There are six Gaylord resorts located in the US in the following destinations: Nashville; Kissimmee, Florida; Aurora, Colorado; Vine, Texas; National Harbor, Maryland; and Chula Vista, California.
Each location has the necessary rooms, pools and gyms you’d expect, but a Gaylord resort is more than a hotel: it’s a destination.
I’ve visited several Gaylord locations over the years and can attest that there is so much food and fun that I spent entire weekends exploring the resort without even leaving the property.
There are a few things you’ll want to know before you go so you can make the most of your visit, save a little money, and fully enjoy the Gaylord experience.
Here are six tips to keep in mind when planning a stay at a Gaylord resort.
It’s more than a hotel: it’s a destination
Gaylord resorts are designed to celebrate the culture, heritage and natural landscape of their location.
For example, at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida, you can view local flora and fauna (including alligators) in the resort’s 4.5-acre glass atrium and dine on fresh seafood on a life-size sailboat.
Meanwhile, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, the resort’s massive atrium features replicas of Lone Star State landmarks, including the Alamo and the San Antonio Riverwalk.
Each resort features a different theme, but there’s one thing they all have in common: you can spend hours strolling along winding paths in charming signature atriums while exploring caves, waterfalls, and gardens.
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In and around those atriums, you’ll also find so many shopping, dining, and entertainment options that you may forget to leave the hotel during your stay.
Each Gaylord resort has several restaurants, including pizzerias, sports bars, and fine dining establishments for date nights. You can also get your morning caffeine fix at the hotel’s Cocoa Bean café, which serves a full Starbucks menu.
Between meals, you can shop for locally-inspired souvenirs, visit the full-service spa, swim in the pool or water park, or participate in seasonal holiday activities.
You can book with (or earn) Marriott Bonvoy points
Gaylord resorts fall under the Marriott brand umbrella and, therefore, participate in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. That means you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for stays at any Gaylord hotel.
Just like paying in cash, the price of points varies depending on the date and room type. Generally, prices at Gaylord hotels start at around $300 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. You can sometimes find prices closer to $200 or 32,000 points per night if your dates are flexible, but nightly rates can rise above $500 or 60,000 points during holidays and special events.
Related: Best Marriott Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy members also receive additional benefits at Gaylord hotels. Silver Elite members and above receive a points bonus and late check-out, and Gold Elite members and above also receive a complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability).
When you visit during one of Gaylord’s seasonal events, Marriott Bonvoy members often have access to exclusive offers including bonus points and discounts on rooms and tickets. Check the hotel’s “Special Offers” page for current offers.
Related: The Complete Guide to Earning Marriott Elite Status with Credit Cards
Earning Marriott Elite status requires at least 10 qualifying stays per year, but you can fast track your way to Marriott Elite status to earn some of the above benefits with certain cards. For example, cards like American Express Platinum® Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card will automatically grant you elite status (registration required).
Atrium view rooms are worth the extra cost
Most Gaylord hotels have rooms with balconies overlooking the atrium. The only exception is Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, which offers select rooms with mountain views.
You’ll need to reserve an atrium view room at the time of booking to ensure you wake up to views of the serene interior gardens below.
Rooms with atrium views typically cost $70 to $100 more per night than standard rooms; However, this is where complimentary room upgrade for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members and above comes into play.
There’s no guarantee an upgrade will be available, but if you’re willing to take the risk, you can book a standard room and cross your fingers and toes for an upgrade to an atrium view room. It may be helpful to call a day or two before check-in to make your request over the phone and ask a customer service agent to add a note to your reservation.
There are special offers to take advantage of.
If you’re looking for additional perks or discounted rates, be sure to check the hotel’s website and social media pages for special offers. These deals vary by location and time of year, but you may see discounts of up to 50% on packages with rooms and tickets to special events (like Gaylord’s signature holiday event, “Ice!”).
Other special offers may include complimentary breakfast, daily resort credits, spa treatments, or water park access (the latter only applies at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, where water park access is not included in the cost of your stay).
Each resort has a water park or pool year-round.
Speaking of water parks, each Gaylord resort has a pool or water park that is open year-round.
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center have outdoor water parks, while Gaylord hotels that are not located in states where temperatures are conducive to being outdoors at any time of year have indoor and outdoor pools or water parks that can be enjoyed regardless of the season.
Related: Hotels with the best lazy rivers to beat the heat and float away
With the exception of the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, which only has an indoor pool and outdoor sundeck, Gaylord’s water parks are among the best hotel water parks around. You’ll find great splash structures for kids, lazy rivers, slides, pools, and more.
Only Gaylord Opryland Water Park has a separate entrance fee. At this resort, you’ll need to book a package that includes water park admission to avoid paying the additional fee upon arrival. Water park admission is included in the cost of your stay at all other Gaylord properties.
The holidays are especially fun times to visit.
If your schedule allows, you’ll make the most of your time at a Gaylord hotel when you visit during one of the brand’s seasonal events.
During the winter holiday season, you can build gingerbread houses, take photos with Santa, explore the Christmas trees and atrium decor, participate in winter activities like ice skating and snow tubing, and visit a holiday experience made entirely of ice aptly named “Ice!”
“Ice!” Bring your favorite Christmas stories to life using over 6,000 ice blocks Expertly carved into beloved scenes and characters from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Elf” and more. Each location has several rooms depicting different scenes and includes interactive elements for memorable photos and a two-story slide made of ice.
Halloween marks the beginning of many spooky (but kid-friendly) activities, including monster dance parties and trick-or-treating. And during Easter, you can meet the Easter Bunny, decorate cookies, and participate in a spring-themed scavenger hunt.
Summer is also an especially fun time, as Gaylord properties host a “Pirates and Princesses” event offering adventure activities for kids.
Even if you can’t make it during one of these special events, there’s always a schedule of activities throughout the resort, including atrium light shows, movie nights, animal encounters, scavenger hunts, and more. You can request a schedule of activities at the front desk, but you’ll likely find a QR code in the lobby or in your room with a link to view the schedule for your visit.
In a nutshell
we have shared almost everything you need to know to plan a perfect stay at Gaylord resort, but there’s one thing we can’t give you: fun. That part is up to you, but luckily, Gaylord makes it easy for you with plenty of activities, delicious food, and beautiful scenery. The only thing missing is you.
