Family Staycation at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

Just like so many of you, we have missed traveling so much. We had to cancel so many of our trips and we can not wait to get back to a more consistent travel schedule. In order to fulfill that travel bug, we have booked a couple of mini staycations right here in Orlando. If you are local to Central Florida or a short drive away, I encourage you to check out the amazing resorts and hotels we have in the area. There are so many wonderful options. For years, we had heard SO many amazing things about the JW Marriott property in Grande Lakes and I don’t know why it took us so long to finally book a weekend here. We had the most spectacular time floating around the lazy river, enjoying cocktails by the pool and eating delicious food at Whisper Creek Farm. My favorite thing about the JW at Grande Lakes is that they are located next door to the Ritz-Carlton and you have full access to their pool and amenities while you are on property.

One of my number one travel hacks for local staycations is arriving as early as possible on your check-in day. We pulled up to the Marriott around 9am on Saturday so that we could grab a pool chair and start our vacation early. The hotel was happy to store our luggage and they contacted us as soon as our room was available. We spent all day Saturday by the pool. The kids loved the lazy river and it was an added bonus that Marriott provided floats for the kids during our stay. We enjoyed the pool bar and I loved my tuna poke bowl and spicy margarita.

After lunch we walked over to the Ritz to grab a popsicle and take advantage of their splash pad and park. The kids also checked out the lake and ran around on the green space between the two properties. Even though we didn’t use it this visit, the Ritz also has a great kid’s club and kid’s activities that Marriott guests can also use. This would be a perfect way to sneak in a date night or some quiet time during a family vacation.

Saturday night we enjoyed eating outside at Whisper Creek Farm and the food was delicious! The courtyard was such a wonderful place to enjoy the evening and let the kids play while we had a drink and visited.

Sunday morning we woke up and enjoyed a delicious room service breakfast. There is nothing quite like eating breakfast in your pajamas in a hotel room. The pancakes were amazing and I loved the eggs benedict.

After breakfast, we spent another day by the pool. Even though we spent the majority of our weekend pool-side, the JW has so many other amenities that we hope to take advantage of in the future. Not only do they have a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course, but they also have a 40,000 square-foot spa, kayak and nature tours, fishing excursions and tennis courts. They even have a Sunrise Safari that offers a tour of the grounds where you can observe and encounter the wildlife of Grande Lakes, including whitetail deer, bobcats, alligators, and owls.

We had so much fun on our weekend staycation at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and we can not wait to go back soon. The grounds are absolutely amazing and the amenities and dining were top-notch. I highly recommend you add the JW to your list of must-stays in Orlando.

Please reach out if you have any questions about our stay! Thanks so much and see you next time!