When my three children were younger, my husband and I could fit them all into a standard hotel room. But having a tween, a 9-year-old, and a 6-year-old sharing a queen-size bed is physically impossible (and would make three pairs of eyes roll if I dared ask).
Related: Best New Points Hotels for Families in 2025
Therefore, we have started to explore alternative types of accommodation when we travel. We have stayed in side by side glamping tents and two-bedroom villas in all-inclusive beachfront resorts. But as a family with a major theme park obsession, our trips often take us to Orlando.
We recently took our children on their first visit to universal epic universe and I needed a property that ticked all the boxes: proximity to Universal theme parks, enough beds for the five of us, and the ability to earn or redeem hotel loyalty points. We find all that and much more in Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy.
A family getaway
Villatel Orlando Resort It is home to an 80-acre water park, a state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor sports courts, a children’s play area, a Topgolf Swing Suite and two different types of accommodations.
The resort features 270 vacation villas ranging from four to nine bedrooms and is one of only two Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy locations in the U.S. Each villa has a private pool, a full kitchen, and themed children’s rooms with arcade machines; Some of the larger villas also have cinema rooms and games rooms.
Related: Tips for booking hotel rooms for large families
The resort also has 256 units with Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, which is where we stayed. Each apartment has two or three bedrooms, a full kitchen and family room, in-room laundry, a furnished balcony, and a themed bunk room with a kids’ arcade game machine.
Guests staying at Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy gain access to all resort amenities, with the added bonus of earning or redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points and accessing elite benefits like bonus points, complimentary Wi-Fi and exclusive member rates.
Reward your inbox with TPG’s daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers to receive breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive offers from TPG experts.
The complex is just 10 minutes drive from Universal Orlando Resort and offers complimentary shuttle service to Disney World and Universal several times a day.
Cost and reservation details
You can book a stay at Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy from $391 or 38,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for a two-bedroom apartment, or $446 or 38,000 points per night for a three-bedroom apartment (discounts are available for non-refundable prepaid rates). Depending on when you visit, there may be a two-night minimum. Note that if you use points, you can get a larger unit for the same price.
This price includes a $45 per night resort fee, which covers things like water park access, theme park shuttle, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
When booking Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, or one that automatically offers Marriott Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits.
These include:
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card information has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Spacious accommodation with several rooms
1 of 4
Bedroom at Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE DOTS BOY
After checking into our three-bedroom apartment, my only wish was that we would stay a full week instead of a couple of nights. Our room had everything you would expect to find in a luxury apartment: modern and comfortable furniture; two full bathrooms; a kitchen equipped with appliances, utensils and dishes; a stacked washer and dryer (which helped me come home with almost no dirty clothes); and a large living room for our family movie nights.
1 of 2
Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy themed children’s room. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE DOTS BOY
Our apartment had three bedrooms: one with a king-size bed, one with a queen-size bed, and a themed children’s room with a double bunk bed designed to look like a Wild West town and an old-school arcade with dozens of free games to play.
My younger kids wasted no time taking on their roles as sheriff and prisoner, while my older son took advantage of the bedside charging ports so he could text his friends at home.
1 of 3
Bathroom at Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE DOTS BOY
Since this property is part of Marriott Bonvoy, there were also items you would expect to find at a hotel or extended stay property, such as soap, lotion, refillable toiletries, and a “starter pack” of laundry detergent, paper towels, cleaning wipes, and other household necessities.
Resort-style services
We spent most of our free time at Universal swimming, sliding, and floating down the lazy river at Villatel’s Aqua Bay water park. There was a slow, long, winding river; four water slides; a large swimming pool; and a splash zone for children. We tried all the slides and our favorites were the side by side racing slides. I guess you could say we’re a competitive family.
1 of 4
Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy slide tower. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE DOTS BOY
The water park also offers daily poolside activities such as arts and crafts, trivia, and outdoor movie nights. We opted for a cozy movie night in our room, but had dinner at the Aqua Bar & Grille by the pool. Most of the menu items were standard poolside lounge fare, like burgers, pizza, and fries, but all were tasty enough that we took leftovers back to our room to reheat later.
1 of 4
Playground Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE DOTS BOY
We spent a morning exploring the other amenities before our overnight flight home. I hung out on the covered playground with my younger kids while my husband and older son played a round of golf at the Topgolf Swing Suite. A reservation is required, but access to the Swing Suite is free for hotel guests.
In addition to its spacious rooms, I appreciated all of Villatel Orlando’s activities and amenities. When I plan theme park trips for my family, I always make time for us to relax at our resort. Not only does this help us save money on theme park tickets, but many resorts have their own built-in fun that you miss out on if you spend all your time in the parks.
Accessibility at Villatel Orlando Resort
Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy have accessible options, with wheelchair-accessible rooms featuring options like a 32-inch wide door, lower countertops, bathtub grab bars, and more. You’ll find accessible options throughout the community, including accessible parking, an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pool lift, and wheelchair access to the business center, fitness center, restaurant, and lobby.
reviewing
Gone are the days of staying in too-small hotel rooms with no space to relax and enjoy being together as a family. With non-traditional lodging options like Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, families can settle into their home away from home and focus on having fun instead of fighting over who gets to sleep on the couch.
Related reading:
