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Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
When we decided to visit Orlando over the New Year’s holiday, we embarked on a search for the right property to fit our accommodation requirements. Anticipating we would spend the majority of our time enjoying all the attractions the region has to offer and precious little actually at the resort or hotel, we opted for the hotel option in an effort to stretch those precious vacation dollars. After all, why pay for resort amenities that in all likelihood, we would not use?
That said, we still had a list of “must-haves” that needed to be addressed. Traveling with a teenager (and a family member that snores…. he shall remain nameless), we needed a property that provided the option of a suite with a separate bedroom. A full kitchen was preferred, but a fridge and microwave would suffice. A daily breakfast must be included. We wanted the option of free shuttles to the parks, and free parking for our rental vehicle. Complimentary in-room wireless internet must be provided, and there must be a pool and hot tub. The property had to be on (or very close to) International Drive, and central to our planned attractions (SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort). After hours of research, we finally found the winner: the Hawthorn Suites Universal, a Wyndham property, on Canada Avenue.
Our room, a one bedroom suite with a king bed, was very clean upon arrival and had a spacious feel in comparison to a standard hotel room. A complete kitchen featured a full-sized refrigerator, four burner stove, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, and a selection of dishes (plates, cups, cutlery, etc.) in multiples of four. A dining area with a small table and four chairs rounded out the kitchen amenities. The living room, located next to the kitchen and dining area, offered a queen sized pull-out sofa, a matching chair, coffee and end tables, and a 32” TV in a credenza. A large window provided in the living room provided natural light and a view of the neighbouring Crowne Plaza hotel.
Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
The separate bedroom featured a second TV (I will note that both were the older tube models), a six-drawer dresser, the king bed, and a night table. A large mirrored closet provided ample storage for our clothing and luggage. A second smaller closet was located inside the entry door to our suite, and was large enough to accommodate our bulky winter coats and extra footwear.
The bathroom was split into two sections, with the toilet and bathtub in one portion, separated by a door from the dressing area with a large wall mirror above the sink and countertop.
While the cleanliness of the room cannot be faulted in any way and the layout was very functional, some areas were showing visible signs of wear (a section of the border in the bedroom had fallen off, some of the trim in the kitchen had come loose, etc.). I have read on the hotel Facebook page that they will undergoing renovations during 2012 as they become an official hotel for Virgin Holidays, so perhaps these problem areas will be addressed during this process.
Our request (made in advance of our arrival) for a room near the laundry room was honoured without issue. Front desk staff were very helpful throughout our stay, happily providing detailed directions (often with maps printed from Google), dining recommendations, and change for the laundry facilities whenever we asked.
Sleep quality was excellent. Despite being located near the laundry and almost directly across from the elevators, we didn’t hear a peep in our room from other guests all week long. Either we got exceedingly lucky that our “neighbours” on the 4th floor were wonderfully considerate, or the walls are reasonably well insulated. Considering our stay fell over the New Year’s holiday, we expected a certain amount of rowdiness that usually accompanies holiday seasons in a hotel but found there was none.
Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
This hotel screamed location, location, location. Just one block off I-Drive, we were within steps of (or a very short drive from) shopping, dining, mini golf and a multitude of attractions. It was central to the Universal parks, SeaWorld and Aquatica, and a short drive from Disney. Wet N Wild was just up the street. We could walk to many eating establishments including TGI Fridays, Chili’s, Pirates Dinner Theatre, a Chinese buffet, and an assortment of fast food outlets. The World Bowling Center was immediately across the street.
Though this property did not offer resort-style recreational amenities, the outdoor pool and hot tub area were well maintained and provided a nice place to kick back and relax in the Florida sun. Ample lounge chairs and tables with umbrellas were scattered throughout the patio area. The pool was well heated and remained a comfortable temperature for swimming, even on several nights when the temperatures dipped quite low. A small basketball court bordered the pool area, and basketballs were available to borrow from the front desk. A covered barbecue area guest use was next to the basketball court, and we remarked that groups or extended families staying at this location would enjoy throwing some hot dogs on the grill while the children enjoyed the pool.
Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
The daily hot breakfast buffet was an excellent perk. Offerings changed a little bit each day, so there was some variety for those of us staying for more than just a night or two. A meat choice was always included (usually some sort of sausage) a were some variety of eggs. Other hot items which accompanied the meat and eggs were pancakes, french toast, etc. on a rotating basis. The seating area did get very busy at peak times in the morning (after 8 a.m.), however a large conference room located close to the breakfast area was always promptly opened to handle the overflow. Guests were also welcome to eat at the tables on the outdoor patio on days when weather and temperatures were fitting.
The free wireless internet functioned without incident for our entire trip, except for one night where we experienced an inability to connect with our wireless devices. The problem was rectified by the next morning.
The hotel offered free shuttles to Universal, SeaWorld and Disney. We did not utilize any of the shuttle services (as we had a rental car) however they would have been very handy for those without access to a vehicle (or for those who didn’t wish to pay $14 per day to park their car in the theme park lots). Parking at the hotel for the rental car was provided at no additional charge, and ample spaces were always available.
A daily, complimentary happy hour from 5-7 pm provided two free alcoholic drinks per adult, unlimited soft drinks, and some basic snacks such as popcorn and chips. Served from the breakfast area which adjoined the outdoor patio, it was nice to relax with a drink by the pool for a bit after a long day at the parks, and before we headed out for dinner.
One of the few “flaws” of the week was noted in the spotty housekeeping which we experienced on multiple days of our stay. Despite hanging the sign on the door requesting service to the room prior to leaving for the parks for the day, our room was often untouched when we returned in the early evening hours. It was not unusual for housekeeping to arrive well after 7 pm. This was not a big deal for us (traveling with our night-owl teenager), but might have been problematic for guests with younger children. The less-than-perfect housekeeping (it was evident that the room was often cleaned in haste, as sections of the bathroom and living room were not always vacuumed as well as they should have been) and visible wear in the rooms would be the only reasons this hotel cannot be given a full “ten out of ten”.
All in all, we were very pleased with our selection and the inclusions provided for our very reasonable room rate (under $80 per night). Stays are eligible for points in the Wyndham Rewards program (free to join by visiting www.wyndhamrewards.com) so be sure to add your membership number to your reservation. Visit the hotel website at www.hawthornsuitesuniversal.com.
Hawthorne Suites Universal – map
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- Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
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- Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
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- Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
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- Hawthorn Suites Universal (Canada Ave).
Dan is an Orlando destination specialist, former Universal team member, student at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and founder of Visitus Media LLC. Originally from St. Paul, MN, Dan lives in Celebration, FL with his wife Rosie and their new daughter Noa.
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