To change or not to change

[Cath38]

Hi
we are booked to stay at the now I Drive Hotel, however I may try to change my booking as I for booked Holiday Inn Express, (may be worth a try!)

Any advice on best place to stay on I drive of similar price and facilities.We don't have a hire car and are going to buy 4 park flex tickets and are going to Busch gardens and DC.

It will be our first time in Florida myself DH,DS15,DS16.and can't wait.

Please help shall we change or not, I'm only now considering this as heard some bad reviews.

thanks Cath:rolleyes:

[JDG]

There are lots of hotels on I Drive

We're staying at the Staybridge Suite - we've got a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite booked for the 3 of us - gives DS his own bedroom and a bit more space for all of us.

It's nice to have the kitchen and lounge too to spread out into (and we keep the fridge stocked with cold drinks)

The 'southern' end of I-Drive (below the Sandlake Junction) is a little bit less touristy and there are some great restaurants in walking distance (Race Rock, Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden as well as Tony Romas, Friendly and Ponderosa).

Good luck with the decision - we changed hotels last year from the Sheraton World Resort (very bad reviews) to the Staybridge and I'm relieved we did.

Julie

[Cath38]

ohh.... I hate decisions I had'nt thought of staying in a suite, it does sound better for the boys to have there own room. Whats the transport like to Universal etc from there?
Cath

[JDG]

The I-Ride trolley stops fairly close to the hotel and the Lynx buses are also very frequent.

The Staybridge doesn't have any courtesy transport (as far as I remember) we had a car, so I didn't really pay much attention!

They do, however, offer a free breakfast buffet every morning - nothing special, but it does fill you up!

Julie

[Cath38]

Great, I think I'll look into that option thanks.
Not sure if its in my broucher, I'm booked with First choice, once my minds made up I'll get to the travel shop and haggle, see if that gets me anywhere.Fingers crossed!

Cath

[Jools99]

Hi,

We stayed at the Best Western Plaza on I-Drive last summer. We upgraded to a two bedroomed suite with a kitchen direct with the hotel. What ever hotel you change to with the tour operator, contact the hotel direct for the upgrade.:wink :wink :wink :wink


Jools

[Cath38]

Typical The Staybridge isn't in the Airtours broucher!
Back to square 1.
Thanks anyway.
Cath

[JDG]

Cath - with 2 DSs I'd definitely consider a suite - it'll give you all a bit of space

Julie

p.s. Sorry the Staybridge isn't listed (it used to be called the Summerfield - it could still be under that?)

[Cath38]

Hi Jools
No best western plaza in the brocher either I think I'll be sticking with the I drive hotel at this rate !
best western movie land, quality inn plaza ramada inn to name a few in the broucher
Any good ?

thanks Cath

[Cath38]

Hi Julie
No sign of it anywhere but I'll be definately trying to change to a suite, I did'nt think too much about it at the time of booking
as I was so pleased with the price and was just glad to be going. Now its changed names and Ive read loads of bad reviews I'm having a change of heart.

[JDG]

Cath - I've just had a quick look at the Airtours website

They have 2 suite hotels on I Drive - the Hawthorn Suite Appts and the Embassy Suites.

You could check them out on Trip Adviser if that helps.

Julie

[Cath38]

Thanks a lot I had'nt thought to look there
Cath

[Cath38]

hawthorn suites is in the broucher - just looked again!
I'm going to look up any reveiws and check it out on line and also look up embassy suites.
Thanks (again)
Cath x

[heebejeebies]

Hi cath the quality inn plaza is ok clean and comfortable also has free shuttle buses to universal. Its located opposite the point on the southern end of I Drive within easy walk of bars and resturaunts. Getting to disney is no proplem either using the I ride trolley and lynx buses very cheap. stayed at the Q I P on our last two visits but this time we are staying at the enclave suites with two teenagers in tow we feel we need the extra space , hav heard good and bad reports about these on the dibb we will find out in August good luck with whatever you choose but you will have a fab time no matter what:D




Trev

[jubilee]

[Cath38]

Hi Trev
just been looking at the enclave suites, I also have 2 teenage boys, is it worth trying to change to a suite or would it be best for the 1st time to change to the Q I P or stay with the I drive hotel. Does the lack of space become an issue, or are you too tired to notice?

Cath

[jubilee]

Hi Cath

I agree that a suite would be the best option given the fact that your boys are 15 and 16. My children will be 16, 13 and 8 on our next visit and, having stayed in a 2 bed, 2 bath suite last year, I wouldn't consider anything other than a suite.

The problem I've found is that, given the number of hotels in the Florida area, there are not that many "suite" hotels. The choice is even more limited if, like yourself, you're choosing from a particular brochure.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Julie

[heebejeebies]

If this is your first trip to orlando then it wont be to much of an issue, because no matter how much you plan at home once there you tend to go hell for leather anyway we did!.Yes you will be tired but not so that you wont want to go out in the evening for a few drinks etc. The north end of Idrive is a bit more in your face than the southern end, ideal for teenagers, not too bad for the young at heart either:wink , anything else you would like to ask drop me a pm.





Trev

[tracyh]

Hi Kath,

We stayed at the Quality Inn Plaza last year, but unlike Heebejeebies we didn't rate it at all.

Bad experiences with 2 different filthy hotel rooms and rather rude staff. But the location was great.

Haven't stayed in any suites though, staying at Crowne Plaza Universal next time. This gets great reviews on Tripadvisor, don't know if this hotel has any suites.