My birthday wish to be “Queen for a Day†came true when I stayed at the Castle Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The Castle Hotel is boutique style and luxury all in one. There is original artwork throughout the hotel with majestic Bavarian architecture. The Autograph collection is an exclusive destination you don’t want to miss if you are in Orlando. So, if you know me… you know my favorite color is PURPLE! Fun Fact: The color Purple has been associated with royalty, power and wealth for centuries.
Upon check-in the sun was going down and the purple spotlights started to illuminate against the hotel.
I immediately got excited because staying in a hotel with purple hues throughout the entire location is a dream come true. I should also mention that we were on International Drive within walking distance to the Orlando Eye which was also lit up purple that evening. Orlando knew a queen was coming to celebrate her 40th Birthday in style and they got the memo to make it Purplicious. Lol!
International Drive has many great attractions, restaurants and shops to visit.
The lobby if full of character with chic lounge areas and access to the Antlers Lounge for dining and cocktails with available indoor and outdoor seating. You can access the outdoor pool easily from the lobby. It’s a heated pool and is perfect for evening swimming when it gets a little cool outside. You also have access to a jacuzzi if you want to just relax and soak for a moment. I get cold easily and immediately noticed the heat lamps available in the Antler’s Lounge outdoor seating area.
The Antler’s Lounge Outdoor Area and Pool close around 11:00 p.m. which I loved because many hotel pools close earlier. I decided to explore the hotel after hours because you know I don’t go to sleep at a normal hour. It’s midnight and I’m enjoying looking at all the original artwork throughout the hotel and solely on the 2nd and 9th floors. I also got an opportunity to go to the rooftop Sky Terrace (North & South) to view the city of Orlando from different angles and get amazing photos.
The Sky Terrace is the perfect location for a fairytale wedding! There are also other available spaces to host events within the Castle Hotel like the Palace Ballroom, Conservatory Ballroom or Bavarian Boardroom. All these spaces are elegant and filled with charm. I eventually made it to my premium King guest room with Turret. When I first walked in the room I was in awe of the décor featuring plush bedding, marble bathroom, FREE Wi-Fi, desks and room service.
I had a refrigerator, coffee maker and access to water and wine at my disposal. I was working for part of this trip and having a comfortable space to set up my laptop and relax while overlooking the pool area was probably one of the best working spaces I’ve had. The view was amazing, and I was able to see the sunrise. I wake up at the crack of dawn to start my shift so it’s usually still dark outside. I’ll say that the Turret was a favorite of mine along with the shower and bed. I slept like a baby!
I had a full itinerary and didn’t spend as much time as I would have liked in the Castle Hotel so, hands down… I’ll be back with a clear schedule, so I can fully enjoy the amenities! I love the location on International Drive because you can easily access Universal CityWalk, Disney and the Orange County Convention Center. We ventured off to Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom with no hassle. I should also mention that the Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection is pet friendly.
Overall, this was a dream come true! I gained my Queen Elite Status with The Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection. Visit the Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection (Marriott) and get your dose of royal treatment!
Thank you to the amazing staff for royal treatment from check-in until we checked-out. I received a gift bag, call to the room to make sure everything was okay, waived parking fee, a tour of the outdoor area and temporary photographer. Side Note: You also have access to the fitness center. I ventured in there and stepped on the scale and turned around. Ha! This was my Birthday trip and I wasn’t watching my waistline or counting calories with all the food I was eating. The scale reiterated that to me very clearly!
