Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes
4012 Central Florida Pkwy., Orlando
“Less than twenty minutes from Harry Potter World” isn’t our typical opener for a hotel, but in Orlando, every minute in the car is a minute wasted. The city’s Ritz-Carlton is a classic, splashy, sophisticated resort done well. Really well. Within the fourteen floors and 500 acres that make up the property are a pond for fly-fishing, vegetable gardens (much of which ends up on your plate at dinner in one of the eleven restaurants), tennis courts, a golf course, and a 40,000-square-foot spa. There are also activities especially for kids, like arts and crafts and nature walks (free for each child for the first two hours). Service across the board is flawless, and guest rooms are airy and relaxing in quiet creams and pastel blues.
