Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando Lake Mary

The area is quiet and has plenty of free parking, with places to get food or gas nearby. It’s away from the city, which can also be a plus for the quiet, though there’s a small daily tourism fee. Getting to downtown Orlando or nearby parks is easy. The spacious room had a well-equipped kitchen, and I liked being able to open the windows a little for fresh air in the morning or evening. Elizabeth Jackson, Assistant Manager, handles issues promptly and with care. The front desk staff were pleasant, too. I’ve forgotten one woman’s name, but her daughter studies at Harvard U.

The hotel is clean, in a good area, and has spacious rooms, but I ended up having to move after the first night even though I’d told the front desk I had two reservations, one for a night and another for three, and didn’t want to switch rooms. The girl at check-in said she understood and wouldn’t want to move either. We unpacked, so I was really mad when we had to change rooms the next day. They put us in room 516, where the AC sounded like a freight train every time it came on. Luckily the weather was cool, so I could turn it up and keep it from starting. Otherwise it would wake us at night. I didn’t complain because I didn’t want to move a second time. Beware of room 516. The bed is hard and the AC is LOUD. You will not sleep.

We used this hotel as a base while driving around to see places in and around Orlando, and it worked perfectly. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and there’s free breakfast, with restaurants nearby as well. The woman who checked us in was warm and welcoming, and took time to suggest places to visit. Since it was the holiday season, she even gave our kids welcome goodie bags. We had a wonderful stay at Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando Lake Mary.

After staying in about five hotels around Lake Mary/Sanford, this is easily the best of them. It’s much better than the Marriott next door, which had serious mold issues. This Residence Inn is clean and well maintained, with a fresh feel throughout. My King Suite was spacious and quiet, and the A/C was so quiet I got a great night’s sleep. The room amenities were lovely. Staff were consistently friendly, breakfast was better than the usual hotel spread, and the free parking was plentiful and close to the building. A few things could be better. The couch looks fine but is about as uncomfortable as it gets. The housekeeping door hanger is confusing: one side says “I'm all set” with unclear subtext, and the other says “Later please.” I put out “Later please,” but service never came. It should say “Service Please” on one side and “Do Not Disturb” on the other. Checkout was awkward, too. I stood at the desk for a couple of minutes before someone told me I could just leave. They could explain the express checkout better. Still, this is my new go-to in the area. The clean, quiet rooms make it my top choice in Lake Mary despite the stiff couch and confusing signs.