OverviewLocated about a 10-minute drive from Universal Studios and a 4-minute drive from the nearest Interstate #4 on-ramp, the Hampton Inn Orlando-S. Of Universal Studios is suitable for travellers who require a well-priced hotel with a free theme park shuttle, a free breakfast and easy highway access.
This non-smoking hotel has 170 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering one king or two queen beds, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a microwave, a mini-fridge, a desk, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. King rooms with a seating area and a sofabed are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms. Portable lap desks are also provided.
The hotel also offers an outdoor pool, a fitness room, meeting space, 24-hour free coffee, a games room, guest laundry, a gift shop, a free continental breakfast and free parking. On weekdays, guests can request their breakfast in a bag to-go.
A free scheduled shuttle to Universal Studios and Walt Disney World is also available. It requires pre-booking, so please contact the hotel for departure times. Pets are not permitted.
Several restaurants are under a 5-minute walk from the hotel, including Big Italy, Subway, Santa Fe Buffet and Pizza Xtreme. Disney World can be found approximately 15 minutes southwestward by car, and Wet 'n' Wild Waterpark is a 4-minute drive or 12-minute walk northwest. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is about a 20-minute drive east. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: July 1, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's location, breakfast and rooms.
The hotel's location was praised by numerous guests, who found it close to Disney Parks, International Drive, Universal Studios, Wet 'n' Wild, Premium Outlet, Walgreens, shopping, restaurants and highway access. One lodger stated the hotel was, "Well-placed for all attractions, with many in walking distance".
Many reviewers complimented the hotel's breakfast, describing it as plentiful, excellent, delicious and diverse, with a good selection of hot and cold items that were quickly replenished. One guest noted, "the free breakfast was above average for the price of the hotel". It should be noted, however, that a few guests found the breakfast area to be too small and crowded at times.
Several lodgers were pleased with the hotel's accommodations. They described their rooms as clean, well equipped, spacious and quiet, with good Wi-Fi and comfortable beds and linens. A few guests had complaints about their rooms, however (see below).
The hotel's value was also praised by several guests, who described the room rates as reasonable and great. One reviewer remarked, "If you are looking for a clean, reasonably priced hotel close to Universal this is a good choice".
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few complaints about noise transfer and the rooms.
A few guests complained of noise disturbances during their stay. They reported traffic noise in rooms facing Kirkman Road, as well as noise from guests in adjacent rooms and noisy children in the pool area.
While the majority of lodgers enjoyed their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few reviewers had complaints about their accommodations. They reported small rooms and bathrooms, as well as some mould and mildew in the bathrooms.
Expedia.com guest reviews rated the hotel 4.3 out of 5 with a 91% recommendation rate from 186 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #95 out of 329 Orlando hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 399 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.7 out of 10 from 161 reviews.
The author called the hotel on July 1, 2013 to verify some information.
