Talk to me about the cheap hotels

[kmacht]

For the last 8 family vacations to Disney we have always booked a condo at Windsor hills. This time our trip will be a little different. It will be just my wife and I for 3 days at the very end of April and we will be doing Universal instead of Disney for the first time. We will be spending very little time in the hotel, won't have kids with us, and are really only interested in a place to sleep. An included continental breakfast would be a bonus. We will have a rental car so I don't mind a little bit of a drive to get to or from the park. Traveling up and down 192 in the past I have seen lots of small hotels advertising rates under $50 a night. Are any of these places any good? Anywhere to specifically avoid? Windsor Hills is $129 a night including all taxes and fees so that is the number to beat. Who here has stayed at a cheap offsite hotel and what did you like/dislike about it?

Keith

 

[BigredNole]

As I always say, if I go to US/IoA I stay onsite at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, or Portofino Bay. The advantage of their "front of line" pass is worth staying at their resort.

 

[mjhtvchick]

I have no personal experience with these hotels but these two have pretty decent reviews on TripAdvisor which is my "go to" site:

Red Roof Inn Orlando South - Florida Mall
Rosen Inn, 6327 International Drive

I have stayed at the COMFORT SUITES ORLANDO AIRPORT, 1936 McCoy Road for one night in 2015. It was pretty decent and I would stay here again for a short visit.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

If you are only going to Universal, I would not stay on 192. I'd go closer to Universal.

 

[kokomos]

I would check Hotwire.com for 3* properties in universal area.

 

[scrapquitler]

For the last 8 family vacations to Disney we have always booked a condo at Windsor hills. This time our trip will be a little different. It will be just my wife and I for 3 days at the very end of April and we will be doing Universal instead of Disney for the first time. We will be spending very little time in the hotel, won't have kids with us, and are really only interested in a place to sleep. An included continental breakfast would be a bonus. We will have a rental car so I don't mind a little bit of a drive to get to or from the park. Traveling up and down 192 in the past I have seen lots of small hotels advertising rates under $50 a night. Are any of these places any good? Anywhere to specifically avoid? Windsor Hills is $129 a night including all taxes and fees so that is the number to beat. Who here has stayed at a cheap offsite hotel and what did you like/dislike about it?

Keith

I don't know if it will fit your price criteria, but I think that's about the price we paid....check out Cabana Bay at Universal. We loved it. You don't get front of the line, but you do get the early entry. The theming is super fun.

 

[Woodview]

Check out the 3 or 4 hotel / motels at the junction of I-4 & Hwy 27

All are good , safe , & clean ..... A few eating places within a few min drive .

Just return onto I-4 & head for Universal ( A 15 min + drive )

The Omni Hotel is about 2 miles further up ( North ) on Hwy 27 near Champions Gate

 

[momto4obkids]

If you have AAA the Drury Inn is 121.00 plus tax per night. If not I think it's 134.00. Not as cheap as you are looking for but it is a really good value. You get free hot breakfast, the 5:30 Kickback that has free drinks and food and free popcorn and drinks in the evening from 5-10.

We haven't stayed here yet, but next time we go for a just Universal trip we will be staying here for a few nights.

https://www.druryhotels.com/locations/orlando-fl/drury-inn-and-suites-orlando?view=p

 

[Penguinempress]

If you have AAA the Drury Inn is 121.00 plus tax per night. If not I think it's 134.00. Not as cheap as you are looking for but it is a really good value. You get free hot breakfast, the 5:30 Kickback that has free drinks and food and free popcorn and drinks in the evening from 5-10.

We haven't stayed here yet, but next time we go for a just Universal trip we will be staying here for a few nights.

https://www.druryhotels.com/locations/orlando-fl/drury-inn-and-suites-orlando?view=p

I second this suggestion - I love the Drury! I've stayed there on my past two trips and am going back again next month. With all the freebies, it's a great value and the included breakfast is good (lots of different options and staff really keep things clean and well stocked). It's really close to Universal and it's also walking distance to tons of restaurants on International Drive.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I'd stay at Cabana Bay.

 

[Bete]

The LaQuinta close to Universal is okay. It wil be more that $50/night, but you are very close. I won't say you can walk, but it's close. It has breakfast included.

 

[faeriesxist83]

There are windsor hills condos (2bdrm) for 60-75 per night. And you'll get a full kitchen.

 

[danielocha30]

go to priceline and bid on their hotels or express deals, and what do you consider cheap? I've seen $21 at night that are scary and also seen $100 + and some still considered as cheap

 

[DanInMN]

Check out the 3 or 4 hotel / motels at the junction of I-4 & Hwy 27

All are good , safe , & clean ..... A few eating places within a few min drive .

Just return onto I-4 & head for Universal ( A 15 min + drive )

We stayed at the Ramada Davenport Orlando South once, and it was nasty. We were there because our return flight was cancelled, and there was no room where we were staying.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Am I the only that does not trust tripadvisor?

 

[Alicefan]

I usually get the Rosen Centre for about $99 on Hotwire and it's a very nice convention center hotel. Feels like an airport.

 

[Sabathamk]

I wish I remembered the name of the place we stayed. It was 6 years ago, though, so can't say what it would be like now. It ended up, after fees and everything, to be $60/night and as far as hotels go, it was good. My standards aren't terribly high, though, haha. I just want it clean, and it had a good continental breakfast (not much hot foods to speak of now that I think of it, but I didn't care as I got something). The pool wasn't great, but we just wanted a place to sleep. It was in the Kissimmee area. So, yeah. I was surprised at how nice it was for the rate as you cannot find anything at that rate up here. Cheapest we've found is $70/night which can be hit or miss. Now, however, we can't find anything around home for less than $110/night (Canada. Even North Dakota the prices for hotels have gone up to where I just don't want to bother as the hotel value has gone down in a lot of places).

 

[Woodview]

Am I the only that does not trust tripadvisor?

Never Trust Take the reviews with a " Pinch of Salt" You cannot really believe that every Review is Accurate.

Go with your " Gut " feeling .. & if the place seems O.K. for you .. then go for it

 

[The Hunchback]

We liked the Ramada Inn Maingate. Very basic but clean enough to sleep in. It has been years since we stayed but I do not recall breakfast.

 

[Ambehnke]

We stayed at the Ramada inn main gate this past summer. Super basic, cheap, no breakfast but it met our needs for a last minute trip. We didn't spend much time there other than sleeping but they accommodated quickly when we needed extra towels, coffee, etc.