Riu girl and comfort in LBV...

[ChisJo]

I know you were asking about this earlier, and I thought I would tell you about my experience while I was there.
For the price you got ($36/night), that is all I would pay.
I think that the hotel has great potential, but I found it to be very dirty (the cleaning staff really didn't clean, they actually really only changed the towels and made the beds). There was actually popcorn on the floor from the previously people that was there the entire time I was there. My friend saw a cochroach in the room (I didn't) and the bathroom was pretty dirty.
The continental breakfast consisted of Fruit loops or corn flakes, toast with jam, mini doughnuts, mini muffins, oatmeal, juice, coffee, and milk. This was great for some days, but all in all, I couldn't eat it everyday. The buffet wasn't really worth it (unless you want Mickey shaped waffles) and I wouldn't eat there for dinner. It is within nice walking distance to other dining areas, and from what I heard, the shuttles were great. The guest services deak with information on all the parks was fantastic and the front desk was so-so. Sometimes they were nice, and sometimes they were not.
The main floor facing the parking lot was loud, but I guess it was better than facing the highway. It was conveniently located, took no time to get anywhere from there (to Disney, USO, or Sea World). I had asked the front desk how to get somewhere and they had no idea.
The Lite Bites Cafe is really god. Their food is really good and they are not that expensive for a drink. It is really cozy and we enjoyed it. The pool was warm, and there are towels for useage there.
Otherwise, this hotel was worth the money I paid. I only wanted a hotel to sleep in and nothing luxurious, and that is exactly what I got.
Hopefully, that helps.
Jo

 

[TimNDansMom]

Wow, ChisJo, I'm very sorry to read that the Comfort Inn LBV let you down. While "basic" I have never found it dirty. We haven't stayed there since our one night's arrival last March Break, so maybe something has happened since then. I hope you mentioned this to the front desk manager.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks so much for remembering me and giving me the low down on the Comfort Inn.
My DH, DD7, and DD4 have no idea but I am in fact probably going to cancel my ressis at the Comfort Inn. I have booked ASMo for 4 nights. Using the BAT discount code I got the room for $55 US/night. I know it is quite a bit more then $36 including a fridge and microwave but I just couldn't help myself.
I have requested a room in the Toy Story section since the kids both love the characters from this movie.
I still have the ressie at the Comfort Inn since it is such a good price and we will spend so much less on food but I will probably cancel it and stick with ASMo. What do you think?????

Sorry to hear your experience at the Comfort Inn was not so wonderful. And thank you again for providing all of the info.

Riu Girl

 

[ChisJo]

I'm very sorry to read that the Comfort Inn LBV let you down

You know, it's not like the hotel was discusting, it's just not worth the posted rate they have. I have stayed in hostels that were way grosser than that, so dirt doesn't really bother me. It's just if someone is going to be there cleaning it everyday, could they not try vacuming every now and then. If I was looking for the same kind of arrangement, I would stay here again. It's just not luxurious. More like a place to sleep.
Jo

 

[RC Fan]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get that rate?

Would you stay there again if you could get a similar rate?

Did you see a nice place that you would try next time?

I am STILL trying to find a place I can feel comfortable about. I don't want fancy either, just clean and decent. I thought Comfort INN LBV would be good because it looks as if they have a decent shuttle schedule.

 

[riu girl]

How I got this rate is I originally booked on-line at $54 US/nt through the comfort Inn web site. I think it is www.choicehotels.com.

Then I found a less expensive rate (40 US/nt) for the same room type/dates on www.itravel2000.com. Within 24 hours of finding this rate I filled out the e-rate guarantee form on the www.choicehotels.com and they e-mailed me back with 30 minutes saying that they will match the new rate minus 10%.

I would NEVER book anything with itravel.2000 direct again though. I once booked a package holiday with them to Mexico and they booked the totally WRONG dates. It was a nightmare. I ended up calling the tour operator as well as Mexico direct to straighten out the error. The travel agent I booked with (Louisa) wouldn't take my calls for three days and no one else in the agency (including her superivsor) would not talk to me about it since it wasn't their file. Talk about terrible customer service.

I have heard nasty things about these Toronto cut rate agencies and no longer book with them. Sun Holidays in Toronto also made a big error on a ressie to the Dominican Rep. as well and wouldn't fix it. This was back when the travel agent booked your seat selection seats. Well I paid the travel agent (Bernardo at Sun Holidays) and he gave me seat numebrs but never faxed or e-mailed (as I requested) me supporting documentation on it. Then when I checked in, it turns out he hadn't actually booked them.

What I do now when booking package holidays, I get the least expensive price from the discount agencies web sites and then ask a local agency to try to price match (or come as close as they can) and they usually can.

Let me know how you make out with the Comfort Inn. I still have my ressie with them since staying at ASMo wil cost me a ton in food money. But the rate for ASMo (55 US/nt) is good value I think though.

Riu Girl

 

[pumpkinboy]

Riu Girl, I think you will be happier on-site than off-site, so I would opine that the extra $$ per night to stay at ASMo will likely be worth it, since you will so much closer to WDW things. The frequent bus service is a Godsend, since you don't have to drive to the parks, pay for parking and still park several km away from the park gate (I'll take a bus over one of those aweful shuttle trams any day).

If you are going to have a car anyway, you will want to use that for a little grocery shopping. We like having breakfast in the room, early, before hitting the parks; and you can easily choose better breakfasts from the grocery store (cheaply too) than the ones ChisJo describes at LBV. Plus you can get some fresh fruit (which is awesome in Florida anyway) and water bottles that way too. That way the only thing you need the food court for is cold milk, coffee and perishables. You can also rent a mini fridge perhaps, and depend even less on the food court.

In sum, I would think you've made a good choice here (and did I mention that the All Stars have great pools?). The extra hassles of staying off-site in a moderately seedy hotel are just not worth the $$ "saved". This way, you will get to spend more of your vacation, actually on vacation, and not hunting for a parking spot or suffing I4 or Int'l Dr traffic. Good luck!