The Florida Hotel Pool, Orlando, Florida

When shopping is your purpose when visiting Orlando, staying at The Florida Hotel at The Florida Mall is as close as you can get to actually sleeping on the floor of the mall. (Which, I don’t even want to think about, except I just did. Sorry.)

Connected to the mall, The Florida Hotel opens up to the south wing of the mall from the lobby. Shop your day away at the mall, enjoy any of the great restaurants, then don’t worry about walking back to your car to drive home to a hotel. Just walk straight up to your hotel room to sleep off your tired legs. On-site spa services are available for massages, pedicures, and facials to help you relax.

Off-season special rates start around $79/night putting the well-appointed hotel at the low end price range of mid-level hotels in the area. Find yourself in the pool in the Florida sunshine as you wait for the shopping crowds to slow down during the weekend. Feel comfort knowing that the hotel is part of the Florida Green Lodging Certification Program and has been deemed A Green Hotel by recycling papers, reusing linens (yours only, just like at home), and digital guest room climate control.

THE FLORIDA HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
AT THE FLORIDA MALL
1500 SAND LAKE ROAD
ORLANDO, FL 32809
407-859-1500

Photo courtesy: The Florida Hotel

Atlanta Skyline

Quick, quick! Atlanta, Georgia’s beautiful JW Marriott in Buckhead has tossed out a truly too-good-to-ignore deal: an Advance Purchase Rate on rooms for $109 plus tax! You have to stay on either August 21, 22, 28 or 29. You have to reserve your room at least one full day ahead of time, and once you reserve, you have to fork over all of your money right there, and there are NO refunds. But, come on, would you really cancel?
Rooms here normally start at around $200/night. You’ll enjoy large, comfy rooms (LOVE the sheets at Marriott hotels), a nice exercise rooms, a big indoor pool, a number of bars and the yummy Lenox Grille. You’ll be close to Lenox Square Mall, too (the hotel is actually connected to the mall!), where you can shop till you drop (just don’t drop dead of a heart attack when you see the prices at the stores.)

I like the bathrooms at this hotel – check them out and you’ll see why. Marble counter tops, separate showers and baths, fuzzy bath robes. I often judge a hotel room by the quality of the bathroom, because that element plays a big part in how much I feel at home.

Just put down the “ADP” promotion code when promoted in the box. Then you’re off to enjoy a really nice hotel at a very small price.

Photo Credit: Coka Koehler