Staybridge Suites Orlando Airport South by IHG

Our one bedroom suite worked out great: my husband could work in one room while I relaxed in the other, and both the living room and bedroom were clean and comfortable. We've tried Staybridge studios and two bedroom suites before, but this one was a favorite. The kitchen is a big reason we like the brand, with a full size refrigerator, pots, pans, utensils, paper towels, and plenty of room for groceries like a case of water and snacks. Breakfast is great every morning, and the rooms are clean. The location is easy to navigate to, in a safe area, close to Universal Epic and about 30 minutes from Disney World. Staybridge always delivers for us, and I'd recommend any of them.

The staff and service were excellent, and the location is good. The hotel's maintenance is another story: room doors had chunks and chips missing beneath the paint, and the bathrooms were corroded and gross. The toilet was loose and shifted on the floor. Those problems aren't the staff's fault.

Breakfast was the cleanest and most organized I've seen at a hotel, thanks to ANA. C. She kept everything first class, was extremely kind to all our kids, and served everyone so well. If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely stay here.

The best part of our stays was Jo Vonne, the evening receptionist. She was courteous, helpful, and sincerely tried to resolve some of our issues. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience left us sure we wouldn't return to Staybridge Suites Orlando International. We stayed one night when arriving in Orlando with family, then another night before flying home. I've stayed at many Staybridge Suites across the U.S., and this was the most run-down one I've encountered. On the first stay, the room was acceptable but worn, with chipped paint and visible rust around the bathroom trim. The pool was closed both times, and nobody told us before arrival, even though it closed after we'd booked. A pool mattered to our kids, so we would have chosen a different hotel had we known. The lack of notice was frustrating. Our second stay was worse. We arrived early and asked about checking in ahead of time. As an IHG member, I'd never had trouble with early check-in elsewhere, but we understood when told no room was ready. The problem was how it was handled. John at reception was unpleasant and hard to deal with. He took our number and said he'd text when a room was ready, but no message came. We drove around to pass the time and returned about 30 minutes before check-in, only to learn our room had been ready for quite a while. I then overheard John enthusiastically telling the next guests about dinner specials and promotions, after he'd told me there were no specials. His demeanor changed noticeably, and it felt like information was being selectively shared. There was also a strong burning smell in our room, and the hotel didn't tell us what was going on. We later heard there had been a “small fire” somewhere in the building. Nobody alerted us: no alarm, no knock, nothing. That was alarming and unacceptable for safety. The room also smelled strongly of mildew or mold. Running the bathroom fan helped a little, but the odor remained unpleasant. I also found visible stains on the sheets.