Hotels

There are hundreds of hotels in Florida and far too many to list here! Most hotels are a "room only" basis with all meals being extra. (some may offer a free 'American style' continental breakfast). A large number of the less expensive hotels offer the best value for food with a set price "all you can eat" breakfast and dinner buffet, with many offering "children under 11 years eat free with a paying adult" (check the brochure), so if you have children, these hotels can be very good for saving you a few bucks! You are not limited to eating at your hotel (some may be a little expensive) as there is always a restaurant or steak house nearby offering great food at a very reasonable price.

If you are visiting during the winter months check if the pool is heated. Evening temperatures can on occasion be quite cool this time of year and a heated pool is very pleasing.

Many hotels have external walkways to gain access to the rooms. (room doors facing the outside) If you don't like the thought of this, look for hotels that have internal corridors. (the brochure should list this). Some hotels don't have lifts, so if you need to use a lift for any reason (wheelchair, pushchair etc), check before you book.

Hotel parking is usually free in Orlando but some hotels in other parts of Florida charge a daily rate.

Warning...hotels stating as being on the beach or having an ocean view does not guarantee you will have a view! Check the location of your room. Many standard rooms do not have a view of the ocean or gulf.

Courtyard by Marriott **** This is an official Walt Disney World hotel and is in the Downtown Disney area on Hotel Plaza Boulevard at Lake Buena Vista. 323 oversize air conditioned rooms on 14 floors with 5 lifts. Inside corridors and electric door locks. Most rooms have a balcony. Free in-room safe. 2 outdoor heated swimming pools, children's pool, spa, cocktail lounge, breakfast takeaway bar, restaurant, deli and pizza hut, poolside cafe (open seasonally) exercise room, games room and Disney gift shop. Ask for a high room at the front of the hotel or overlooking the pools to have a good view of the area and see Epcot and other Disney fireworks at night. A complimentary bus transport system takes you to the Disney Theme Parks. This service runs all day until about 2 hours after the parks close. Down Town Disney, The Rainforest Cafe and Pleasure Island are all within walking distance. Wheelchair accessible rooms available. Non-smoking rooms available. Free parking.

When I stayed here in 1996 the restaurant was offering an "all you can eat" buffet breakfast which was very good value. Check if this is still in operation.

The Cross Roads shopping area is just up the road where you will find plenty of shops and places to eat.

Holiday Inn International Drive **** Set on International Drive with Wet and Wild just up the road and Universal Orlando 1 mile away. Outside walkways. 650 rooms in 5 buildings up to14 floors. In-room safe, coffee make, fridge and ironing board. Rooms have large windows but no balcony. For good views of the area ask for a high "Tower Room" overlooking International Drive. The Atrium has no roof. This is one of the top areas for shopping and eating out. Free transport to Sea World and Universal Orlando. Shuttle bus service to other attractions (local charge). Wheelchair accessible rooms available. Non-smoking rooms available. Free parking.

Amerihost Resort at Maingate *** (formally the Diplomat Resort) This hotel is on highway 192 maingate west Kissimmee. 442 air conditioned rooms on 4 floors with inside corridors and 2 lifts. Free shuttle bus to the Disney Theme Parks. In-room safe. Karaoke most evenings. The inside facing rooms overlook the restaurant and karaoke area (can be noisy in the evening from 7-11pm) so if this is a problem for you ask for an outside facing room. The outside facing rooms overlook car parks. Indoor heated pool with waterfall where parents can sit and have a drink while their children have a swim. Outside heated pool with small sandy area at rear of hotel. (overlooking car park). All you can eat buffet breakfast and dinner with children under 9 years eat free with full paying adult. Games room, gift shop and food court with sandwiches, snacks, pizza and drinks (evenings only). Lots of shops and restaurants along 192 within walking distance. Non-smoking rooms available. Free parking.



Pool area	Inside Amerihost

Econolodge *** (Formerly Wynfield Inn). Located on highway 192 maingate east Kissimmee, opposite Wild Bill's. 216 rooms in 5 buildings on up to 3 floors with 1 lift (not all buildings have a lift) and outside walkways. Complimentary Coffee and Juice in reception. Outdoor pool, games room, fitness centre and Internet access machine. Free parking. Free transport to Magic Kingdom, Epcot and MGM Studios. There is no restaurant at this hotel but a shopping centre is close by. Many rooms overlook the pool area.

Thunderbird Beach Resort *** Directly on the beach at Sunny Isles, Collins Ave. 180 air conditioned rooms in 2 buildings. One 5 storey with 2 lifts and one 2 storey with no lift. Free in-room safe. Large swimming pool (heated in Nov-Mar). Free shuttle bus to Aventura Mall. Local charge for sun beds. Beach bar. Coffee shop/gift shop. Fitness room. There are Budget, Standard, Family and Superior rooms to choose from. Not all rooms have a view. Non-smoking rooms available. Free parking across the road or valet parking (approx $6 per day). This is an old hotel in a quiet part of Miami. The rooms are not the best I have stayed in but clean and comfortable.


View from balcony	Pier at sunrise	Pool area

Howard Johnson Resort *** Great location with its own (small) beach facing the sunsets. 100 air conditioned rooms on 2 floors in one building (no lift). Two ground floor wheelchair accessible rooms are available. Inside corridors and electric door locks. Poolside rooms are available but others overlook the car park. Fridge, coffee maker and in-room safe (local charge). Swimming pool, Tiki bar, restaurant and coffee shop. Visiting Manatees (when they feel like it). I visited this hotel during October and saw the Manatees. (please note- it is against Florida State law to feed or approach wild Manatees). Nearby shops and restaurants. Snorkel and Dive trips available at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park just half a mile up the road. Dolphins Plus (swim with dolphins) not far away and Theater of the Sea approx 16 miles south at Islamorada. Non-smoking rooms available. Free parking.

