If you happen to’ve ever needed to skip the usual resort room and calm down in a real vacation home with out sacrificing resort facilities, an ideal new choice 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 would possibly truly by no means wish to go away.
My household travels loads, however my children have by no means been extra thrilled with their trip lodging. Simply think about strolling right into a four-bedroom villa with a personal pool, an arcade online game machine, an Xbox and a “Shrek”-themed bed room with bunk beds.
Whereas this would possibly 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 should use your Marriott Bonvoy factors to remain in a multiroom villa with resort-style facilities.
What’s the Villatel Orlando Resort?
Villatel Orlando Resort provides 270 villas, starting from 4 to 9 bedrooms.
All villas characteristic their very own pool (the bigger ones even have a sizzling 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 will even be entertained with a sport room with actions like pool, foosball, shuffleboard and your individual movie show.
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Villatel Orlando Resort. VILLATEL ORLANDO RESORT
With many alternative 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 wonderful resort facilities. In early December, a four-bedroom villa goes for about $330 per night time, however there are extra taxes and charges added than you will discover with a daily resort room. However for this specific four-night keep, you are simply $500 per night time in spite of everything is alleged in executed, which comes out to $125 per bed room.
In fact, a nine-bedroom villa is costlier, however for a similar dates, it is also fairly priced at round $800 per night time. After taxes and charges, the worth per bed room is even decrease at simply $118 per night time.
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However in case you do not want as massive an area, you’ll be able to go for one of many 256 residences which might 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 personal balcony. These residences are simply as thrilling for teenagers because the bigger villas as a result of in addition they embody a themed bunk room and arcade sport machine.
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Flats by Marriott Bonvoy at Villatel Orlando Resort. JENNIFER YELLIN/FOR THE POINTS GUY
By reserving an residence, you obtain entry to the entire Villatel Orlando Resort facilities and perks. Pricing is a bit more favorable per bed room; a three-bedroom residence is $326 per night time, or about $109 per bed room, throughout the identical dates in December.
If you happen to’re touring with somewhat one, you’ll be able to request many baby essentials, reminiscent of a excessive chair and pack-n-play, at each the villas and the residences.
Water park, swimming pools, Topgolf and extra
There is not any scarcity of facilities on the Villatel Orlando Resort. Whilst you could by no means wish to go away your wonderful villa or residence, inside the sprawling 80 acres of area, there’s additionally a complete amenity middle that includes a water park, poolside eating, health middle and sporting actions.
The most well-liked amenity amongst households is certain to be the water park. Right here, you’ve gotten entry to 4 waterslides, a lazy river, a pool and a splash pad for teenagers.
Subsequent to the pool space, there are a number of pickleball courts, a basketball courtroom, a playground and a grassy space.
Everyone knows there isn’t any higher solution to calm down than with a chilly drink or good meal, which you will 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 gotten entry to a big health middle and a Topgolf Swing Suite.
The place is Villatel Orlando Resort positioned?
Whilst you could by no means wish to go away Villatel Orlando Resort, the property is completely located close to the entire space’s foremost points of interest.
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In fact, it is exhausting to plan a visit to Orlando and not using a go to to Universal Orlando Resort or Walt Disney World. Common is barely about seven minutes away, as is the soon-to-open Universal Epic Universe. Disney is nearer to a 20-minute drive, however Villatel gives complimentary transportation to and from these parks so long as you make reservations forward of time.
Moreover, in case you have just some hours of downtime you are seeking to burn, Dezerland Park is simply down the street, the place all Villatel friends obtain a present card for some household enjoyable. Right here, you’ll be able to get pleasure from arcade-style video games, bumper vehicles, go-kart racing and extra.
Utilizing your Marriott Bonvoy factors at Villatel
As that is the primary Flats by Marriott Bonvoy Resort within the U.S., that is the right alternative to make use of your Marriott Bonvoy factors. While you guide one of many residences with money or factors, you’ve gotten entry to all the resort and its facilities.
At the moment, solely the three-bedroom residences can be found to guide with factors; charges vary from 68,000 to 80,000 factors per night time, with a two-night minimal. This equates to fewer than 27,000 factors per night time per room — plus a resort charge of $45 per night time. That is fewer factors per bed room than what you will 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.
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Accessibility at Villatel Orlando Resort
If you happen to’re seeking to keep at one of many villas, know that they aren’t compliant with the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Nonetheless, the resort will make lodging the place potential, reminiscent of putting in ramps at entrances. Moreover, each villa features a bed room and toilet on the bottom flooring.
The residences supply extra accessibility, as they’re all on one flooring — not like the villas, that are two tales — and have an elevator. Right here, you’ll be able to guide 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 provided work on your wants.
Nonetheless, all through the resort, you will additionally discover many extra accessible options, reminiscent of 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 children are already begging me to take them again, and I fully perceive why. Whereas the situation gives a gateway to the various theme parks and water parks positioned in and round Orlando, the true attraction is the resort itself.
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