Roomba Inn & Suites Orlando

Housed in a colorful, campy building with a vaguely Southwestern look, the Roomba Inn is about as budget as it gets. The hotel is attached to Little New Orleans Kitchen and Oyster Bar, and though it's surrounded by a large concrete parking lot, pleasant landscaping with colorful tropical flowers and a few spindly pine trees are a nice welcome. The lobby is inviting enough, if reminiscent of an earlier decade, with a couple of couches and vending machines -- this motel-like vibe pervades much of the hotel. Rooms are housed in three-story buildings accessible via outdoor staircases and walkways, many of which are lined with pools of air-conditioning leakage. There are plenty of family-friendly features on site, including a spartan game room, playground, and simple pool with a hot tub, and the look throughout is simple to the max. Most guests are couples and families in town for only a night or two, and if expectations are managed, this wallet-friendly hotel is passable.

The hotel is located on a busy street in Kissimmee, surrounded by similar looking hotels and tourist-geared gift shops. New Orleans Kitchen & Oyster Bar is located in the same building and there is a Vietnamese restaurant next door. Disney World is a seven-minute drive or shuttle ride away, and Old Town -- with its many shops, restaurants, and amusement park rides -- can be accessed on foot in about five minutes. Epcot Center is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, while Universal Studios will take up to 20 minutes to reach by road. Orlando International Airport is about 25 minutes away by car or taxi.   

In spite of the dated, floral print curtains and scratchy bed coverings, each unit is equipped with a modern flat-screen TV, a microwave, a coffeemaker, an air-conditioner, and a mini-fridge. The suites have an additional TVs and living rooms with sofas and coffee tables in adjoining rooms that are not separated by doors. It must be noted that while rooms appear clean, carpets are often damp and the smell of mildew and mold is pervasive in many rooms. The look across the board is a mish-mash of styles, and furniture includes outdated armchairs with patterned upholstery, light and dark wood veneer desks and/or end tables, and dorm-quality piece in some rooms. Each room is accessed from an outdoor hallway, so there are no true balconies or patios. Bathrooms are small but clean and have either walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. Keep in mind that rooms on the second and third floor are only accessible by stairs. 

The best feature of the Roomba Inn is arguably its free shuttle to and from Old Town and other nearby attractions. Breakfast -- a limited continental buffet with a waffle station -- is included in room rates. Parking is free and Wi-fi access is available in most rooms and public areas. The pool is simple and rectangular, with an adjacent hot tub -- the area is surrounded by plenty of plastic lounge chairs. There's also a spacious, covered Tiki bar and a couple of swing sets for children. A free breakfast buffet is served in the bland but clean breakfast room downstairs. It includes a basic, carb-heavy continental buffet and a waffle station. There's a small fitness center and a game room, though both are spartan and underwhelming. The hotel has a convenient coin-operated laundry room.