Sneak peek on the first Flats by Marriott Bonvoy Resort within the US

Should you’ve ever wished to skip the usual lodge room and loosen up in a real trip residence 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 need to depart.

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 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 totally a lot a actuality on the Villatel Orlando Resort.

The property additionally options the primary Flats by Marriott Bonvoy Resort within 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 presents 270 villas, starting from 4 to 9 bedrooms.

All villas function 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 a number of the bigger villas, you will even be entertained with a recreation room with actions like pool, foosball, shuffleboard and your individual movie show.

With many alternative themed bunk rooms, your kid’s favourite fantasy involves life. They may be sleeping in a fort with their favourite princess or really feel like they’re within the Tremendous Mario Bros. recreation. My household and I visited Shrek’s (surprisingly luxurious) swamp. These rooms additionally function a playground with slides, ladders and alternatives for an epic recreation of hide-and-seek.

Pricing can also be pretty affordable for such a big home with wonderful resort facilities. In early December, a four-bedroom villa goes for about $330 per evening, however there are extra taxes and charges added than you will discover with a daily lodge room. However for this explicit four-night keep, you are simply $500 per evening in spite of everything is claimed in achieved, 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 charges, the worth per bed room is even decrease at simply $118 per evening.

However when 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 Flats 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 additionally they embrace a themed bunk room and arcade recreation machine.

By reserving an condo, you obtain entry to all the Villatel Orlando Resort facilities and perks. Pricing is a bit more favorable per bed room; a three-bedroom condo is $326 per evening, or about $109 per bed room, throughout the identical dates in December.

Should you’re touring with a bit of one, you’ll be able to request many child necessities, 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. When you might by no means need to depart your wonderful villa or condo, throughout the sprawling 80 acres of house, 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 certain to be the water park. Right here, you’ve got 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 is no higher method to loosen up 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 suggest.

Contained in the amenity middle, you’ve got entry to a big health middle and a Topgolf Swing Suite.

The place is Villatel Orlando Resort positioned?

When you might by no means need to depart Villatel Orlando Resort, the property is completely located close to all the space’s essential sights.

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After all, it is exhausting to plan a visit to Orlando with no go to to Common Orlando Resort or Walt Disney World. Common is just about seven minutes away, as is the soon-to-open Common Epic Universe. Disney is nearer to a 20-minute drive, however Villatel offers complimentary transportation to and from these parks so long as you make reservations forward of time.

Moreover, you probably 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’ll be able to 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 Flats by Marriott Bonvoy Resort within the U.S., that is the right alternative to make use of your Marriott Bonvoy factors. Whenever you ebook one of many residences with money or factors, you’ve got entry to your complete resort and its facilities.

At the moment, solely the three-bedroom residences can be found to ebook 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 price of $45 per evening. 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 bank cards that make it straightforward to accrue factors to place towards your keep.

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Accessibility at Villatel Orlando Resort

Should you’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 potential, reminiscent of putting in ramps at entrances. Moreover, each villa features a bed room and loo 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 ebook 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 web page that will help you decide if the lodging provided work in 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 essential 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 utterly perceive why. Whereas the placement offers a gateway to the numerous theme parks and water parks positioned in and round Orlando, the true attraction is the resort itself.

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