O rlando is often considered America’s family entertainment capital, and with its many globally famous theme parks, it’s not hard to understand why. Travelers from around the world visit every year to immerse themselves in rides and shows at Walt Disney World, while others line up to live out their Hogwarts dreams at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios or to soar around the world at EPCOT. But this Central Florida city is more than just its parks.
The best hotels in Orlando offer an eclectic selection of experiences that will elevate your trip, ranging from theme park hotels with behind-the-scenes access to enchanting retreats that will transport you away from long lines and commotion. For families who still prioritize luxury on their theme park vacation, we recommend Four Seasons Resort Orlando At Walt Disney World Resort , which features both a Michelin-starred restaurant and breakfast with Goofy. For Universal Studios loyalists, we recommend Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort , which offers on-site waterslides and free bus transfers to Universal’s CityWalk.
Meanwhile, couples looking for a little romance outside the Magic Kingdom can’t go wrong relaxing in a private cabana at the stylish The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes . Below, we’ve selected the best hotels in Orlando, offering everything from high-octane fun to sophisticated stays. As Central Florida’s first AAA Five Diamond Award property, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando satisfies even the pickiest of travelers.
The 443-room property delivers easygoing elegance, the largest standard guest rooms in Orlando (with some offering views of theme park fireworks) and a Michelin-starred rooftop steakhouse, Capa, offering Spanish-influenced small plates. Resort guests of all ages can take advantage of the on-site championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio, rejuvenating spa treatments and a private lazy river. The hotel’s Ravello restaurant even hosts a character breakfast with Goofy and friends on Thursday and Saturday mornings.
If Walt Disney World Resort theme parks are on the agenda, there’s complimentary motorcoach transportation between the parks and the hotel. For a true over-the-top vacation, reserve the nine-bedroom Royal Suite or the Ultimate Suites Experience, a buyout of the 16th floor that includes 21 rooms and a private elevator. The 400-room Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort is set up for families with not only standard guest rooms but family bunk rooms featuring a separate sleeping alcove for children.
For even more space, Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek next door offers one- to four-bedroom suites complete with full kitchens. Walking paths circle a 10-acre lake and help guests access the property’s five pools (some with waterslides), two lazy rivers, two kids’ splash pads and eight hot tubs. The whole family can play a round at the 18-hole mini golf course and the kids can burn off some energy at the playground; afterwards, the grownups may even be able to sneak in a spa treatment or a workout session at the fitness center.
The hotel offers shuttles to the Walt Disney World Resort when it’s time to head to the theme parks, and certain rooms offer views of the nightly fireworks display. The Victorian-style Grand Floridian Resort and Spa on Walt Disney World Resort’s Seven Seas Lagoon offers a refined but still kid-friendly say in the “most magical place on Earth. ” Guests might encounter a pianist playing the grand piano in the hotel’s soaring and sophisticated lobby, and memorable meals can be enjoyed at the Mary Poppins Returns –inspired Cítricos restaurant or the acclaimed Victoria and Albert’s.
Accommodations include tastefully decorated guest rooms and suites, as well as three-bedroom villas with full kitchens and in-room laundry. It’s an easy monorail or boat ride from the hotel to the Magic Kingdom Park; you can also opt for a less-than-one-mile walk. Escape the heat at the quiet Courtyard Pool or the sloping-entry Beach Pool, which features a curving 181-foot-long waterslide and kids’ play area.
Guests can take in views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the marina area without battling the the park crowds. Inspired by classic mid-century Florida beach resorts, Cabana Bay offers guests unique retro charm. That blast-from-the-past aesthetic can be found all over the hotel, from the 10-lane Galaxy Bowl bowling alley and restaurant to the diner-themed food court.
Guest rooms feature bright pops of color and modern furnishings. In addition to standard rooms, there are family suites that sleep up to six people and include a kitchenette. Guests can head to the Cabana Pool to zip down a dive tower-themed waterslide or opt for the hotel’s other pool area with its sandy beach, zero-entry pool and flowing lazy river.
A complimentary shuttle bus makes regular trips over to lively restaurant and shopping zone Universal CityWalk, which also leads to the entrances of Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme parks. The biggest perk of a stay here is getting a jumpstart on the crowds with early park admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay, a water park that transports guests to the South Seas. It’s the attention to detail that sets the Waldorf Astoria Orlando apart from a sea of resorts in the Orlando area.
Nothing has been overlooked, from the plush bathrobes and slippers to the impeccable service to the deep soaking tubes in the 502 spacious guest rooms and suites. The spa is a soothing sanctuary where treatments are customized to each guest and services include locally sourced ingredients like Tupelo honey. It’s also the first full-service resort spa in the state of Florida to have its own Himalayan Salt Room.
The resort’s acclaimed Bull and Bear restaurant has been the recipient of numerous awards, making it the perfect place to enjoy succulent steaks and excellent wine recommendations from skilled sommeliers. For those who want to get active, the resort features an 18-hole golf course designed by course architect Rees Jones, two swimming pools with cabanas and weekend activities that range from yoga and live music to poolside s’mores and “dive in” movies. Guests also have access to amenities at the nearby Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.
