Please recommend me a hotel/place to stay off-site

[Soprano]

I have been to Orlando a few times already. Most times stayed at the Holiday Inn International in International Drive. I don't mind the area as its nice and central.

I'd like to hear about hotels you have stayed in and enjoyed. I'm open to any area, and interested to hear about places like Lake Buena Vista. We quite like the 'noise' of I-Drive, being so close to good (and not so good!) shops and often go for a walk at night. I get the feeling LBV is a quite place with no shops.

One place I'm thinking about booking are: International Plaza Resort and Spa.

We have no desire to stay in Disney, nor a Villa.

Thanks.

 

[scottishsue]

Hi there !! We have stayed at Best Western Plaza, Quality Inn Plaza, and Quality Inn International, when we have stayed on Int. Drive.

Most are basic motels, but comfortable. It depends what you want really - these are 3 star quality. But they are handy for the shops, and the restaurants on International Drive, and we like that.

 

[wilma-bride]

I'm not sure about the International Plaza, I'm afraid. I do know that we really like the International Drive area, although I am willing to accept that there are many who don't. We have stayed at a few places on I-Drive:

The Holiday Inn (like yourselves)

Quality Inn International - we much preferred this to the Holiday Inn as we found the staff friendlier, the rooms quieter and more comfortable.

Renaissance Orlando at Sea World - very nice hotel, obviously more pricey as it is 4/5 star compared to 2/3 but great staff, excellent facilities and fabulous location.

Homewood Suites - again, very nice. Reasonably priced and included a free buffet breakfast, free internet access. Location not brilliant (too far North on I-Drive for me) but that is personal taste.

Given the choice, I would stay at any of them again, with the possible exception of the Holiday Inn (I just didn't think it was worth the extra money compared to the Quality Inn).

 

[wayneg]

We have stayed at Homewood suites near Universal and was great for us as we have AP's for Uni/IOA. paid £22 /night for a suite incl breakfast and managers reception 4 nights a week. I am sure they lost money on us
We have stayed IDrive north and South, Onsite, 192 East and West but our favourite place of all is LBV. takes 2 minutes into DTD, 10-15 minutes to all theme parks, even universal if roads are quiet. Our least fav is Idrive central where majority of hotels are.
What dates are you going? how many people? have you had any quotes?

 

[castanea1985]

After many years of visiting the Orlando area, we prefer the 'feel' of LBV to that of I Drive.

As Wayneg says you are so close to DTD and the parks, and where ever we are, we always seem to migrate back to DTD!! There are some great shops and restaurants there, and the Crossroads area is within walking distance of all the hotels in the area!

If you stay in LBV area, you can miss the traffic at busy times, by bypassing the I4, by driving north on Palm Parkway. You can be up to I Drive in minutes!

I suppose its a personal choice, but for a decent, but not too expensive choice I'd go for the Couryard by Marriott at LBV.

Hope this helps
Tracy

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Not big fans of I drive personally but have stayed and liked the Rosen Center and Rosen Plaza hotels at the south end where in my opinion it's quieter and better.
Neither I suppose are tourist types of hotel and I guess more of a business customer based, but both really nice nevertheless.

Hotels are really out for us these days, you can feel isolated in a villa but they are ideal for Joshua.

 

[wicket2005]

Another vote for the Rosen Centre on IDrive, lovely hotel, we have stayed there twice.

We have also stayed in the Comfort Inn, LBV but would not recommend it due to the closeness to I4, very noisy all of the time and I had difficulty sleeping.

We have stayed in 2 villas one in Kissimmee and one in LBV. Both were lovely and having all that extra space is a luxury.

 

[PoppyAnna]

We just stayed south on i-drive at the Sheraton Vistana Villages - I thought the property was outstanding. We had a great 2 bed/2 bath apartment and in lots of ways it was great to be in a hotel but have accomodation like a villa.
Disney just ten minutes away, seaworld 5mins, universal about 20mins. Publix supermarket 2mins, Premium outlets 5 mins, a handful of restaurants at little lake bryan just past Premium outlets.
All in all a great location for us, the resort has great pools, grounds and the security was superb.
Not a budget choice though, this was our first trip with our two girls and we wanted comfort, convenience and a home from home and my Mum came too.
If just the four of us were going again I would opt for a standard hotel room next time to keep costs down for more future trips probably in a marriott courtyard as I've stayed in these before. We would also consider staying on site.

