Holiday Inn International Drive

Hotel is more a Motel, only good thing about this hotel was it was cleaned every day. We had to be moved from poolside because the room smelled so they put us in the tower block which was noisy but the rooms were bigger. Shower was hanging off the wall.
Shuttle bus was overcrowded and the buses were really old. Swimming pool can only accommodate for 65 max, there were diggers in the grounds, the bar was second rate and we spend most evenings out.
I would not stay at this holiday inn every again.

5 readers found this review helpful

after reading all the bad reviews about the holiday inn we were horrified and thought about changing hotel
im glad we never..
the hotel is very nice and we had a pool view room which was great
i didnt like the look of the tower block it seemed to enclosed but the rooms were much bigger
the cleaners came every day and cleaned the room. room had a coffee machine which i only used to make the babys bottles and a microwave and fridge
the pool was nice and they supply pool towels for you which are small but ok ( gives you more room in your case )
we ate in the hotel once and it was crap ( waiste of money ) but i must say they have a food bar which was nice we used to get lunch if we were about and eat it by the pool and the coffee was nice
beer in the hotel is about 5 dollers a budwizer but the shop sells 6 for 12 dollers or 7/11 shop up the road sells 6 for 6 dollers cheap a
walgreens is were to do your shopping ( there is about 3/4 walgreeans down international drive )which is well cheap it sells everything crisb,sweets half the price of the hotel , baby food, baby milk, ( make sure you take your own baby food as theres is runnier than ours and my little girl didnt like it. toys r us also sell baby milk /dinners
ponderosa is the place to go for breakfast its eat as much as you like for about $5.00 which is about £2.50 or sizzlers and dennys
for dinner the best place we ate at the black angus steakhouse which was lovely you are in prime location going to this hotel which was great opp is a funfair with sling shots and wet and wild
we got flexi plus tickets and we went to the water parks in the evenings as its so busy in the days ( americas schools half term ) and it was so nice we went from 6pm but as its not far from the hotel so we used to pop over and do a few rides ( well the husband and kids did )
shopping is great ralph/ l shop is well cheap
try to do a park then have a rest day its much easier
you will have a great holiday hope you enjoy it as much as we did

2 readers found this review helpful

Arrived 27th december for 2 weeks. A perfect christmas break. Fantastic hotel. Stayed in the tower block 11th floor if possible try and get a pool room as the tower block is very noisy, we were overlooking there type of motorway, this was the only bad point. Tower rooms are much bigger though so it just depends what you want. The hotel was spotless, there was a cafe for a all you can eat buffet for $9.99 with tax about $12.00 the ponderosa over the road charges $2.99 but the queue was always out the door so we never made it for breakfast. Went there for tea a few times would highly recommend the ponderossa. Anyway back to the hotel, they now provide a free shuttle to the disney parks but not magic kingdom, nobody does, as well as universal studios and adventures and seaworld. No need for wet and wild as this is less than a 5 min walk. So ignore what the brocure says this changed on the 1st Jan 08. The driver Geovani is so funny and always gives you helpful tips, ask him how to get to magic kingdom if you have never been before, (Ask him anything he will give you the answer). Buy your tix at the gates much cheaper, will do this next time, doesnt matter what web site you get them off get them there. Would defintley recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone, excellent location, staff and facilities. Would go back to this hotel if i ever go back to florida. Just a tip if you have never been to florida before 2 weeks is not enough, you need to go for 3 weeks. A must do trip is to miami go on star cruise to see celeb homes and upgrade to everglades the best $20 ive ever spend. Have a great trip.

1 reader found this review helpful

We booked to stay in Holiday Inn as part of our honeymoon package; the main reason was because it was the best affordable deal at the time.
We didn't expect anything great as it was a 3 star hotel however we were very much impressed with the reception area on arrival.
Although we arrived very early hour's in the morning we were greeted with such pleasant and friendly staff.
The room came with a personal safe which we could store all our valuables, not to mention clean towels and toiletries on a daily basis.
The best feature of all was that the he hotel provided a free shuttle service to all theme parks and the fact that there are plenty of restaurants and amusements very close by.
At the end of the day we we're very impressed with the service and location of Holiday Inn the amazing price we paid for a hotel rated 3 stars for.

2 readers found this review helpful

Well what can you say, this was our third visit to Orlando and Virgin cabin crew fantastic very helpful, will always fly to America with Virgin Atlantic.
First visit 3 years ago when our eldest daughter got married in Cyprus Gardens and the reception was in Planet Hollywood, this was an experience we all shall never forget.
Once again Virgin pulled all the stops out to make it a wonderful day for all, even down to the croc or alligator that made an appearance on the bank of the lake.
We also have young children that enjoyed every minute of it we seem to spend a number of days at wet n wild water park.
Universal studios were also a great day out there seems too much to do there you needs to go several days to enjoy the experience.
We purchased the Orlando flexi ticket (4 parks) which also gave us Island of adventure and Sea world.
The dolphins at SeaWorld our youngest children really enjoyed feeding them here as the dolphin area was only open in dec 06 on our third visit, this area was closed the previous 2 years.
We also did Disney’s magic kingdom went over on the boat we found the park somewhat dated although all the Disney characters were there still seemed dated in my opinion needs to change with the times.
We found we needed to hire a car through Virgin and dollar, we had a dodge caravan mpv was very roomy and managed to get all 5 suitcases in, as there is plenty of space where there is 5 of you.
The hotel where we stayed was the Holiday Inn very clean, helpful staff and when you had been out all day, the maid service is very good. Hey! certainly kept our room very clean, even down to our young daughters soft toys that they would put in a heart shape, all part of the service.
Kennedy space centre is a must they are currently building a shuttle simulator there which I believe will be open sometime this year, this place I would say is the big boy toys this place is awesome, a full size Saturn v rocket laying on its side along with other nasa equipment, we also visited the launch pad on the coach tours that go all round Kennedy great place this it.
Too close I would certainly say that any family that comes here will have a lovely time, as there is so much to do. Food is cheap and lots of designer outlets as clothes are really cheap out here.

