Marriott's Harbour Lake

Marriott’s Harbour Lake is a large, manicured lakefront resort, housed in picturesque pastel-colored buildings that are reminiscent of classic Key West residences. That casually colorful vibe extends across the grounds, where the boardwalk, restaurant, and lounging areas are decorated with elegant pastel facades and white wood accents. Inside, the spaces are pleasant, if a bit dated in some places: high, airy ceilings and modern beige sofas in the lounge clash with the dated orange patterned carpeting in reception. It may not be as smart as its sister Marriott resort across the road, but it has a relaxed atmosphere, a much bigger lake, and is packed with fantastic outdoor and indoor recreational activities for families. The kids love it, according to past guests, and the hotel also ranks well with adults in departments such as customer service and cleanliness. Some areas may become noisy during peak hours, but overall, we were surprised that the resort seems to maintain a relatively peaceful atmosphere despite being packed with families during our visit.  

This resort is located off International Drive, on the outer edge of Orlando’s tourist hotspots, and just next to Interstate 4. The only other neighbors are other hotels, and it's less built-up here than in the heart of the I-Drive development. I-Drive 360 and the Orlando Eye are about a 15-minute drive, where there are also plenty of shops, restaurants, entertainment activities, and nightlife. Disney World is just over a ten-minute drive, while Universal Studios is about a 15-minute drive. Orlando International Airport is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. 

There are several different room types in the resort, broken down into traditional hotel rooms and villas with separate bedrooms. The decor is generic, with a slightly dated vibe reminiscent of timeshares, but the rooms aren't unpleasant. Different color schemes are generally paired with neutral sofas and wood furniture. A bit of tropically-influenced art hangs on the wall, though there's little in the way of Disney-inspired, child-friendly character. Traditional hotel rooms are spacious and come with sinks, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, microwaves, and cupboards filled with cutlery and tableware. Bigger One- and Two-Bedroom Villas have large kitchens, laundry rooms with washers and dryers, and separate dining areas. The sofas in all room types can be pulled out into a bed, sleeping two additional people. Bathrooms have neutral tones with white bath tiles, and come with a shower/tub combos or separate showers and tubs. All rooms have a sitting area, private balconies with patio seating, flat-screen TVs with cable channels and DVD players, air-conditioning, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Keep in mind that not all rooms include housekeeping, so check ahead.

The biggest highlight of this hotel is its abundant family-friendly facilities. The pool areas have plenty of lounge space and are specifically designed for kids: Shipwreck Landing Pool has a near life-size pirate ship which doubles as a water slide. The wooden masts act as splash fountains and there are also themed characters, including plastic alligator pirates with water guns. Florida Falls is a large interactive water playground, with numerous charming splash fountains disguised as animal characters, and a slide pool with deep and shallow ends. There’s also an outdoor hot tub for adults, and outdoor sports facilities including a sand volleyball court, basketball court, grass sports pitch, a mini-golf course, kids’ playground, and a recreation station with ping-pong, pool, and foosball tables (fees required for some). The hotel even has a dedicated recreation office that organizes daily and weekly activities and is chock full of kids’ toys and board games.For adults who prefer peace and quiet, a wooden boardwalk leads to the large natural lake where there are plenty of sun loungers for relaxing and fishing is allowed. Barbecue stations and a wood fire pit with picnic tables are available for guest use. There’s no breakfast included, but the poolside grill restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and focuses on American cuisine. There’s also a wooden kiosk that sells snacks and drinks, and a 24-hour gym with an extensive array of cardio and weight lifting machines. A guest laundry room is available for guests staying in traditional guest rooms (which don't have laundry facilities), and a small business center has two computers and a printer. There are no shuttles provided to theme parks, which means guests will need a car to get around. Accordingly the hotel has free private parking. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and there are no resort fees, though there can be fees for housekeeping.