creamygreen

btw, the hurricane aftermath is still very much affecting hotel availability (and presumably price) in Orlando. All the beach hotels are pretty much shut down so capacity is doubly stressed here. We also had to wait for rental cars to be returned for 30+ minutes at 11pm from Budget -- same prob with all the companies -- again, because of the hurricanes.

I'm at the Hotel Orlando North right now using their COMPLIMENTARY wireless in-room hi-speed internet (ask for floor 5 or 6 if possible--i'm on 4 with an external antenna-two bars). I'd say my description above was pretty spot-on. Decent sized room with good AC. Classic 80's Florida hotel room decor-- aquamarine, beige, ugly lamps and rattan. Crappy bedding on our comfortable king sized bed. Window/Balcony face I-4. "Business Center" is two computers, a fax and a copier basically set up in the main hallway of the lobby. Night staff was very helpful. Only nearby nightlife is an Applebee's accross the highway which stops serving at midnight. Breakfast-in-bed 'checkbox menu' can be put out on the doorknob the night before. $6-10 for a range of breakfasts. 24/7 room service. Not going to the restaurants, so I can't comment, but the place isn't nearly as bad as other reviews have suggested. Just noticeably UNrenovated with the expected 7' ceilings. Huge complex and maybe a bit under staffed, but it was being offered on Hotwire for $45/night for 10/7-11. It was probably closer to 3.5 stars in it's heyday. I'm leaving today for the Comfort Suites Downtown Orlando, for those dates, for which I am paying $30+ more/night. I'm not sure it's worth it now that I'm here. Right now we're going swimming in the pool! They gave us a late checkout of 1:30pm. Thanks for all your help.

I just called. They DO have a business center. Also confirmed that rooms have NOT been renovated in a long time. How did you come to the $72 price at the Hilton? I may go for that just to be safe at this point.

Having only read the above reviews, it appears to have started out as a Sheraton that was built in a office park in Maitland (no kids no tourists) just north of Orlando, right off of 4. It was sold to a new owner who apparently now has put it up for sale again. It was built in 1985. It has not been renovated and needs to be. It is an older large upscale resort/business meeting hotel with three restaurants. It has had complaints about upkeep. The business center apparently has been REPLACED BY the fitness center, so it seems that it doesn't have both. No free lunch, but at $45 a night you get what was a decent hotel room 20 years ago and if you are trying to avoid the hubbub--I'm going for a wedding--it seems like it may be a fair deal. I'll be looking for a different place for the reminder of my stay.

It was $50 for the first night (62.95 w/tax), the remaining nights will/would be $45, so it's pretty much a wash to do it this way. It is "Hotel Orlando North" at 600 N. Destiny Drive in Maitland, FL. Where is the best place to get reliable or editorial reviews? here's the hotel's url. http://www.hotelorlandonorth.com/index.html

Not a bad trick. I'll try it and report back.

Thanks for your help. This site has immeasurable worth. I believe that I did include my dates in the description, but I'll give them here again, 10/6-10/11/04. I guess I'll do it upon your encouragement.

(First time caller) I'm reluctant to pull the trigger with so many others mentioning bad experiences with Hotwire "over rating" hotels. Amenities include internal restaurant, pool, fitness and business centers (does that mean in-room high speed internet?). I'm reluctant to believe that they are giving me a Radisson or equivalent for $46/night like the star rating says--even if it is away from the theme parks. Should I be this suspicious?