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

If you happen to’ve ever wished to skip the usual resort room and chill out in a real trip dwelling 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 depart.

My household travels rather a lot, 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 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 may even be entertained with a sport 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 is likely to be sleeping in a fort 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 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 a daily 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 executed, which comes out to $125 per bed room.

After all, a nine-bedroom villa is costlier, however for a similar dates, it is also fairly priced at round $800 per evening. After taxes and costs, the worth per bed room is even decrease at simply $118 per evening.

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However in case you do not want as massive an area, you may go for one of many 256 residences which are 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 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.

By reserving an condo, you obtain entry to the entire 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.

If you happen to’re touring with a bit one, you may request many child necessities, corresponding 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. When you could by no means wish to depart your superb villa or condo, inside 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 bound to be the water park. Right here, you’ve got 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 courtroom, a playground and a grassy space.

Everyone knows there isn’t any higher method 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 middle, you’ve got entry to a big health middle and a Topgolf Swing Suite.

The place is Villatel Orlando Resort situated?

When you could by no means wish to depart Villatel Orlando Resort, the property is completely located close to the entire space’s important sights.

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After all, it is laborious to plan a visit to Orlando with no go to to Common Orlando Resort or Walt Disney World. Common is simply about seven minutes away, as is the soon-to-open Common 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 company obtain a present card for some household enjoyable. Right here, you may take pleasure in 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 proper alternative to make use of your Marriott Bonvoy factors. Once you e-book one of many residences with money or factors, you’ve got entry to the whole 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 charge 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 bank cards that make it straightforward to accrue factors to place towards your keep.

Associated: Marriott Bonvoy card presents — earn invaluable factors to cowl your subsequent keep

Accessibility at Villatel Orlando Resort

If you happen to’re seeking to keep at one of many villas, know that they don’t seem to be compliant with the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Nonetheless, the resort will make lodging the place attainable, corresponding to 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 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 web page that can assist you decide if the lodging supplied work to your wants.

Nonetheless, all through the resort, you may additionally discover many extra accessible options, corresponding to accessible parking, swimming pool entry, and wheelchair accessibility to the enterprise middle, health middle, restaurant and 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 utterly perceive why. Whereas the placement gives a gateway to the various theme parks and water parks situated in and round Orlando, the actual attraction is the resort itself.

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