To commemorate wrapping up its extensive multi-million-dollar renovation, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes has curated an over-the-top $100,000 vacation package, the hotel shared exclusively with Forbes Travel Guide.
The aptly named Grande Package gives you and 11 family members or friends VIP status while experiencing the Orlando hotel’s new amenities, dining experiences and onsite activities. The exclusive three-day trip starts with an impressive airport pickup, courtesy of Corsa HQ. A Lamborghini Huracán Spyder, a Rolls-Royce Wraith, a McLaren 570S or other luxury car will pull up to Orlando International Airport to fetch you (and of course, one of the fleet will zip you back there upon checkout, too).
You’ll stay in The Ritz-Carlton Orlando’s best accommodation: the four-bedroom Royal Suite. Equipped with a living room, kitchen, dining room and media room, it provides vistas of the lakes and golf course from its eight balconies. And of course, it comes with access to the Club Lounge, which has its own concierge and a kids area with classic games, books, puzzles and more.
Foodies will relish the chef’s table dinner with wine pairings at the hotel’s Knife & Spoon, a steak-and-seafood establishment that debuted in 2020. In between courses, you will meet the restaurant’s chef, John Tesar, a James Beard nominee and Top Chef contestant.
Work off the indulgent meal with a private golf lesson from PGA pro Larry Rinker at The Ritz-Carlton’s 18-hole Greg Norman-designed course. Be sure to keep your energy up — the itinerary also includes a private eco tour of Shingle Creek — the headwaters to the Everglades — led by a Florida master naturalist. As you paddle a canoe, you’ll hear about the history of the creek and its inhabitants.
If that isn’t wild enough for you, next up is the private falconry experience. The Four-Star hotel’s master falconer will teach you about the history and rules of hunting with birds of prey.
When it comes time to relax, you’ll head to the Four-Star spa, a 40,000-square-foot haven with 40 treatment rooms, a 4,000-square-foot lap pool, a salon and a barbershop. You will enjoy the Grande Indulgence, a 110-minute pampering session featuring a massage with heated stones on the back, a scalp service and keratin gloves for your hands and feet that nourish your nails and skin. Then you’ll receive a 50-minute manicure and pedicure and finally cap off your spa day with healthy fare like smoothies, a tuna poke power bowl or a blue crab salad at Vitale Spa Café.
To unwind even more, retreat to your reserved poolside Cabana Trellis. Soak up the sun or take cover in the shade to watch a favorite movie or a game on the cabana’s HDTV while snacking on fresh fruit and snacks and sipping beverages stocked in your mini-refrigerator. A butler will tend to any other need.
Even if you don’t opt for the Grande Package, the newly renovated hotel is worth a visit. The Ritz-Carlton’s surroundings — the 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando estate with lush grounds and 11 lakes — inspired the transformation of its accommodations, seven restaurants, common areas, Club Lounge, Solaire pool and cabanas.
The contemporary 582 guest rooms and suites adopt a light, breezy palette of white, cream and sand shades with touches of soft blue. They feature nautical accents and wood furniture with rounded edges, from the bedroom bench to the console under the 65-inch flat-screen TV.
You’ll also want to reserve one of the new cabanas. The 12 standalone sanctuaries are chic and have the same color scheme as the rooms, but the walls are made of fabric. They are decked out with Wi-Fi, HDTV, a refrigerator, a safe, a round daybed and/or sofas. And each comes with a butler to ply you with refreshing cocktails.
For a little bit of a splurge, upgrade to a Club Level room so that you can visit the newly refreshed 14th-floor Club Lounge, whose balconies peek out over the pool, lake and golf course. The bright space serves bites and drinks throughout the day (some are available for takeaway). Don’t miss the chocolate bark cart when it rolls through — chisel off a piece of the Valrhona chocolate studded with candied Florida citrus for a sweet treat.
