Hawthorn suites Sea World

[tracycd]

Hi,
Thinking about this place for our first night.
Any and all reviews would be appreciated.
Tracycd

 

[RobinLyn]

I would also like to know if they are a nice place to stay. We are thinking of staying at the one near Orlando Airport for one night. If anyone has stayed at either, I would love to hear the good and bad if any. They look really nice for the pirce.

RobinLyn

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Hi,

We stayed at the Hawthorn Suites SeaWorld four times over the last few years, the most recent stay being January. We always enjoyed it - never had any problems. The suites are clean and well kept, and the pool is very nicely landscaped. When I was there in January, they even had hot food (like eggs and waffles) at the continental breakfast now, along with the basics like bagels, toast, cereals, fruit, etc. The location is nice - on Westwood Boulevard, a less busy street than International Drive. I am going to WDW in May and would love to stay here again (but it's booked solid on my dates! Whaaa!) Obviously, I highly recommend Hawthorn Suites!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~swill70/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[AlicesAdventures]

Hawthorn Suites on Palm Parkway, LBV is also very nice. Well kept and lots of room for the $$. Its also very close to restaurants and a Goodings market. Downtown Disney is only about 2 miles away. Stayed there twice, going back in Oct.

They have a very nice tour of their rooms on their website-
http://www.hawthornsuiteslbv.com/

 

[LADYnTRAMP]

Just made ressies at the Hawthorn by Sea World for our trip the end of May. Was just wondering approx. how many minutes does it take to get to WDW from there. Have never stayed in that area before. Sounds like a nice hotel for $59 a night. Thanks for any replies.

 

[kylara]

Robin,

Haven't stayed at the Hawthorne by the airport but did get a full tour (the college I work for is holding a leadership seminar there in April)...and the hotel looks very nice. The rooms are all two rooms and very neat (well at least the one they showed us). The have a breakfast buffet and a cocktail time each day. The hotel is used for conferences and the staff we met were all polite and very helpful. The people staying there all seemed to be having a good time and the pool was very much in use. After looking over the hotel, I know that I will be inclined to see if there is a Hawthorne Suite near where I am traveling in the future.

 

[RobinLyn]

Thanks kylara!! I booked the Hawthorn Suites at the airport for our last night before leaving in the morning to go home. We want to spend the last day at the parks once leaving Yacht Club, headed for the airport that night. We have to teenage boys, so I booked the 2 bedroom suite. It just seemed like a better choice for the $$. One room with 2 queen beds at the Renaissance Hotel at MCO was $145 a night w/tax. The suite was a little less, but has two bedrooms, a king bed and two queen beds. My sons are of normal weight, but my 15 year old is 6 foot (soon to be 16) and really needs the sleeping space. I think the Hawthorn is newer too. Thanks Again.

RobinLyn

 

[Bungalow Bill]

We just got back from Orlando and I was about to post a review on the Hawthorn Suites Seaworld. We stayed there 3 nights and got their "Stay 3, get the 3rd night free rate". As most people know, it's almost impossible to rate a hotel in a chain based on the rep of another in the chain. Most hotels/motels are franchised to individuals and corporations, and it's their responsibility for their upkeep. Some are much better at it than others.
Here's my review:
Room size: the king suite was more than adequate for two people, but would be cramped for 4 (sofa doubles as a bed), and although the kitchen table was big enough for 4 chairs, there were only 2. Vanity area separate from bathroom, a definite plus. Ultra small dorm size fridge.
Cleanliness and Appearance: Heavy odor of cleaning chemicals. Bathroom floor and shower tile dirty; carpet worn and dirty in spots; towels, dishes, silverware, and bedding clean (dirty towels were replaced daily), walls need repaired and repainted, towel racks in bathroom and vanity falling off wall, toilet constantly ran (told desk clerk but nothing done). They turned the water off to the ice maker in the fridge. Desk clerk said quests were not emptying ice trays. He must also work for Ripley's Believe It or Not. Long haul to the only ice machine on the first floor.
Noise: hotel is tucked away back off of I-Drive and away from I-4. No traffic noise. Our room was on the 4th floor so very little noise from pool area, and luckily we had quiet neighbors.
Free continental Breakfast from 6 to 10 AM: no bagels, but toast, english muffins, cereal, scrambled eggs, and rotating sausage, biscuits and gravy, or french toast. They ran out of coffee one morning and I had to settle for decaf (yuk!!).
Pool area: best part of hotel, small wading pool, uncrowded large heated pool, and hot tub. Nice landscaping and plenty of chairs.
Location: good location, about 4 miles from Universal and 5 miles from WDW, easy access to I-4 (from hotel turn left on I-Drive and stay to your right). Bennigan's and Red Lobster close by, and an excellent take-out/eat in pizzeria directly behind Bennigan's at a small strip mall. Pick up cold beer to go with your pizza at the liquor store in the same mall. There's also a Publix supermarket close by on Central Florida Parkway. From the hotel turn right on I-Drive south, then left on CFP, market is just a couple of blocks on your right, open til 10 PM. Don't buy too much though because the mini fridge only holds about 2 - 3 liters of pop. And don't forget dish detergent, Hawthorn does not provide it.
Conclusion: Less than I expected. Pictures of room and hotel on Hawthorn's website must have been taken when hotel first opened. I rate this Hawthorn a 7 out of 10, and would have rated it a lot lower without the discount. This hotel was built in 1991 and has seen a lot of wear and tear. It needs refurbishing badly. If you are thinking about cooking in a lot, forget about it, the mini micro fridge is just big enough to keep a 6 pack cold. Unless they discounted the rooms down to about $25 a night I would not stay here again. For just a few bucks more there are better choices. There is a Studio Plus and Extended Stay (same company) right next door to the Hawthorn that's only 2 years old. No continental breakfast and a small pool (we were so busy we only got to use the pool at Hawthorn once) but only $54. (Studio Plus) a night for 2, and FULL SIZE APPLIANCES. Check out their website. http://www.extstay.com/