayed in one of these?

 

[damo]

See if you can Priceline the Hyatt Place. People have reported getting it for around $49/night.

 

[jelo]

Sounds good, I'll check it out...Thank You!!

Oh, BTW...the sketch of the pup looks just like my Cocker (Daisy) even the look on it's face!!

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

Today I booked Holiday Inn & Suites Maingate to Universal on Priceline for $40 per night. These room normally are $109.99 per night. I bid $40 and it was accepted the first time ! that never happens for me. Sooo excited.

 

[jelo]

When do you go? Let me know how the hotel was, the feedback was not to clear either way! I know you're not in your room that much, but I don't really want strange smells etc... The price is good, and the amenities too!

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

When do you go? Let me know how the hotel was, the feedback was not to clear either way! I know you're not in your room that much, but I don't really want strange smells etc... The price is good, and the amenities too!

My dates are 5/25 and 5/26. Tripadvisor has mixed reviews. It has been newly renovated and the new rooms look nice. We dont plan on spending that much time in the room. The fact that you can walk to Universal was a Plus for us too.

 

[Seeker615]

I am staying at the Holiday Inn too. We are going in August. let us know how the hotel was.

I booked the Harry Potter package through Universal. I can't wait! It comes with early entry and a breakfast at the Three Broomsticks!

 

[ToyStory]

I received a email from Travel Zoo for a promotion at the Hampton Inn which includes free Breakfast. $45.00 for a King room and $50.00 for two Queens.

Here is the link:

http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/orl...5/?utm_source=top20_us&utm_medium=email_top20

 

[jelo]

OMG! You got me all excited! I was up pretty late last night trying to check out all the hotels on tripadvisor and decided to pay more than the $40 I originally planned to get a better hotel!
I've always been happy with Hampton Inns, and was looking at the Altamonte Springs location for $58/nt. But after looking at the drive from there to Universal, I wasn't sure I wanted to go that far.
I checked out this deal, but it's not available for March 2012. I signed up for their emails, so I'll wait till closer to the date and maybe I'll get lucky!!
Thank You!

 

[marhs]

I received a email from Travel Zoo for a promotion at the Hampton Inn which includes free Breakfast. $45.00 for a King room and $50.00 for two Queens.

Here is the link:

http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/orl...5/?utm_source=top20_us&utm_medium=email_top20

Thank you so much for this link! I think we might be booking this today! Great deal! Thanks!!!! You made my day!!!

 

[ToyStory]

Thank you so much for this link! I think we might be booking this today! Great deal! Thanks!!!! You made my day!!!

You are welcome! I took advantage of this deal too. We are staying here our final night in Florida. It didn't make sense to pay over $300.00 for a room at RPR and not be going to the parks on our departure day. I can easily spend the $250.00 or something else.

I had the Holiday Inn by DTD booked, for $59.99 a night (another special I found) since we are planning on going to DTD prior to going to the airport. However that price didn't include the parking fee of $9.00 or breakfast.

 

[mott]

You are welcome! I took advantage of this deal too. We are staying here our final night in Florida. It didn't make sense to pay over $300.00 for a room at RPR and not be going to the parks on our departure day. I can easily spend the $250.00 or something else.

I had the Holiday Inn by DTD booked, for $59.99 a night (another special I found) since we are planning on going to DTD prior to going to the airport. However that price didn't include the parking fee of $9.00 or breakfast.

Can I ask how you got the HI DTD for $59.99 a night? Since it's booked, I assume it is a refundable rate? I'd love to get that for our trip. (Sorry to high-jack the thread)

 

[ToyStory]

Can I ask how you got the HI DTD for $59.99 a night? Since it's booked, I assume it is a refundable rate? I'd love to get that for our trip. (Sorry to high-jack the thread)

It was a special rate from AllEars. The banner is on top of their website. Here is the information I got from the email I received for the special offer:

NEW OFFER!

$59/night for standard room with Queen/Queen
$69/night for King Room

for the months of MAY AND JUNE
(based on availability)!

We are also offering a special rate
starting from $69 for most other dates through December 22.

All guests who reserve via AllEars.Net receive
a complimentary room upgrade
to a Pool View Room.
This is a savings of between $10 to $15 per night and is based on availability.

Each hotel room includes these amenities at no extra cost:

Refrigerator
Microwave Oven
Coffee/Tea maker
High-speed wireless internet access

To make your reservation
call the hotel directly at 866-808-8833.

Mention that you are an AllEars® Reader and give Rate Code ILRRU to receive this special rate.

