Hotel - Motel - I Tell (Hotels in Orlando in general)

Member Name: momm

Product:	Hotels in Orlando in general
Date:	04/01/01 (397 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some help

Disadvantages: Not a lot

I don't think it really matters where you stay in Orlando as far as service and quality goes. The Americans expect a certain standard and they get it. This is a part of the world where the words 'the customer counts', really means something.

The rooms will easily accommodate up to 4 people. We stayed in the Comfort Suites on Turkey Lake Road (it was classed as International Drive area), and the room had 2 double beds and a double sofa bed. We've also stayed in the Howard Johnson in Maingate West, Kissimmee and this too had 2 double beds and plenty of room for 4.

Talking with friends, they've all said the same. The rooms have at least 2 double beds and easily accommodate up to 4. Some of the hotels are classier than others but their tarrif is higher too. Let's face it for the amount of time you spend in your room, you might just as well go for something comfortable but basic. The Americans basic is much more than we would expect to find anyway.

Comfort Suites (a motel type accommodation).

The rooms were located on three floors, in a square shape, around the central swimming pool. This motel offered bed/breakfast accommodation. Breakfast was buffet style and served in the lobby. We all put on weight staying in this hotel, simply because of the breakfasts (well not just the breakfasts, the all you can eat buffets at the other restaurants in Orlando didn't go unnoticed either). But the breakfasts were irresistible. Each morning 4 types of delicious doughnuts were offered, chocolate, blueberry and maple muffins (the cake/bun type), English muffins, cereals, fresh fruit, tinned fruit, all kinds of bread for toasting and an array of jams. Fresh juice of every description, milk, tea and coffee. Each morning we all said,'Right we're only having cereal or toast', then those doughnuts would be staring up at you as you reached for the scoop to get your cereal. 'Well, I'll just have
one chocolate one', you would say. Then what would be sitting there looking so irresistible - the blueberry muffins. It was pure torture I tell you. Some mornings we were really good and ate very little. Oh! well the truth will out. On these occasions, my husband and I would go into the lobby and get breakfast to eat outside around the pool. Well you can only carry so much can't you and we would collect breakfast for the 4 of us. Sitting in the Florida sunshine, under the palms, eating those doughnuts and muffins and that delicious Columbian coffee. I'm putting weight on just thinking about it.

Tea and coffee was available free of charge 24hours a day in the Lobby and of course you could take it back to your room.

Our room, as I've already said, had 2 double beds and a double sofa bed. Table and chairs, tv, fridge, microwave and safe. Rooms were meticulously cleaned each day. Fresh glasses, loads of towels and anything else you had used was replaced. The usual shampoos, shower gel, shower cap, soaps, sewing kits were provided and a notice stating if you had forgotten anything, just ask and reception would get it for you.

There was at least one laundry on each floor together with free ice machines for the ice bucket in your room. (The Americans fill up their cool boxes from the ice machines, to take to the parks).

This hotel is a Universal Studios neighbour hotel, which means they provide a bus to take you to Universal and in the lobby there is a separate desk where you can buy tickets for the Studios. You can get the tickets cheaper if you shop around but if you don't want the hassle, this is a convenient extra.

The pool area offered the usual bar and grill, children's paddling pool, main pool and jacuzzi. A never ending supply of fresh white towels were available for use in this area, which you simply put in the large laundry container before leaving. There was a shop in the hotel to
o.

This hotel was comfortable and although Turkey Lake Road runs parallel to the very busy, Interstate 4, we never heard any traffic noise. One criticism is that it was a bit out of the way. Do not be mislead into thinking it is part of the International Drive area because it is actually across the I 4 to International Drive, which I have already said is extremely busy. The nearest supermarket was quite some distance away across another extremely busy road, Salt Lake Road,(4 lanes of traffic each side). Each day we had to travel along the I 4 in order to go anywhere. This was a bit of a nightmare for my husband and I know spoilt the holiday a bit for him.

Howard Johnson (motel)

This comprises 2 motels (originally Best Western and Howard Johnson) on two floors. There are 3 swimming pools, gym, basket ball courts, jacuzzi, Tikki bar and grill, restaurant, bar, laundry, shop and small games room. Chinese restaurant in the grounds (very nice too). Pizza Hut opposite, over 192 West, McDonalds almost next door and various small shops, bars and eating places near by. Garage both sides of 192.

Same type of accommodation, as standard in these motels, 2 double beds, table, chairs, tv but no fridge, microwave or sofa bed. We've stayed here twice. The first time was in part of the original Howard Johnson and we were very happy there. Second visit we were accommodated in what was the Best Western part. These rooms were smaller and rather grubby compared to our first visit. Second time we were situated around one of the pools. Although there was supposed to be an 11 o'clock curfew for the pool, young American students used it until the early hours of the morning and some partied rather loudly in their rooms, with open doors leading on to the shared walkways. It was probably the wrong time of year to visit (June) as there were a lot of young students staying, but hey! such is life.

All the usual extras, ice machi
nes, loads of towels, laundry on each block. Restaurant serving buffet breakfast $6, offering excellent choice of what you come to expect in America. Wonderfully fresh fruit, water melon (different types), pineapple, strawberries, deliciously juicy oranges etc. All kinds and colours of cereal. The usual scrambled eggs, crunchy, smoked, streaky bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms and those doughnuts and muffins again. All kinds of fresh juice, milk and an endless supply of tea or coffe. Good value for money but Ponderosa does as much and more for $3.99. Video hire in lobby. Theme park tickets available for sale. Hotel transport to Disney parks. As always with these places, ample parking.

The 192 West is a much quieter road than I4 so my husband did not dread the daily journey to theme parks or shopping malls. Shops and restaurants close by and a very nice supermarket, Publix is not too far away. Travelling to Disney or wherever each day, we were on the right side of the road to join traffic and to get into Disney. No need to have to cross over busy traffic lanes.

I must be honest though. We much preferred this motel the first time we stayed, 4 years ago in the month of February to our most recent visit. Then the area was not as built up as it is now and the whole place was much quieter and cleaner.

Personally I wouldn't recommend the hotels on the top end of International Drive. There's too much traffic and it is much further from Disney however you are closer to the Malls, Universal and Sea World. But let's face it in Orlando it doesn't matter where you stay, you'll still have a lot of driving to do. Everything really is big over there including the distance between places.

Summary: