WARNING comfort inn lbv

[buzz2400]

I just want to put a warning out. We had reservations here on 10/4/08 for one night. Got a good rate on travelzoo. I called two days before arriving to confirm reservation. I arrived on 10/4/08 around 7 p.m. I was told they did not have a room for me, that I would have to go to their sister hotel, quality inn on international drive. Even though I said this was not acceptable, I had no alternative. They were still checking people in while I was waiting for directions to their sister hotel. Also around 11 p.m. while driving on I-4, saw their sign and said rooms were available. So I just want to warn people that if you make reservations here, they might not honor them. We only had a few hours in that area that night and we ended up not being able to do most of the things because of this.

 

[mousey]

That's terrible. I would notify travelzoo what they pulled on you because they are always advertising on that site.

 

[DOOM1001]

Wow I'm amazed if that's the Comfort Inn on Palm parkway,I stayed there early this month for the first time and that's a HUGE hotel I can't believe they didn't have any rooms.Actually I was looking at your dates,I think I checked out the day before you were to check in and at least from what I saw the hotel didn't look that full,plenty of spaces to park,half full breakfast etc..

 

[kty]

Unfortunately, many hotels do that!!! We were booked at the marriot marquis in atlanta two years ago and the same thing happened to us!! we arrived at 11 p.m with a 4,6,10 yo and were told the same thing. I was livid, we spoke to managers, etc. but still had to be transported to a sister hotel... we were comped the room, then instead of going back to the marriot, we called the westin, explained our situation, and got two connecting rooms for the price of one

It stinks doesnt it?

 

[Purseval]

We only had a few hours in that area that night and we ended up not being able to do most of the things because of this.

International Drive is only 5 minutes from LBV, even if it was at the far end up by Universal Studios that would be less than 15 minutes. You must have spent a LOT of time arguing with the desk clerk to have it ruin your evening.

 

[buzz2400]

International Drive is only 5 minutes from LBV, even if it was at the far end up by Universal Studios that would be less than 15 minutes. You must have spent a LOT of time arguing with the desk clerk to have it ruin your evening.

I was there for a while, waiting first for the manager and then for the lady to get me directions to the hotel. She routed me on back roads and then the directions she gave us were wrong. We had to back track and finally we found the hotel. After all of this I looked on the map and she really took me out of the way. I don't know why she didn't just put me back on I-4 which is right there. Anyway, after I got on International Drive, we were in bumper to bumper traffic which took even longer to get to the hotel. Then the guy at the hotel gave us wrong directions to Universal so we had to back track again. Let me tell you, that night I almost broke into tears for wasting about 2 1/2 hours.

 

[Stephaniecmc]

We were there for one night, October 11, 2008 and we had no problems. They were nothing but nice to us. I'm sorry that you had a bad experience. I couldn't beat the price or the location!

 

[sandym718]

This hotel obviously has a problem with overselling!!!! We stayed there just 1 night in April 2007, before checking in on-site. My confirmation was clearly for a room with 2 double beds, it was me, DH, DS who was 4 and DD who was 2, almost 3. This was a Grad Night for Disney. We arrived about 7 PM after a 19 hour drive and we were given a handicap-accessible room with only 1 twin bed and 1 double - for 4 people!! Lines were huge in the lobby, utter chaos, desk staff and manager not very helpful. No other rooms available, no cots. Clearly Oversold. We were exhausted, and luckily the kids were small, so we just dealt with it. Kids shared the twin with the 2 bed rails we had brought from home. The bathroom was also configured differently (to be accessible). The toilet was too high for DS to use without help (ie. he wasn't tall enough to stand in front of it, we had to lift him). DD needed help too, but I think she did pretty much everywhere at that point. I ended up emailing when we got home and our entire cost was refunded.

