Highlights: The Peabody Orlando

•The Peabody Orlando is located near many Orlando attractions, including Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and Walt Disney World

•Spacious public areas exude tropical luxury and elegance with stately palm trees, cascading waterfalls, exotic orchids, and priceless antiques

•Stylish, contemporary guest rooms all feature the signature Peabody Dream Bed

•Dining options range from Italian-American fare at the Capriccio Grill to the gourmet cuisine at Dux restaurant

•Full-service executive business center available to guests around the clock

•State-of-the-art recreation, from a luxurious full-service spa to a heated Olympic-size lap pool and lighted tennis courts

Amenities: The Peabody Orlando

• 891 rooms, 27 story. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Three restaurants, three bars. Fitness room, spa. Outdoor pool, children's pool, whirlpool. Tennis. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Peabody Orlando

The Peabody Orlando is a masterpiece of contemporary design and luxurious décor and furnishings. The hotel features spacious, elegant public spaces with lots of marble, cascading waterfalls, spectacular orchids, and priceless antiques and artifacts.

The Peabody Orlando caters predominantly to business people and convention visitors. Its close proximity to the Orange County Convention Center--the main entrance is directly across the street from the hotel--makes it especially attractive to business travelers. Guests traveling for fun in the sun can easily get to all of Orlando’s main attractions from the hotel. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld, as well as the downtown area and the international airport, are all just 10 to 15 minutes away. The Peabody offers special services for children, such as a children’s pool and special children’s menu for even its youngest guests.

While the hotel is beautifully appointed, its large size and focus on convention guests somewhat takes away from the special feeling you get when entering such a fine establishment. When I first arrived at the premises, I found all of the staircases and escalators to be a bit confusing and hard to navigate until I got my bearings.

The guest rooms at The Peabody Orlando are elegant, comfortable, and very spacious, and they appear to be designed with the businessperson in mind. The desk area in the rooms is more than large enough to spread out your work. The bed was very comfortable, although the bed linens were not exceptionally luxurious.

The executive business center is available to guests around the clock, and when the work day is done, guests can relax in the Olympic-size swimming pool or be pampered in the full-service spa.

(+) Great location for businesspeople who want to be well taken care of in beautiful surroundings
(-) Overall size of the hotel tends to detract from the personal touch one might expect

Guest Services: The Peabody Orlando

The Peabody Orlando believes in pampering its guests at every turn, and the staff goes out of its way to be friendly and efficient. The service was good from the moment I called to make a reservation. The greeting was calm and clear, and the reservation agent seemed genuinely concerned about meeting my needs. He accurately described a variety of rooms and rates that were available, although he did not describe the hotel itself or the surrounding area. Overall, the reservation process was a pleasant experience and handled without delay.

Upon my arrival at the hotel, I was promptly greeted at curbside, and the baggage service was seamless. When I reached the front desk for check-in, I had to wait in line but only for a few moments. The front desk staff could have been more personal, but all in all, the check-in was fairly well done.

I was also impressed with the concierge, who was polite and made the effort to approach me first. He seemed genuinely interested in wanting to help me, offering information and maps.

Housekeeping was also helpful and efficient. When I rang down to request a toothbrush, the staff answered promptly and politely, and the toothbrush was delivered to my room within two minutes. However, the toothbrush was simply handed to me; it would have been a nice touch to have it presented in a box or a bag.

Laundry service (the hotel provides one-day laundry and dry cleaning) was also timely. When I sent down a suit that I needed pressed in time for dinner, they were able to accommodate me.

Departure was also a pleasant experience. When I called down for assistance, the porter arrived at my door within four minutes, and despite an unattended counter for a short while, the bellmen and valet were very pleasant and took care of my luggage and me.

Overall, the staff seemed genuinely interested in assisting guests and was friendly and polite throughout my stay.

(+) Genuinely friendly staff and prompt service

Guest Rooms: The Peabody Orlando

The Peabody Orlando has 891 luxurious guest rooms, including 58 suites. There are two Presidential Suites, and The Peabody Club features exclusive Club Level guest rooms located on the top three levels of the hotel with private concierge staff. In-room amenities include the signature Peabody Dream Bed; two phones with data ports and high-speed Internet access and teleconference facilities; and premium cable and network television, including a mini television in the bathroom. All rooms have a safe, a fully stocked mini bar, 24-hour room service, and a complimentary newspaper delivered daily.

