As one of the world’s top vacation destinations, Orlando attracts millions of visitors each year for a variety of recreational fun. Universal Studios, Disney, and Busch Gardens are internationally famous with families for their massive theme parks. For college football fans, Florida Citrus Sports puts on several exciting bowl games every fall and winter season. Mild year-round weather also adds to Orlando’s tourism appeal with a large number of world-class resorts featuring premium amenities and activities.
To cover the wide range of visitors choosing Orlando as their vacation destination, we’ve broken down our favorite hotel recommendations into the most popular reasons to visit this central Florida hotspot. If you’re looking for the best bowl game hotel, a relaxing resort for a romantic getaway, or a place to stay that will be fun for the whole family, check out these top hotel picks.
The Best Bowl Game Hotels
Fall and winter are high seasons for college football in Orlando. Florida Citrus Sports has made Orlando’s Camping World Stadium the home for its famous bowl games, including the VRBO Citrus Bowl, the Cheez-It Bowl, and the Florida Classic. These legendary games typically max out the 70,000 seat capacity of the stadium, so booking your travel plans in advance is the best way to ensure you have a comfortable place to stay close to the stadium. Our top recommendations for hotels near Camping World Stadium include:
A preferred partner of Florida Citrus Sports, this hotel enjoys a prime location close to Camping World Stadium, Amway Center, and Orlando City Stadium. Choose from a variety of comfortably furnished rooms, including club-level options with lounge access. The Shade Bar and Grill is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat with multiple TVs airing live sports. 24-hour room service is also available, in addition to snacks and drinks from the mini-fridge.
You can pay daily for valet parking, or you can choose off-site parking at a metered lot next to the hotel.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Downtown
Just minutes from Lake Eola, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Downtown is another popular option close to the Camping World Stadium. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Amway Center, in addition to many neighborhood bars and restaurants around downtown Orlando.
Guests receive a complimentary cook-to-order breakfast in the morning, plus appetizers and beverages at the free evening reception each night.
Visitors may use the self-parking lot for a fee.
For a modern option that leaves you mere steps from the area’s sports stadiums, the Aloft Orlando Downtown features a Gold Leed Certified Eco-friendly design. Stay connected to friends, family, and even work with complimentary high-speed internet, including wired access in the rooms and hotel-wide Wi-Fi. After the big game, kick back in the W XYZ bar and enjoy drinks and live music.
The Aloft Orlando Downtown offers valet parking for a daily fee. There are also three charging stations for electric vehicles.
For a truly unique stay, the Grand Bohemian Hotel offers luxuriously rich elegance. Chandeliers, velvet fabrics, and seductive sculptures embody the hotel’s romantic theme. The ambiance continues in the hotel restaurant, The Boheme, where visitors can enjoy an eclectic menu and extensive wine list. Among the premium amenities, guests can ride the plush elevator to the roof for a dip in the heated pool, relax at the spa, or enjoy the artwork on display in the hotel’s gallery.
The Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando offers valet parking.
Top Resorts and Hotels for Families
Orlando’s many theme parks continue to be one of the biggest draws for families visiting the city. There’s no shortage of places to stay that offer various amenities for everyone, young and old. Many wonderful hotels and resorts also cater to visitors looking for accommodations next to the parks, including a few that offer direct access. Read on for Orlando’s greatest family destinations.
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
If you’ve come to Orlando to visit SeaWorld, you can’t get much closer than the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld. This family-friendly resort is within walking distance of both SeaWorld and the Aquatica water park. Adult guests can enjoy the resort spa and lounge while kids have a blast at the on-site water park, featuring slides, a dedicated toddler’s play area, and more.
As an official partner hotel of SeaWorld, your stay at Renaissance Orlando grants special park benefits, including priority entry to SeaWorld and Aquatica, plus 10% off dining and merchandise at the parks. The Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is also a preferred partner of Florida Citrus Sports.
The hotel features on-site parking for a daily fee as well as eight complimentary electric vehicle charging stations.
After an adrenaline-filled day at the parks, escape to the relaxing, island-inspired Loews Royal Pacific Resort, where you’ll feel like you’re at a tropical South Seas retreat. For water activities and more family fun, take the kids to the lagoon-style swimming pool. There, you’ll find organized activities such as pool basketball, hula hoop contests, and arts and crafts stations. For a refreshing evening winding down, adult guests can sip mai tais in the OrchidCourt Lounge, featuring a shimmering reflection pool.
Visitors will find Loews Royal Pacific Resort inside the Universal Orlando grounds, making this hotel an ideal choice for park accommodations. As an added perk, guests receive early admission to select attractions, free rides to the park by water taxi or shuttle, free merchandise delivery, priority seating at the park’s restaurants, and more.
For a fee, the hotel offers both self-parking and valet parking options.
Transport your family from Florida to the seaside town of Portofino, Italy, at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. Guests will enjoy the resort’s colorful architecture, charming walkways, and leisurely boat rides. The hotel features three pools with unique themes, including the family-favorite Beach Pool with slides and sandy shores, the Villa Pool featuring private cabana rentals, and the Hillside Pool for a more intimate and relaxing experience.
