Orlando Continental Plaza Hotel

Orlando Continental Plaza Hotel isn't much to look at from the outside, just a long, old-school motor hotel with four stories of rooms with external hallway access. The lobby is a simple, generally busy space with off-white tile floors and a few worn sofas and chairs, plus a jumble of tourism brochures next to a travel desk. A small cafe that's open for breakfast is located in the back, while a separate door leads out to the only other common area: the year-round pool. The rooms here are lined up along a series of exterior concrete corridors that look like they could use a serious power wash, and the elevators are equally grubby, but certainly make things easier for those with mobility challenges or anyone with luggage. Most guests are either budget travelers visiting the parks, though multiples signs requiring higher deposits for those with local IDs suggests that it may be used by people who already live in Orlando, too.

Orlando Continental Plaza Hotel is located just off the 4 freeway, around the corner from International Drive -- one of the main strips in the touristy part of Orlando. The area has a huge concentration of restaurants ranging from fast food joints to Indian and Ethiopian eateries, plus a smattering of souvenir shops, supermarkets, and B-grade attractions (think haunted houses and carnival-style arcades). The hotel is only a five-minute drive to the parking lot to Universal Island's of Adventure and Universal Studios as well as the Universal City Walk, where there are tons of restaurants and nightlife options. SeaWorld is a 15-minute drive away. Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom takes around a half-hour to reach by car, depending on traffic. Epcot is around 20 or so minutes away by car, as is the Orlando Airport. It takes about 15 minutes to reach downtown Orlando without traffic. Factor in about an hour to get to Cape Canaveral or the Kennedy Space Center by car.

This hotel offers only one type of room: Standard. Rooms come with either two queen beds or one king bed (the latter are generally a tad more expensive). All the rooms are more or less identical, with large air-conditioning units under windows that don't open, thick drapes, and views out over the adjacent freeway or inwards toward the main road and pool. Decor consists of dated, worn wooden furniture in light and medium finishes, beige walls, and cursory framed watercolor prints on the walls. Carpets have a dark red-and-tan pattern and appear old, so bring flip flops if you're at all concerned about germs. All rooms have desks, racks with hangers for clothes, tube-style TVs with cable, electronic safes, and small hairdryers, but they lack coffee- and tea-making facilities and there's an extra daily rental fee for those who want mini-fridges. Bathrooms are small with double vanities in the main room area and shower/tub combos and toilets sectioned off by a door. Soap and shampoo are provided. Overall, rooms are dated and musty, though keeping the air-conditioning on helps reduce humidity. However, they are relatively clean and the beds are comfortable, with soft linens. Note that Wi-Fi is not available in most rooms, though those closest to the lobby can sometimes pick up a signal. 

Orlando Continental Plaza Hotel offers decent features for a budget motel, but the fact that Wi-Fi is only available in and near the lobby may put many guests off from staying here all together. There is an outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs and it's heated in the winter so guests can swim year-round. There are also coin-operated laundry facilities and massage chairs (the type often found in nail salons) on the property, as well as a microwave for guest use. Vending machines are stocked with snacks and soda. Some rates include breakfast, but rather than having a buffet system, the hotel gives guests vouchers to a shockingly inexpensive on-site cafe selling coffee, pastries, oatmeal, and other basic breakfast items along with a random assortment of heated-up frozen foods, including hot dogs. Guests without vouchers can pay with cash. Parking is free and ample. There's a tour desk in the lobby, plus a free shuttle service to area theme parks.