Comfort Suites

Comfort Suites is a lower-middle-range chain hotel with a grand appearance from the outside. It has vaguely colonial-style exteriors and brick trim along the lower level. Guests enter into a pleasant, large lobby that's more elegant than expected from a hotel in this price range, complete with dark furniture, tall decorative vases full of reeds, tile floors, and a stained-glass flamingo wall hanging. A breakfast room with a mix of table and bar-style seating sits off to one side, while a pair of elevators are located in the back. The hotel attracts a mix of travelers, though many of the families and couples who stay here do so for its close proximity to the nearby Universal Studios theme parks. 

This hotel is located a 10-minute drive from the Universal Theme Parks in a lot it shares with La Quinta Inn & Suites next door. There are a few fast food restaurants and a Walgreens pharmacy within easy walking distance, but guests staying here are better off depending on a car over their feet. It's an eight-minute drive to the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, while SeaWorld takes about 15 minutes to reach. The Orange County Convention Center is also a 15-minute drive away, while getting to Epcot and Disney's Magic Kingdom takes around a half-hour or so depending on traffic. Downtown Orlando can be reached in just under 15 minutes if there's no traffic. It's a minimum 20-minute drive to Orlando International Airport. 

This hotel offers guest rooms and one-bedroom suites, all of which come with either a king bed or two queen beds, plus pull-out sofas. Decor is consistent across room types with a simple, neutral decor scheme that includes dark-wood furniture and headboards, heavy beige curtains (that block the air-conditioning units if pulled shut), and beige-and-tan striped carpeting. Standard in-room amenities include desks with work chairs, irons and ironing boards, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Bathrooms are roomy, with big granite balconies and shower/tub combos. Simple toiletries and small hairdryers are provided. Most of the rooms overlook the parking lot. 

Like most hotels in Orlando, the Comfort Inn has an outdoor pool. It's big enough for swimming laps and is flanked by lounge chairs and a couple of patio tables, with a small whirlpool hot tub off to one side. Swimming noodles are available and a thick fence separating the pool area from the parking lot makes the space feel extra private. Other leisure facilities include a modern fitness center, complete with LifeFitness treadmills, ellipticals, medicine balls, and free weights. However, it's not open 24 hours a day. For business needs, there's a small business center with a couple of computers and a printer, plus a conference room that can easily seat about 30 guests. Coin-operated laundry facilities are especially convenient for families and long-term guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's lots of free uncovered parking. Note that there's no proper restaurant for lunch and dinner but there is a minimart selling instant noodle bowls and a few microwave meals. Free breakfast offers a good selection of hot and cold items on the buffet, and grab-and-go bags are available for those who need to leave before the buffet opens. Note that guests can access a free shuttle to Universal Studios, but they'll have to walk three minutes down the street to the Holiday Inn for the voucher and service.