Want to know where to stay in Orlando, in the best neighborhoods and the best value hotels? Then read this article and discover the main neighborhoods, areas and hotels. Near from all the theme parks.
The best areas to stay in Orlando
The most popular areas for tourists to stay in Orlando are International Drive and Lake Buena Vista. International Drive is the city’s main avenue, which gives access to the most diverse tourist attractions, as well as stores and malls. This area is also close to the Universal and SeaWorld parks.
Lake Buena Vista is a small town in Florida, just outside Orlando, where part of the Walt Disney World Resort complex is located. The city is full of roads linking its main tourist attractions. This is also where most of the Disney hotels are located.
Generally speaking, the further south you are, the closer to Disney you’ll be, and the further north, the closer to Universal and SeaWorld you’ll be. If you want to see hotel options that cover these two regions, click here and see a map showing all the hotels.
We’ve put in a filter that only shows hotels with a rating of 8 or above, which will guarantee you excellent accommodation. All you have to do is enter the date of your trip to see the prices and choose your hotel. If you stay within the orange line shown on the map, you can’t go wrong.
- IMPORTANT: To help you plan your entire trip very cheaply, be sure to read our article on How to plan a trip to Orlando on a budget. Our tips will certainly help you a lot.
Good and cheap hotels we’ve stayed in
- Hotel Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort: the hotel we stayed at inside Disney and we thought it was EXCELLENT. It has free transportation to all the parks and you can walk to Disney Springs.
- Hotel Meliá Orlando Celebration: the hotel we stayed in next to Disney and we thought it was WONDERFUL.
- Hotel Celebration Suites: the cheapest hotel in Orlando and a favorite with tourists who want to save money. Great location near Disney.
1. Accommodations on International Drive
International Drive is Orlando’s main avenue and is right in the middle of all the attractions, parks, shopping centers and outlets. Plus, it’s less than 20 minutes from the Disney, Universal and Sea World park complexes, which is great. And because they are outside the park complexes, the hotels on International Drive end up being cheaper.
The hotels on International Drive are great value for money, with excellent service, generally new and with spacious rooms for families. In addition, it’s the ideal place for those who want to be close to the parks and shopping, and where most of the city’s hotels are (in our opinion, the best place on the list of where to stay in Orlando).
However, we also recommend renting a car, as in any other part of Orlando, because the city is large and the parks, shopping malls and tourist attractions are a little far away (but everything is close by car and the avenues are great and very fast).
2. Accommodations in the Disney World complex
When people talk about traveling to Orlando, they immediately think of visiting Disney. That’s why the hotels in the Walt Disney World complex are the most popular. The Disney hotels in Orlando are a little more expensive than the others because they offer a range of benefits, 24 hours a day. So, if you can stay in a hotel within the complex, stay there, as the treatment is very nice.
People who stay at Disney hotels in Orlando have benefits such as extra hours in the parks, free transfers to the parks and other advantages. If you’re traveling and want the best Disney experience, you can stay there.
But if you’re traveling for shopping and other things, it’s worth staying in hotels on International Drive, which are much cheaper and more cost-effective. The Disney Complex is the most expensive option on the list of where to stay in Orlando, but even so, there are budget options that may even pay off, depending on your travel style and how long you want to spend at Disney.
3. Accommodations in Lake Buena Vista
The Lake Buena Vista area is one of the most beautiful near Orlando, with lakes all around. In fact, it is right next to the Walt Disney World complex and even encompasses it, which is why it is the choice of many people who travel to Orlando with the intention of seeing Disney. But who don’t want to stay in hotels inside the complex and prefer cheaper, more accessible options.
It’s good for those who want to shop, as it’s next to the Vineland Premium Outlet, and it’s great for those who want to go out at night. The hotels there are very beautiful and large. It’s another excellent choice of where to stay there, just as good as International Drive.
4. Accommodations in the Universal area
Another well-known area to stay in Orlando is Universal. This area is close to the Universal parks, which are Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure. This is where the famous Harry Potter park is located, for example. The advantages of staying in this area are that you’ll be close to these parks and there’s a lively nightlife.
It’s close to CityWalk, Universal’s entertainment center, with many bars, restaurants and nightclubs. It is recommended for those who want to stay close to the Universal parks and for those who like a lively nightlife. For shopping, it is close to one of Orlando’s Premium Outlets.
5. Accommodations in the SeaWorld area
Following this tips on where to stay in Orlando, just south of International Drive is the SeaWorld park area. It’s a good location because it’s close to Disney and Downtown Disney – a beautiful place full of gardens and incredible landscapes. It has huge areas, which is why the hotels in this area even have golf courses.
It is a recommended area for those who want to stay near the Sea World parks, which are SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica. The hotels there usually have great deals and very good prices.
How to find hotels at the best price in Orlando?
If you want to know what the best hotel reservations are, you need to use this hotel search engine. It will show you all the available offers and you can choose the one that fits your budget. We always use this comparator and get unbeatable prices. Another advantage is that you can check the opinions of who have already stayed at the hotels, helping you decide which one is the best.
Using this reservation comparator, you can cancel your chosen hotel for free at any time. Most hotels on this search engine offer free cancellation. This helps you to save money, as you can book well in advance, guaranteeing the best prices. If you can’t go on your trip, just cancel and there will be no inconvenience.
Save money on your trip to Orlando:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Orlando cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your Orlando tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for theme parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. He compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: We always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Orlando. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one, from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
