Wilson, NC & Florence, SC info wanted

[mudman]

Hi,
Anyone have experience with these areas? We are traveling to WDW from MA and have considered our overnight stop at either of these two locations at the Holiday Inn Express' depending on how far south we get.
Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Michelle

 

[mudman]

Bump
?anyone know???

 

[Bill From PA]

Personally I'd trust the Holiday Inn name pretty much wherever, although I do have some limited experience in this neck of the woods. We've been vacationing in Myrtle Beach for over 10 years now and this is where we take a hard left off I95 and head for the coast. We actually stayed in Pedro's South Of the Border once, every bit a tacky as it looks, but we got a big, clean room that accepted dogs for cheap, so take that for what it's worth. There's also a cluster of name brand motels at Lumberton NC. I think we used the Day's Inn there once. Nice enough for the price. The Florence and Wilson areas are cities but it gets rural real fast. Lumberton, I think, is larger than either. I don't know that I'd care to live in any of them, no offense intended, I don't know anything bad about them, but what's the diff, you're only flopping for the night on your way to a Better Place, right? Hopefully, someone more informed than me will chime in here.

Bill From PA

 

[dvcfamily41801]

We are driving to Hilton Head in 2 weeks and we are going to stop in Florence, SC and stay at a Holiday Inn Express. On the way home from WDW a few years agao, we stayed in Wilson, NC and the Hampton Inn we picked ended up being about 15 miles off 95, so I would check that out as well.

When we drove to Hilton Head a few years ago, we stopped in Lumberton and stayed at a Fairfield Inn and it was just fine. We had about 4 hours the next day.

 

[MarylandFamily]

Hey, I grew up 32 miles from Florence and 17 miles from Lumberton. Florence is bigger and has a lot more choices. The better hotels off of a interstate are off of I-20 near the mall. I think there is a Courthouse by Marriott and a Fairfield Inn by Marriott in that location. That exit is less than a mile off of I-95. You're drive through Florence heading I-95 south. Then you'll see signs for I-20 towards Columbia.

Lumberton is rural while Florence has a bigger town feel to it. Florence has several high schools and a small University (Francis Marion University). Whereas most towns in the area only have one high school. Rooms in the area can be low in price but remember that you get what you pay for.

I don't know much about Wilson.

 

[Robert P]

IMHO:

Florence would be the much better choice.
I live in NC, and while I mean no offense to anyone anywhere, I have been to Wilson before, and would not go back even if someone else paid for it.
Stick with the Florence, SC option if at all possible.

 

[SomePixiedust]

We've stayed in both areas on different occasions. In Wilson we stayed in a Comfort Inn, clean and safe (I remember this one better as it was more recent). Don't remember where we stayed in Florence but odds are it was a Hampton Inn (ok--or a Comfort Inn ), as that is what we usually look for. I don't recall anything bad about either area....if I did I would have made a note not to stop there again.
We always stop in places within a mile off I95 with several choices for a quick bite, gas and a clean place with a comfortable bed (safe area as well). It's usually only a 10-11 hour stopover so we're not looking for much else. Most of those hotels offer free continental breakfast which helps the morning process as we like to get moving!

 

[mudman]

Thanks for your opinions. Keep 'em coming.
Michelle