Stay at the Luxe Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes

by Rachel L. Miller

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote, printed on cream card stock and emblazoned with the royal blue Ritz-Carlton logo, was waiting for me when I finally made it back to my room after a day of relaxation and pampering in the resort's spa.

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

The quote card was just one small part of the spectacular turndown service provided by Ritz-Carlton Orlando, a 524-room property that just opened in July 2003 as part of the $600-million Grande Lakes resort. An oasis of undeniable (and oftentimes tangible) luxury situated on a meticulously landscaped 500 acres, Grande Lakes is home away from home for those with old money, those with new money, and those who aspire to one day amass a small fortune. And then there are people like my friend and I - two old girlfriends determined to splurge for a few days in a place where no request is denied.

It's a place that greets returning guests in the evening with a pair of cushy slippers positioned carefully by the bed and the radio turned to a soothing jazz station. Not to mention a few chocolates, which I nibbled on while sitting on my balcony after sunset, clad in my signature Ritz-Carlton robe and enjoying a view of the pool and its surrounding palm trees.

It really was the life.

And really, the turndown service is just one of the many ways guests are made to feel special and welcome at this posh resort. Of the property's 1,200 employees, it seems a respectable number are on staff to merely smile graciously, hold open doors and greet you as if you're a bona fide superstar (and not just a B-List celebrity like those kids from the boy band O-Town). And if it weren't for my sprained ankle, which resulted in unladylike limping, I would've felt like Sophia Loren sauntering into my Italian palazzo (which, by the way, the Ritz is designed to resemble).

A guest room in the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

The rooms, of course, continue the feel of continental opulence. Hand-painted Italian furniture spared no expense - or comfort, for that matter. The immense bathroom was all marble with separate bathtub and shower, stocked with the Ritz-Carlton's exclusive toiletries. And even an adorable sunny yellow rubber duck was perched on the edge of the tub, clad in snorkel gear, ready to entertain little ones (and guarantee an avalanche of "aww"s from the adults).

Business travelers will love the high-speed Internet service and in-room cordless phones, perfect for multi-taskers who dislike being tethered to a desk while wheeling and dealing.

Above all, though, the Ritz aims to please (just like its other counterparts in cities worldwide). Requests are welcomed - the hotel staff wants its guests to leave raving about the individual, top-notch service.

I found the staff to be kind and pleasant (without being saccharine or over-the-top) and helpful with every facet of my stay. They instantly offered to procure me a wheelchair to lessen the amount of stress on my injured ankle. And although I didn't take them up on the offer, I had one incident in which a kind employee (who just happened to be off-duty) assisted me in a most generous manner.

The Ritz-Carlton spa (with the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in the background). photo © Rachel L. Miller

I had bought a few items at Grande Lakes' other property -- the JW Marriott -- and was on my way back to my room when the paper bag in which they were carried suddenly ripped, sending my purchases to the carpeted floor. My ankle still making movement difficult, I struggled to bend over and pick up the items. My hero, a young man by the name of Manuel, hurried to my side and assisted me, even brandishing a plastic bag from his knapsack for my use. He even asked if I needed his help in getting to the elevator. The man really went above and beyond to help me, and that one small incident cemented my decision to make the Ritz-Carlton my Italian-villa-away-from-home in future visits to Orlando.

It seems the hotel staff - trailblazers in guest service - have also taken Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote to heart as well, deviating from the status quo in order to assure a memorable stay for their privileged guests.