Review of Econo Lodge Port Canaveral Area 2*

Recently I stayed at the Econo Lodge (formerly Clarion Hotel) situated along SR 520 on Merritt Island. Simply put, this is a fantastic hotel that offers outstanding value, clean rooms, and attentive staff. Before elaborating on why I enjoyed my stay at the Econo Lodge — Merritt Island, I'd like to first clarify my 5-star rating. For travelers who are expecting a "five star" hotel to offer floor to ceiling marble in the bathrooms and rooms that are updated every three months, this is *not* the hotel for you. If, however, you appreciate a clean, comfortable room at a hotel offering a host of amenities all at a great price — read on. Foremost, the rooms at the Econo Lodge are comfortable, fairly spacious, and above all clean. Taking a note from the TV show "Hotel Impossible, " I ran my fingers along the tops of the picture frames in my room. There was no dust! The linens and towels were all clean with a fresh smell, too. Aside from cleanliness, the room featured a mini-fridge and microwave, wardrobe closet, and TV. Note that these are not HD flat-panel TVs, but they work just fine. The bed, by the way, was a little on the firm side but plenty comfortable. At home, I use a soft pillow-top mattress and am a fickle sleeper. There are abundant amenities at the Econo Lodge — Merritt Island. A clean, large pool is on-site and is far bigger than most I've seen at newer hotels. There are also two well-equipped business offices available to guests. These are just off of the lobby and are private (ask the manager for a key to access them). Laundry facilities and a small exercise facility are also on site. One of the best amenities, though, is the complimentary hot breakfast. One can get eggs or an omelet along with a variety of sides, juices, and hot coffee. Some side items do cost extra, but in all cases are $3.00 or less. Of course, few things are perfect in all ways. There are some small flaws at the Econo Lodge — Merritt Island. One of these is the rooms using older individual A/C units. As usual, these can be a bit loud. I use earplugs when I sleep and didn't have an issue with the noise, though. The only other minor flaw I found was that the provided shampoo is in a fairly small bottle. I'm sure the front desk would provide more on request, though. Overall, I had a great stay at the Econo Lodge — Merritt Island. The staff are fantastic (especially the manager, Oral) and the facilities are well-kept and clean. The next time I visit family in Florida, I'll plan to stay here. By the way — this would be a great hotel for a family vacationing in Florida. It's easy to make a day trip to the Orlando resorts from this location and the beach is a quick 15-minute drive away. The next time you find yourself wanting a hotel room in the Merritt-Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach area — stop by and give the Econo Lodge off of 520 a try.