Where to stay... Help us find a Good Neighbor Hotel, please!

[Stinasmom]

So, we are not Newbies, but we don't travel to DL/DCA all that often as we also vacation to Cabo, Hawaii, WDW, and DCL...

But this next trip is 6/21-6/25/2016. We are going as our son will be there with his high school band, -- we are going to have him join us and travel back two days later than the band.

Grandparents are involved here... GM and GP are "young" at heart and completely physically able. They will get their own room, but hopefully at the same hotel we find.

Last time we went as a family (just parents + 2 teen kids) we returned with bed bugs!! It's been long enough that I will admit that it was from the Best Western Park Place... just at the entrance to the park.

My Daughter, who battled these bugs in her bedroom when we returned, will not stay there again despite the close walk and convenience.

The band is staying at the Clarion... so we would not want to be there as we are NOT chaperones.

We are looking to pay $150-$180/night max.

We don't have any young children with us (19 year old daughter, 15 year old son in the band).... so would love to AVOID child centric waterparks, characters, and pools.

We are willing to take ART if not in walking distance.

Any suggestions??
TIA for anything... I am two states away and reliant on Kayak or Trivago which is just not that explanitory...

Marcy

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you are willing to stay further away from the parks, the rates should be lower. I don't know if all these hotels are on the GN list, but have you looked at hotels in Garden Grove (about 1 mile south of DLR on Harbor)? Try looking at the Hyatt OC, Embassy Suites Garden Grove, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn. The Hilton properties have shuttle service. I think the Hyatt does, too. I would not describe the Hyatt or Embassy Suites as particularly child centric. Closer to the parks, try the Residence Inn MainGate (on Clementine). They are clean, roomy, have great customer service. The Candy Cane Inn is clean, close (with a free, private shuttle), and has wonderful customer service, but the regular rooms may be a bit tight for you. If you have AAA or an AP, there will be a discount. Hope this helps.

 

[DisneyAndreaM]

Hyatt Regency OC on Harbour and Chapman is amazing! Really great suites at fantastic rates. Shuttle is super convenient and quick. Starbucks in the lobby, good pools, great restaurants.

 

[KalamityJane]

Try the new Homewood Suites convention center by the toy story lot. You can grab that bus. It opened yesterday the address is 2010 S Harbour.

 

[CLR4321]

Sorry to hear about the bed bugs. What a nightmare. I hope it didn't cost you too terribly much to get rid of them. I inspect any hotel rooms we get, and often don't bring suitcases into the room to avoid possibly bringing them home. We normally keep them in the bathroom area if we do bring them in and always use the luggage rack. Anyways, you might check out the Park Vue, which is right across the street from the entrance. No need to deal with parking or taking a bus. Really convenient if you need to go back to the hotel during the day.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Park Vue has also had bed bug issues (look up BlackJackDelta's review from several years ago). But really, any hotel, including the on site hotels, can have bed bugs. With all the international visitors going in and out of all the hotels in the DLR area, bed bug problems are inevitable. How a hotel deals with the problem is another issue, though. We check our room first thing, leave luggage in the bathroom (so we don't pick up any hitchhikers during room inspection), and request another if we find any hints that the room isn't clean. So far, that routine has been good for us.

 

[Chris9ty]

No reason to stick with Good Neighbor hotels- no additional perks. We stayed at Hotel Indigo on Katella- remodeled within a couple years, clean, hardwood floors, free parking, bar/restaurant on first floor, next to the Garden walk and other restaurants. I use trip advisor .com for reviews.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

DH and I are two adult Disney travelers and the Fairfield Inn is our Anaheim "home"; I think we've stayed there about seven times and always had a good experience. The hotel's location is less than 10 minutes from the gates and the rooms are clean and comfortable. It's a small thing, but I really like the bedding. Hotel's often use comforters or quilts, but the Fairfield uses a light blanket sandwiched between two sheets to keep it clean. Everything is frequently washed so it feels nicer.

