Similar hotels/suites

I really like the look of the HGVC on International Drive, for a honeymoon, but it appears to be a bit too isolated - we would like to be able to walk to bars/restaurants in the evening.

Have you any suggestions for similarly luxurious looking hotels, around $150 per night, in a good location for the evening?

Thanks

Similar hotels/suites

I would think a little isolation would not be a bad thing on a honeymoon, lol!

Seriously, the HGVC I-Drive is not smack dab in the middle of all the action, but its hardly isolated. There%26#39;s an Outback Steakhouse and a nice Publix grocery store right outside the resort entrance (and a couple of eateries by the Publix) and a McDonalds, and very close by is Dolly Parton%26#39;s Dixie Stampede and Premium Outlets (which is probably the forum favorite for shopping in Orlando); Premium Outlets has a food court. Both Dixie and PO are within easy walking distance. And you%26#39;re not far from the Lake Buena Vista area; you can get a cab to the Crossroads Area right outside of Disney, which has a number of chain restaurants (closer to where you are is Bahama Breeze, Landry%26#39;s Seafood, and Golden Corral buffet); or you can take the cab to Downtown Disney (a little farther away), and go to the restaurants, bars, and clubs there (don%26#39;t know if you, being from Ireland, would like Raglan Road Irish Pub at Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney, but you could always tell them what they need to do to be ';authentic';, lol).

Also, the I-Ride trolley stops at Premium Outlets; you could take that up to the busy part of I-Drive (it is several miles away), then use it coming back (don%26#39;t know the exact hours it runs, but its cheaper than cabs).

The Hilton I-Drive (I-Drive being short for International Drive) is one of the newest and nicest resorts in Orlando (and appropriately, is ranked #2 in Orlando according to TA). I really don%26#39;t know a similar place that is right next to a lot of bars and restaurants, unless you stay on Disney property at Saratoga Springs Resort %26amp; Spa (across the lake from Downtown Disney) or the Boardwalk and/or Beachclub Villas by the Boardwalk shops and restaurants. But it would be very hard to find something there for anything close to $150. You aren%26#39;t going to find hotels in the heart of I-Drive that are as nice and new. Cypress Pointe Resort %26amp; Grandvillas and Blue Tree Resort/Westgate Blue Tree Resort are timeshare resorts in the Lake Buena Vista area, but while a few places are within easy walking distance, others are farther, particularly Downtown Disney, and they won%26#39;t be as new as the Hilton. Others can give you advice on cab rates and using cabs and the I-Ride Trolley (google this, and there is a website for it), as I would ######### you still consider staying at the Hilton.

Westgate Palace is also newer and is right by the busy part of I-Drive, but as it is high rise towers, it certainly won%26#39;t have the ambience of the Hilton I-Drive.

Similar hotels/suites

Thanks EddieK, the info is much appreciated. Will have to have another thnk about it and do a bit more research then!

Of course, I don%26#39;t think this would be as luxurious, but you could stay at the Homewood Suites Universal by I-Drive, which is ranked #1 in Orlando per TA, and has a free dinner ';buffet'; type setup on somedays during the week. Or down I-Drive a little, there is the Homewood Suites International Drive/Convention Center, which is ranked in the top 5 in Orlando. These might have similar rates to what you%26#39;re looking for, though not quite in the same league as the HGVC I-Drive.

The Crowne Plaza Universal, close to the heart of I-Drive, is a nicer place, but, once again, not quite as luxurious as the HGVC I-Drive. But it is ranked in the top 10 in Orlando per TA.

The Peabody Hotel has been a AAA Four Diamond Hotel, and is on I-Drive across from the convention center, but is definitely not as new as the HGVC, and is a high rise hotel, not really a resort. Also, for the above rating, it does not get great reviews on TA, and of course often caters to conventioneers.

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