Clarion Inn & Suites Across from Universal Orlando Resort

Though this Clarion is a budget hotel, it feels like a big step up from most of the run-down motor hotels in this part of Orlando. It's not much to look at from the outside -- just an off-white one-story main building where the lobby, restaurant, and cafe are located flanked by five two-story blocks of rooms. However, the lobby reveals a different story with polished white-marble floors, a centerpiece seating area with modern sofas and Star Trek-style seats in hues of gray and purple, and a  gorgeous blown-glass chandelier on the ceiling set amongst additional recessed lighting and violet-hued back lighting. A single door leads to the hotel's spacious Indian/Chinese restaurant, Tabla, which features dark-brown tile floors, cream-colored walls with pincushion accents, and black ceilings strung with glass bulb-style lamps. Additional common areas include a grassy garden courtyard with a fountain and plenty of tables and chairs. Most guests here are tourists who want easy access to the nearby Universal theme parks. The hotel gets plenty of families both from the U.S. and abroad.

One of the Clarion's biggest selling points is its location, just across from the Universal theme parks and about a five-minute drive (or 20-minute walk) from the parking lot at Universal City Walk. The area has plenty of other chain hotels along with lots of fast food and chain restaurants (including an IHOP, a TGIFriday's, a Hooter's, and a Taco Bell). There's a Publix supermarket a few minutes away by car. SeaWorld is a 20-minute drive away. Getting to Epcot and Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom takes around a half-hour by car, depending on traffic. The Orlando Airport is a 20- to 25-minute drive away. 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.

When it comes to interior design, rooms at this Clarion go above and beyond what's typically found in most budget properties. All feature a similar decor scheme with gray patterned curtains and coordinating carpets, purple accent walls, monochrome abstract floral prints on the walls, and silver-framed mirrors. All rooms come with either one or two queen beds or one king-size bed, all with faux-snakeskin headboards and plum-hued bed runners. Amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, irons, and ironing boards, plus free Wi-Fi (available throughout the hotel). Electronic safes are provided for a daily fee. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combos (except in some of the accessible King units, which have roll-in showers), along with separate granite vanities in the main living areas. Simple toiletries and small hairdryers are provided. Connecting rooms and free use of cribs are available based on availability. Note that all rooms here have exterior entrances and while some look out on the pool or courtyard, many have drab views of the parking lot or of the external corridors. 

This Clarion has a solid set of amenities, including a 24-hour fitness center -- however, it doesn't offer a ton in the way of equipment, just a few cardio machines and a cross-trainer. There's also a standard outdoor pool with an adjacent whirlpool hot tub and enough lounge chairs to go around. There's no breakfast service here, but guests can pick up pastries, Lavazza espresso drinks, and cereal at Roast, the lobby-level coffeeshop. For lunch and dinner, Tabla restaurant offers Indian food and Indo-Chinese food (essentially the kind of Chinese food you find in India), but it's really expensive, especially given its location in what is, for all intents and purposes, a budget hotel. Tabla also operates a separate bar in the lobby where guests can order drinks and appetizers, but both the bar and restaurant are closed on Mondays. 

Other amenities include a small gift shop selling packaged snacks and run-of-the-mill Disney kitsch, plus a computer where guests can print boarding passes for a small fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Coin-operated laundry facilities are available on the second floor and are open around the clock. There's ample on-site free parking. Free shuttles to the Universal and Disney theme parks stop at the hotel, but the latter only run twice a day and only stop at Epcot (from where travelers will have to switch shuttles).