bnbtraveler

Just sounded like they didn't want to go to the attractions area. I just picked up my in-laws down there and it is nuts with people and traffic and noise. JMHO!!! I never mentioned my b&b...
.OrlandoVic did! Each to their own of course. There is something for everyone in this area.

starrs

A third of the posts were about your B&B - including one directed to me asking why I would choose the Royal Pacific or Portofino over your B&B. That seems a little aggressive to me.

I stayed in hotels in the Orlando area virtually every week for several years - and most often chose to stay in the International area. It was easy/fast for me to get to and from the airport - and I liked the restaurant options. I rotated among several hotels in the area and 99% of the time never went to an attraction. I was there on business and chose the area because a wide choice of new, modern hotels at different price points and lots of restaurants. 80% of the time I ate at the family owned Thai restaurant (that I understand is no longer there), Cafe Tu Tu Tango and the family Italian restaurant at teh Portofino - even if I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn.

The one time I almost missed my plane was traveling surface streets from a customer's location near you to the airport.

6 of one, half dozen of another. syd has input, which is what she was looking for.

Good luck with your B&B.

bnbtraveler

As I said, there is something for everyone in this area. I have been open over 15 years so I guess that may say something?!?! My husband goes every weekday to one street out of the airport for his work. He has never not gotten there by 9am if he leaves here when he is supposed to. This area is very diverse, upscale and beautiful. We like to call Maitland/Winter Park - New England with Palm Trees. Again, this forum is just for suggestions, not advertising. I am very careful not to mention it and even changed my sign in taking away the name of it. "syd" - have a wonderful stay wherever you chose and I hope you find exactly what you are looking for!

321go

I've always wished that the Park Plaza could be a little quieter - it is literally next to the train tracks in the back.

Seconding the Bosphorous recommendation - Turkish/Mediterranean and really flavorful food with good service.

And syd, wander around the Rollins College campus (shameless plug from an alum ;-) ). It's a beautiful campus (at the end of Park Avenue) and the Cornell Fine Arts Museum usually has something interesting to see.

NewbE

Grcxx3, I didn't think the soup was very good--just my opinion. But bnb is right, I can buy it canned at my local Fresh Market, plus it's available over the Internet. Try it, and broil a grapefruit, could be fun!

Grcxx3

NewbE - I am not a good one for taste-testing soup as I just don't really like it (except for good French Onion), but I can tell you that broiled grapefruits have been a frequent "guest" at Sunday brunches that my mother has had over the years.

Orlando_Vic

Just a quick update here:

Park Plaza Gardens in Winter Park just got a very good review <http://tinyurl.com/2sk6dm> from the Orlando Sentinel's restaurant critic, Scott Joseph!

bnbtraveler

I just read that too and am very happy to read it. That restaurant has been up and down so much the 16 years we have been here.

NeoPatrick

Regarding the idea of a B&B over a hotel, I've often believed that MANY B&B's have paper thin walls, less sound proof doors, and little "privacy" or anonymity . After a "romantic" night, having to face the other guests at breakfast just might put a real damper on many people's appreciation of the night.

bnbtraveler

Not sure what this is all about? I have stayed at hotels where the person in the next room sounded like they were in mine the walls were so thin. This has happened to me several times! If anyone is ever concerned about this while considering staying at a b&b you could ask how the rooms are configured. Hotels tend to be one after another rooms along a corridor. Many inns have rooms on different floors and in different areas, some even with seperate cottages. Saying all b&b's have paper thin walls just isn't fair! How many have you actually stayed in?

bnbtraveler

NeoPatrick...I apologize as I just re-read your post and you said MANY not all...sorry! But I still would like to know how many you have actually stayed in to know this about b&b's.

NeoPatrick

Seven that I can recall off hand. All seven were pretty much like this. I recall listening to coughing fits from next door. I recall the amorous couple's headboard pounding the wall behind mine, and trying not to make eye contact with them at breakfast. I remember watching the shadows in the hall via the light coming in under the door. I remember waking to the smell of bacon cooking downstairs. Sorry, some may love B&Bs. More power to them. I'm not that comfortable staying in the home of good friends. I'm really not comfortable staying in the home of total strangers. And I don't like being expected to make chit chat with total strangers over breakfast. Sorry, that's just me. Romantic? Not in my book!

