La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Orlando Universal Area

La Quinta Inn Orlando - Universal Studios is a lower-middle-range franchise hotel spread out over two vaguely Mission-style yellow  buildings.  During our late 2017 visit, the hotel was undergoing renovations, so there was no proper lobby -- just a reception area in the second building with a sofa for guests, plus a bright breakfast area in the back. Rooms are accessed via interior hallways with patterned carpets and walls painted an olive-green color that adds a slight 1970s-retro feel to the place. This hotel attracts a few business travelers plus tons of vacationers, most of whom are in town to visit Universal Studios nearby.

La Quinta Inn Orlando - Universal Studios is located just off Vineland Road, right next to the similarly priced Comfort Suites Universal Studios. The area is full of hotels, with a few fast food restaurants and gift shops in the area, plus a Walgreen's drug store just down the street. It's a 10-minute drive to the Universal Studios theme parks and about a 15-minute drive to the Orange County Convention Center. Other area attractions include the Coca-Cole Orlando Eye (an eight-minute drive) and SeaWorld (15 minutes away). Factor in around a half-hour to get to the various Walt Disney World theme parks. Downtown Orlando is a 15-minute drive away, while getting to the airport takes around 20 minutes, traffic permitting.

Rooms have either one king bed or two queen beds, and many have sofa beds. Room decor is snazzier than what one might expect from a value property, with deep plum and lime-green accent walls, wood or patterned-carpet floors, sleek dark-wood furniture, and bright wall art with technicolor floral motifs. Standard amenities include coffee and tea-making facilities, microwaves, mini-fridges, irons with ironing boards, and flat-screen TVs with cable. Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the hotel. In contrast, the bathrooms are quite plain. They come with shower/tub combos (or roll-in showers in accessible rooms), solid beige granite countertops, hairdryers, and toiletries. Many rooms overlook the parking lot or simple grass grounds. 

Amenities at this hotel are mostly average, though there are two outdoor swimming pools, one corresponding to each building. Both pools have a few lounge chairs with parasols as well as shaded tables at the larger main pool. Other amenities include a small business corner with free printing and coin-operated laundry facilities, but there's no fitness center. A decent hot-and-cold breakfast is included in room rates, but there aren't any on-site dining options for lunch and dinner. Soft drink vending machines and ice machines are located on every floor. Outdoor parking and fast Wi-Fi are free. There's also a free shuttle to Universal Studios that departs once per day, each way.