Surrounding Hotels at Universal?

[msr709]

Now with the rates so high and no discount rates in sight, can anyone tell me if they have stayed at any of the following hotels and if they have not, do you have any suggestions as to decent hotel very nearby? I've always stayed onsite but we really can't afford the new rates. We're looking for either standard room or suite (we are 5 that can split up 3 and 2) 3 Adults and 2 children under 9. We will have a car.

I've seen the following hotels on one of the discount for less than $115 per night for the suites and under $90 for standard rooms:

Holiday Inn & Suites Universal (5905 Kirkman) claims to be near entrance
Comfort Suites Near Univ. (5617 Major Blvd) also near entrance
Holiday Inn Express (6323 Int'l. Dr) Near entrance
Doubletree Universal (5780 Major Blvd) @ entrance
Embassy Suites Int'l Dr. So. (1 mile away)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[crzykid]

I would not stay at the holiday inn on kirkman road. The rooms are in a real need to be redone. The smell of the hallways and the smell of the rooms are just very musty. And as for it being at the entrance to universal not the case you have to cross busy kirkman road. Stayed there 20 mins and moved to the Radisson on international drive. Nice tower room with fride and micro. As we were leaving the holiday inn heard many people complaining that the busses were not stopping because they were too crowded.

 

[robvia]

The newest hotel nearby is the Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Homewood Suites. They are next to each other and 5 minutes from the park. I've stayed at the Garden Inn twice and think it's great. Room rates are about $94 a night plus tax. The Homewood Suites will cost more, but you'll have a bigger room. Check out my web page talking about it.
http://www.nogodforme.com/hiltongardeninn.htm
And the other offsite hotels can be found here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/offsite.htm
I'm staying at the Amerisuites for 1 night on March 5th because I can literally walk from the hotel to the park while the wife and kid go to Dixie Stampede.
The Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood suites is about 5 minutes to the south of the park, you'd need a car to go back and forth. If you want to walk, you'll have to check out the hotels across from the parking garage.

 

[Not2L8]

We always take our "night before checking in on-site" at Homewood Suites. It's clean and the suites are roomy. We use Hilton Honors points to get the room for free, but I think the price is reasonable for all you get. The breakfast is excellent.

 

[msr709]

Thank you all. I've made the reservation at Homewood Suites since we will have a car and it looks roomier. There will be 3 adults and 2 small ones in our group so this will be great . But I am hoping that RPR comes out with some good rates, I love staying onsite.

 

[dsarah]

What about the Hampton Inn Universal - has anyone stayed there?? It claims to be 1/2 mile from the parks -- is it within walking distance? How does it compare with the Holiday Inn as far as distance from the parks and quality?

I notice it has shuttle service -- does anyone have experience with that. I'm wondering if the shuttle goes back and forth all day long, or just a couple of times a day.

Thanks!

 

[ColUK]

Hampton Inn is about another 1/2 mile from the parks than the Holiday Inn and the Doubletree. I think they measure from the hotel to the universal land which is about half a mile but to get into the park you are probably 1.5 miles to get to either Universal or IOA. The same shuttle does the Hampton, Holiday Inn and Doubletree. I have stayed at the Doubletree about 9 times now (previously Radisson) and think the location is great and always walk to Universal. They are currently refurbishing the North tower and if you get a new room they are great.

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

www.priorityclub.com you can get an entertainment rate of 54.50 per night. very nice , very clean. great area.
8214 Universal blvd. just south of sandlake

 

[15MinutesFromWDW]

PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM MAJOR BLVD. IN THE OFF-SEASON!!!!

I live fairly close to that area, and can tell you that the little loop of Major/Caravan has turned into a frightening area!! Every single time I drive past Major on Vineland at night (a nice shortcut to Millenia), there are police cars with the lights on in at least one hotel parking lot (At least three times I've seen DOZENS of police cars there)! Even the folks at the Wendy's right there will tell you that it's not a safe area anymore. (Which is a shame, since those are nice, affordable, fairly new hotels.)

For Universal, you're better off on I-Drive, or Universal down near Mercado.

 

[msr709]

PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM MAJOR BLVD. IN THE OFF-SEASON!!!!

I live fairly close to that area, and can tell you that the little loop of Major/Caravan has turned into a frightening area!! Every single time I drive past Major on Vineland at night (a nice shortcut to Millenia), there are police cars with the lights on in at least one hotel parking lot (At least three times I've seen DOZENS of police cars there)! Even the folks at the Wendy's right there will tell you that it's not a safe area anymore. (Which is a shame, since those are nice, affordable, fairly new hotels.)

For Universal, you're better off on I-Drive, or Universal down near Mercado.

Would the Hilton Homewood Suites be in one of the safer areas? Not at all familiar with the area since I've always stayed onsite before. I don't know what you mean by "Universal down near Mercado" The Homewood address is 6624 Hospitallity Way. TIA

 

[15MinutesFromWDW]

As long as the address doesn't say Major or Caravan, you should be perfectly fine.

Down by Mercado is the area on Universal Blvd. that's between the more touristy area, and the convention center. It's amazingly quiet there, but you're still walking distance to I-Drive.

 

[msr709]

Thanks 15min for your quick reply, I'm printing this to remind myself. The people on these boards are the GREATEST!

 

[luvsvacations]

I have a reservation at the Amerisuites Universal the night before we arrive in March which is on Caravan. I guess I really dont understand why there would be more problems during "off season" than during the season. Might we encounter any kinds of problems??

 

[hannahouse]

Has anyone considered priceline? This is a good resource if you've never done Priceline-
http://p070.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

It's usually all we ever do, but we're splurging on FOTL this year. (We are staying at Marriott World Center for $76 for 4 nights before Universal through Priceline) I've never had a bad experience - just watch your star levels.

 

[jims123]

I agree about priceline. It is great as long as you can live with the restrictions. We have stayed on-site the past 7 or 8 times since FOTL is so nice, but the rates are high this year. I used priceline probably 10 times in the disney area and always had a nice hotel. Just stay with the 4 star or resort. I am going to the new Gaylord resort in March at $86 a night. The best I could do at Universal was $250 a night. I just can't justify that much more. Before FOTL I stayed at the Sharaton Studio City by Universal for about $50 a night twice. I think you can still get it for about that. The big deal with priceline is you don't know exactly what you are getting. But if you bid resort level, there are only a few different hotels that ever come up. So you know you get one of those few hotels and you get it for LESS then half the regular rate ($100 is the most I have paid, and as low as $600