Trade Winds Sandpiper Hotel and Suites *** Excellent location on the beach. 159 air conditioned rooms on 7 floors in one building with 4 lifts. In-room fridge, coffee maker and toaster. Suites have kitchenettes with cooker or micro wave. Heated outdoor and indoor pool. Sailing, water trikes and water sports (local charge). Patio cafe with indoor and outdoor dining. Beach front bar and gift shop. Continental breakfast included. (please note- standard rooms do not usually have a view of the Gulf). Free parking. Non smoking rooms available.

Quality Inn Gulf Coast *** Hotel located on highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) in the heart of Naples. 121 air conditioned rooms on two floors in one building with no lift. Outside walkways. In-room safe. Swimming pool, pool bar and cafe, "Harold's Place" bar and a Japanese restaurant. Close to wide selection of shops, restaurants and the Coastland Center Mall. Nearby beaches. A good beach is by the Registry Resort Hotel. (go north on highway 41 until you come to the traffic lights at the intersection with Pine Ridge road. Turn left into Seagate Drive and follow the road to the end). Park your car in the public car park and take the mini electric tram along the boardwalk to Clam pass beach. Complimentary "American" continental breakfast. Free parking. Non smoking rooms available.

The Registry Resort ***** The perfect location in a nature reserve by Naples beach at the end of Seagate Drive. This is a first class luxury hotel with 395 air conditioned rooms on 18 floors in one building with four lifts. Inside corridors and electric door locks. Boardwalk to Clam Pass Beach. In-room safe, ironing board, hairdryer, bath robes and everything else that goes with a 5 star hotel. Three swimming pools, whirl pools, sauna, steam room and fitness club (local charge). Five restaurants. Rooms have large balcony with a great view. Non smoking rooms available. Free parking.

This is a very expensive hotel but well worth a visit if your budget will run to it!

Inn at Pelican Bay *** Located just off US 41 (Tamiami Trail) on Vanderbilt Beach Road (west). This hotel has 100 rooms on 5 floors with 2 lifts. Inside corridors with electric door locks. Free in-room safe. Poolside rooms have a great view of the pool and small lake from a balcony. Free continental breakfast included (American style). There is no restaurant at this hotel, so eating out is a must. Lots of places to eat nearby. The pool is quite small and only 4ft deep. The sun terrace area and pool has sun most of the day. Naples Beach 1 mile away. Delnor-Wiggins State Park just down the road. Publix super market and other shops within walking distance. Free parking. Non smoking rooms available.

Sheraton Yankee Clipper **** Right on Fort Lauderdale Beach at 1140 Seabreeze Boulevard, this is a large hotel with over 500 rooms in 4 buildings. (Some have outside walkways). Only one building is right on the beach so if you want to be in this building check when you book. Many rooms do not have a view. The main building (not right on the beach) is in the shape of a Clipper and has a pool in the centre as if it were on the deck! Dining room (a little expensive). Wreck bar with free Hors d'oeuvres. Poolside bar. 24 hour Deli. 3 swimming pools. (the pool in the main building has windows to the Wreck bar so people in the bar can see you in the water. NO skinny dipping!). Fitness centre. Volley ball on the beach. Golf and fishing nearby. The Jungle Queen river boat is just up the road and a very good trip to take of an evening. There is a parking charge of approx $8 per day. Non smoking rooms available.

Grand View at Lovers Key *** Located at 8701 Estero Boulevard. This is a tower block of 67 suites in 1 building with 2 lifts. Excellent views! Suites have 1 bedroom, living room, fully equipped kitchen/dinner with microwave, bathroom and private balcony with table and chairs where you can sit and watch the Sun set. (if your room faces west). The living room also has a double sleeper sofa. Inside corridors. Private but small beach. Water sports. Short walk to "Lovers Key State Park" where you will find 7 miles of white sandy beaches with masses of shells. There is a "Trolley" (bus) calls at the hotel and this will take you to restaurants, bars and shops along Estero Boulevard. Swimming pool and Jacuzzi. The pool is fine but only has the sun early morning and late afternoon as the hotel keeps it in the shade the rest of the time. Free parking.

Ramada Inn Beach Front *** Right on Fort Myers beach this hotel has a great location. The rooms and suites are on 3 floors in 1 building with no lifts and outside walkways. (only the suites face the beach). Jimmy B' beach bar with live entertainment. Water sports along the beach. In-room safe. Free parking. There is no restaurant at this hotel but with lots of places to eat nearby this is not a problem. The pier is approx 100 yards up the beach and is a good place to see the sun set. Go south on Estero and you will find the Beach Front Cinema where you can have a meal while watching the movie. The Beach "centre" called "Times Square"! is just up the road and has lots of restaurants and small shops. With Sanibel and Captiva islands, Lovers Key State Park and Bonita Beach nearby there is always somewhere different to visit.

Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel *** Right on Lido beach at 1540 Ben Franklin Drive. 179 rooms on up to 4 floors in 7 building with 2 lifts. Outside walkways. Rooms with courtyard or poolside views. Pool bar. Restaurant. Lounge bar with live entertainment. 2 heated swimming pools. Sailboats, Kayaks, Volleyball, Bicycle hire and Table Tennis. Free parking. St Armands Circle approx 1 mile up the road where you will find shops and restaurants. This is a very good hotel in a quiet area. The restaurant is a little expensive compared to the many you can find close by. Non smoking rooms available.

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