Daytona 500-any info would be helpful

Hi-trying to convince hubby and friends to go to the 500, they have been talking about it for years. Any places that do packages or deals that you know of would be great. The kids and I aren%26#39;t going so the hotel really just needs a decent bed. Any suggestions??? Thanks

Daytona 500-any info would be helpful

My goodness, where to start.

1st let me tell you that most hotels are going to require you to stay a certain amount of nights. A lot of the times at least 5. And they will be much more expensive than normal.

The local experts can give you great advice about whatever areas you find on-line or at www.vrbo.com. I can%26#39;t help you there as I live in Orlando and haven%26#39;t stayed all night in Daytona in about 20 yrs.

There is a good chance that the closest hotels to the track are already booked. You are wise to start looking now. NASCAR.com has travel packages for the races but you%26#39;ll find that the hotels themselves are in Orlando(near Universal Studios) and involve a bus ride over to the track. It%26#39;s close to 45 minutes on a good day.

Good Luck

Daytona 500-any info would be helpful

There%26#39;s a new Comfort Inn right behind Red Lobster that you might try. It%26#39;s right down from the Speedway.

swim4gold,

You could try either the Travelodge or Super 8. Both are real close to the speedway. I have no idea what they are like buy maybe you can pull up their web site. Others are close too but more expensive. It would be best to make reservations asap. I hope this helps

Bonnie

You might also want to try the new Homewood Suites that is near Volusia Mall. You can walk to the track from there.

Also, there is a Holiday Inn Express on Williamson that you can walk to the track.

The other responses were correct that alot of times there are 4 or 5 night minimums, so you might consider going west on Rt 4 to get other accomodations.

Orlando or Disney area is about 60 to 80 miles, but traffic is brutal come RaceWeek. There is alot of construction between Orlando and Daytona in the Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs area. However, that also means newer hotels in that area. Look at Altamonte Springs or Sanford as a midpoint for accomodations.

If you are looking for packages, look in the back of your local racing paper (National Speed Sport or Area Auto Racing News.) There are bus trips and packages listed in the classifieds.

You could also try to look at the Daytona paper on line in their classified to see what packages are available. This is the Daytona News Journal, online edition.

Please try to steer clear of any ';deals'; for hotels in Holly Hill or along Ridgewood in Daytona. These aren%26#39;t the best neighborhoods.

Also, shop around for race tickets. The seats on the backstretch can be really bad. I had them once and ended up standing on the seat just to watch the TV screen.

If money is not a problem, buy the new FanZone pass. The FanZone is in the infield and allows you to look at the garages and pits areas. There are clean bathrooms there (a bonus at Daytona) and plenty of food\beverage areas. This pass is in addition to your race ticket, but it is definitely worth the money.

Have fun!

You might also want to try the new Homewood Suites that is near Volusia Mall. You can walk to the track from there.

Also, there is a Holiday Inn Express on Williamson that you can walk to the track.

The other responses were correct that alot of times there are 4 or 5 night minimums, so you might consider going west on Rt 4 to get other accomodations.

Orlando or Disney area is about 60 to 80 miles, but traffic is brutal come RaceWeek. There is alot of construction between Orlando and Daytona in the Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs area. However, that also means newer hotels in that area. Look at Altamonte Springs or Sanford as a midpoint for accomodations.

If you are looking for packages, look in the back of your local racing paper (National Speed Sport or Area Auto Racing News.) There are bus trips and packages listed in the classifieds.

You could also try to look at the Daytona paper on line in their classified to see what packages are available. This is the Daytona News Journal, online edition.

Please try to steer clear of any ';deals'; for hotels in Holly Hill or along Ridgewood in Daytona. These aren%26#39;t the best neighborhoods.

Also, shop around for race tickets. The seats on the backstretch can be really bad. I had them once and ended up standing on the seat just to watch the TV screen.

If money is not a problem, buy the new FanZone pass. The FanZone is in the infield and allows you to look at the garages and pits areas. There are clean bathrooms there (a bonus at Daytona) and plenty of food\beverage areas. This pass is in addition to your race ticket, but it is definitely worth the money.

Have fun!

This isnt advice as to where to stay rather advice where NOT to stay. we went to the pepsi 400 this year, had a great time, but cheapest place we found to stay was the San Marina hotel, who claims they have a new pool (not) was $150 nt. cheapest we found, we got it for 2 nights. the housekeepers come around with shopping carts (not kidding) for trash, linens, etc. we stayed an extra night the trash sat in 3 shopping carts for the whole 3 days we were there, right by the pool. kids could get hurt, it%26#39;s unsanitary, etc. the 3rd. night i called about the rate was told it would be $45 for the night, when i went into the office they told me $60, total ripoffs. they say they are 4 miles to track, i think it%26#39;s longer, word of advice, take a cab! you dont want to fight in the traffic it will be hours before you can get back to hotel. we took cab to busch and pepsi, $10 person, alot cheaper than a DUI or the stress from the traffic. they all know the back roads and got us there in about 10 min. if that long. only problem was for the pepsi 400 leaving, cabs were alot slower coming back to pick ppl up, but they pick you up at the Friendlys right across the street from the track, so enjoy some ice cream, and finally use a decent bathroom, lol. The busch race was no problem with the cabs. you have to have patience but t%26#39;s still better than the traffic jam. Next time i will pay more for the room though, i thought i wouldn%26#39;t care cause i was just there for the race, but i did care. the towels had holes in them, didntn look clean, rooms are small, nasty sheets, etc. the only good thing was the a/c worked really well. Onto tickets, we waited till last minute to get ours, and we got them thru vividseats.com, 189.96 for for the pepsi 400, said on start/finish line, wasnt quite there but pretty good seats, cant complain at all. we wanted the 2 day package thru nascar.com but they ran out before we ordered, so i went thru tickco.com for the busch tickets and they were only $15 each, busch is general admission, which is good also. I actually enjoyed that more than the pepsi, fewer people pick your own seat, got right up front and was able to take pics of the drivers during introduction. I do agree with what someone else said, get the fan zone tickets, we couldn%26#39;t but wish we had. during pepsi they did driver introductions, but they didnt come down the start/fin area, they went to back stretch . Watching them on/off pit road is incredible, i suggest Campbell box, fi you are not getting something liek the towers, good area, able to see pits and the opening ceremonies, etc. Have fun, we have not decided if we are gonna go there or to an upcoming race, maybe miami. just stay away from that hotel, lol