March 2021 – Ultimate Travel Adventures

Take a video tour!

Orlando, Florida Hotel: First Impressions

Looking for an Orlando, Florida hotel? The Hilton Doubletree Sea World makes a great first impression! Not surprisingly, the first thing I noticed was the location, mere steps away from the Sea World amusement park. There’s even a free shuttle from the hotel. And this hotel offers additional perks such as park discounts. But I’ll discuss Sea World and other Orlando sights in another post. As a resort, this hotel offers many activities right on-site for those who don’t want to brave the crowds of the theme parks nearby. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and there are comfortable lounge areas throughout to catch some rays. It’s a great way to relax after an exhausting day at the parks or touring around town!

Comfortable Rooms

The rooms here provide just the rest and recovery Mickey ordered. Anyone who’s ever been to Orlando before knows it can be an exhausting place, between the sun and fun! I was granted an automatic Gold Hilton Honors member upgrade on my room, which was a very pleasant surprise since it doesn’t happen a lot. The room was huge, and decorated in neutral shades. The bed was extremely comfortable, as I’ve become used to at Doubletree properties. The view consisted of windows on two sides overseeing the main pool and what I’d like to call “restaurant row,” a grouping of various restaurant outlets lined up across the street. I was provided a flat screen TV, basic coffee maker, and some premium toiletries in the bathroom. I felt well-taken care of and cozy.

Fun in the Sun

There are two large pools at the Doubletree, great for splashing and sunbathing. The main pool boasts a waterfall feature, and is adjacent to an outdoor tiki bar called the “Barefoot Bar.” I partook in the appetizers and cocktails at the bar and was very satisfied with the quality. There are a lot of tropical-themed options on the menu. It’s a great place to mingle with other hotel guests and be among other adults in this town that’s a magnet for children. (Don’t get me wrong – I like children too. I had two sets of twins of my own. But sometimes you just need a break!) I found both the staff and other hotel guests friendly and inviting here.

More Amenities

Beyond the pools and lounging areas, there are many other playful options. Huts, like the ones in the photo below, house ping pong tables, pool tables, foosball, and more! There’s also mini golf. For those more serious-minded, there’s a full-service indoor gym, shops, and a second bar in the hotel lobby. For a full overview of all this hotel has to offer, watch my video tour on YouTube at the top of this post! And I can’t overlook what just may be everyone’s favorite – fresh, warm chocolate chip cookies are available in the lobby every afternoon! (Tip: YES you can request a couple extra!)

Verdict

Overall, I was pleased with my experience at this hotel. The accommodations were comfortable, the activities were ample, the grounds were gorgeous, and the restaurants served scrumptious meals. Still, it wasn’t a flawless experience. I accidentally turned my driver’s license in with the key card sleeve at the front desk and they refused to look for it. So I had to get a replacement driver’s license (big hassle). Also, the maid service in my room was lacking (she no-showed us daily). I mentioned it to a manager and he made up for that issue to my satisfaction with a gift certificate to one of the restaurants. Despite these couple of issues, given the responsiveness of management and quality of accommodations, I would both stay here again and recommend it to others.

Conclusion and Announcement

Thanks for reading! If you’re looking for an Orlando, Florida hotel the Doubletree is worth considering. Meanwhile, I have an announcement! I’m pleased to announce that Ultimate Travel Adventures is now on Ko-Fi! Ko-Fi is a virtual tip jar for creators. On my page you can contribute as little as $1, or more if you choose. If you enjoyed this post, I hope you’ll visit me on Ko-Fi by clicking here or the button below. Interested in reading another blog post? How about checking out my post on Cocoa Beach, Florida here? I hope you’ll come along for my next adventure!

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Wadi Rum Desert Jordan

The Wadi Rum desert is the largest valley in Jordan. It’s an easy 40 mile drive east of Aqaba. Its Arabic name can be translated as “Valley of the Moon.” The atmosphere of this place might make you feel like you’re on the moon! With miles upon miles of desolate desert landscape, it feels very remote, isolated, and peaceful. This feeling may be diluted some if you’re venturing out there with a tour group. But if you can find your own private perch on the dunes, you can tune the world out, and hear the sound of silence in the desert, marveling at the magnificent red and blue hues before you.

Ways to Explore

There are many ways to explore the Wadi Rum desert. One of the most popular is to arrange a Jeep tour with local guides. The Jeeps hold 6 people, and descend into the desert in parade formation. It can get very windy – so hang on to your hat. The Jeeps make multiple stops along the tour, giving you a chance to try to hike up the sand dunes and get a panoramic view. If you want to get a bird’s eye view from the top of the dunes get ready for a real workout! It’s a lot tougher than it looks to walk uphill in sand! I became completely winded after trying to reach the top of a small dune that was the first stop on the tour. The Jeeps also stop at locations where you can resume your tour on the back of a camel or horse. I find camel-riding extremely comfortable. Their movement is smoother and less jerky than that of a horse.

Heralded History

The Jeeps also stop to give you a closer look at petroglyphs carved into the rocks in prehistoric times. It’s truly amazing that people could survive in this harsh environment with the lack of amenities that existed in prehistoric times. I found it completely humbling to ponder. The next time I think I’m not “comfortable” enough in modern life, I’ll try to remember these carvings. The other historical context of the Wadi Rum desert is the Lawrence of Arabia story. Many a tourist has come here to “walk in the footsteps” of Lawrence. He is a much-loved figure for all of the local Jordanians I spoke with, who credit him for his role as a brilliant strategist in helping the Jordanians achieve victory during the Arab Revolt.

Bedouin Hospitality

The stops along your tour are also likely to include visits with local Bedouin people living here in canvas tents. The Bedouins are very hospitable, and happy to invite visitors into their cozy homes. Beautiful carpets are piled up on the floor, and you’re invited to have a seat on benches while you’re served delicious mint tea and a snack, and introduced to Bedouin culture. Following your cultural introduction, you’ll have a chance to support the Bedouin community by purchasing local crafts and other wares. I found the prices extremely reasonable. Haggling is also acceptable, and I strongly encourage it. I was most impressed by their beautiful scarves.

Arabian Nights

If you’re lucky enough to be spending the night in the Wadi Rum desert, you’ll be treated to a sea of stars lighting up the clear night sky. You can arrange to spend the night, or multiple nights, “glamping” at a Bedouin-style camp. In some of these camps you will not be “roughing it;” the amenities are quite impressive for being out in the desert. My group toured one, and afterwards, I was determined to return and spend several nights! I hope you have the chance to experience this fascinating desert oasis. It is the ultimate escape from the chaotic nature of the cities many of us are visiting from. Soak it in, and let it refresh and restore you before your return to the treadmill of daily life back home!

Join My Journeys

I thank you for reading, and hope you’ll check out my video tour of the Wadi Rum desert at the top of this post. I also hope you’ll “join my journeys” by following me here on the Ultimate Travel Adventures blog and on my YouTube travel channel which you can view here. And if you’re into studying foreign languages, I hope you’ll check out my brand new language-study dedicated sister YouTube channel here! Want to read about more travel in the Middle East? I’ll have a post on Aqaba, Jordan coming soon. In the meantime, check out my blog post on the Pyramids of Giza here!