Universal area hotels ?

[DNSDisney]

Hi
I need some opinions on universal area hotels. Which are nice, clean and on the cheaper side (around 60. a night).
Any opinions out there?

Thanks
Sharon

 

[spiceycat]

you would probably be save using priceline

however be warned - that part of International Blvd is very,very, very busy - so traffic can be a problem.

WingateInn/Universal Studios
Hampton Inn at Universal Studios
Ampak Universal Inn
Fairfield Inn and SUites at Universal Studios Orlando
Best Western Universal Inn
Sleep Inn and Suities
Suburban Lodge
Red Roof Inn Universal Studios
Radisson Hotel Orlando at the entrance to US O
Day Inn Maingate to Universal
Holiday Inn and SUites at Universal
Amerisuites universal
Travellodge International Drive
Fairfield Orlando International Resort Club
Red Horse Inn
Sheraton Studio City Hotel
Best Western Movieland
Ramada Inn at International drive
Holiday Inn Express International drive


but the best and of course most expensive are the Universal's hotels
Royal Pacific, Hard ROck Hotel, Portorfino Bay hotel

remember that once you park you car at the US/IOA parking lot you still have a long walk (1/2 mile) to the theme parks.

there onsite hotels are much, much closer.

 

[DNSDisney]

Personally I don't like the idea of priceline because they don't let you know which hotel you are getting until after they have your money. That is just too risky for me LOL
You listed so many different hotels, have you stayed at any of these ? Are they clean etc. ?

thanks
Sharon

 

[spiceycat]

those are the ones listed by AAA as being near US/IOA

I guess I should have listed the stars too sorry


WingateInn/Universal Studios *** $79 - $129
Hampton Inn at Universal Studios *** $59 $109
Ampak Universal Inn *** $49 - $99
Fairfield Inn and SUites at Universal Studios Orlando *** $69 - $99
Best Western Universal Inn *** $49 $79
Sleep Inn and Suities ** $59 $109
Suburban Lodge ** $53
Red Roof Inn Universal Studios *** $49 - $89
Radisson Hotel Orlando at the entrance to US O *** $169 $209
Day Inn Maingate to Universal ** $38 -$99
Holiday Inn and SUites at Universal *** $99 - $159
Amerisuites universal *** $89 - $129
Travellodge International Drive ** $59 - $79
Fairfield Orlando International Resort Club ** $100-$165
Red Horse Inn ** $49 - $89
Sheraton Studio City Hotel *** $69 $119
Best Western Movieland *** $49 - $120
Ramada Inn at International drive *** $62 - $89
Holiday Inn Express International drive *** $79 $129

I would think any of the *** would be fine.

for better rates
http://www.hotelskingdom.com

alot of people here use this board and have no complaints

you can also go through the travel agency here - they live dreams unlimited -you can get to them through using the
home site of this board
www.wdwinfo.com

boy I am not thinking you can also click on the advertisement across the top - I am pretty sure that is Dreams unlimited.

the one I stayed at Wynham was further away than any of these - the traffic on IB was horrible - so won't stay there again - I used priceline for it - asked for anything on IB - so it was my mistake not Priceline.

 

[kellymonaghan]

I'd recommend choosing one of the hotels on Major Blvd. They're on the same side of the Interstate as the parks.

They include:

Fairfield Inn and SUites at Universal Studios Orlando *** $69 - $99
Best Western Universal Inn *** $49 $79
Sleep Inn and Suities ** $59 $109
Suburban Lodge ** $53
Red Roof Inn Universal Studios *** $49 - $89
Radisson Hotel Orlando at the entrance to US O *** $169 $209
Day Inn Maingate to Universal ** $38 -$99
Holiday Inn and SUites at Universal *** $99 - $159
Amerisuites universal *** $89 - $129

 

[Figment22]

Of the hotels nearest to Universal, we have stayed at the Amerisuites and the Fairfield Inn. These are right across Kirkman in the Major Boulevard area. I found the Amerisuites to be on the tired side, could use some spiffing up. I think I paid around $90 per night there. I would definitely recommend the Fairfield Inn. I believe it was built in late 2001/early 2002 and was very well maintained. The rooms were nice and clean, complimentary breakfast was good. The pool is small but the kids thought it was fine. I think we paid $54.00 through Hotel Kingdom.

 

[No11's Mom]

We have reservations at the Holiday Inn & Suites Universal for 5/30 (Memorial Day Weekend). Originally we had a 1 bedroom suite with two dbl beds and fold out sofa for $69 (Entertainment Rate). We changed it to a two bedroom suite w/4 dbl beds and fold out sofa for $85 (Entertainment Rate). We are driving straight through from Houston, so we will be getting in late, and be pretty tired, so we decide we would get the larger suite so we would each have our own bed. (There are 5 of us.) I made the reservations on HI's website. They list their entertainment rates on the site. We've never stayed at that HI before, but I've seen it and it is right at the USO entrance. Supposedly it was recently remodeled, so it should be ok.

We are getting up the next morning and moving over to the Hard Rock. If we were going during a slow time and didn't need the front of the line privledges that on-site guests get, I would definitely consider staying here for the convenience of the location and the price.

Good luck with finding a hotel...I'm sure you'll have a great time in Orlando.

 

[Robinrs]

In the past few years I've stayed at the

Radisson Universal (great),
the Hampton Inn Universal (nice)
The Holiday Inn Universal (1 bedroom, GREAT)
The Holiday Inn I-Drive (ugh)
The Red Roof Inn Universal (fine)
The Suburban Lodge/Universal(nice)
The Wellesley Inn and Suites. (very nice)
The Wyndham I-Drive (nice)
The Summerfield Suites (excellent)

and of course, the Royal Pacific, the Hard Rock and the Portofino, all INCREDIBLE with the Royal Pacific leading the pack.

 

[stal]

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Universal for $50 a night. Booked through Holiday Inns website. At check Inn they upgraded us to a suite for free. It is right across the street from Universal and we walked there and back when ever we went.

 

[ehbis]

I booked my mother in law and her friends in the Comfort Suites on Major Blvd for $59/night through HotelKingdom. She liked it and thought the breakfast was quite nice.

 

[DisneyMom5]

We just stayed at Sleep Inn & Suites in a suite room. It was $89 w/ a group discount, but regular rooms are less. I bet there are better bargains to be had.
The suite had to beds and one pull out bed, a microwave and a larger college size fridge. The was only a shower, not a tub, which bugged me.
It is right near Universal (RIGHT near it) on Major blvd. and has shuttle service (we only stayed our arrival and departure night and did not go to Univ., so did not use the shuttle).
There is also a very nice free breakfast. The breakfast room is decorated in Univ. characters.
There is a ticket buying type desk in the lobby.
Outside pool, inside game room.
The tvs have the Disney top 7 channel, which was exciting to us as that is where we were headed.
It was EASY to get to from I-4, and consequently easy to get to WDW from it.
We said we would definately stay there again, maybe with connecting regular rooms next time, so we could have 2 bathrooms.