We have stayed there on two separate occasions when we went to Universal. The hotel itself is nice, and looks very pretty at night because of its shape, and the lighting that changes colors around it. Had breakfast at the hotel also, buffet style, which was not bad. I agree you would want a rental car for the I-Drive area. I wouldn't want to rely on hotel shuttles, and would never use the public bus transportation (but that is just me). I-Drive is a wealth of interesting things to see and do, although some of it is very tourist trappy.