ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER

PROFESSIONALLY RUN PROPERTY WITH MULTIPLE DINING OPTIONS      AT GOOD PRICE NEXT TO ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

Tip of the hat to Rosen management for rapidly posting a custom reply to my concerns – it demonstrates a commitment to excellence:

We appreciate your candor regarding the parking fees and the situation at our poolside bar and grill.

Your insights are invaluable, and we are committed to improving our guests' experiences.

We will certainly review the issues you highlighted with our management team to enhance the quality of our services and ensure our guests' needs are met efficiently.

Thank you once again for your constructive feedback.

We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide an even more pleasant experience in the future.

ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER

PROFESSIONALLY RUN PROPERTY WITH MULTIPLE DINING OPTIONS        AT GOOD PRICE NEXT TO ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

Tip of the hat to Rosen management for rapidly posting a custom reply to my concerns – it demonstrates a commitment to excellence:

Hello Steve, thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback following your stay at Rosen Plaza.

We are delighted to hear that you found our accommodations to be spacious, clean, and comfortable, and that our team was able to fulfill your request for a quiet room with a view.

It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed our breakfast buffet and had such a positive experience with Brahim; he will be pleased to receive your commendation for his exceptional service.

ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER

PROFESSIONALLY RUN PROPERTY WITH MULTIPLE DINING OPTIONS      AT GOOD PRICE NEXT TO ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

My other small issue with Rosen Plaza Hotel Orlando Convention Center was the pool side bar and grill.

I met a colleague for a burger and fries there. We had some business to go over before my speech.

The music was way too loud.

We asked to sit farther from the bar -- in a lowered area next to the pool -- with tables for the bar -- but were told the pool was closing soon so we could not sit in the very seating area that was created for the very place were were patronizing.

Of course, we were there two hours, paid for a lot of food and drink -- and the pool never closed, so we could have easily sat in the more tranquil area.

It is poor management to blast music and fail to accommodate the simplest request to move to an already designated seating area that is less loud.

ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER

PROFESSIONALLY RUN PROPERTY WITH MULTIPLE DINING OPTIONS       AT GOOD PRICE NEXT TO ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

International Drive in Orlando is NOT a crowded urban area.

If something is as dense at Manhattan, I expect to pay to park.

So it was not fun to pay nearly $25, including tax, per day, for a self park spot in a huge -- uncovered and barely shaded -- surface lot.

In fairness, I do understand that virtually all properties in the area charge for parking and some charge much more than Rosen Plaza Hotel Orlando Convention Center.

ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER

PROFESSIONALLY RUN PROPERTY WITH MULTIPLE DINING OPTIONS      AT GOOD PRICE NEXT TO ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

The Rosen Plaza Hotel Orlando Convention Center breakfast buffet was fresh, warm and extensive -- even though less than 10 people were at breakfast when I went to it.

My server was fabulous.

He poured coffee frequently.

He also politely explained that juice came with the $22 buffet.

Often, it is extra and I would not have enjoyed a tall glass of OJ without his making things clear.

The man's name, on my receipt, is Brahim.

He brought extra napkins and was highly professional.

I hope he gets a bonus when/if the property reads this review.

ROSEN PLAZA HOTEL ORLANDO CONVENTION CENTER

PROFESSIONALLY RUN PROPERTY WITH MULTIPLE DINING OPTIONS     AT GOOD PRICE NEXT TO ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

I was speaking at a conference nearby.

The host hotel was too expensive.

I wanted something for under $150 --fully loaded (as in room, tax, parking) and Rosen Plaza Hotel Orlando Convention Center fit the bill.

The room was large, super quiet and very clean.

The bed was very comfortable.

I emailed the property to place me far from the elevators, as that usually is a noisy area.

They complied, but I still had a view of International Drive.

The pool was large and nice, but it was rainy so I did not use it.

NOBLE DEN HOTEL

CLEAN, EFFICIENT ROOMS PLUS ROOFTOP DECK

IN LOWER MANHATTAN'S CHINATOWN/LITTLE ITALY

I could instantly see why Noble Den Hotel gets high reviews.

The staff is very polite and resourceful.

The property is an oasis in an otherwise slightly gritty area where Chinatown meets Little Italy -- with the Lower East Side and SOHO nearby.

Mulberry Street next door can be noisy, but the hotel is sound proofed.

The units are small, but super well designed. They have thought of everything as far as space, natural light, comfortable bath, tons of outlets (with USB outlets too), a mini fridge, etc.

The super bonus is a rooftop lounge. It has no bar, so there is no noise are hipster crowds to fight. Just some nice furniture and a panoramic view of lower Manhattan.

Just off the lobby is really good free coffee, hot chocolate and a microwave for heating up delicious food from the neighborhood.

The room fridge is not a mini bar, which is a good thing. All of its space is for cooling beverages, berries, breakfast foods and leftovers.

There are two elevators, so no waiting in the smallish family feeling property.

I was checked in just under an hour early -- for free -- and they safely stowed my bags.

You get a cute stuffed animal on arrival and there are toothbrushes, combs and more in the room, if you forgot to pack those.

Major subway stations are nearby for fast, inexpensive transit.

The price point was incredible for a modern, fresh, well-designed and well-located hotel.

There is a great accessible room with roll-in shower. The only drawback is adjacent elevator shaft noises.

 

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

Lisbon Nest welcomes you with a bottle of very good regional wine and fresh fruit.

The two greatest lookout sites -- Miradouros -- are within walking distance of the Nest. One is the highest in Lisbon and the other has a little cafe for local wine and snacks.

Two of the greatest fresh catch plus local meat dish diner-sized mom and pop places are right down the hill from the Nest.

Camones has eclectic live music very close by – but it closes early and the music never disturbs your sleep.

 

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

The Lisbon Nest hosts have written a fabulous guidebook -- in English -- waiting for you on the kitchen table.

It has a guide to dozens of locals’ restaurants within walking distance of Lisbon Nest.

It also suggests dozens of day trips -- Sintra, Mafra, Cascais -- and gives good details on how to get there.

It has a rundown of monuments and museums in Lisbon and tips on the easy to use and inexpensive transit system.

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

For drying clothes, Lisbon Nest has a clothesline out the window -- that's what the natives use.

The living room has a flat screen TV and a couch that's plenty big for a person to sleep on.

There's also a small writing desk when you enter.

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

 LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

Lisbon Nest is in Graca.

Graca is central, but not in the noisy tourist areas. 

It's the best of both worlds -- fabulous restaurants, things to do, historic tram plus major bus routes -- but you can live like a Lisboan, not a tourist.

The apartment has a modern kitchen with a small fridge, stove top, oven, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, microwave and best of all -- a clothes washing machine that spins clothes dry.

 

 

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

Lisbon Nest is an apartment.

Most everyone else in the building lives there year-round.

By European standards, it is big enough for 2 adults and one child.

The bed is super comfortable and the surrounding units and part of the neighborhood are super quiet and tranquil. 

LISBON NEST IN BAIRRO GRACA

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL AT A FULL-SIZE APARTMENT

AT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE

This was my the second time staying with the Nest property.

The same couple manage several vacation homes in the Graca area.

They have the same fabulous person clean the unit to spotlessness, meet you with the key, show you how appliances work, bring over extra sheets or coffee, etc.