If you need some well-deserved pampering and luxury, the International Drive Resort Area has it all: World class accommodations, soothing spas, elegant dining, great shopping and special tours fit for a VIP: YOU!!! Check out these suggestions to treat yourself to the best of the best in the world’s most famous vacation destination!

 

 

For visitors who want to feel indulged, pampered, spoiled, there are great choices of upscale properties that are pulling out all the stops in preparation for your arrival. With so many amenities to pamper you during your visit, you may never want to leave your hotel!

 

 Known for luxurious appointments and its marching ducks, The Peabody, located on International Drive, features newly expanded areas, including ultra-luxurious guestrooms; state-of-the-art, flexible function space; a full-service spa and fitness center; three pools and 10 dining and entertainment options. www.peabodyorlando.com 407-352-4000.

 

The elegant Hilton Orlando, adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, opened in fall 2009 and features two pools, a lazy river; steak and chop house, spa and 9-hole putting course. www.hilton.com 407-313-4300.

 

Rosen Shingle Creek

A grand hotel in the tradition of Florida’s turn-of-the-century resorts, the conservation-minded property encompasses the historic Shingle Creek, headwaters of the Florida Everglades. One of the area’s most elegant properties, the hotel is situated on 230 acres of lush landscape. The resort offers lavish choices in accommodations, enticing restaurants, rejuvenating spa, and a championship golf course. www.rosenshinglecreek.com 407-996-9939.

 

Holiday Inn Resort – The Castle

Guests are treated like royalty in this medieval castle, set in the heart of the International Drive attractions area. www.doubletreecastle.com 407-345-1511.

 

Westin Imagine Orlando

Offering the style and personal service of a boutique hotel, along with the amenities of a resort. Located near the Orange County Convention Center and just minutes away from Orlando-area attractions, the property offers a luxurious stay for both leisure and business travelers. www.westinimagine.com 407-233-2200.

 

Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld

This Four-Diamond property offers 778 large, beautifully appointed rooms and suites. Adjacent to SeaWorld and Discovery Cove, it boasts a gilded Venetian aviary, fine-dining restaurant, Atlantis; Olympic-size swimming pool, and four tennis courts. The resort also offers guests the opportunity to golf at the nearby Marriott's Grande Pines Golf Club. www.renaissanceseaworld.com 407-351-5555.

 

The three hotels at Universal Orlando Resort are all four-diamond recipients. The 650-room Hard Rock Hotel, guarantees rock star treatment in laid-back luxury. The 1,000-room Royal Pacific Resort, A Loews Hotel, offers a taste of the enchanted isles of the South Pacific with swaying palm trees, lush landscaping and a lagoon pool. The 750-room Portofino Bay Hotel, A Loews Hotel, is an escape to la dolce vita, or what the Italians call "the sweet life." This amazing re-creation of the Mediterranean seaside village of Portofino, Italy also features the Mandara Spa, offering signature massage therapies, a gymnasium, a relaxation room and a hair and nail spa. For details, visit www.loewsresorts.com. All Universal Orlando hotel guests enjoy a variety of theme park benefits including access to their favorite rides and attractions. Guests show their hotel room key card at the express entrance at each ride and may bypass the regular lines.

 

 

The new Spa at the Peabody Orlando is the perfect place to discover the ultimate in relaxation. This spacious sanctuary, with its peaceful sounds, inviting colors and soft lighting, has been created to offer tranquility and calm.

 

Visitors begin with a stress-melting indoor or outdoor massage. Then indulge in a European facial or body wrap before a visit to a full-service salon.

 

The new fitness center is designed with health-conscious guests in mind and features state-of-the-art Cybex and Octane cardio and strength equipment, plus separate studios for group exercise. The expansive 22,000-square-foot space includes luxurious indoor and outdoor treatment rooms for massage therapy and skin treatments, specially formulated mango-ginger scented body care line, spacious, 1,000-square-foot studio for group exercise, a 500- square-foot studio dedicated to spinning; two cardio studios and separate strength conditioning and core strength rooms. www.peabodyorlando.com 407-352-4000.

 

The classic and elegant Spa at Shingle Creek Orlando is part of the luxurious Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Guests relax and rejuvenate in style with treatments that include mud wraps, soothing massages, signature facials and more. A sleek fitness studio overlooks scenic views. A swim in the invigorating pool or an afternoon of total mind and body relaxation are available at this day spa and salon. www.spaatshinglecreek.com 407-996-9SPA.

 

The Mandara Spa at the Portofino Bay Hotel, an 8,000-square-foot relaxation center at Universal Orlando Resort, offers guests an exotic spa experience rooted in Balinese healing traditions passed from generation to generation. The world-class spa provides exotic therapies that reflect the beauty, spirit and traditions of both Eastern and Western cultures. Here the highly skilled therapists prepare beauty therapies fresh each day using actual spices, fruits, vegetables, honey, yogurt, seaweed, salt, minerals and other real ingredients and creating the treatments just as they have been done in Asia for centuries. www.mandaraspa.com 407-503-1244.

 

 

The Dave Harman-designed the award-winning Shingle Creek Golf Club, a par 72, 7,213-yard course, located east of Orlando's Orange County Convention Center at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. A course layout that is challenging and flexible enough to test your skills will not frustrate the less experienced player! This is a beautiful course not to be missed! www.shinglecreekgolf.com 1-866-996-9933.

