When you’ve ever needed to skip the usual resort room and chill out in a real vacation home with out sacrificing resort facilities, an ideal new possibility simply opened in Central Florida. This new resort is like nothing I’ve ever seen earlier than, and with its shut proximity to Orlando’s theme parks, you may really by no means wish to go away.
My household travels lots, however my youngsters have by no means been extra thrilled with their trip lodging. Simply think about strolling right into a four-bedroom villa with a non-public pool, an arcade online game machine, an Xbox and a “Shrek”-themed bed room with bunk beds.
Whereas this may sound like one thing out of a storybook, it’s extremely a lot a actuality on the Villatel Orlando Resort.
The property additionally options the primary Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy Resort in the U.S., the place you need to use your Marriott Bonvoy factors to remain in a multiroom villa with resort-style facilities.
What’s the Villatel Orlando Resort?
Villatel Orlando Resort gives 270 villas, starting from 4 to 9 bedrooms.
All villas function their very own pool (the bigger ones even have a scorching tub), a big kitchen, a household room and a themed bunk room (or two). And whereas all supply a Villatel-branded arcade online game machine and Xbox, in among the bigger villas, you may even be entertained with a sport room with actions like pool, foosball, shuffleboard and your individual movie show.
1 of 4
Villatel Orlando Resort. VILLATEL ORLANDO RESORT
With many various themed bunk rooms, your kid’s favourite fantasy involves life. They is perhaps sleeping in a citadel with their favourite princess or really feel like they’re within the Tremendous Mario Bros. sport. My household and I visited Shrek’s (surprisingly luxurious) swamp. These rooms additionally function a playground with slides, ladders and alternatives for an epic sport of hide-and-seek.
Pricing can also be pretty cheap for such a big home with superb resort facilities. In early December, a four-bedroom villa goes for about $330 per evening, however there are extra taxes and costs added than you may discover with an everyday resort room. However for this explicit four-night keep, you are taking a look at simply $500 per evening in spite of everything is alleged in carried out, which comes out to $125 per bed room.
After all, a nine-bedroom villa is costlier, however for a similar dates, it is also moderately priced at round $800 per evening. After taxes and costs, the value per bed room is even decrease at simply $118 per evening.
Day by day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
However if you happen to do not want as massive an area, you may go for one of many 256 residences which can be a part of the Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy at Villatel Orlando Resort. These residences are all two- to three-bedroom residences, that includes an open-concept full kitchen and household room, in addition to a non-public balcony. These residences are simply as thrilling for youths because the bigger villas as a result of in addition they embrace a themed bunk room and arcade sport machine.
1 of 4
Residences by Marriott Bonvoy at Villatel Orlando Resort. JENNIFER YELLIN/FOR THE POINTS GUY
By reserving an residence, you obtain entry to all the Villatel Orlando Resort facilities and perks. Pricing is a bit more favorable per bed room; a three-bedroom residence is $326 per evening, or about $109 per bed room, throughout the identical dates in December.
When you’re touring with a bit one, you may request many baby essentials, comparable to a excessive chair and pack-n-play, at each the villas and the residences.
Water park, swimming pools, Topgolf and extra
There isn’t any scarcity of facilities on the Villatel Orlando Resort. When you could by no means wish to go away your superb villa or residence, throughout the sprawling 80 acres of area, there’s additionally a whole amenity middle that includes a water park, poolside eating, health middle and sporting actions.
The most well-liked amenity amongst households is bound to be the water park. Right here, you’ve entry to 4 waterslides, a lazy river, a pool and a splash pad for youths.
Subsequent to the pool space, there are a number of pickleball courts, a basketball court docket, a playground and a grassy space.
Everyone knows there is not any higher approach to chill out than with a chilly drink or good meal, which you may obtain on the poolside Aqua Bar & Grille. I opted for a strawberry-mango smoothie, which I extremely advocate.
Contained in the amenity middle, you’ve entry to a big health middle and a Topgolf Swing Suite.
The place is Villatel Orlando Resort positioned?
When you could by no means wish to go away Villatel Orlando Resort, the property is completely located close to all the space’s foremost points of interest.
Associated: 10 new rides and entertainment offerings coming to your favorite US theme parks in 2025
After all, it is onerous to plan a visit to Orlando with out a go to to Universal Orlando Resort or Walt Disney World. Common is simply about seven minutes away, as is the soon-to-open Universal Epic Universe. Disney is nearer to a 20-minute drive, however Villatel supplies complimentary transportation to and from these parks so long as you make reservations forward of time.
Moreover, in case you have only a few hours of downtime you are seeking to burn, Dezerland Park is simply down the highway, the place all Villatel friends obtain a present card for some household enjoyable. Right here, you may get pleasure from arcade-style video games, bumper automobiles, go-kart racing and extra.
Utilizing your Marriott Bonvoy factors at Villatel
As that is the primary Residences by Marriott Bonvoy Resort within the U.S., that is the proper alternative to make use of your Marriott Bonvoy factors. Once you e-book one of many residences with money or factors, you’ve entry to your entire resort and its facilities.
At present, solely the three-bedroom residences can be found to e-book with factors; charges vary from 68,000 to 80,000 factors per evening, with a two-night minimal. This equates to fewer than 27,000 factors per evening per room — plus a resort payment of $45 per evening. That is fewer factors per bed room than what you may discover at a number of limited-service properties within the space with fewer facilities.
There are a number of Marriott credit cards that make it straightforward to accrue factors to place towards your keep.
Associated: Marriott Bonvoy card offers — earn valuable points to cover your next stay
Accessibility at Villatel Orlando Resort
When you’re seeking to keep at one of many villas, know that they aren’t compliant with the People with Disabilities Act. Nevertheless, the resort will make lodging the place potential, comparable to putting in ramps at entrances. Moreover, each villa features a bed room and toilet on the bottom ground.
The residences supply extra accessibility, as they’re all on one ground — in contrast to the villas, that are two tales — and have an elevator. Right here, you may e-book a wheelchair-accessible room with options like a 32-inch-wide door, lowered counter tops, bathtub seize bars and extra. Marriott has its personal accessibility page that can assist you decide if the lodging supplied work in your wants.
Nevertheless, all through the resort, you may additionally discover many further accessible options, comparable to accessible parking, swimming pool entry, and wheelchair accessibility to the enterprise middle, health middle, restaurant and foremost entrance.
Backside line
We spent 2 1/2 days on the Villatel Orlando Resort, and it wasn’t sufficient. My youngsters are already begging me to take them again, and I fully perceive why. Whereas the situation supplies a gateway to the numerous theme parks and water parks positioned in and round Orlando, the true attraction is the resort itself.
Associated studying:
Trending Merchandise
