Reviews of Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, Universal Studios, Florida

Well maintained hotel that...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Skytours

Submitted By:

Mr I Atkinson

Comments:

Well maintained hotel that offers comfy beds with air conditioning that you control 24/7. Breakfast was very poor, just begal and cream cheese or toast or cereals with juice or tea/coffee. They did offer eggs and bacon at extra cost but for the same money we ate at Ponerosa where the all you can eat breakfast buffet was superb.



The hotel has a nice clean pool, but the jacuzi it advertises is out of order, and looks like it has been for some time. The rooms were kept clean and the maid provided endles supplies of soap, shampoo, shower gel, conditioner etc. We had a suite which has two rooms plus bathroom.



One room has two double beds, the other a table and chairs and a double sofa bed. Both rooms had 28" sky TV with a playstation control attached. Our room had a balcony with two plastic chairs that looked like they needed a good wash, but they were useable.

VERY BASIC HOTEL, NOT...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs C Bowling

Comments:

VERY BASIC HOTEL, NOT RECOMMENDED.



Location of this hotel wasn’t very good as we didn’t hire a car and it wasn’t situated on International Drive itself, it was round the corner from Wet and Wild and we found the walking very tiring (having walked all day round the theme parks). We used the I Trolly to get down to the main bit of International Drive.



The rooms were not sparkling, noisy air conditioning, toilet overflowing and flooding bathroom, cobwebs on the ceiling. Staff in restaurant very sullen and food not very good, ended up at the Ponderosa for breakfast when we could as expensive at the hotel.



Although there was transport to theme parks, the Disney transport wasn’t good, coach returned at 6:30 at night so missed the fireworks.



Next time we go to Florida we are going to stay at the Holiday Inn.

This place is dirty and smelly,...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

May 2005

Tour Operator:

Virgin

Submitted By:

Mr KM Woodville

Comments:

This place is dirty and smelly, on our first day my partner ended up in tears because of the smell.



We check out the following day and stop at the Holiday Inn just down the road and that was great. None of the other virgin parties staying there were happy with their rooms either and the Virgin Holiday Rep told us alot of untruths about the place to make us stay. It was the best move of my holiday to move from this dirty horrible place.



If you have booked here get out now before you go. I have already written a very strong complaint to Virgin and I also know others have as well. I am awaiting their response.

We went to Orlando for the first...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2005

Tour Operator:

Virgin

Submitted By:

Mrs N Robinson

Comments:

We went to Orlando for the first time in 2004 and it was so amazing we went back again this year. We stayed both times at the Howard Johnson plaza, which is only a 10-minute walk away from Universal Studios.



The hotel was one of the cheaper ones but it was very clean with a very welcoming atmosphere, I would stay there again. Orlando is just fantastic, the Disney parks are great, the Americans are so hospitable, I just love it there. In Orlando we got the chance to swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove, it was just fantastic, so memorable. We also did an excursion to Miami, which was great.



We just love Disney world, it’s so magical, and it’s our favourite place on earth! We will definitely go back in 2 or 3 years time.

Terrible place! The room did not...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2005

Tour Operator:

Virgin

Submitted By:

Mrs S Stephens

Comments:

Terrible place! The room did not feel clean, the furniture was falling apart, the air conditioning unit made so much noise you had to put it off at night.



The shower was OK, but the paint was peeling off and the skirting board was rotten around the window with creepy crawlies coming in. The bed made so much noise when you turned over I woke the rest of my family up. The food was awful, we had to guess what the buffet dishes were, the staff were trying hard but you could tell they would rather be somewhere else! Also there was a smell of drains in the lobby area.



The transportation as advertised in the brochure to the Disney parks was a coach at 8am or 10am to Epcot only, then one back at 6.30pm from Epcot only. When I did enquire about the coaches the woman tried to get us on a timeshare trip with the promise of ending up in Epcot 1.5 hours later! We ended up hiring a car to get around which cost us £325 that we hadn’t budgeted for!



We certainly will be going back to a Disney hotel, it’s worth the extra cost.

PLEASE PLEASE doesn’t go to...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2005

Tour Operator:

Virgin

Submitted By:

Miss K L yardley

Comments:

PLEASE PLEASE doesn’t go to this hotel, I have travelled all over the world and this was THE worst experience ever. Rooms filthy, staff rude and unhelpful. Brochure states crazy golf course??? couldn’t play on it! heated swimming pool, yeah for polar bears maybe. Friendly!! NOT



Stayed in a 2* in Greece that was better than this. As for the advertised free transport, if you wanted to come home at 6.30pm or 6.30 or erm 6.30pm well you were ok, 2 morning buses to parks and only 6.30pm bus home! maids knocked on door in morning for towels and you were lucky if you got them back by 5pm, they had to be laundered and dried!! Blankets issued in ww1, restaurant staff charging 4 different prices for same jug of beer! You’re better pitching a tent!