 

[deej696]

I'm sorry to tell you that overbooking is quite common in the hotel business. I spent several years in hotel management in Orlando, and "walking" a guest as its called was my least favorite part of the job. Luckily it didnt happen often. I will pass along one tip. You mentioned you got "deal on travelzoo." When we were overbooked and it became necessary to walk guests, the first ones to go were the people who booked discounted rates through Priceline, etc. Not sure if this played a role here, but when it comes down to dollars and cents, the guy who's paying more is less likely to be walked. Certainly not saying its your fault for booking a discounted rate, cause I would have done the same but its likely this was part of the reason you were chosen, while others were being checked in.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I'm sorry to tell you that overbooking is quite common in the hotel business. I spent several years in hotel management in Orlando, and "walking" a guest as its called was my least favorite part of the job. Luckily it didnt happen often. I will pass along one tip. You mentioned you got "deal on travelzoo." When we were overbooked and it became necessary to walk guests, the first ones to go were the people who booked discounted rates through Priceline, etc. Not sure if this played a role here, but when it comes down to dollars and cents, the guy who's paying more is less likely to be walked. Certainly not saying its your fault for booking a discounted rate, cause I would have done the same but its likely this was part of the reason you were chosen, while others were being checked in.

Booking thru Travel Zoo isn't like going thru Priceline. Travel Zoo is like an agent. You actually pay the hotel directly. I had a trip booked thru Travel Zoo this past weekend but had to cancel and when I did, I had to call the hotel directly (happened to be the Comfort Inn LBV too). They canceled my ressied, did not charge my credit card and gave me a cancelation number.


I have a question, if you are "walked" and you refuse, do they refund you your money so you can go some place completly different (not related to them)? I know if I were told I had to go to the one on I-Drive, I would not want to. I would rather go elsewhere and spend more money. Reason I am asking is my sister and I both have ressies at the Comfort Inn for Thanksgiving weekend. If we get booted, I would rather go to my sister's house She is only an hour from there anyway. We did it for that particular hotel (close to where we want to be & the mini fridge/microwave). We stayed there last year for Thanksgiving to save money and do our Black Friday shopping in Orlando. We did Universal as well, but mostly shopped...

 

[deej696]

Yes cancelling should be no problem if you get there and are being walked. In fact, the hotel would probably prefer it because usually they will pay for your one night at the other hotel due to the inconvenience. If you decide to cancel, then they are off the hook...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes cancelling should be no problem if you get there and are being walked. In fact, the hotel would probably prefer it because usually they will pay for your one night at the other hotel due to the inconvenience. If you decide to cancel, then they are off the hook...

Thanks! I would not mind if I were going for one night, but I would be there for 4. So for the 4, I would rather be in a place that I picked, not them. I would just assume spend more money & a different hotel or ... spend no money and stay at my sisters That is if my sister says yes to that one...

 

[CarolA]

If you READ that "rooms available" sign carefully you will notice it does not say at the Comfort Inn. The guy who owns that place has a lot of places and the "avaialble" is often for the other hotels.

Service at this place is poor, but for the price you pay..... (and if you pay more then rock bottom you overpaid!)

 

[MiaSRN62]

When we were overbooked and it became necessary to walk guests, the first ones to go were the people who booked discounted rates through Priceline, etc. Not

I know people sing the praises of Hotwire and Priceline etc and I know some have gotten some excellent deals.

I used them in 2007 and was not happy. Bid and got the Rennaisance by the airport for $70 and got the worst room. We were on the only floor that had a terrible AC leak. On our floor, the carpet was wet and they had high-powered fans all over. The whole floor stunk like mold and mildew and garbage. We got a view of the dumpsters to boot. And there were many rooms in this hotel that had just been completely remodeled. New everything. Our room was definitely not one of them. I complained to Hotwire and they comp'd us $25 Hotwire dollars to be used within one year. I will add that this hotel was rated as 3.5 stars on HW !

So this year, I bid and got the Wingate Inn by the airport (and used the $25 credit from HW). Bid on a room that stated 2 beds. Get there, room is clean at least, but we had one bed and one pull-out sofa. The people across the hall from us had 2 real beds. The pullout was so uncomfortable that my kids were tempted to just sleep on the couch sitting up with pillows. So once again, I felt jilted by the hotel because we got discounted rates.

I'm VERY hesitant to use Hotwire again. I much prefer to get what I reserved or if not, have a leg to stand on to complain. With Hotwire and discounted rates, I feel I give that all up. For some, it's no big deal. For others it impacts their trip.

Sorry to the OP. It was wrong of them to do that especially when you saw they had vacancies on the billboard ! I'd complain to Travelzoo as well.

 

[riu girl]

Booking thru Travel Zoo isn't like going thru Priceline. Travel Zoo is like an agent. You actually pay the hotel directly. I had a trip booked thru Travel Zoo this past weekend but had to cancel and when I did, I had to call the hotel directly (happened to be the Comfort Inn LBV too). They canceled my ressied, did not charge my credit card and gave me a cancelation number.