My room, which appeared to have been recently renovated, was very attractive, stylish, and contemporary, with a beige, olive, and gold color scheme. The bed looked inviting and plush, but the bed linens were not exceptionally luxurious. The bedroom was clean and spacious, although the tiles in the bathroom were in a bit of disrepair. The bathroom amenities were not exceptionally luxurious but had been thoughtfully and elegantly placed, and the grooming area was spacious.

(+) Stylish, attractive, and comfortable rooms

Facilities & Activities: The Peabody Orlando

The Peabody Orlando offers a wide range of onsite recreational activities. Their motto is “Our business is your pleasure.” The Athletic Club, a Certified Nautilus training center, provides therapeutic spa treatments, Swedish or Shiatsu massage, four lighted tennis courts, an Olympic-style swimming pool, a magnificent pool with cascading waterfall for children, a king-size Jacuzzi pool, and cabanas.

The fitness center staff was polite and well-spoken and was readily available to answer questions. The center has men’s and women’s restrooms, saunas, and stream rooms as well as a co-ed whirlpool. The fitness center does not offer any classes, although personal training sessions can be arranged. Both the fitness center and the locker rooms were clean, equipment was nicely spaced, and there were enough machines and free weights for guests to get a full body workout.

Home to many of the world’s top recreational attractions, Orlando remains one of the United States’ most popular tourist destinations. And the Peabody is conveniently located--Universal Orlando and SeaWorld are just 10 minutes away, and Walt Disney World is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Wet ’n Wild, a water theme park, is just two minutes away.

Greater Orlando boasts more championship golf courses than anywhere else in the world, and the Peabody provides an exclusive golf service that provides guests with the opportunity to play on many of these courses.

Also nearby are lots of shopping opportunities, including the Mall at Millennia, which offers upscale shopping with 150 of the world's finest stores, such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Dior, Jimmy Choo, and many more.

The Peabody Orlando is close to the Orlando Ballet and Orlando Opera, which schedule a number of productions throughout the year. And, if you want to dance the night away, the hotel is less than 10 minutes from City Walk, which has several discos and nightclubs.

(+) Great on-site fitness center if you want to stay in and stay trim, and conveniently located near major attractions

Dining & Lounge: The Peabody Orlando

The Peabody Orlando offers some of the finest dining experiences in Orlando. In addition to 24-hour room service and the 1950s-style B-Line Diner, guests can enjoy the Capriccio Grill and Mobil Three-Star Dux, the hotel’s signature restaurant.

The Capriccio Grill is an Italian steakhouse noted for its steaks and chops, fresh lobster and seafood, and aromatic pasta dishes and the Sunday brunch should not be missed. During my visit, the food display was luscious, and the desserts were decadent.

Menus at Dux change weekly and feature the best and freshest of local produce and seasonal specialties. Under the creative and watchful eye of chef de cuisine Joseph Trevino, guests are assured of a gastronomic treat.

Breakfast is served in the B-Line Diner, and since this is a diner, it doesn’t provide much in the way of an elegant breakfast experience. The menu did not provide an exceptional variety, although the food was good. The overall service was good but not outstanding, with a pleasant staff that was attentive but not hovering. My breakfast was served promptly and although the presentation was basic, the food looked appetizing and was flavorful.

When I called for room service, my order taker wasn’t able to discuss all aspects of the menu. However, the order was delivered to my room within the time frame specified, and the server was polite. The food was good, and tray pick up service was prompt.

(+) Attentive staff, good food, and good service in dining areas and in-room service

Business Services: The Peabody Orlando

The Peabody Orlando offers a full-service executive business center that guests can access around the clock, although it’s only staffed during the day. The center provides secretarial support, state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment, computer workstations, photocopying and facsimile services, Internet access, equipment rentals, and pre-convention printing and binding services.

This hotel is an ideal location for a corporate conference or retreat. Function space totaling 57,000 square feet is available on two levels, and its main ballroom of 27,000 square feet can hold a large gathering or be turned into eight separate meeting rooms. If a large gathering is underway in the main meeting areas, you can schedule access to 16 smaller rooms, or plan an outdoor reception on a 2,000-square-foot patio. The staff can help with audio/visual needs.

(+) 24-hour business center and ample meeting areas designed to meet guests’ needs