 

[Gonzjj]

I received a email from Travel Zoo for a promotion at the Hampton Inn which includes free Breakfast. $45.00 for a King room and $50.00 for two Queens.

Here is the link:

http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/orl...5/?utm_source=top20_us&utm_medium=email_top20

UNBELIVABLE!!!
We booked this also deal for our trip in August. Thanks so much, I feel like I got a great deal.

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

When do you go? Let me know how the hotel was, the feedback was not to clear either way! I know you're not in your room that much, but I don't really want strange smells etc... The price is good, and the amenities too!

We just returned from our Disney vacation. We stayed 2 nights at the Holiday Inn Maingate Universal !! Its was FANTASTIC !! clean rooms and very large. The beds were wonderful too. We also really enjoyed the pool. It was walking distance to Universal. The hallways were a bit dreary but the rooms had been recently refurbished and I have no complaints. We never once heard people in the halls or in the rooms next door. The staff was also excellent. There were no safes in the room but the front desk had safes they would escort you to and we kept the key. I would return to this hotel in a heartbeat !! I wish the Pop Century had been this nice. We got the room for $40 a night off Priceline. What a great deal !!

 

[ky07]

We just returned from our Disney vacation. We stayed 2 nights at the Holiday Inn Maingate Universal !! Its was FANTASTIC !! clean rooms and very large. The beds were wonderful too. We also really enjoyed the pool. It was walking distance to Universal. The hallways were a bit dreary but the rooms had been recently refurbished and I have no complaints. We never once heard people in the halls or in the rooms next door. The staff was also excellent. There were no safes in the room but the front desk had safes they would escort you to and we kept the key. I would return to this hotel in a heartbeat !! I wish the Pop Century had been this nice. We got the room for $40 a night off Priceline. What a great deal !!

So glad you liked the Holiday Inn Maingate Universal cause I was a little concerned because we usually stay onsite at RPR but with everything that happened to us this year we could only afford to stay 4 days so I chose the Holiday Inn Maingate Universal for the closeness and the price
Agian thank you for a good review

 

[quadaunt]

I just received a confirmation e-mail from Royal Pacific Resort, where we'll be staying Friday, June 17. The e-mail included the fact that WWoHP at IOA opens at 7 am that day instead of the expected 8 am as IOA's longer summer hours kick in that day. I'm so glad I received that information as I had made my plans around an 8 am WWoHP early entry!

Somewhat unfortunately for this nightowl, the earlier entry hour means that we will need to check in at the RPR even earlier (I plan to be there about 5:15 - 5:30 am to get room keys so that we can get to the WWoHP rope by 6 - 6:15 am). I had booked at the Hampton Inn nearest US for Thursday, our arrival night. Couldn't see spending $200+ on the RPR when we most likely won't check in to our hotel before 7:30 - 8 pm, hitting the hay very soon after, and were initially planning to be out of the room by 5:45 am, never to return. Now that we will be needing to check out of the room even earlier it is going to bother me to even spend $125 on a room we'll be in 10 hours at the most. I'm a Hilton Honors member so I try to pick a Hilton brand hotel whenever possible, plus the Hampton Inn's usually have a great hot breakfast buffet. However, the breakfast bar opens at 6 am and we'll be gone by then.

I've read this entire thead and will definitely check out Priceline and the others to see if there are any good deals out there. However, in the meantime I thought I would check to see if anyone knows of current promotions that may be going on at the moment. Don't want to spend more than $70 ideally, but also want to be close to US / IOA since we have to get up so darn early. Thanks in advance.

 

[Batesl49]

I am looking at staying at Extended Stay Deluxe at 5610 Vineland Rd. Less than a mile to IOA and they have kitchens. They have a free breakfast buffet, don't know the time but it sounded rather skimpy. I have been using Expedia for names of hotels that are within 1 mile of IOA. See if you can find a deal there. Good luck.

 

[jrtoastyman]

Just returned from a trip that included a stay at Four Points Sheraton for a few days at Universal. It's about a mile as the crow flies from Universal and is walkable, but they have shuttles, or a cab is only $8 over there. Nice, clean rooms, great staff, and nicely priced. Would absolutely stay there again.

 

[bethnburke]

I'm trying to decide between the Holiday Inn Maingate or the Four Points Sheraton and cant decide between the 2 for our pre-cruise trip to Universal Nov 24 & 25. I will be traveling with DD8 and DS10 so the pool is important. Being able to get to the park easily is also a concern. The rates are about the same - $66HI and $70FPS. Which would you choose? Or is there a better option?

Is the Four Points Sheraton really walking distance? How often do the shuttles run?