Like the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel guests can enjoy early admission to select attractions at Universal Orlando, free rides to the park, complimentary merchandise delivery from park gift shops, priority seating at park restaurants, and more.
For a daily fee, you can choose between self-parking and valet parking.
For an eccentric dose of nostalgia, book your stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Guests can take a groovy trip down memory lane by celebrating the greatest fads from the 50s through the 90s. The resort features three theme pools, each honoring a classic decade of pop culture. Step into the 60s Hippy Dippy Pool, feel the 50s vibe at the Bowling Pool, or travel to the 90s at the Computer Pool. In the 1970s section of the resort, you’ll find a throwback playground for the kids. The Fast Forward Arcade features games both parents and kids will love.
A Disney’s Pop Century Resort stay offers complimentary access to the neighboring Walt Disney World park via scenic gondola ride or traditional shuttle bus. Guests also receive complimentary merchandise pickup and delivery from the park straight to your room.
The hotel offers overnight self-parking for a fee.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
The original Saratoga Springs was a late 1800s New York retreat, and Disney’s Victorian-style resort offers a charming tribute to that legendary destination. The resort includes several pools, children’s playgrounds, and barbeque grilling areas for parents to prepare a picnic while the kids play. The resort offers a golf course, tennis and basketball courts, and jogging trails for the athletes in the family.
With ongoing complimentary water taxi or bus transportation to Walt Disney World, you can make your way over to the park whenever you’re ready.
The resort offers both self-parking and valet parking for a fee.
Orlando’s Most Relaxing Resorts
Orlando is home to hundreds of hotels and resorts, with many top choices for discerning guests looking for a diverse list of high-end amenities. While some options offer child-friendly activities, these picks are geared less towards families than some other hotels on our list. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, and weekend of pampering, or just some peace and quiet, explore these serene accommodations.
Rosen Shingle Creek is a luxury hotel with all the bells and whistles you can imagine. It is home to the Shingle Creek Golf Club, a challenging course designed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company. After a rewarding morning on the greens, spend an afternoon of pampering at The Spa at Shingle Creek.
During your stay, you can also enjoy the four heated pools, walking trails, and video game room. For sports enthusiasts, the resort also features basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. Rosen Shingle Creek is a preferred partner hotel of Florida Citrus Sports.
Both self-parking and valet parking are available at the resort for a daily fee.
The Hyatt Regency Orlando is another popular luxury hotel for a relaxing getaway. While the resort isn’t categorized as a traditional family hotel, some amenities include a zero-entry pool with water slides and waterfalls that kids will love. The hotel offers a high-end spa experience for adults where the professional staff provides a fully personalized experience. The daily resort fee covers premium internet access, a 24-hour fitness center, a 25% discount on spa and salon services, and more. For sports fans, the Hyatt Regency Orlando is another preferred partner of Florida Citrus Sports.
The resort’s garage provides self-parking and valet options, as well as enough charging stations to accommodate eight electric vehicles.
Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center
This resort offers unique ways to have some fun in a luxurious, high-end environment. When it’s time to relax, the Relâche Spa will take care of your every need. The spa holds a four stars award status by Forbes Travel Guide, so you know you’re getting premium-quality service.
At the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, you’ll find the new Crystal River Rapids water attraction, with speeding currents, waterfalls, and a cave. For more thrills, there’s also an on-site FlowRider surfing experience. The water park offers something for everyone, including a kid’s multi-level treehouse. Several of the resort’s facilities are located within the hotel’s giant atrium, making them easily accessible no matter the weather.
The resort has both self-parking and valet parking for an additional fee.
This elegant high-end resort features an 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones, an award-winning spa, and severalswimming pools with private cabanas. During your stay, you’ll have no shortage of places to dine, as the hotel includes 12 restaurants and lounges. Although not as family-oriented as the hotels listed in the previous section, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando does offer continuous complimentary transportation to Disney theme parks and a kids club.
The resort is also close to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This massive 220-acre sports complex includes nine venues and hosts numerous sporting events, both professional and amateur.
The Waldorf Astoria Orlando offers paid valet parking only.
Book Your Stay Now
To plan your perfect vacation, we recommend booking your trip far in advance of your desired dates. Many hotels offer discounts when you reserve ahead of time, and waiting until the last minute can result in premium rates.
Orlando is Central Florida’s largest city, so choosing a hotel near your favorite activities is a great way to minimize time spent driving to and from your destination. With plenty of options located around Orlando’s top tourist sites, you’ll always find a hotel that meets your preference for amenities and comfort.
If you plan on coming into town for one of the bowl games at Camping World Stadium, it’s especially important to reserve your room well in advance. For a full list of hotels we recommend for the bowl games, we suggest checking out our VRBO Citrus Bowl Lodging page and the Cheez-It Bowl Lodging page.