For those who’ve ever wished to skip the usual resort room and chill out 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 really by no means wish to depart.
My household travels quite a bit, 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 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 is very 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 presents 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 provide 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 personal 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 fortress 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 night time, however there are extra taxes and charges added than you may discover with an everyday resort room. However for this specific four-night keep, you are taking a look at simply $500 per night time in spite of everything is claimed in achieved, which comes out to $125 per bed room.
In fact, a nine-bedroom villa is dearer, however for a similar dates, it is also moderately priced at round $800 per night time. After taxes and charges, the value per bed room is even decrease at simply $118 per night time.
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However for those who do not want as massive an area, you may go for one of many 256 residences which are 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 youths because the bigger villas as a result of additionally they embrace 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 house, you obtain entry to all the Villatel Orlando Resort facilities and perks. Pricing is a bit more favorable per bed room; a three-bedroom house is $326 per night time, or about $109 per bed room, throughout the identical dates in December.
For those who’re touring with a little bit one, you may request many baby essentials, akin to 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 might by no means wish to depart your superb villa or house, throughout the sprawling 80 acres of area, there’s additionally a whole amenity heart that includes a water park, poolside eating, health heart and sporting actions.
The most well-liked amenity amongst households is bound to be the water park. Right here, you will have 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 no 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 suggest.
Contained in the amenity heart, you will have entry to a big health heart and a Topgolf Swing Suite.
The place is Villatel Orlando Resort positioned?
Whilst you might by no means wish to depart Villatel Orlando Resort, the property is completely located close to all the space’s most important points of interest.
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In fact, it is onerous to plan a visit to Orlando with out a go to to Universal Orlando Resort or Walt Disney World. Common is just 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 only a few hours of downtime you are trying 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 take pleasure in 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 proper alternative to make use of your Marriott Bonvoy factors. If you e book one of many residences with money or factors, you will have entry to your entire resort and its facilities.
At the moment, solely the three-bedroom residences can be found to e book 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 payment of $45 per night time. 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.
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Accessibility at Villatel Orlando Resort
For those who’re trying 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 doable, akin to putting in ramps at entrances. Moreover, each villa features a bed room and loo on the bottom flooring.
The residences provide extra accessibility, as they’re all on one flooring — not like 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 provided work on your wants.
Nonetheless, all through the resort, you may additionally discover many further accessible options, akin to accessible parking, swimming pool entry, and wheelchair accessibility to the enterprise heart, health heart, restaurant and most important 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 placement gives a gateway to the various theme parks and water parks positioned in and round Orlando, the actual attraction is the resort itself.
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