Orlando's BEST Hidden Gem Hotel? (IHG Holiday Inn Express Review!)
Orlando's BEST Hidden Gem Hotel? (IHG Holiday Inn Express Review!)
Orlando's Real Hidden Gem: Holiday Inn Express - And Why I'm Obsessed (Mostly)
Alright, folks, let me tell you about a hotel. Not just any hotel. We're talking about a potential life-changer. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but the Holiday Inn Express in… well, let's just say it's near the theme parks. That's the spot. And as a self-proclaimed (and sometimes brutally honest) travel enthusiast, I'm here to spill the tea. Forget the glitz and glam of those mega-resorts. This is where it’s at.
First Impressions & The Accessibility Angle (Because Let's Be Real, It Matters!)
Okay, so the exterior isn't going to win any architecture awards. But that's fine. What matters is what's inside. And from the get-go, I was impressed. The accessibility is… actually pretty good. (And as someone who’s rolled through some nightmares in the past, this is saying something). Wheelchair accessible is a big checkmark, folks. The lobby is spacious, ramps are readily available, and the staff genuinely seemed to care. They made me feel like a person, not an inconvenience. Seriously, that’s gold.
Key Takeaways & Quirky Rants (Because I Can’t Help Myself)
- Cleanliness & Safety: This is HUGE, especially lately. They've got the anti-viral cleaning products going, the rooms sanitized between stays (thank goodness!), and the staff actually wearing masks (unlike some places I've seen). I mean, they even have hand sanitizer everywhere. It felt… safe. And in this climate, that’s priceless.
- Internet Access: Let's be real. Nobody wants to pay extra for Wi-Fi anymore. The Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! is a must. And the Internet speeds were actually decent! I was able to upload all my slightly-embarrassing vacation photos without wanting to throw my laptop out the window. The additional Internet [LAN] I did not use.
- Dining, Drinking, & Snacking: This is where things get a little… interesting. Breakfast. The dreaded hotel breakfast. It's not the best buffet - but it's included. And hey, the Asian breakfast was a pleasant surprise - and that was what I had. There's also a breakfast takeaway service which is ideal if you're rushing out to ride rollercoasters!
- Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Okay, so it's not a spa resort. But there’s a swimming pool [outdoor] which is great for a quick dip. The Fitness center is small but sufficient to work up some energy. This is the stay, if you want the spa life, you go out.
- Services & Conveniences: Basic stuff, but they get it right. Daily housekeeping, 24-hour Front desk, a convenience store for snacks, and even Cash withdrawal. They have Air conditioning in public area, Elevator and Facilities for disabled guests which are all necessary.
My Breakfast Odyssey: A Deep Dive Into the Buffet (And My Own Hangry Demons)
Okay, so breakfast. I alluded to it earlier. Let's face it, hotel breakfasts are often a gamble. This one? Not spectacular, but surprisingly… enjoyable. The Breakfast [buffet] was a standard spread. Waffles, eggs, sausage, cereals, fruit. But! (And this is a big but), the staff were constantly refilling things, keeping everything fresh and clean.
The real highlight? The coffee. Now, I'm a coffee snob. I need my morning caffeine fix. And the coffee here? Surprisingly drinkable. I even went back for a second (or third) cup. Maybe I was just really hungry, but that coffee gave me life.
There isn’t a vegetarian restaurant, but there is a vegetarian option. There are a Coffee shop, and a Poolside bar to offer some options.
Now, the quirk? Me. I grabbed a plate, piled it high with waffles, sausage, and fruit (don't judge my breakfast habits). And as I sat there, stuffing my face, I noticed a small group of kids running around, squealing with delight. Their smiles were infectious. And for a moment, I wasn't just a cranky traveler; I was enjoying myself. It turns out, sometimes, all you need is a decent breakfast and to watch a bunch of kids have fun. It's not about the fancy, it's about the vibe.
The "Meh" Moments (Because I'm Honest to a Fault)
Now, let’s be real. It's not all sunshine and rainbows.
- The room decorations were basic. Functional, yes. But a little… bland.
