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Quality Inn International

1 rating: -1.0

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get close to all the fun. universal studios is just 5 minutes away and sea world is just a couple of miles from your room. it's only 10 minutes to the magic of walt disney world resort. you'll be next door to the world's largest mcdonalds and surrounded … see full wiki

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Orlando International Quality Inn: A Great Budget Hotel (Great Hotel Write Off)

Sep 18, 2003

by Candice923

Rating:

-1

Pros: Great location, inexpensive

Cons: Lousy restaurant, not too friendly staff

The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a hotel to stick with a budget, this is a good one for you. If you want more (like I do), go somewhere else.

In October 2002, my husband and I worked together on a film called Sea Legs. This movie was filmed in Orlando and on a cruise ship. (You can read about my experience on Regal Cruises as well.) Since the film was VERY low budget, the entire cast stayed in the International Quality Inn located at 7600 International Drive, Orlando. I was able to experience all aspects of this hotel.

LOCATION
First of all, the location of the International Quality Inn is terrific. There is a McDonald's and a Perkins right nearby, as well as a couple of other restaurants. You can also find a variety of gas stations near the hotel.

Secondly, you are located very close to all of the attractions: Disney, Downtown Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World... you get the idea. The hotel offers free shuttles to Universal Studios, Sea World and Wet 'n Wild.

This hotel is also very close to WalMart, KMart and the Florida Mall. When Jared and I first arrived at the hotel, we wanted to get a couple of things for the room. The hotel staff directed us straight down International Drive to WalMart. One day, we had a day off, so we went to the Florida Mall. It's also about a 5 minute drive to Disney's Pleasure Island, where the cast went to Planet Hollywood one night.

Finally, International Drive is a VERY busy street. While your room may be quiet, you can constantly hear the bustle of traffic when standing outside-- regardless of what floor you are on. Jared and I stayed on the 4th floor, and it was LOUD everytime we went outside. I can't stand the sound of traffic. I get enough of it in LA!

so, for location, I would give the Orlando International Quality Inn 4 stars, just subtracting one star for the traffic noise.

THE ROOMS
The hotel rooms at the Orlando International Quality Inn leave a LOT to be desired. First of all, ALL of their rooms have 2 double beds. So, if you're traveling with someone you share a bed with, prepare to cram into a little double bed. It is very frustrating and extremely uncomfortable. This is definitely not a set-up for romantic getaways.

The rooms also have a small table and two chairs, a night stand between the two beds, a dresser, a television (with cable, by the way), an empty mini-fridge, a place to hang your clothes, a bathroom counter, and a tiny bathroom. All of the rooms are decorated in a "tropical" theme. What that translates to is REALLY loud bedspreads- a la the Copa Cabana. The walls are pastel pink and the carpets are a dark blue. (Don't ask me who did the color-coordinating...)

I am a BIG bathroom person. I like to get changed in the bathroom. I like being able to take a nice, hot shower without being attacked by the shower curtain. I hate the toilet being right next to the shower. Really nice bathrooms, like the ones in Paris Las Vegas, have a separate bathtub and shower. Not this hotel. It is a MINISCULE bathroom, with the toilet right next to the bathtub/shower combo. The shower curtain is made of fabric, which basically wrapped around me each time I attempted to shower. That drives me crazy!!! Vinyl shower curtains are SO much better. I mean, come on. Who wants to fight with a wet sheet? The water pressure wasn't so bad, but the bathroom isn't well-ventilated at all, so it becomes a sauna if you try to take a hot shower. Not cool.

The beds were pretty comfortable, although very small. As I said before, it's suitable really for just one person. However, my husband and I were determined to sleep in the same bed, so we crowded together. Unfortunately you can't move the beds together-- Everything is bolted to the floor. (As if someone is going to steal a bed, right?)

So, for rooms, the Orlando International Quality Inn gets just 2 stars.

STAFF & SERVICE
Upon check-in, the staff was a bit nasty and unhelpful. Jared and I arrived late at night (we drove from NY), and the woman at the front desk didn't want to help us. She told us that we arrived too late, and she couldn't give us a room. Since my father made the reservations for everyone, I had to rouse him from slumber and get him to take care of getting me and Jared into our room. She reluctantly allowed us into our room after arguing with my father for 10 minutes. Not cool.

The next morning, the rest of the cast started checking in. There was an entire block of rooms designated to our film, and all of the rooms were empty and clean the night before. However, these poor people from around the country weren't allowed to check into their rooms until 3pm. (3pm is check-in time there.) Some had to wait until later because their rooms "weren't ready." Now, I ask you: Why can a hotel prevent people from going into their rooms even after checking time with no penalty, but charge you up the wazoo for checking out late?

The housekeeping staff was terrific. They made sure our rooms were kept clean and organized. They answered all of our requests promptly and in a friendly manner.

The concierge was a bit of a prick, to tell you the truth. It wasn't even a true concierge-- It was someone who tried to sell you discounted tickets to the various theme parks through the front of the hotel. He wouldn't give us directions anywhere without giving us a sales pitch first.

The people in the restaurant were relatively nice. Some went out of their way to help you while others just cast dirty looks in your general direction. Some were quick about clearing dishes, while others watched them stack up.

In regards to staff & service, Orlando International Quality Inn gets 2 stars.

AMENITIES
This is going to be a quick one, as there weren't very many amenities in this hotel. The pool was located outdoors and was nice. Nothing spectacular, though. It was a pool that you could find in someone's backyard, but a little bigger.

The restaurant was pathetic, to say the least. They charged a lot of money ($9.95 per person) for a lousy buffet in the morning and at night. I don't believe there was an option to the buffet. We had our wrap party there, and it was very disappointing, to say the least. The food just isn't good, and, as I said earlier, the staff is relatively inconsistent.

I mentioned the concierge earlier as well. The only good thing is that you get a discount on entrance to the various theme parks. And the free shuttles to the three theme parks mentioned above.

There is a little store located in the hotel itself. ALL of the items, from film to food, are WAY over-priced. Do yourself a favor and walk to the 7-11 nearby, rather than spending heaps of money there.

The overall amenities rating for the Orlando International Hotel is 2 stars.

IN CONCLUSION...
If you're looking for a hotel to stick to a tight budget, Orlando International Quality Inn fits the bill perfectly. But, if you're traveling with a loved one or want something a bit better than budget, this isn't the hotel for you. While it's in a great location, there are better hotels in the area and are probably worth the extra money you might shell out.

Recommended:
No

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