I have a question, if you are "walked" and you refuse, do they refund you your money so you can go some place completly different (not related to them)? I know if I were told I had to go to the one on I-Drive, I would not want to. I would rather go elsewhere and spend more money. Reason I am asking is my sister and I both have ressies at the Comfort Inn for Thanksgiving weekend. If we get booted, I would rather go to my sister's house She is only an hour from there anyway. We did it for that particular hotel (close to where we want to be & the mini fridge/microwave). We stayed there last year for Thanksgiving to save money and do our Black Friday shopping in Orlando. We did Universal as well, but mostly shopped...

Just wondering if you ended staying at the Comfort INN Lake Buena Vista over thanksgiving weekend? If you did, would you mind giving me a quick review? Am wondering as well if there is a particular area to request in order to see epcot fireworks? I know to request parking lot (vs. pool/I-4) view for less highway noise, but other then that not sure what to request.
Thank you

 

[CarolA]

I know people sing the praises of Hotwire and Priceline etc and I know some have gotten some excellent deals.

I used them in 2007 and was not happy. Bid and got the Rennaisance by the airport for $70 and got the worst room. We were on the only floor that had a terrible AC leak. On our floor, the carpet was wet and they had high-powered fans all over. The whole floor stunk like mold and mildew and garbage. We got a view of the dumpsters to boot. And there were many rooms in this hotel that had just been completely remodeled. New everything. Our room was definitely not one of them. I complained to Hotwire and they comp'd us $25 Hotwire dollars to be used within one year. I will add that this hotel was rated as 3.5 stars on HW !

So this year, I bid and got the Wingate Inn by the airport (and used the $25 credit from HW). Bid on a room that stated 2 beds. Get there, room is clean at least, but we had one bed and one pull-out sofa. The people across the hall from us had 2 real beds. The pullout was so uncomfortable that my kids were tempted to just sleep on the couch sitting up with pillows. So once again, I felt jilted by the hotel because we got discounted rates.

I'm VERY hesitant to use Hotwire again. I much prefer to get what I reserved or if not, have a leg to stand on to complain. With Hotwire and discounted rates, I feel I give that all up. For some, it's no big deal. For others it impacts their trip.

Sorry to the OP. It was wrong of them to do that especially when you saw they had vacancies on the billboard ! I'd complain to Travelzoo as well.

Did you walk to the front desk and complain? Or did you just suck it up.

I have gotten a bad room on PL. I went to the front desk and nicely asked for a better room. Once I got it with no issue. One time I got "MR Attitude" who told me I had a PL rate. I asked for a manager. I then nicely told the manager that I didn't MAKE him sell for that rate and that the room should be the same quality as all other rooms. Not only got moved I got upgraded to a suite with an apology and the promise that "Mr Attitude" would be counseled!

Now, I would not go complain over the view. I would not go complain over the location etc. (In the first case the AC was broken and in the second there were plumbing problems. I don't think "Mr Attitude" even knew there was anything wrong with the room when he gave it to me, he just didn't want to work. I saw him treat a full service customer rudely when I was checking in LOL!) I used PL for the Marriott at Hilton Head Island for example. I did NOT expect to get an ocean view... And I didn't LOL! My room however, was the same quality as the room I got when I stayed there on a convention rate later that summer.... (That one was upgraded to an Ocean view!)

 

[SandrA9810]

on your drive through florida, stop at a mcD's and pick up one of those travel saver books. It is first come first serve, with no ressie. But we've gotten some really good deals.
The hotel on poinciana and 192 (now a fun spot hotel or something wierd). In any case, we came up for the weekend to stay, went to the knights in on one side of the street with the coupon book for like 29 bucks a nights. Well Kari was only 20 at the time (you have to be 21 to stay in a hotel, but we usually never had a problem) kari went to pay with her credit card and the guy asked for ID, saw she was under 21 and told us we couldn't stay. It was late, we had been at the park all day, opened the book up, and the big fancy hotel right next door had rooms for 35$ a night. Checked in, paid with the credit card, and had no questions asked. I was so happy we stayed at that hotel, plus it had a lake view.

I'm not one to travel during the busy time. So i rely on that book for good deals. And you can always call to see if there is anything available once you get closer to it.