 

[Soprano]

Thanks all. These are great, keep 'em coming!

Its 2 adults, 2 kids looking around April. Not sure on budget. Worry about that later Most quotes are £2200+ without Virgin Frequent Flyer discount.

 

[Beep]

We love I-Drive. We've stayed at the Holiday Inn a couple of times, the Quality Inn International and the Quality Inn Plaza. Our preference is the Quality Inn International. The Plaza was nice but a bit too far south and the Holiday Inn isn't worth the extra. We've stayed in the tower and the 'new' rooms, and the new rooms (either in the blocks or the tower) are no better than the International. The one thing we did like about the tower is that it is quiet as you are high up and away from the traffic.

If you stay at the International, try and get a room that isn't by Denny's. They come to empty the bins at 4am every morning and it's a very rude awakening!

We like I-Drive at night and for a quieter option we hop down to DTD. We're going back to the International for the third time in September so that's a good recommendation!

 

[fearfall]

WE ALWAYS STAY HERE WITH PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...t_Suites_Maingate_East-Kissimmee_Florida.html

 

[loadsapixiedust]

We also like the LBV area, just has a nicer, calmer feel than I-Drive. Still plenty of good restaurants and shops close at hand and a great location for getting to all the parks easily.

 

[Goofyish]

Have stayed at the Quality Inn Plaza and the Best Western Plaza on the southern end of I-Drive.

Both are fairly basic motel style hotels but are clean and comfortable.

Out of the two I prefer the Best Western Plaza.

 

[R.S.Winters]

I much prefer LBV to any other area of Orlando. I think Kissimmee is a run down little town (sorry, dont mean to offend anyone, but thats waht I think! lol). The hotel we stayed in, in Kissimme was horrid by LBV standards and the surrounding area wasn't much better.
In LBV I have stayed in the Marriot Residence Inn and the Comfort Inn. Both very close to DTD and LBV centre. Both very well kept, friendly, pleasant hotels.
Of course the problem with asking others is that you get a biased opinion, much like mine lol.

 

[Mikey_B]

I spent two weeks at the Sheraton Studio City on I-Drive in May and was very impressed. Rooms are good, with comfy beds. Lift access needs a room card so feels secure. Pool bar is a nice place to relax in the evening and the theming is pretty cool. For us the location was great, easy walking distance of Universal so we spent many nights at citywalk. I went with a friend though and not with Kids so I can't comment on how good the place is for families, but I'd certainly stay there again.

 

[kizzy212]

as you can tell by sig i only stay in one place. quality inn international. we are family of 4 and love being here on i-drive. hotel is clean. tidy and simply for the time you spend in the rooms.
if you spend more time in the hotel and prefere more comfort, than out and about i would say look else where?

 

[juliebro]

We have stayed at Homewood suites near Universal and was great for us as we have AP's for Uni/IOA. paid £22 /night for a suite incl breakfast and managers reception 4 nights a week. I am sure they lost money on us
We have stayed IDrive north and South, Onsite, 192 East and West but our favourite place of all is LBV. takes 2 minutes into DTD, 10-15 minutes to all theme parks, even universal if roads are quiet. Our least fav is Idrive central where majority of hotels are.
What dates are you going? how many people? have you had any quotes?

That's an amazing rate. Where do you find them?

Julie

 

[wayneg]

That's an amazing rate. Where do you find them?

Julie

It was with Airline Network. £11pppn plus free child. I guess it was a mistake but I paid and printed voucher no problems.

 

[Lisash]

Another vote for LBV it's a great location just a short drive to the Disney parks and very handy for DTD and the Premium Outlets we love the Marriott Village and stay at the Fairfield the accomodation is nice and you get a fairly decent buffet breakfast thrown in

 

[brer rabbit 28]

We stayed at Royal plaza at LBV few years back and loved being in that area ,within walking distance of DTD was fab.

Last trip we were at best western lakeside on the 192.Would definately recommend it to anyone as there were loads of restaurants and shops around and only 5 mins drive to AK.