Fresh off a top-to-bottom, multimillion dollar renovation, the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes offers a sophisticated stay for discerning couples at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. The hotel’s 582 guest rooms and suites are done up in soothing shades and feature balconies and marble bathrooms with dual vanities. Seven dining options serve everything from morning coffee and smoothies to Southern cuisine and handcrafted cocktails.
Couples will have no trouble staying active here. The 24-hour fitness center offers weights, cardio equipment, fitness classes and a heated lap pool, and the Greg Norman–designed championship golf course has 18 holes. Any great couple’s retreat includes pampering, and guests can find a treatment to suit every one of their needs in the vast 40,000-square-foot spa, like a hot stone massage or energy balancing treatment.
Couples can also book various private tours and experiences, from a falconry class to a sunrise safari for taking in the 500-acre property’s natural beauty. Legendary golfer Greg Norman designed the two challenging and unique 18-hole courses at Omni Orlando Resort, one offering a British links–style experience while the other featuring a traditional American design. Guests can also opt for something less intense at the resort’s family-friendly mini-golf course.
Golf lessons are available for individuals and families, and travelers can send their clubs right to the resort using the Ship Sticks service. A recent expansion project has seen the debut of a golf entertainment venue with 30 bays equipped with technology to track the speed and distance of your shots. But guests can do more than hone their golf game.
There’s a tranquil adults-only pool and a family pool area with waterslides, a lazy river and a wave pool. The Mokara Spa offers a heated bamboo stick massage, CBD oil pedicure and facials. And for those looking to eat well, the resort’s multiple restaurants, from the Asian fusion Zen to the Italian trattoria Trevi’s, offer cuisine that is varied and delicious.
As one might expect, the world’s largest Marriott property offers a multitude of amenities, including a pool scene of epic proportions. The 2,010-room Orlando World Center Marriott’s Falls Pool Oasis features a zero-entry, lagoon-style swimming pool; two twisting waterslides; a 90-foot speed slide and a splash zone for kids. The new River Falls Water Park (included in the daily resort fee) offers even more watery fun with three action-packed inner-tube waterslides, an “aqua playground” and a 575-foot-long lazy river that conveniently passes the Cargo Bar along the way.
After toweling off, guests can hit the links on a Robert Cupp Jr. –designed golf course, head to the arcade or fitness center, or enjoy pasta, sushi or tropical cocktails at the resort’s many restaurants. For a taste of spectacle, head back outside in the evening to witness the nightly laser light show at Falls Pool.
The future of hospitality might look a lot like the Lake Nona Wave Hotel. This cutting-edge property has sleek wave-inspired architecture and tech-savvy guest rooms with voice automated in-room controls, windows that use predictive intelligence to adjust tint levels and Toto smart toilets. The hotel’s Welltech rooms even go a step further, with Bryte beds that adjust based on a sleeper’s preferences throughout the night and Nollapelli bedding that is reported to improve skin and hair.
Despite being so tech-forward, the property itself is warm and lively. Guest rooms feature splashy pops of color and the Living Room Bar has a funky, retro vibe. The hotel calls its multiple free amenities, like complimentary valet parking and bicycle rentals, an “anti-resort fee.
” Guests also receive complimentary access to the nearby Lake Nona Performance Club and its more than 150 pieces of cardio and resistance equipment and fitness classes, as well as access to the Aquatics Center, featuring a lap pool and whirlpool. The hotel’s restaurants and bars include the Michelin-recommended Bacán, offering Central and South American-influenced cuisine by executive chef Guillaume Robin. The JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes is located just 5 miles from the Orange County Convention Center, but business travelers won’t need to leave the property to take advantage of more than 150,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Recently renovated guest rooms are complete with plenty of outlets, dedicated work spaces and hi-speed WiFi. After work, guests can unwind at the lobby lounge and play golf at the adjacent Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. As most Orlando hotels and resorts are, the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes is also family-friendly.
New family suites offer two- and three-bedroom spaces with built-in bunk beds for the kids, king-size beds for the grownups, separate living areas and nightly treats like milk and cookies. And the hotel’s water park experience, which includes a lazy river, three waterslides and a poolside restaurant, will bring lighthearted fun to even the most stressful of business trips. I have been a professional writer for more than 25 years covering a range of topics including travel, business, real estate and home decorating.
My travel stories have appeared in publications and on websites such as USA Today , FamilyVacationist , Smarter Travel , TripAdvisor , Times of the Islands and Gulf + Main . My work has also appeared in the Washington Post’s Express and Florida Trend . I have lived in the Sunshine State for almost two decades and have written about it extensively, from tips and advice on visiting Walt Disney World to where to stay for a romantic getaway or fun family trip.
The Orlando area is a region I know well. I’m always looking for new places to discover in Florida with my husband and teenage daughter. .
From: forbes
URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2023/08/24/best-hotels-in-orlando/
