Rosen Plaza Hotel Rating: 3.5 Pearls

International Drive, Orlando, Florida

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Waterfall Jacuzzi at The Pool

The Rosen Plaza Hotel is, first and foremost, a convention-focused hotel. It is next door to the Orange County Convention Center (the second largest convention center in the world), and it also has 60,000 square feet of meeting space. However, given its more affordable rates and broad range of recreational features -- a large free-form pool and Jacuzzi bordered by palm trees, a small video game arcade, a steakhouse, and a nightclub with live music -- it could still be a reasonable option for leisure travelers.

But it's not a great option. Guest rooms are about the average size of most Orlando hotel rooms (330 square feet for a standard room, called "Deluxe"), but they feel long overdue for a renovation -- old, tube TVs, less-comfortable bedding, and lumpy pillows. Its fitness center is just a small, windowless room (though there's enough solid equipment for a good workout). In the guest rooms, the Wi-Fi was spotty at best (and for $10 per day). I found the staff to be often misinformed -- I got the wrong information from three different staff members, three different times, in just one day -- and largely indifferent.

Many other Orlando business hotels are very similar to the run-of-the-mill Rosen Plaza, including the Rosen Center, its slightly nicer sister hotel across the street. Most of the big chains, however, like the Westin or the Marriott, best it in terms of overall room quality. Also, the Peabody Hotel (also next door to the Convention Center) looks and feels much classier (though the Peabody is often more expensive, at off times of the year the rates between the two hotels can be much closer). For a family vacation, take a look at the Universal properties, such as the Royal Pacific, or any of the Disney resorts (or the Nickelodeon Suites near it), which offer much more exciting pools, play areas, and on-site attractions for kids.

View on a Larger Map

The Rosen Plaza is located next to the West Concourse of Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) on International Drive, a 14.5-mile road parallel to Interstate 4 that's full of hotels, strip malls, outlet shops, and restaurants. The OCCC is the second largest convention center in the U.S., with 7 million square feet of meeting space, so convention-goers should pick a hotel that’s close to their concourse. There are no notable tourist attractions within walking distance of the hotel, though it only takes a short drive or bus ride to get to the different theme parks.

• Across from a strip mall with good restaurants
• Free shuttle service to Universal Studios (10 minutes away) and SeaWorld (five minutes away)
• $16, 15-minute bus ride to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom parking lot, followed by a 15-minute ride on a tram and monorail to the park itself; similar commute to Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios
• 15-minute drive to Orlando International Airport; the hotel can arrange an airport shuttle for $29 a person.
• 15-minute drive to downtown Orlando; Orange Avenue has a notable dining and nightlife scene, and non-theme-park attractions like the Orlando Science Center and Harry P. Leu Gardens are popular among tourists, but there's not much to see downtown.