I felt I got more bang for my buck staying at a Villatel Orlando Resort villa than if I'd stayed at a basic hotel.
Simone Paget
I stayed in a four-bedroom villa at Villatel Orlando Resort, and it felt like a great value.For less than $500 a night, I had a private pool, a full kitchen, and in-suite laundry.The resort has a water park and complimentary shuttles to Universal Studios and Disney World.
My best friend and I booked a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios for March.
While planning, we looked into hotels near the parks, such as the Hyatt Regency and Universal's Endless Summer, where a basic room would've cost around $160 to $250 a night.
Then, we realized we could have a nearly 2,000-square-foot luxury villa at the Villatel Orlando Resort for about the same price per person.
After taxes and resort fees, the villa came to about $453 a night, or $227 each.
The villa felt like it'd give us way more bang for its buck, especially once we factored in perks like a private pool, full kitchen, and in-unit laundry.
My best friend ended up having to cancel on the trip, but I decided not to downsize my accommodations. The villa is a bit of a splurge for a solo traveler, but it sounded too good to miss.
Fortunately, what could have been a sad and lonely trip turned out to be a luxurious — and not to mention freeing — solo travel reset I didn't know I needed.
I was impressed by the villa's four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
After testing out each bed Goldilocks-style, I settled into the largest main bedroom, which featured an en-suite bathroom and decor resembling a luxe hotel suite.
One of the villa's bedrooms was themed with dragons and featured a vintage arcade game, bunk beds, and a slide, which I shamelessly enjoyed.
The furniture and finishes felt brand new because they were. The resort only opened earlier this year, not long before our stay.
The private yard and pool were a nice touch.
I enjoyed the yard's private pool and golf setup.
Simone Paget
I've dreamed of staying at a resort with my own personal pool, and now that I have, it's just as wonderful as I'd imagined.
As much as I love the vibe of a lively resort pool, I appreciated having a space that was my own for an early morning or late-night dip.
The pool was on the small side, but it felt like it had more than enough space for a small group. The yard also had seating for outdoor dining and a tiny golf course.
There was a stunning chef's kitchen where I could make meals.
Simone Paget
I spent most of my days fueling myself with totchos from Woody's Lunch Box and other theme-park bites, so I enjoyed returning to my villa and having access to a kitchen.
It came with a full set of cookware, an oven, a large refrigerator, several small appliances, and everything I needed to cook meals. I ordered groceries through Instacart so I could make breakfast and consume some veggies in my kitchen between park trips.
It was nice to save money by eating at my villa instead of dining out for every meal.
The in-suite laundry made traveling with only a carry-on a breeze.
Simone Paget
I love the convenience of traveling with only a carry-on, but I hate the anxiety of potentially running out of clothes and having to do laundry in my hotel sink.
Due to the villa's in-unit laundry facilities, I never had to worry about having clean clothes during my stay.
After a sweaty day of walking a bazillion steps, coming home and popping my clothes in the suite's washing machine was a true luxury.
The resort's pool and lazy river were stunning.
Simone Paget
A highlight of Villatel Orlando's property is its pool area, which features a pristine resort-style pool with a lazy river — and no, it wasn't overcrowded with children when I visited.
There's also a poolside Aqua Bar & Grille that serves cocktails and food throughout the day, from breakfast pizzas and acai bowls to burgers and nachos. The space's vibe is tropical chic, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious strawberry margarita.
Though I liked having a private pool in my backyard, I also enjoyed lounging by a much bigger one with a cocktail.
I could also access the property's water park.
Waterpark at Villatel
Simone Paget
Aqua Bay, the compact water park next to the resort pool, has four decent waterslides.
It's not huge, but Universal Volcano Bay — the mega water park with the unmissable faux volcano — is just a 10-minute drive from Villatel for those who want more.
The Villatel property was gorgeous, and I felt safe walking around, even as a solo traveler.
Simone Paget
The resort is a gated community with security, so as a solo female traveler, I felt safe wandering around the resort, even after sunset.
The only pitfall is that the villas all look very similar from the outside, and I got lost a few times trying to make my way back from the pool.
I found the resort's complimentary shuttle service to Universal and Disney to be a nice perk.
disney
Simone Paget
The villa is about 10 minutes from Universal Studios and about a 25-minute drive from Disney World. I appreciated that the resort had complimentary shuttles to both parks.
Going to Disney alone was unexpectedly freeing. I set my own schedule, ate whatever I wanted (hello, Mickey-shaped snacks), and retreated to my villa whenever I needed a break.
The shuttle wasn't running as late as I'd hoped during my trip, so I spent about $25 on an Uber back to my villa after a long day at Disney. It was well worth it to maximize my time at the theme park.
Overall, the villa beat a typical hotel or rental home.
Simone Paget
My stay at Villatel Orlando was peaceful, and I felt insulated in my villa as I rarely saw or heard my neighbors.
After a day of overstimulation exploring the parks, returning to a spacious, calm space that didn't involve a busy hotel lobby and crowded elevators was the ultimate luxury.
Prices vary throughout the year, but even during spring break (peak season), I saw a four-bedroom villa listed for as low as $450 a night.
If you split that cost between a few friends or family members, you can get plenty of space and a private pool for as much or even less than a hotel room.
Though staying at Villatel Orlando was the perfect solo vacation, I can't wait to return with my girlfriends. I may even suggest they bring their kids — I call dibs on the slide.
