The Wyndham Garden is the budget-minded choice for a theme-park trip. It is a straightforward 195-room hotel on Water Country Parkway, and it earns its place on price, a free full breakfast and a location that puts Water Country USA a six-minute walk away and Busch Gardens Williamsburg a five-minute drive away. Parking is free, WiFi is free, and the hotel has laundry facilities, a 24-hour gym, a terrace and garden, barbecue grills and a seasonal outdoor pool with sun loungers, which is closed from mid-August until late May. Rooms are practical rather than special, so do not expect resort touches. Guest ratings are more mixed than at some of the other hotels here, at 7.0 out of 10 from nearly 1,000 reviews, which suggests the quality of the rooms varies and that you should read recent reviews before booking. For the price and the position, it is still a sensible base for families who plan to spend their days in the parks or on the road to Jamestown and Yorktown.
Location and getting around
The hotel is at 201 Water Country Parkway. Water Country USA is 0.4 miles away on foot, Busch Gardens is about 3.8 miles, Merchants Square about 5.9 miles, the College of William and Mary about 6.4 miles and the Premium Outlets about 8 miles. The airport at Newport News is about 19 minutes away. You will want a car for the Historic Area, although the hotel is walkable to the water park in summer.
Rooms and facilities
The 195 rooms come with the free full breakfast, and the hotel has a banquet hall, luggage storage, express check-out and vending. The pool is seasonal, so in November through to May do not count on it. Dogs are allowed, up to two of up to 50 pounds each, at $35 per pet per day, and service animals are exempt.
Who it suits
Families on a budget, groups visiting the parks and anyone who wants a decent base without paying resort prices. Couples looking for a romantic stay or a historic atmosphere should look at the Historic Area hotels instead. Good to know: check-in is from 3pm and can run until 1am, check-out is at 11am with a late check-out fee subject to availability, and free cancellation applies to selected rates, so check the policy for your room.
If you are traveling in summer, ask for a room away from the pool side if you prefer quiet, and book early for park-season weekends, when this part of town fills up.
Why stay here
- ✓Free full breakfast
- ✓Free parking
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓Seasonal outdoor pool
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Laundry facilities
- ✓Terrace and garden
- ✓Barbecue grills
Good questions
Is breakfast included at the Wyndham Garden Williamsburg Busch Gardens Area?+
Yes, a free full breakfast is included. Parking and WiFi are also free.
How close is the hotel to Water Country USA?+
It is about 0.4 miles away, a six-minute walk. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is about 3.8 miles away, a five-minute drive.
Is the pool open all year?+
No. The outdoor pool is seasonal and closed from mid-August to late May, so it will not be available in winter.
