20 Best Hotels in International Drive, Orlando

From the welcoming lobby to the well-appointed suites (with dishwasher, microwave, pots, pans, dishes) and the parklike atmosphere around the pool, this hotel is a great choice if SeaWorld, Aquatica, I-Drive shopping, Universal, or the convention center are on your to-do list. A huge laundry is a boon for families.

In the middle of all the I-Drive activity, and a short walk from ICON Park, this resort offers families a home away from home with plenty of amenities at a reasonable price; rooms and public areas are decorated in mid-century chic, and the large pool has a children's play area, a sandy beach with volleyball court, a shuffleboard court, and a bar and grill.

You can almost reach out and touch The Wheel at ICON Park from this hotel, which offers a slightly kitschy sophistication, combining Alpine castle with Mardi Gras glitz.

If swimming and sliding are among your family's top vacation desires, and your budget gets happy with value prices, this colorful resort with its on-property, 14-slide, three-pool water park could be the perfect destination.

If Universal's roller coasters and Harry Potter's Diagon Alley are your destinations, these homey accommodations just outside the park should fit the bill with budget-priced rooms that offer a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator, and coffeemaker; some even have dining tables.

The name is a mouthful, but it's an accurate description for this hotel, which caters to business-trippers and pleasure seekers alike and is so close to Universal that some of the tower rooms offer roller-coaster and Hogwarts views.

Combining low, bungalow-style buildings and a 17-story tower, this Bali-inspired hotel creates a warm welcome and a comforting escape—lush linens, tranquil guest rooms, three pools, and tropical landscaping—from hectic I-Drive.

An airy, eight-story atrium with palm trees and fountains lends an air of luxury to this all-suites lodging, which offers free breakfast and late-afternoon drinks.

This pleasant, two- and three-bedroom condo resort with full kitchens, halfway between Universal Orlando and Disney World, has six six-story buildings, two pools, a game room, gym, business center, and café with room service.

With a giant ball perched atop its 20-story round tower, this hotel on the north end of I-Drive is visible for blocks and has a contemporary atmosphere, thanks to the clean, airy design of the lobby. Some guest rooms have views of Universal Orlando.

Families visiting this award-winning hotel get two pools, a palm-fringed lazy river to relax in, a kids' club, basketball court, tennis court, and a full-service spa; and conventioneers appreciate the vast meeting space, direct connection to the convention center, substantial restaurants and bars, and work desks with Herman Miller chairs.

Staying at this hotel directly across the street from Universal could be a savvy budget move as the value price includes things like Wi-Fi and free kids meals.

Youngish, high-tech-consuming business travelers and vacationing families find value here because of the location and amenities, such as 42-inch flat-panel HDTVs, work areas with computer access panel, wet bar with mini-refrigerator, and heated pool.

Hyatt Place (not to be confused with neighboring Hyatt House) supports tech-savvy guests in what the company calls the 24/7 lifestyle, which means the amenities available to guests at 3 in the afternoon are also on tap at 3 in the morning, and rooms have work spaces and computer-ready, flat-screen TVs.

This deluxe, high-rise, conference hotel offers everything a resort guest could want, including richly appointed rooms, two pools with cabanas, a full-service spa and fitness center the size of your local Y, two large restaurants, and a 360-seat, glass-walled lounge overlooking the pool.

Set back from traffic on the south end of I-Drive, this condo hotel offers a good deal for a family, with suites that have separate bedrooms, flat-screen TVs, full kitchens with dishwasher, and bathrooms; the I-Ride Trolley passes the front door.

In the center of the entertainment triangle bounded by I-4, Florida's Turnpike, and the Beachline Expressway, this all-suites resort is close to Universal, outlet shopping malls, I-Drive attractions, and the convention center, making it a good option for family vacations, romantic getaways, and business travel.

With a 10-story atrium full of ponds and palm trees, this SeaWorld neighbor features a wine bar in the lobby, as well as rooms that feature a king or two queen beds, sectional couches, flat-screen TVs, lush bedding, and ergonomic work areas.

Connected by a covered sky bridge to the Orange County Convention Center, this 24-story resort with a half-dozen on-site restaurants attracts business customers but doesn't ignore families. The large pool, full-service spa, and easy access to Universal, SeaWorld, Aquatica, and all the I-Drive entertainment complexes give families plenty to do.

Close to the convention center, this 14-story hotel caters to its corporate clientele, but leisure travelers also like the prime location and long list of amenities, including a heated swimming pool, fitness center, babysitting services, and a vibrant nightclub that opens onto the pool.