Where to Stay in Orlando?
 

I am looking for somewhere nice to stay in Orlando - without staying in Disney? <BR>My husband and I a 15,19, & 20 yr. old. <BR>I'm not really looking to go to Disney but maybe Universal Studios for a day or two? <BR>And also any comments on Universal - we haven't been since all it's new construction. <BR>Thanks! <BR>Also what's the temperature in January too cold for outside swimming, any hotels with indoor pools?

The range of places to stay in Orlando is so wide that you may not get much pertinent info, except "We stayed at the (fill in the blank) and (loved) (hated) it." You're probably going to have to get more specific about price range, etc. <BR> <BR>Don't plan on doing any outdoor swimming in Orlando in January unless there's a freak hot spell. <BR> <BR>The "new" Universal is quite entertaining -- restaurants, amusements, rides -- so you can plan on going there and having a good time without going to Disney, too.

Is there a particular reason you want to stay in Orlando, since you really don't want to do the Disney thing? Would you consider staying in another area in Florida? You could still visit Universal for a couple of days. <BR> <BR>And Jim is right about the weather. On Saturday it was 85 degrees and last night it was 25. So you never know what kind of weather you will get at that time of year.

There is a new hotel at Universal Studios, I think it is the Portofino Bay Club, very pricey and luxurious. There is also a Hard Rock Hotel opening at Universal but I am not sure of the date. <BR> <BR>Lots of nice hotels in all price ranges along International Drive, very close to Universal. The Peabody, Omni-Rosen, etc. <BR> <BR>Also several neat B&Bs near downtown Orlando, Thornton Park specifically if you have any interest in that. <BR> <BR>Actually a "freak hot spell" isn't really what you need for swimming. We very often have warm weather in January, however water temperatures do not fluctuate as much as air temps. Once the the pool water has cooled down a 85 deg day won't make much difference but we certainly see plenty of northerners swimming on what I consider cold water. There are plenty of hot tubs although I can't say if there are many indoor pools. I expect that there are.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Family Suites and really enjoyed but its closer to Disney than Universal. 2 bedroom, sleeps 5 or 6. <BR> <BR>Don't ride off swimming. We were there last Jan and went to Typhoon Lagoon on one day when the temps hit in the 80's. The kids went swimming everynight in the heated outdoor pool.

Stay in a vacation home. Have the pool heated. You can stretch out and relax. <BR>Do Disney and Universal when you want to. They are just as cheap as any decent hotel and alot of them have Jacuzzi's

Try www.go2orlando.com and www.hotelkingdom.com, both have some great deals on lodging. With the age range of kids, they will love Universal. You can get a combo ticket with admission to both parks for 2 or 3 days, most economical way to go, also the ticket does not expire and unused days can be used on future trips. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are 2 separate parks with separate admission for each, unless you get combo ticket. Men in Black ride at Studios side is FUN! At IOA, HULK roller coaster & SpiderMan ride are really fun! Have a good trip!

I have looked into many different places and the best option I have come up with is renting a home. The cost is the same as a hotel yet you have more privacy. Check out homes4uu.com they have indoor pools and supplies to make the stay fun. Also, they are close to Disney, Seaworld, and Universal.

Cheryl, use a search engine to find Orlando hotels with indoor pools. My favorite search engine is "Google." <BR> <BR>http://www.google.com <BR> <BR>Type in search words: <BR> <BR>orlando hotel indoor pool <BR> <BR>Yes, there are a few who do. <BR> <BR>While no one can guarantee Orlando will be warm enough for YOU to swim when YOU are there, visit a couple of weather websites: <BR> <BR>1. www.worldclimate.com <BR>supplies AVERAGE high and low temps incrementally by month. <BR> <BR>2. www.weatherunderground.com <BR>supplies excellent current detailed reports + 4-day forecast. You can also check for historical actual high and low temps for past years after you "choose Orlando." <BR> <BR>Lastly, with 3 older kids, I concur with the previous suggestions you consider using a "vacation rental." There's everything from condos to 2 to 5 bedroom homes (many with their own private pool - you'll pay a bit extra for heating it) with gives a family: <BR>1. much more room <BR>2. privacy for the teens but most importantly private bedroom for parents. After all, it's your vacation, too! <BR>3. Ability to do as much or as little cooking as you want because you get a full sized and completely furnished kitchen. It's a great money saver when you can stock up on sodas, snacks, fruit, cereal, etc. without having to resort to room service or those lousy vending machines. Almost all have washers & dryers, too. Very handy. <BR>There's a huge selection of vacation rentals and most often work out to be less expensive than hotels. <BR> <BR>Again, use the Google Search Engine and type in search words: <BR> <BR>orlando vacation rentals <BR> <BR>Good luck and have a great vacation!

We're visiting Orlando Feb. 1st and managed to get a pretty good deal on a suite - $64.50 (before tax) at the Hawthorne. It's an internet special http://www.hawthorn.com/generalinfo/deals.asp and http://www.hawthorn.com/reservations...e=FL&facid=242 Travelodge also is running an internet deal at $39.95 per night for a suite. We chose the Hawthorne over Travelodge because of its location.

I have been to Orlando twice and both times I stayed at a resort. I stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club and Vistana. These places are great because you have an apartment. It comes with everything from dishes to washer and dryer. <BR> <BR>When you think about the cost it isn't that bad. I went in August and I had a one bedroom for $139 per night. Some hotels are more than that and all you get is a bed, television, a coffee table and drawers to put your clothes in. <BR> <BR>When you feel like being lazy and not go out, you can cook because it has a full kitchen. <BR> <BR>Wherever I travel, I no longer go to hotels it has to be a condo like environment.

Hey ! any information on recreational vehicles to drive from the north down to Orlando. The prices we've come across are excessive! We would possibly be willing to drive someone else's down and another back. I've heard of services that act as agents for this but I haven't been able to contact an appropriate one. Please Help

We stayed at the Portofino Bay last summer and loved it.It's right next to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. You can take a boat right to the entrance of the parks. We had teenagers with us and they loved the whole trip. Also, I just received a coupon in the mail from Loews Hotel which owns Portofino Bay and Hard Rock Hotel. They are offering an introductory rate of $149/night. Also, at Loews hotels they are supposed to offer free or discounted adjoining rooms for kids or grandparents. We couldn't take advantage of this because we had purchased a package through a travel agent. The hotel was really nice and made our trip very enjoyable.

We have been 9 times in the last 13 years, and always stay at a condo, usually Vistana. Hilton Grand Vacation property and Marriott condos are also very nice. We travel with 3 kids and wouldn't think of any other type of accomodations. Vistana has 7 pools, plus tennis courts, basketball courts, etc. It is a destination in itself. Try their web site, vistana.com. In January you should be able to book for about $180 a night for 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, 2 full baths, 3 tvs and vcr, screened porch, washer and dryer. (I do not own a timeshare but only rent, so this is not a plug from an owner).