Hotels

There seemed to be no end to Orlando's hotel boom a few years ago. Almost 4,000 new rooms were added every year through 2000, and then things began to slow down. The good news (though maybe not for your pocketbook) is that tourism numbers (and hotels) are rising once more, with roughly 4,300 rooms added to the city in the last 2 years. The Orlando area now has more than 115,000 rooms, including scores of places located in or near the major-league tourist draws: Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and the rest of International Drive. Disney alone has 32 resorts (including Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, which opened its first phase in 2007), timeshares, and "official" hotels.

Beautifully landscaped grounds are the rule at properties in WDW, neighboring Lake Buena Vista, Universal Orlando, and on the mid- and southern portions of I-Drive. But the beauty of the area is often offset by the beast of heavier traffic and, at times, higher prices. No matter what your budget or crowd tolerance, there is something for everyone. If you're looking for an inexpensive or moderately priced motel, check out the options in Kissimmee (though that area is no longer limited only to the budget conscious) and, to a lesser degree, on the northern end of International Drive.

Once you have decided on your vacation dates, book your accommodations as soon as possible, especially if you want to stay on Disney or Universal property. Advance reservations are an absolute necessity if you're planning on staying at any of the preferred resorts in town, whether on theme park property or in Orlando proper.

Credit or Debit? -- If you use your debit card (instead of a credit card) as collateral against any purchases you may make during your stay, your card may be charged anywhere from $50 to $250 (or more) per day, whether you actually charge anything to your room or not. This policy can seriously deplete your checking account, leaving you with far less funds than you realize or planned on -- and you won't see a credit back to your account until up to 10 days after you have checked out of your resort. Though WDW does not (at least for now) follow this practice and no charges are applied to your account until you check out, other resorts in the area do. Be sure to ask exactly what your hotel's policy is regarding debit and credit charges the minute you check in (or before you arrive).

Orlando Bed & Breakfasts

Although most of the properties in Orlando are resorts or chains, there are a few good bed-and-breakfast options. These properties offer a respite from the crowded, run-and-gun world of the theme parks, and they're ideal for couples looking for a little quiet time or romance. Note that most of the inns and B&Bs in Orlando do not accept children -- a major selling point for some visitors. If you choose to stay at one of these properties, you'll need a car or some other kind of transportation, because these inns do not provide it. You can find other options in the area through Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns (tel. 800/524-1880; www.florida-inns.com).

Reservation Services

Many of the Kissimmee hotels can be booked through the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel. 800/333-5477 or 407/944-2400; www.floridakiss.com). The same goes for Orlando and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel. 800/643-9492; www.orlandoinfo.com).

Florida Hotel Network (tel. 800/293-2419; www.floridahotels.com), Central Reservation Service (tel. 800/555-7555 or 407/740-6442; www.crshotels.com), and Hotels.com (tel. 800/246-8357; www.hotels.com) are three other services that can help with room reservations and other kinds of reservations in Central Florida. HotelKingdom.com (tel. 877/766-6787 or 407/294-9600; www.hotelkingdom.com) is also a good source of room or vacation rental bargains. You can also book Disney World hotels directly by calling tel. 407/934-7639 or visiting www.disneyworld.com; Universal Orlando properties can be booked by calling tel. 800/837-2273 or 877/801-9720, or by visiting www.universalorlando.com.

How to Use this Section

The hotels listed in this section are divided by location and price category. As you might expect, many of the inexpensive properties are the farthest from the action and/or have the most spartan, unimaginative accommodations.

Keep in mind, however, that this isn't one of the world's best bargain destinations. Unlike other Florida tourist areas, there are few under-$60 motels that meet the standards demanded for listing in this guide. That's why we've raised the price bar. The ones in our inexpensive category charge an average of less than $90 per night for a double room. Those offering $90 to $180 rooms make up the moderate category; $180 to $250 rooms are listed as expensive, and anything more than $250 is listed as very expensive. Any included extras (such as breakfast) are listed for each property. Orlando's peak and off seasons are often complicated as the peak times are sporadically disbursed throughout the calendar. Even remote things such as the International Sweet Potato Growers convention in Orlando can raise off-season prices. These events especially impact moderately priced properties outside WDW.

Keep in mind that rates are per night double unless otherwise noted, and they don't include hotel taxes of 11% to 12%. Also, most Orlando hotels and motels let kids younger than 12 (and usually younger than 18) stay free with a parent or guardian if you don't exceed maximum room occupancy. But to be safe, ask for details when booking your room.