 

Nearby on International Drive, Grande Pines Golf Club at Marriott was designed by golf course architect Steve Smyers and is one of Central Florida's most dynamic new golf courses. In partnership with six-time major champion Nick Faldo, Smyers created each hole of Grande Pines Golf Club to be a strategic challenge that will bring out the best in each player's game. Named one of Golfweek's Top 100 "America's Best Resort Courses," it is adjacent to Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort. www.marriott-vacations.com. 407-239-6909.

 

 

If names like Coach, Barney's, Burberry, Giorgio Armani and Fendi, make you search for your purse and head out the door, you'll appreciate the savings you'll find at nearby outlets. Check out Orlando Premium Outlets (www.premiumoutlets.com).

 

At Pointe Orlando, with new specialty shops and restaurants you can have lunch, shop, see a movie, shop some more! Enjoy an evening at B.B. Kings Blues Club. Dine at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar or Oceanaire Seafood Room. www.pointeorlando.com 407-248-2838.

 

 

The recently-opened Napa at the Peabody Orlando draws inspiration from wine country with some of Northern California's most tantalizing tastes. The menu is comprised of organic, sustainable farm-to-fork selections complemented by wall-to-wall wine selections from Napa Valley and around the world. With its dark wood furnishing and modern appointments, Napa offers diners a quiet, understated elegance. www.peabodyorlando.com 407-345-4716.

 

The Capital Grille Indulges diners in dry aged steaks and choices from more than 5,000 bottles of wine in an atmosphere of Floridian ease and elegance. Those seeking a more secluded dining experience should ask for a table on the outdoor patio. www.thecapitalgrille.com 407-370-4392.

 

The Oceanaire Seafood Room provides the perfect setting to enjoy seafood, flown in daily from around the world. Located at Pointe Orlando. www.theoceanaire.com 407-363-4801.

 

Bice Orlando Ristorante, at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, offers rustic Italian fare in an elegant and trendy setting. www.biceorlando.com 407-503-1415.

 

The Peabody Orlando recently celebrated the grand opening of Rocks, its newest upscale lounge. Overlooking International Drive, Rocks offers an extensive wine list, bottled beers from around the world and specialty cocktails infused with fresh ingredients. The lounge also offers live music seven nights a week and a select bar menu. www.peabodyorlando.com 407-352-4000.

 

The Funky Monkey is a stylish, new café located in Pointe Orlando featuring signature menu items such as beef tenderloin, duck and sushi and nearly 152 wines. www.funkymonkeywine.com 407-418-9463.

 

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar offers a memorable experience that includes contemporary Cuban cuisine created by Chef Guillermo Pernot, lively Latin music, professional salsa floorshows, an open-air tropical ambiance with outdoor dining and an extensive rum selection. www.cubalibrerestaurant.com 407-226-1600.

 

Check out Bergamo’s Italian Restaurant with its serenading waiters and a repertoire of romantic songs serve as a backdrop to your dinner. 407-352-3805.

 

Capriccio Grill, an Italian steakhouse at The Peabody Orlando, specializes in prime U.S. steaks and chops from Ruprecht's of Chicago. Fresh lobster and seafood are delivered daily, and the menu is rounded off with aromatic pasta dishes from La Bella Italia. Also at the Peabody, Dux specializes in American haute cuisine with global influences. www.peabodyorlando.com 407-352-4000.

 

Indulge in the ultimate in casual elegance for lunch or dinner. The Capital Grille brings its famous dry-aged steaks and impressive 5,000-bottle wine list to area visitors. This is really special! www.thcapitalgrille.com 407-370-4392.

 

Located at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld, Atlantis features a variety of ocean delicacies all served beneath beautiful, hand-painted ceiling murals. This classy, comfortable restaurant offers a selection of creative entrees. www.renaissanceseaworld.com 407-248-7335.

 

The Venetian Room at the Caribe Royale Orlando is known for its award-winning, classic dining experience with fresh seafood, reserve of fine wines and intimate dining alcoves. www.thevenetianroom.com 407-238-8060.

 

 

This is the ultimate for animal lovers! SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove offers an all-inclusive package that allows lucky visitors to be an animal trainer for a day. Package includes enhanced deep-water dolphin interaction and training encounter as well as behind-the-scenes feeding, training and playtime opportunities with other animals and birds. www.discoverycove.com 407-370-1280.

 

Be a star at Universal Orlando, with a VIP Tour allows you and/or your party to be personally escorted on a guided walking tour around one or both of the two theme parks. In addition to the tour guide, you will receive priority entry into the rides and attractions, so you won’t have to wait in the regular lines! Private tours may be arranged that are tailored to the interests of your group. www.universalorlando.com 407-283-0888.

 

Only the brave should try this but think of the stories you can tell! At SeaWorld, Sharks Deep Dive, a two-hour, awe inspiring, encounter immerses participants within the protection of a shark cage, the habitat of more than 50 sharks and thousands of schooling fish. www.seaworld.com 407-363-2830.

 

For more information on planning a luxury escape to Orlando’s International Drive Resort Area, visit www.InternationalDriveOrlando.com

4/02/2011