OverviewLocated a 3-minute drive from Highway 192 and about a 7-minute drive from Walt Disney World, The Palms Hotel and Villas are geared towards travellers who prefer condo-style accommodations with full kitchens, a free breakfast, a free theme park shuttle and easy highway access.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned one- and two-bedroom suites comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a full kitchen, a living room with a sofabed, a dining area/work space, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. The hotel is not wheelchair accessible.
Hotel amenities include an outdoor pool, a kiddie pool, a hot tub, a fitness centre, a basketball court, a games room, a business centre, BBQ facilities, guest laundry, a free breakfast and free parking. Pets are permitted for $100 per pet, per stay.
A complimentary scheduled shuttle to and from several Orlando attractions, including select Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld theme parks, is also offered. A mandatory $8.95 resort fee will be charged per room, per night.
SeaWorld is about a 16-minute drive away, while Downtown Disney is 13 minutes away by car. Kissimmee's city centre is roughly a 20-minute drive away and Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a 25-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets $100/pet/stay, not wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: September 24, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's location, staff and rooms.
The hotel's location was praised by many lodgers. They found it close to Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, restaurants, shopping, highway access and a grocery store.
Numerous guests were pleased with the level of customer service they received, and characterized the staff as efficient, attentive and accommodating.
Several reviewers enjoyed their accommodations. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, well equipped and quiet, with fast Wi-Fi and comfortable beds. It should be noted, however, that a few lodgers were disappointed with their rooms (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms and noise transfer.
Although several guests enjoyed their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few lodgers were disappointed with their accommodations. They reported dated decor and furniture, worn carpets and linens and musty smells.
Noise disturbances were mentioned by a few reviewers. They reported noise from guests in adjacent rooms, rooms overhead and in the hallways.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.7 out of 5 with a 76% recommendation rate from 1,492 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #21 of 163 Kissimmee hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 242 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 7.7 out of 10 from 29 reviews
The author called the hotel on September 24, 2013 to verify some information.
