The Airport Hotel and Budget Travel

You might not be too concerned about the swimming pool or the grounds at your airport hotel. The priority at such a place is sleep, convenience and breakfast. It's great if the hotel provides free transportation to and from the terminal, which should be close enough that you don't have to trade sleep for time in traffic.

Hampton Inn Orlando International Airport has a pool and lovely grounds. But it provides the amenities most valued in this setting. Just to be sure of this, I stayed there twice. One time I caught an early flight out; the second time, I arrived very late and wanted to sleep in the next morning.

At an airport hotel, sleep time is often fleeting. You might just have a few hours before returning to the terminal. So a good airport hotel must provide a reliable, energetic front desk staff that will record your need for a wake-up call and make your airport shuttle arrangements.

Plenty of people are checking out early in these kind of hotels, so you're likely to have company if catching an early flight is your priority. But the housekeeper responsible for our floor during our second stay apparently assumed everyone was gone by about 8:30 a.m. -- or that those remaining needed to wake up. She went down the entire hallway knocking and shouting out "housekeeping." Using the "do not disturb" sign made no difference, because she shouted all the way down the hall.

If you want to sleep later the next morning at an airport hotel, ask the front desk staff if they've reserved a floor for guests checking out later.

The staff at Hampton Inn Orlando International Airport made every effort to make us feel welcome. They asked good questions: Do you need to leave early? Can I make a shuttle reservation for you? Would you like a free hot breakfast in the morning?

During one stay, we arrived so late that the entire parking lot was filled. The desk staff allowed us to park for the night along a sidewalk, just a few steps from the front door.

When checking out, the clerks asked about our stay and if we had encountered any problems. It was done in such a way that you felt they actually did care about your comfort as their guests.

As you search for an airport hotel, pay attention to what online hotel reviews say about the front desk staff. If they seem not to care or are continually criticized, make that a major factor in your selection. In this travel situation, you want an attentive staff. It can save you money on missed flights and expensive airport food.

I did not use the airport shuttle at Hampton Inn Orlando International Airport, but the service is provided free of charge. The hotel's location near the corner of T.G. Lee Blvd. and Semoran Blvd. places it about five minutes from the terminals.

The neighborhood around the hotel offers shopping and restaurant options. You can walk to a Denny's restaurant, and there are also convenience stores within a short distance. But be careful if you're topping off a gas tank in preparation for returning a rental car. Nearby "Sun Gas" was charging $2/gallon above the going rate for gasoline. In these pre-dawn hours, I was perhaps not as alert as I should have been, and I didn't notice the prices on the pumps until after I had already committed myself to the purchase. Also, I had no time to go elsewhere, but fortunately I only needed a gallon or two.

It doesn't hurt to ask the hotel workers about cheap gasoline near the hotel. If I had done so, chances are good that the friendly staff here would have pointed me to another gas station.

Hampton Inn Orlando International Airport probably falls into the mid-range price category for many budget travelers. In other words, you can find something less expensive, but you can also pay a great deal more.

The room in which I stayed was in the $110-$150/night range. Lower rates are available on weekend stays. At this price, one would expect a free breakfast. Hampton delivers a full breakfast bar with hot and cold items and self-serve waffle griddle.

The breakfast bar is open from 6-10 a.m. A significant percentage of airport hotel travelers will depart prior to that 6 a.m. start, so Hampton offers a "to go" breakfast in a brown bag that is available at the front desk upon checkout. They call it their "On the Run" breakfast service -- a nice touch that goes above and beyond what one might expect.

This hotel is well to the east of Orlando attractions such as Disney World, and might not be the best choice for travelers unconcerned with airport proximity. But it is well connected to Orlando's network of toll roads, and not too far from the University of Central Florida.

With airport transportation, parking and breakfast all provided at no additional charge, Hampton Inn Orlando International Airport is a solid choice for budget travelers seeking an airport hotel that provides service but keeps its prices within reason.

Details: The Hampton Inn Orlando International Airport is located at 5767 T.G. Lee Blvd, Orlando, FL 32822. The phone number is 407-888-2995 (Fax 407-888-2418).