- The Pool with view isn’t a thing, there's an outdoor swimming pool, though, it still gets the job done. If you really want to see beauty, you have to leave the resort.
The Little Things That Matter (And Why I’ll Be Back)
What truly won me over wasn't the fancy amenities or the gourmet food (though the coffee definitely helped). It was the small things. The friendly staff, the clean rooms, the fact that I felt comfortable.
They have Free bottled water, the Daily housekeeping, and the 24-hour Front desk are all available. Also, they gave me a little bag of cookies when I checked out! Seriously, it's the small gestures that make all the difference.
Final Verdict: Is this hotel a hidden gem? Absolutely.
It's not perfect. But it's a solid, reliable choice. It’s Family/child friendly, has Non-smoking rooms, and feels safe. And here's a secret: it's a fantastic value for the price. I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended if you're looking for a comfortable, convenient, and accessible stay near the parks. Forget those overpriced resorts. This Holiday Inn Express? It's the real deal. You won’t regret it.
Melbourne Marriott Docklands: Luxury Hotel Awaits Your Dream Stay!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-planned Disney vacation diary. This is my Orlando adventure, starting… well, it's starting at the Holiday Inn Express Orlando South Park. (By IHG, they keep reminding me. Probably important, who knows.) And it's going to be… a journey. A messy, glorious, probably-slightly-hangover-induced journey.
Day 1: Arrival, Anticipation, and the Alligator Whisperer (Probably Not)
- 1:00 PM: Touchdown at MCO. Sweet freedom! Except… the rental car line. Dear God, the rental car line. It's a pilgrimage, a slow-motion marathon of tired sighs and desperate glances at the Hertz kiosks. Finally, after what felt like a geological epoch, I have my chariot: a dusty Corolla. I'm already sweating. This Florida humidity is a monster.
- 2:30 PM: Check-in at the Holiday Inn Express. The lobby is… well, it's a Holiday Inn Express. Clean-ish. The complimentary cookies look a little… vintage. I resist. I'm going to be good this trip. (Narrator: She will not be good.) The front desk guy has a name tag that reads "Kevin." Kevin seems nice, but I'm pretty sure he's seen things. Lots of things.
- 3:00 PM: Room: Clean enough, bed seems comfy, and the air conditioning is roaring like a jet engine – which is exactly what I needed. I unpack, and then spend a good 20 minutes just staring out the window. The view? Mostly parking lot. Okay. Focus. I'm here for the magic, not the… parking lot.
- 3:30 PM: Pool time! Yes. I imagine myself lounging poolside, sipping a tropical cocktail, radiating effortless cool. Reality? Slightly sunburned, dodging screaming kids, and my "tropical cocktail" is actually a lukewarm bottle of water I found in the car. Minor setback.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner. The hotel suggested a local Italian place, "Mama Rosa's." Sounded promising. Ended up being a lot of generic spaghetti, and not enough wine. The breadsticks, however, were addictive. And, okay, the sauce wasn't awful. I may or may not have scraped the plate clean. Judge me.
- 6:30 PM: Feeling restless. Impulse decision: Drive around a bit.. I stumble upon a little pond. Signs everywhere scream "Beware Alligators." My inner city kid screams. I get out to try and spot one. Nothing. Eventually I see a tiny, tiny lizard. That's it. I am the Lizard Whisperer. I will take this.
- 8:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Collapse on the bed. Watch some awful reality TV while simultaneously ordering pizza.
- 9:00 PM: Pizza arrives! I devour half the pizza in a single sitting. I am a garbage disposal.
- 10:00 PM: Sleep, and the vague, unsettling feeling that I may or may not have left the car keys in the ignition. We'll see in the morning.
Day 2: Disney Delirium (And Questionable Decisions)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up… surprisingly not hungover. Success! Grab the "free" breakfast from downstairs. The scrambled eggs look suspiciously like yellow rubber. I'm starting to develop a complex about this hotel's food.
- 8:00 AM: The Disney park. It's Magic Kingdom today. Okay, I admit it, I'm excited. The crowds. The smells. The sheer, unadulterated spectacle of it all. I have a plan! (Narrator: The plan is about to go sideways.)
