I've been doing some research this afternoon checking to see who still has rooms available. Results of the search are below. You can probably get even lower rates if you are a member of AAA or AARP or government rate, etc., and some of them (like Residence Inn) offer suites which provide the option of splitting the expense for the room between 3 people (double beds and a sofa bed) up to perhaps 8 people (2 bedrooms and a sofa bed, 2 bathrooms)
BEST WESTERN: http://www.bestwestern.com
Winter Haven (Cypress Gardens) Best Western has numerous rooms available starting at $97 per night - Winter Haven is a nice easy drive from the airport, basically a straight shot down high-speed roads with little traffic incoming to Lakeland because that part of it is toll roads, which deters people who don't want to have to pay for low traffic and high speed.
and there are several other Best Westerns in the general vicinity showing availability during Sun'n'Fun (but my fingers are starting to hurt from so much typing so y'all will need to just go to http://www.bestwestern.com , enter Lakeland, FL and the dates, and look for yourselves.
HILTON CHAIN (includes Hampton Inns)
( http://www.hilton.com - enter Lakeland, FL and dates, then when hotels list select "sort by distance" to make it easier to see)
Hilton Garden Inn Tampa/Brandon has rooms available starting @ $98/night
Hampton Inn in Brandon has 3 rooms available listed @ $99/night - all non-smoking, 2 kings and 1 double.
Hampton Inns in Lakeland and Winter Haven are booked solid.
Hampton Inn Orlando - Maingate South (shown as 22.75 miles away from Lakeland's city center) has an assortment of rooms available starting at $94/night
Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa-East (in Seffner - 20.91 miles from Lakeland's city center) has rooms starting @ $114/night - newly-built hotel
MARRIOTT (includes Residence Inn, Courtyard, and numerous others)
Marriott chain ( http://www.marriott.com - enter Lakeland, FL and dates)
Residence Inn - includes free breakfast, free wireless, and free parking
Residence Inn Lakeland has availability - rates shown @ $264 for 2 double beds and a sofa bed (3.2 miles north of Lakeland city center)
Residence Inn Tampa Sabal Park/Brandon - rates shown starting @ $139 queen studio, $149 1 BR suite w/sofa bed, $179 2 BR suite w/sofa bed & 2 baths (23.2 miles east of Lakeland city center)
There are a huge number of motels showing availability during Sun'n'Fun if you are willing to do some driving to/from - you'll need to go to the http://www.Marriott.com page and decide for yourself if you want to locate in Brandon, Kissimmee/Orlando, or Tampa.
HOLIDAY INNS
All Holiday Inns within meaningful driving distance of Lakeland are fully booked and unavailable.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/home
RADISSON
The closest Radisson is in Kissimmee, starting at $127/night - 25 miles west of Lakeland city center.
http://www.radisson.com/home.jsp
Good luck!
Susan
N2141H
===================================
"It is much better to live in a world that you have participated in defining, than in one that has been defined for you." - Susan Horton
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
"As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time, at peril of being judged not to have lived." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
=====================================
