hotel – Ultimate Travel Adventures

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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Rome, Italy Hotel Tour: Hilton Garden Inn Claridge

Welcome to my Rome, Italy hotel review! When I had a cruise leaving from Rome, Italy last winter I stayed in Rome a few days to explore. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Claridge in downtown Rome, and can provide a review here.

Location

The location is in downtown Rome, but in a quiet residential neighborhood, not in the immediate vicinity of the tourist sites. But it’s still fairly convenient, about a 20 to 25 minute walk to the nearest double-decker bus stop. The walk to the stop is confusing – a problem I easily resolved by using Google Directions and choosing the “walk” option. My phone carrier did not charge me, as they considered this activity “low-data” usage. There is a delectable restaurant right next door servicing delicious authentic Italian specialties, including pasta dishes, pizza, tiramisu, and more. Because this hotel is downtown, it is easy to find a shuttle service that will pick you up in the hotel lobby to go to the airport or cruise port.

The Staff

The staff was extremely courteous and friendly, and while I enjoyed having the opportunity to practice my broken traveler’s Italian, I also appreciated their fluency in English. I also appreciated their fluency in Italian when my shuttle van to the cruise port was late, and I asked them to call the company on my behalf! They were happy to do so, and shortly after my van appeared outside the lobby. Maid service was also professionally accomplished, and the servers in the dining room also polite and pleasant. (Breakfast comes at an additional charge if you are not Hilton Honors Gold or higher, but the spread was delicious and diverse, so I recommend it either way.)

The Guest Room

The decor in the room consisted of beautiful wood paneling and modern design. The room was very spacious, especially by European standards. There were separate bedroom and living room areas. The living room included a leather couch and table with coffee and tea maker, as well as a large closet. The bedroom had a television, desk, and window that wasn’t sealed shut. I greatly enjoyed both the view and the fresh air. The bathroom included one sink/mirror section and another section with a toilet, bidet, full-size tub, and Jacuzzi shower. You read that right – the shower was made by Jacuzzi and had jets to surround your entire body as well as a radio. It was very refreshing!

More Rome, Italy!

Thank you for reading! A big thumbs-up on the Hilton Garden Inn Claridge as a great place to stay during a visit to Rome, Italy! To view my blog post on the city of Rome, Italy, click the link below!:

Tour Radiant Rome, Italy

Here you can view my full video tour of my Rome, Italy Hotel:

It’s hard to see a big city like Rome in limited time. For efficiency and convenience, a quality tour in a big city or out to the countryside can’t be beat! I’ve had very good experiences with Viator. They have many Rome options:

Get the lowest prices on Skip-the-Line Tours in Rome

Get the lowest price on Rome Day Trips

Get the lowest price on Rome Multi-day Tours

Also check out my YouTube channel for many other destinations and hotel tours!:

Ultimate Travel Adventures YouTube Channel

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