The Fairfield offers rooms with adjoining doors for the convenience of traveling parties. There's a Pizza Hut Express and Seattle's Best Coffee on the 3rd floor, great if you need a real cup of coffee before going to the parks (in-room Keurig coffee doesn't cut it for me). Within a few steps of the hotel is a Mimi's Cafe, and a McDonalds, and there's a brand-new Panera Bread coming, too (employee hiring is going on right now). All of these options are right in the same parking lot or next door.

 

[ADLFAN]

We loved the Fairfield Inn, too! It's a great location within easy walking distance and we thought it was super clean, including the pool area, and the staff were very helpful and friendly. There is a pretty well stocked gift shop in the lobby, and there was always complimentary citrus water, too. We have also stayed at the Tropicana and the Best Western Park Place Inn and definitely felt they were a bit less impressive. I love the hotels within walking distance because it's so easy to get back at the end of the night, or in the heat of the day for a pool break. But, the hotels across the street are not nearly as new as some of the hotels recently built for the convention crowds! Some of the options in the previous posts sound awesome and may tempt me to stay further away...!

 

[palenskec]

Last trip we scored a great deal at the Anabella ($130 per night) and enjoyed our stay and the short walk Via the Grand Californian to the parks. I have seen the prices much higher though for this hotel and would not pay more than what we paid. It had this small extra room with a twin bed for our daughter, which was great because we all slept better.

 

[luulu1999]

we stayed at Park Vue Inn last summer and loved it had no problems at all, def would have stayed there again but i got a awesome rate at the new homewood suites

 

[luulu1999]

Park Vue has also had bed bug issues (look up BlackJackDelta's review from several years ago). But really, any hotel, including the on site hotels, can have bed bugs. With all the international visitors going in and out of all the hotels in the DLR area, bed bug problems are inevitable. How a hotel deals with the problem is another issue, though. We check our room first thing, leave luggage in the bathroom (so we don't pick up any hitchhikers during room inspection), and request another if we find any hints that the room isn't clean. So far, that routine has been good for us.

that was many years ago at Park Vue there is nothing recent

 

[BadPinkTink]

I stay at Motel 6 Main Gate, stayed there June 2014 and 2015 and will book there again for 2016. Its the first drop off / last pick up on the ART. I usually pay under $100

 

[Stinasmom]

Thanks for all the great responses!
There is so much to choose from, I just needed to narrow it down a bit.
I will check into some of your suggestions!

Marcy

 

[theluckyrabbit]

that was many years ago at Park Vue there is nothing recent

Just pointing out that almost all hotels in the DLR area have had bed bugs at some point or other. If bed bugs are going to be a deal breaker, then that won't leave many hotel options to choose from. Recent or ongoing problems are more indicative of trouble. Also, the problem with the older PVI review was about how the hotel management chose not to deal with the problem. If the current management has changed their attitude and policy toward guests, that is good news.

 

[Ofred]

Staybridge suites is just awesome every room is a suite. Full breakfast buffet and lots of extras

 

[pennym]

HoJo. Bedbug problems rarely an issue and dealt with promptly and efficiently. Huge rooms, comfy bags, masses of luggage storage, great service. An 8 minute walk or so from the Disneyland gates. Or Candy Cane Inn, rooms much smaller but has free breakfast and shuttle. Both probably in the 180 range though.

 

[Stinasmom]

OP here - I think we may stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites - Garden Grove since we have the points to get one night free, and the other 3 nights are $169 + taxes....
I gather this property may be in need of some updates, but to save a few hundred dollars, I think we're ok with it.

Love the discussion though! Wish I could spend more!

M

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Hey, free nights are nothing to sneeze at! And you'll get more points for the other nights. Win win!

 

[ZoZo]

I've had good luck with Candy Cane Inn; just went last month. It's clean, beds are comfy, nice continenta breakfast, no charge fo parking, short walk to the parks. I've been there three times and was very pleased each time.