- 9:00 AM - Noon: Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I feel like a giddy child. That's it! I'm going full tourist. The energy is electric. I even buy a pair of Mickey ears. My judgement is clearly impaired.
- Noon: Lunch. Greasy, overpriced theme park food. I'm not even mad. This is part of the experience. I manage to spill ketchup down my brand new, previously stain-less, Disney shirt. Oh well.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: More rides. Space Mountain! So intense, it basically melted my face off (metaphorically, of course). Peter Pan's Flight still has a ridiculously long line. I almost cry. The lines. Oh, the lines.
- 4:00 PM: The Parade. It's… overwhelming. The costumes are magnificent. The kids are screaming. I'm… well, I'm kind of swept up in it all. I might have teared up when Mickey Mouse waved at me. Don't judge. Disney does that to you.
- 5:00 PM: Snack break! A churro the size of my arm. I am a Disney cliché.
- 6:00-8:00 PM: Epcot. Walked into the World Showcase, and a moment. The food, the drinks, a little wine? I'm in heaven and I walk by every culture. I felt like I had seen the world.
- 8:00 PM: Fireworks. Spectacular. I stand there, mouth agape, feeling a strange mix of awe and utter exhaustion.
- 9:00 PM: Back at the hotel. I can barely walk. My feet are killing me. My brain is fried. I sink into bed, fully clothed.
- 10:00 PM: I'm not sure I can get up to brush my teeth. Whatever. I'll pay for it tomorrow.
Day 3: Recovery, Regret, and a Last-Minute Whirl
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. Every muscle in my body is screaming. I can barely move. Remind me to invest in comfortable shoes next time.
- 8:00 AM: The "free" breakfast. I'm pretty sure I saw the same rubber eggs.
- 9:00 AM: I decide to revisit a gift shop again. It's time to actually buy something.
- 10:00 AM: I check out. I'm sad to leave.
- 11:00 AM: Last-minute check-out.
- 12:00 PM: On the road for airport.
- 1:00 PM: Departure. Sigh. I am exhausted. I've eaten a ton of awful food a lot of fun.
- 3:00 PM: Back home. I'm already planning my next trip. Maybe I'll even bring comfortable shoes. And maybe, just maybe, I'll learn to resist the lure of the breadsticks.
- 4:00 PM: Nap and recover for a week.
This itinerary is a mess, it's true. But it's my mess. And despite the questionable food, the insane crowds, and the general feeling of being slightly overwhelmed, I wouldn't trade it for anything. This is Orlando. This is me. And that's all that matters.
Evia Escape: Luxury Awaits at Marmari's Hidden Gem (Evia Hotel & Suites)
Orlando's Secret Escape: The IHG Holiday Inn Express (Seriously!) - FAQs & My Crazy Brain
Okay, spill the beans! What's *really* the big deal about this "Hidden Gem" Holiday Inn Express? Is it even REALLY hidden?
Alright, alright! "Hidden Gem" might be a *slight* exaggeration. Let's be honest, it's a Holiday Inn Express, not some secret lair guarded by magical unicorns. But hear me out! This particular location, in *[Insert Location Here – I’m trying to be vague, but it’s near… something!]* (I’m being intentionally coy, I don't want THE MASSES descending!), just *hits different*. It's the kind of place you discover by accident, stumble upon, and then immediately want to gatekeep. I found it after a horrific theme park experience, and was desperately seeking refuge. And it delivered. More than delivered.
Honestly, the "hidden" part is probably more about the *feeling*. It's quiet (mostly!) and clean (mostly!), and it *feels* far removed from the Orlando madness. Which, after a day of screaming children and overpriced churros, is basically heaven.
Tell me about the rooms. Are they, you know, *bearable*? I'm not expecting the Ritz…
Bearable? Oh, they're FAR beyond bearable! Okay, okay, let's be real: it's a Holiday Inn Express. The furniture isn't artisanal, the walls aren't adorned with priceless masterpieces, and the towels… well, the towels are *towels*. But! They're clean. The beds are surprisingly comfy. I actually slept properly. Which, again, is a minor miracle when you've spent the day dodging crowds and battling a sugar rush. I remember one visit.. it had those blackout curtains, I swear, it was glorious. I’m going to confess something, I almost *snapped* a picture of the bed JUST to post it. I was seriously that tired. Then I remembered not to be *that* person.