Was ok. Good location. Hotel was fair, it had all amenities required.
Room little dated and although adequate but felt musky. Good launderette facilities.
All in all a good hotel for the price paid. It was cleaned everyday.
Within walking distance to Wet and Wild opposite.

We stayed at this hotel the first time we went to Orlando and it was great.
A fabulous location for a family holiday, and close to great restaurants such as the Ponderosa and of course - Dennys!
The rooms are really big and have a microwave, and a fridge which is very important for drinks in the Florida sunshine.
There is a big Walmart near by which is great for picking up snacks and things - I have never seen so many different types of breakfast cereal!
A great hotel, and a great holiday.

1 reader found this review helpful

Absolutely excellent. We were lucky enough to stay in a 'resort room' on the ground floor at the side of the pool - recommend you write direct to the hotel and ask for one in advance, as we did. It was a great idea to have the pool open until 11.30 pm (great after a tiring day in the parks). We have stayed in many Orlando hotels, but loved the Holiday Inn because of the full-size fridge, ironing board and free safety deposit boxes in all rooms. Everything was spotless and the hotel is in a great position on I-Drive so you can walk out to dozens of different shops and restaurants.
The shop in reception is very handy for bottles of water and the like. We felt sorry for the restaurant staff because nobody ever seemed to eat there (not surprising when there are so many eateries close by). Everyone was polite and friendly. The guest laundry was also handy. We did not use the shuttle bus as we had a car, so can't comment on that. Our holiday scored 100% and we would not hesitate to stay there again.

We had a brilliant holiday in Florida. The location of this hotel is spot on if you want an action packed holiday. It is right in the middle of I-Drive, near to all the restaurants etc. There is plenty of car parking and thankfully each room has an excellent air conditioning system. (If we went again I would avoid high summer- it is just too hot!).
The hotel snack bar is great, and reasonably priced. Nice big pool with plenty of sun loungers free. Most people are out most days, as we were, but the odd day we 'rested' by the pool and it was great for that. Good facilities at the hotel include a laundry room and a nice restaurant. Expensive breakfast (well expensive compared to the surrounding places) but really good quality food and plenty of choice. Nice and clean. We never ate there of an evening so I couldn't comment on the evening menu. All the staff in the hotel were lovely, particularly the waiters in the restaurant.
The only downside of the hotel would be that it could do with updating. Some brochures claim it is 4 star, but I very much doubt that. Rooms were small but big enough for what we needed, but furnishings are a bit dated. However, who goes to Florida to sit in a room?! Free paper everyday, good choice on TV channels, and a coffee maker - just what you need when you have been out all day on your feet and you want a relax before you start again the next day!
Overall, the holiday was 10/10, the hotel 8/10. Take our advice - don't buy too many tickets - we bought for every park possible and we just couldn't do it all in two weeks! On very hot days its best to go to the likes of Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon - wear a bikini all day, and sit on lazy rivers and water rides, great! Go to Ripleys Believe it or Not and Wonderworks on I Drive they are really good! And go to Ponderosa for your breakfast, cheap and excellent. The only park we weren't impressed with was Wet n Wild. Not as immaculate and well planned as the others - bit like the Rhyl Suncenter of Florida - don't bother!

Orlando, Florida is one of the best places to holiday ever. Although I have been to places like Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Portugal, Egypt and Mexico which all have their perks, Florida is the second best of the lot (next to Fuerteventura).
Holiday inn International Drive, gave a bad first impression a huge tower of rooms which looked quite intimidating and I did not want to stay in it. I did not have to stay in it, but stayed in a different building (although I’m sure the other rooms in the tower weren't too bad).
The room was nice, although basic, but thankfully we had air conditioning so it was not to hot in our room. The bathroom was nice because it is cut of into to quite large sections (one for showering and use of the toilet, one for washing hands and getting ready. The King size beds were really were king size, as my children had to share one and they had plenty enough room.
The restaurant is very nice and has good food all round. Although on the first night I ordered a starter and a main meal and let me tell you the portions are huge so do not buy a starter and main meal as even a starter on its own is enough to fill an average adult up. May I recommend the Fajitas and the other Mexican type foods they have to offer as my kids and I loved them. But the restaurant that was by far better than even the lovely hotel one is Charlie’s steakhouse. It is the most delicious place you will ever eat, the waiters are friendly, the service is great and they even bring out and show you the steaks which are on offer before you order. The fruit smoothies which they offer are amazing and taste great. The best thing to eat there has to be the fabulous Filet which is a steak to be remembered forever, although it is $50 dollars a pop so be warned!
The worst bit about my holiday to Florida had to be when my tour to Naples/Everglades was cancelled but when they phoned and left a message instead of telling us it was cancelled they tell us 'There have been some issues with your tour.' So we get up at 5am to go on the tour and we find out after an hour of standing about waiting for a bus this tour isn't on, it was a horrid experience but luckily did not ruin the trip overall.
The staff were friendly, although I remember hardly ever meeting them, although in the hotel restaurant the waiters/waitresses were helpful and fun.
The rooms were clean and towels and linens changed daily.
All in all a great holiday a great hotel.