The pretty-in-pink Caribe Royale in Orlando offers up something for everyone from families to business visitors. Its location within a short distance to the area’s famous theme parks as well as a resort atmosphere with pool and convention center are major draws. If you’re wondering which Orlando resort best suits your needs, here are five reasons to stay at Caribe Royale in Orlando.
The pool
With the roar of the beautiful waterfall, lounging by the pool is a favorite pastime here. A lifeguard sits high atop a rocky hill where a DJ streams family-friendly hits many days. This is also the launch point for the water slide that winds its way down into the pool.
Underneath the waterfalls is a small cave where more lounge chairs await. For an additional fee, guests can book one of several cabanas. These come with private lounge chairs in front as well as a sofa with TV, fan, refrigerator stocked with soft drinks and a fruit plate. It is worth it in the Florida sun.
Staffers deliver food and drinks from nearby Calypso’s, which serves lunch and a long list of colorful cocktails. Lounge chairs ring the pool, and there are other patio areas farther back with more lounge chairs for those that want to be away from the pool area. A whirlpool bubbles on one side, and a kids splash zone and pool entertains on the other. All of this is capped off by the two-floor fitness club with windows facing the pool.
The suites
As an all-suite hotel, every room has a bedroom, living room with sofa bed and bathroom that connects the two. A separate door between the two allows for extra privacy as does a vanity area that is separate from the bright bathrooms behind sliding doors.
The beds are coated in plush duvets with power and USB outlets at every turn. Four plump pillows and and a pillowtop mattress are very comfortable. The décor is the result of a multi-million dollar renovation project that has the property looking fresh and contemporary. All of the public areas, hallways and guest accommodations saw a makeover. Island-style décor with whimsical prints and artwork fill each of the three guest towers.
In the living room, coffee tables are on wheels allowing guests to customize the space to their needs. There is also a desk in one corner for productive types and a fridge and microwaves tucked into cabinets. Bathrooms have rain-drenching showers with Asprey Purple Water luxury toiletries dispensed from wall-mounted pumps.
There are different sizes for the suites, but all have two separate sleeping and living areas. The most impressive suites are those with separate media rooms, dining areas and small kitchens. There are also villa residences in an apartment-style building with full kitchens, multiple bedrooms and living areas. The latter also enjoy the use of their own private pool area.
The location
The resort is only a short distance from the parks, and the international airport is about 20 minutes away by car. As part of the resort fee, guests can hop the free shuttles that make their way to all of the major parks. This is a huge benefit to those that do not have a car or simply don’t want to deal with traffic and parking once there. There is also a shuttle that takes guests around the sprawling resort grounds.
An enormous convention center helps the property to draw a lot of big group events, and the proximity to the parks means that families can blend business and leisure in one trip. New ballrooms and a renovation of the conference facilities are quite impressive with key features like same-level loading areas to the meeting facilities and built-in registration desks that are proving a hit with meeting planners.
The food
A new chef has overhauled the dining and beverage scene here elevating it to impressive standards. The Venetian Chophouse in the main building is an upscale steakhouse with a traditional dining room and more contemporary indoor terrace area. Coming soon are some interior updates to unite the design. On the menu is a fine selection of cuts of meat with all the traditional sides.
Calypso’s stays busy by the pool serving cocktails, lunch and refreshments most of the day. The buffalo chicken salad is a winner with a spicy kick worth trying. A new Starbucks is opposite the reception area, and the Bacardi’s Rum Bar is a great pre-dinner spot for wine, beer or cocktails. Its rum tasting flights are enormously popular with a new guided experience in the works to walk people through the different rums from various countries.
One of the newest venues here is the Stadium Club, a sports bar and digital playground “on steroids.” This is the most immersive entertainment facility of its type in an Orlando hotel and draws a lot of hotel guests and outside visitors. The 9,000 sq ft facility spans two floors featuring two bars surrounded by wraparound screens showing the latest games and events. Sport simulator suites let budding or expert athletes try their hand at more than a dozen sports from golf and soccer to football and lacrosse with all the equipment you need. As many as six players can participate at a time. For golf alone, players can try their swing at 48 different golf courses around the world.
In total, there are more than 100 screens entertaining visitors while they enjoy an elevated menu of bar food from spicy shrimp tacos and burgers to the area’s best (and award-winning) fried chicken & waffles made with lemon-dusted sweet-tea brined chicken.
The people
Everyone you encounter at Caribe Royale is welcoming and friendly. From the wait staff to gardeners, all of them will say hello or smile. This was something so consistent during my stay, and I noticed others having the same experience. The pool staff were setting up towels and joking with everyone enjoying the sun. If you ask someone for directions, they are more likely to walk you there rather than point the way. In an industry where staff retention can be difficult, Caribe Royale is known for minimal turnover in comparison with other resorts with as much as a 75% retention rate. It’s easy to see why.
