Cheap Motels Florida: A Pitstop on Your Travels or Home For a Week.
What do you think of when you think of the cheap motels Florida might offer? An American version of ‘Crossroads’ complete with Meg Richardson, Benny and Miss Diane? Think again!
What do you think of when you think of the cheap motels Florida might offer? Cockroaches, broken fixtures and saggy beds? An American version of ‘Crossroads’ complete with Meg Richardson, Shughie McFee, Benny and Miss Diane – with Dolly Parton accents? Well think again!
The fact that you are considering what CHEAP motels Florida might have available should not automatically make you think you are considering NASTY motels in Florida. Some of the lowest priced motels you can stay in are really nice places.
We have been constantly delighted with the variety of cheap motels Florida has presented us with.
There are big ones, small ones (some as big as your head!); some are right next to the highways, others are tucked away in corners of small towns; some are perfect for one-night layovers and some are great places to settle in for a few days or a couple of weeks.
As with most aspects of flydrive holidays, motels are more flexible than your credit card! Motels are, in fact our accommodation of choice throughout the States. Why is that?
– Because they can be really economical
– Because they are so flexible
– Because you can drive your car right to the door and rarely have to haul your bags up flights of stairs.
– Because they are free and easy in attitude – no stuffy managers or the like!
– Because in over 20 years we have only had ONE noisy neighbour.
– Because if you choose carefully, you can find swimming pools and other facilities at much less than the cost of similar facilities in a hotel.
Fall out of the car and into bed!
Surely there are some disadvantages to the cheap motels Florida has?
Well that depends on what you want.
– Most have no room service – but we travel with a few crisps, biscuits and a few cans of something to drink (practically all motels have free ice machines) in case we get an attack of the midnight munchies. Mostly though, the meals you have in restaurants are so huge you don’t want to look at food for days after one!
– Most have no dry cleaning or laundry service – but many do have washing machines and dryers to cover you for emergencies. And all will point you in the direction of a local laundry service if you need something special.
– Most have no fancy landscaping or similar – but we only go there to sleep after a hard day sightseeing.
Our tips on Cheap Motels Florida
Beware of motels that advertise an hourly rate! These are the worst, most ramshackle hotels in the dodgiest areas so you probably won’t even come across them. However, if you do see that “Hourly Rates Available” sign, GET OUT OF THERE! You don’t want to sleep in those sheets!
Cheap Motels Florida: How much are they going to cost?
The cheaper ones start at about the same price as the cheaper hotels – around $30.00 to $35.00. However, I don’t remember ever finding one that charged more than $100.00 – and that was for a King Size suite with a Jacuzzi!
Most range from about $30.00 to $60.00 a night for a room with two double beds.
Occasionally they will charge a small supplement for full occupancy but this is practically never more than an extra $5.00 and is often waived during the week or in low season.
Are there any hidden extras?
Generally speaking, the price you are quoted is the price you pay in a motel. Bear in mind that the price they quote in adverts is excluding tax though. In Florida, State Sales Tax is fixed at 6.5%. However, Orange County (which includes the Disney area) adds another 6% Occupancy Tax as well.
One other thing you may run into is the Friday and Saturday night rate. Obviously, Fridays and Saturdays are the most popular nights for hotels so there is a small premium for rooms on those nights. But I have never seen more than a $10.00 increase for these nights and it is often much nearer $5.00 or $6.00.
Deposits
Give your plastic a break – it needs a holiday too. Usually, if you pay with a credit card, there is no need to leave a room deposit. If you burn the place down or pinch the towels or paint the room with assorted graffiti, they’ll just charge your card!
However, if you pay with cash you may be asked to leave either credit card details or a cash deposit in case of damages. This deposit can vary between $25.00 and $80.00. There seems to be no fixed rule here. Don’t worry though – as long as you leave the room in a reasonable condition, you will always get your cash back in the morning.
What is included in the price
I have never been in a Florida Motel – not even a cheap one – where there was no air conditioning. Air Con is a MUST in a Florida summer and they all have them.
Some basic type of breakfast is usually included in the price. This can vary quite a lot. We have been in motels that have no more than coffee in plastic cups and a supply of doughnuts to be taken back to your room.
In other places, we have had tea, coffee, fruit juice or milk; a selection of breakfast cereals; waffles
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