I just got back from a hosted getaway at Caribe Royale Orlando. This beautiful resort is just down the road from Walt Disney World. I’ve driven by so many times, but have not been inside before this weekend. What a mistake it was for me to wait this long. It’s wonderful! The hotel just debuted fully renovated one bedroom suites, which are just one of the reasons I fell royalely in love with Caribe Royale Orlando.
The Fully Renovated One Bedroom Suites Are Spacious
Here’s the most wonderful thing about Caribe Royale: it’s an all-suite hotel! Every room is a suite, with a separate bedroom and living area. The hotel is in the process of fully renovating every one bedroom suite.
I was able to stay in one of the renovated one bedroom suites and the moment I walked through the door I was delighted. The details are fabulous and thoughtful. A storage bench is right there as soon as you walk into the suite — a great place to drop bags and shoes. A modern sofa bed made for a great place for me to sit and read, and for my son to relax with my husband while I took an afternoon nap in the bedroom. There’s also a large desk which helped me get some work done.
I loved the all glass shower. It has two showerheads that work independently, a wand and an overhead rainfall shower head. The queen beds slept us comfortably. I woke up refreshed each morning, thanks to the blackout curtain at the window.
The Florida Themed Décor
The décor and details of the renovated suites are Florida themed and reminded me of art deco boutique hotels I have stayed at in South Beach. The light features and art have a classic Florida feel. Even the elevator landings are Florida themed.
There are three towers of suites that surround the pool area. My suite was in Tower III and the small lobby of this tower features historical photos of the Orlando area. As an Orlando native, I nearly swooned when I first saw them.
The Tropical Pool and Fantastic Kids Area
Any Orlando resort is bound to have a marvelous pool area. Caribe Royale Orlando has a tropical pool as its centerpiece. A grotto style waterfall is the subject of many photos. Couples love to hideaway in the lounge chairs tucked inside the grotto.
The pool is curvy with quite a bit of space. Two hot tubs welcome parents wanting to soak their muscles. A waterslide is one of the most popular features. I loved that even our little tike was welcome to go on the waterslide, he just needed to be accompanied by one of us. He chose to ride the slide with my husband first, but after a while he said “I want to ride with mommy” and, let me tell you, that’s solidified as a special memory.
We also made lots of special memories in the kids play area. This fenced in kids area is perfect for little kids like my three year old. I loved that it is fenced in and that the kids water area is not a big water playground. This water play area did not overwhelm our little guy. And the pool was shallow enough that my husband and I could relax for a few minutes and lounge while our son splashed around. We will definitely be back before he gets too big for this area.
Delicious Food and Drinks
Caribe Royale is located on World Center Drive, practically on the corner of 535 and International Drive. There are lots of dining options nearby, though none really within walking distance. But the wonderful thing is the dining options on-site are worth sticking around for.
There are six on-site dining options, including the renowned Venetian Room Chop House. My absolute favorite meal of the weekend came from Calypso’s Bar and Grill. This poolside bar and restaurant is popular all day and night. We got our table at 11:00 a.m. which was perfect timing to avoid the lunch rush crowds.
The Shrimp Tacos from Calypso’s are in the top five meals I’ve ever had at a Florida resort. The tortillas were actually toasted, so many places forget to do that, and the pineapple salsa made for a sweet tropical touch. The fried shrimp were large and succulent. I snuck a few bites of my husband’s Tuna Poke Bowl. It was massive! Our cocktails went down way too easy and next thing we knew we both needed a post-lunch siesta.
I also grabbed breakfast at Café 24 one morning. This spot is open 24 hours! What a great feature! The Bacon, Egg, and Cheese breakfast sandwich could feed two adults. And, everything including the eggs and bacon were cooked to order.
Included Recreational Activities
Practically every resort in Orlando, and many hotels too, charges a resort fee. Caribe Royale Orlando charges a $25 per day resort fee — yeah, it’s kind of annoying. But, their resort fee actually includes a lot of stuff.
Here are the basics that are included:
- In room Wi-Fi for up to four devices
- Transportation to any of the Walt Disney World® theme parks and to Disney Springs™. You do have to schedule your timeslot in advance, and the available times are limited. This is a disappointing feature in my book. But, it is a short ten minute drive to Disney if you have your own car.
- In-suite coffee via a handy Keurig machine
- Local calls and 800# calls are complimentary
Now, this stuff is very helpful to have included:
- Unlimited access to bicycles, tennis equipment, basketballs and fishing equipment.
- Access to state-of-the-art fitness center, which is one of the best fitness centers I have ever seen at a resort
- Movies Under the Stars, usually a few nights a week
- On-site game amenities (cornhole toss, ping pong and pool tables).
The fishing is catch and release, at a pond near the resort’s villas. These villas are great for large parties and have screened in balconies overlooking the pond. The three of us had fun doing a little fishing together.
Other Information About Caribe Royale Orlando
This is truly a family friendly resort, but I saw many couples having fun on their own too. I got to enjoy some solo time as well, and it felt so refreshing. Having the extra space to spread out in the on bedroom suite made our stay much more relaxing than at a traditional hotel room, and it’s great that every room at Caribe Royale Orlando is a suite.
Besides fully reimaging the spacious suites, other enhancements are coming to the lobby and other common areas. In fact, in total Caribe Royale Orlando is undergoing a $125 million dollar renovation. We’ll definitely be back to check it all out.
Exclusively for my blog readers, I’m offering a special for your next visit to Caribe Royale Orlando. Book your suite by June 30 for stays now through September 30, 2021 and receive 10% OFF Caribe Royale’s best available rate on select suites! Use this link to get the special offer. Reminder, must book by June 30, and it is subject to availability. Maybe I’ll see ya there!
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