I prefer the anonymity of a regular hotel or at least a 15 room or so larger inn. My interpretation of B&B is an actual hosted home -- and probably 6 suites or less. I know that the term B&B has been often stretched from that today. But larger places with a resident manager I call an INN, not a true B&B. The wonderful Ballastone Inn in Savannah comes to mind. But to me that wasn't a B&B, it was an inn. No one actually lives in that home and hosts guests.

NeoPatrick

By the way, I notice you switched from saying B&B to inn in your one post above. If you're going to talk about a major operation of 15 or more rooms being a B&B simply because they include breakfast, then I guess all Hampton Inns, Marriot Courtyards, and dozens of others are now called B&Bs as well? If that's the case, then yes, I DO like some B&Bs.

bnbtraveler

Frankly all b&b's are different and of course - each to his own. I don't like being on a get away and having non-English speaking maids chat-chatting loudly in the halls before 7am. The hotels doors often have big spaces at the bottom to throw the bill in or a newspaper...my experience! Many inns are small and have different breakfast times and some guests never even see each other...the case here with a business guest all week. He never saw any other guests until Friday night. I am sorry you have bad thoughts about b&b's but please do not judge all from 7 stays. You may be pleasantly surprised....my hope! Why are there so many and some VERY busy if they are so uncomfortable? Again, there are accommodations to meet all people's needs.

bnbtraveler

Actually some "inns" (hotels) use the term "bed & breakfast" in their advertising...check out the ads in the USA Today sometime, especially on Friday.

NeoPatrick

Yes, I'm well aware that many inns and even hotels now use the term B&B's. Forgive me, I assumed your post was using the term in its original sense, which I've already clearly defined for the clarification of my comments.

It's funny that you seem to think it's fine for you to judge hotels by your experience, but it is not OK for me to judge B&B's by my experience.
What's up with that?

It's the entire CONCEPT that I dislike. I really have no reason or intention of trying to convince you or anyone else to like hotels better. I don't care. And my post was only meant to explain why I don't like them, not to try to convince others to agree with me. Why do you seem hellbent on convincing someone who doesn't like the CONCEPT of traditional B&B's that they really should like them? I can tell you now, that ain't gonna happen with me.

And your last comments: "Why are there so many and some VERY busy if they are so uncomfortable? Again, there are accommodations to meet all people's needs" makes no sense to ME. Sure many people like them. And yes I've found many accomodations that meet my needs -- B&B's just aren't for ME, and I don't care if they are for 99% of the rest of the population. I'm certainly not trying to change anyone else's opinion like you are. Now I'm really sorry that I dared to offer my personal opinion of how I feel. I wasn't trying to start an argument, I just thought varying opinions were allowed here. Maybe not?

bnbtraveler

Someone is cranky today ;>) !. Subject closed, at least for me.

mouseRD

We've stayed at the Portifino Bay Hotel also & really enjoyed the whole ambience of the little Italian fishing village theme. We stayed 2 nights (wish we'd been able to stay longer!) & did eat both at Emeril's Tchoup Tchoup at the Royal Pacific Resort (great food & service!) & Mama Della's at the Portifino Bay (really fun place; the waiters will come over & serenade you! Food is very good & they have really good wines by the glass; this is where I tried my first Amarone. I had asked for a glass of Chianti & the server recommended the Amarone, which was fabulous & remains one of my favorites!).

I've also looked at the little town of Celebration that seems like a charming place to spend a night or two; the Celebration Hotel gets mostly good reviews on T.A.

susan1

I would suggest The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

The grounds are absolutely BEAUTIFUL. You and your husband can find a lot of quant areas where the two of you can be alone. The pool is magnificent, but the larger one isn't heated so it is cold in March.

They have some great restaurants too.

Good luck!We enjoy gardens, good food, art, shopping and the beach although we may not want to drive from the beach to the airport.