Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando

The Rosen Inn feels like your typical budget property, albeit more popular than most. The small, nondescript lobby bustles with a steady stream of business and leisure travelers throughout the day; there are often lines at registration as well as at the concierge’s desk. There is a nice outdoor patio, where guests -- both those coming back from the theme parks and those unwinding after business meetings -- relax in the afternoon, but few other common spaces throughout the hotel. Though the three pools are rarely overly crowded, other areas such as the business center, the game room, and the buffet restaurant seldom experience a lull.

Sitting right on International Drive, the Rosen Inn boasts a convenient location for both business and leisure travelers. It is located next to Pointe Orlando -- a complex with tons of restaurants, shops, clubs, movie theaters, and even mini-golf -- and it is also within walking distance of the Orange County Convention Center.The hotel is less than a 10-minute drive from both Universal Orlando and Sea World; free parking is provided, as is a free shuttle to these attractions -- but reservations are required. For a fee, guests can take a shuttle to the Disney World theme parks, which are about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. The airport is about 20 minutes away by car.

The rooms at the Rosen Inn are simple, but recent decor updates have them feeling fresh, if not particularly special. Wooden accents spruce up the space, and IKEA-like furniture -- including large work desks and cozy armchairs –- are plentiful. Beds feature soft pillow-top mattresses, and useful amenities include free Wi-Fi, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, irons and ironing boards, laptop-sized safes, microwaves, and mini-fridges. What some may find odd is that the mini-fridges and microwaves are actually found in the bathrooms to the side of the vanities, which are open to the rest of the room. Showers and toilets can be closed off by doors for privacy.

Though it is a budget property, it is nonetheless surprising that the Rosen Inn does not have an on-site fitness center; in fact, it is one of the only properties in the area -- luxury, budget, or otherwise -- that does not have one.The features that the hotel does offer cater to a mix of business and leisure travelers. There are several meeting rooms, a small business center, and three outdoor pools that are well-maintained and rarely crowded (two of the pools are heated during the colder months). And families are not overlooked either, thanks to kid-friendly amenities that include an on-site game room and an outdoor playground.Dining options are inexpensive and numerous. The 24-hour cafe offers made-to-order items as well as grab-and-go meals, and guests can find basic grocery items here as well. A coffee bar serves pastries and Starbucks coffee, and a sports bar features bar snacks and entrees, as well as frequent karaoke nights. The most popular dining option, however, is the buffet restaurant which is open for breakfast and dinner. Though a la carte options are available, most opt for the extensive buffet of hot and cold items; at breakfast, diners can chow down on eggs, bacon, cereal, sausage, fruit, Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles, and more. Children under nine eat free at the buffet when accompanied by a paying adult (limit of one child per adult).There is free Wi-Fi throughout the property and the hotel provides free parking. A free shuttle (which requires reservations) carts guests to nearby attractions such as Universal Orlando and Sea World, but guests visiting the Disney World theme parks will have to pay an additional fee for the shuttle.