And the AC! Oh, blessed, icy AC. It's the kind that blasts you into a blissful, chilled stupor after a day of Orlando heat. Believe me, that's worth its weight in gold.
The "Free Breakfast" is usually a disaster. Is this one any better? Don't sugarcoat it!
Okay, here's the truth bomb: hotel breakfasts are usually the bane of my existence. I'm talking sad, rubbery eggs, lukewarm sausage, and a coffee that tastes like it was brewed in a sewer. But… and this is a *big* but… this one’s *decent*. It's not fine dining, people. But it has options! Oatmeal (always my go-to), decent pastries (occasionally!), and on a good day, even some surprisingly edible scrambled eggs. The coffee? Okay, it's still hotel coffee, but I generally found I could down it. I found after a few days I wasn't even judging it so harshly.
One time, I got there late and the eggs were… well, they were a little *dry*. But hey, it’s free! And, blessedly, avoids the pure chaos of the theme park food courts! I can't say it'll blow your mind, but it'll fuel you for another day of Orlando adventures. And that, my friends, is a win.
What about the location? Is it actually *convenient* or just "close enough" to drive a mile and feel like you are walking on the sun?
Okay, the location is a HUGE part of the charm. I'm being deliberately vague about the exact spot, but let's just say it's not INSIDE the theme park gates, but VERY close. Think reasonable drive (in Orlando terms, which is like, 15 minutes max, depending on traffic. You know, the usual hellscape.) to the big attractions. And crucially, it's *also* near some decent restaurants and, whisper it, actual *normal* stores. Like, stores where you can buy REAL toothpaste and not just overpriced park souvenirs.
The convenience factor is off the charts. You're close enough to the fun, but far enough to escape the madness. It's a perfect balance, honestly. One time, I was so shattered from a day in the park, I just wanted to curl up and DIE. Having it so close was a lifesaver. I legit considered staying another night just to decompress!
What's the Wi-Fi like? Because, let's be honest, some hotel Wi-Fi is from the Stone Age.
Hallelujah! The Wi-Fi is actually *usable*! I mean, I could actually stream Netflix without wanting to throw my laptop out the window. (I didn't, for the record. I'm not that dramatic). It's fast enough for browsing, email, and video calls. (Though, I'd advise caution on those calls – you’re on vacation, people! Put the phone down and *enjoy* yourselves!)
I've stayed at hotels where the Wi-Fi was so slow it felt like dial-up. This one? Not bad at all. It gets the job done. And in the age of streaming entertainment, that's practically a miracle.
Any downsides? Because no place is *perfect*. Spill the tea!
Alright, alright, let's be real: it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Here's the not-so-glamorous stuff: Sometimes, the elevators are slow. VERY slow. Patience is a virtue, my friends. And maybe you'll share the elevator with someone who's been waiting for the same time, but doesn't seem to notice. It's a thing. You'll get used to it!
Also, parking? It can be a bit tight, especially during peak season. But it's nothing compared to the parking nightmares at the theme parks themselves. And occasionally, you might hear some… let's call them "enthusiastic" families in the hallways. But earplugs are your friend! (Seriously, pack earplugs. Trust me.) And honestly, that's it. I'm being picky here, I love this place.
Any quirks or memorable moments? Dish the dirt!
Oh man, where do I start? One time, I was in the breakfast area, and this small child was attempting to eat a whole waffle at once. It was a feat of engineering, really. Another time… the staff were legitimately lovely. Like, *genuinely* friendly and helpful. Not the usual forced hotel pleasantries. That's always a bonus. I still remember one specific employee! They had the best smile!
But the most memorable? One time, I swear I saw a cast member from a major theme park, incognito, trying to get a quiet moment. Even they need a haven from the madness! That's when I knew I'd found something special. It felt like a secret, shared experience. It’s like… the hotel knew what was up.
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