Because our flight lands late in the afternoon, we have decided to overnight in Orlando before driving down to the Port Canaveral are the next day. Here’s our review of the Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando, our crash pad of choice for this trip.
This is what we thought:
Key data
Cost: £70.43
Fair cost: £70.00
Breakfast Chargeable extra ($12.95 + tax)
Check-in: 3pm
Check-out: 11am
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
How accurate are the website photos? Good
Would we recommend this hotel? Yes, with caveats
Location and contact details
International Drive is the centre of Orlando tourism, mere minutes from the Universal theme parks. The Hotel Monreale Express is located at the northern end of I-drive.
Address:
6825 Visitors Circle
Orlando
FL 32819
Telephone: +1 407 352 8211
Whatsapp: +1 407 352 8211
Email: [email protected]
Lowdown
There are dozens of hotels in the International Drive area or Orlando with prices to suit all budgets. Because we are only here overnight, there’s little point in spending big bucks on a room.
The Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando met two key requirements – location and price.
As always, there are other hotels that are slightly cheaper or better situated, but this one seemed a reasonable compromise.
Article continues after the jump…
Our personal experience
Now onto the Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando review:
Bedroom
Our room was located at the rear of the hotel, on the ground floor. This is important for disabled guests – there are NO lifts at this hotel.
The room has a gigantic king size bed, a table-cum-desk, a chest of drawers and two bedside cabinets. For entertainment, there’s a large flatscreen TV with attached Slingbox, so you can watch Netflix, Apple TV + etc (although you will need to sing in with your own subscription).
There is no carpet and the hard floor feels a little ‘gritty’, suggesting cleaning may have been a bit rushed…
The front of the room is taken up by a large window that looks out onto the carpark at the rear of the building. There is a reasonable pair of blackout curtains that you will probably want to keep closed round-the-clock to protect against prying eyes…
Bathroom
The bathroom is located behind an odd sliding door. It’s a reasonable size, complete with toilet and walk-in shower.
There’s a bar of soap, a small tube of shampoo and another of conditioner. Basic, but adequate.
Note: Although the shower is perfect for those with mobility issues, the toilet is very close to the floor.
Parking
Parking is free for guests at the Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando. Better still, you can park right outside your room.
Many of the higher priced hotels region charge top to $25 per day for parking.
Note: Make sure you get a parking permit when checking in or your car may be towed and impounded.
Top tip: Parking spaces fill up quickly after the local theme parks close. Arrive before 5pm to claim a space near your room.
Accessibility
Rooms located on the ground floor of the Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando are accessible. There are also a handful of disabled parking spaces for permit holders.
There are no lifts at this hotel however, so if mobility is an issue, make sure you request a ground floor room.
Food
There is an onsite restaurant offering breakfast each morning. Breakfast costs $12.95 and must be paid in cash in the restaurant.
We didn’t partake, but the menu option appeared to be quite limited. Think toast, pancakes and pre-packaged waffles. There was also tea and coffee and a small selection of fruit.
There are plenty of nearby food options, including KFC, a Mexican restaurant and an IHOP (open 24 hours). There’s also vending a handful of snacks available for purchase in the hotel foyer if you’re desperate.
Other facilities
The hotel has a heated pool with sun loungers. There’s a coin-operated launderette if you’re staying for longer than a day or two.
If you’ve arrived in Orlando without booking theme park tickets, the reception team can give you a hand.
Linda’s tip
Despite having a microwave and a fridge, there are no tea and coffee making facilities in the room. If you want a hot drink to start your morning, you’ll need to visit the Starbucks located a short walk away in the reception area of the nearby Universal Endless Summer Resort hotel (or the 24-hour IHOP restaurant located almost next door).
The good news is that the shop opens at 6:30am – perfect for when your jet lag wakes you up early on your first day in town.
Oddities and quirks
A very busy freeway runs behind the Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando, so traffic noise can be heard day and night. The blackout curtains do nothing to reduce noise at night.
There is also an ancient air conditioning unit in each room. This too is very noisy and must not be switched off to prevent damp – by order of the property management.
Article continues after the jump…
Other accommodation options
There are plenty of accommodation options within a a few hundred yards. The Monumental MovieLand motel next door is even cheaper – but also poorly rated. Alternatively, consider the Universal Endless Summer Resort on the other side of I-Drive.
Check the map above to see just how many other options are available.
Is there a shuttle to the parks?
Yes, the resort buses pass the hotel each morning, potentially saving a small fortune on parking each day. The I-Ride trolley also stops near the hotel, offering easy access to other sights and entertainments in the I-Drive area.
Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando review – Final rating
The Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando is cheap – and it shows. However, it is a popular choice for families and visitors looking to reduce the cost of their stay in Orlando.
The noise in our room was annoyingly loud. What with the traffic and the air conditioning, neither of us slept particularly well.
Top tip: Pack earplugs
The Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando was exactly what we needed for a one night stay. But would we stop over for a longer visit? Probably not.
Final rating: 3.5 out of 5
Article continues after the jump…
Please note that we use sponsored links on this blog. Although we may earn a referral fee or bonus points on some of these products and services mentioned, we never recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves.
Check out our full Affiliate Disclosure Policy for more info.
