You Can Afford It! (Really…)
By Lura Readle Scarpitti
Think about the last family vacation you took…did you stay in a hotel or resort? If so, what were the amenities like? Did you really feel comfortable? Was it that “home away from home” feeling so many people look for when they travel? And, whether it was or wasn’t, just how much did you pay?
Chances are, it was anywhere between $150 to $250 per night (before taxes and resort fees). Exactly what did you get for your money? Even if the place was considered upscale, for that amount, your room was most likely a single room with a couple of beds (hopefully queen if sleeping arrangements require you to bunk with one of your offspring, as often happens with your average family of four), a small attached bathroom, possibly a mini-fridge to store some emergency water (or wine/beer) and snacks. An actual balcony was probably nonexistent, considering that so many resorts now don’t have them for fear of liability. Meals, activities, and amusements required leaving the room for another location, either at the resort or elsewhere. Your room was only a place to “crash” and change clothes — certainly not a place you’d want to spend a decent amount of leisure time in. And of course, there’s the proximity to your “neighbors,” which depending on the amount of soundproofing that’s gone into a place, you might hear through the walls.
What if I were to tell you that, if you had a good group of friends or family whom you could stand to be around for an extended period of time (say three to five days or so), you could spend around that same amount of money per night…AND enjoy a lushly appointed, 10-bedroom, 13-bathroom multi-million dollar mansion…yes, MANSION… with all the luxuries you could possibly think of (and more)? Accommodations which are spacious and airy, giving you freedom to move about without tripping over your significant other and children? Large, open bedrooms separate from those same children? Fullyequipped chef’s kitchens which afford not only a fullsize refrigerator/freezer to keep your beer cold, but everything you need to prepare a gourmet dinner, and plate it up beautifully? Where a morning spent at the pool doesn’t involve getting up at 8 a.m. (to beat the crowds to get chairs), changing into your swimsuit, donning a cover up, flip flops, grabbing your beach bag (with everything you can thing imaginable in it, so you don’t have to scramble back to the room for forgotten goggles or water toy), and riding down multiple floors on the elevator. Where all you have to do is grab a beach towel and walk out the door onto the deck of a gorgeous pool with a waterfall, heated spa AND lazy river…and relax.
Would that get your attention? It certainly got mine when I heard about it.
Welcome to Reunion Resort, in the heart of Central Florida (aka “Vacation Land of the World”) — only six miles from Walt Disney World…and a world away from your “average” Orlando vacation.
These days, with the ever-evolving travel landscape becoming more and more diverse, options for overnight lodging is no longer limited to hotels. Vacation rentals, apartments, condominiums, even entire houses are becoming ever-more popular as that sector of the lodging industry continues to expand. Reunion Resort has been at the forefront of that trend ever since the property came under Sheila Johnson’s Salamander umbrella. The company understood the benefits in helping home owners in this private community rent their properties to large parties looking for more privacy and adaptability in their leisure accommodations. What they developed was the official Reunion Resort Vacation Rental Program which offers a multitude of options to meet a variety of budgets and parties as large as 32…equal to 8 families of 4.
Reunion Resort is famous for its many different styles of accommodations, but what really sets it apart is the fact that it puts true luxury within the reach of those who maybe don’t live in the lap of it. Think of it: when was the last time you spent time in an $8 million dollar home? For most people, that answer would be “Never,” but with the Vacation Rental Program, and their selection, that is completely attainable. In other words, instead of spending upwards of $1500 to $2000 for a week to be jammed into a “people-houser” while you’re exploring Central Florida’s attractions, you can grab some friends, pool your financial resources, and make your vacation truly one to remember, by staying in an honest-to-goodness, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” type villa. Nightly rentals of homes like the 10-room, 12 bathroom mansion in Eagle Bay which we were able to experience range between $2050 – $3050 per night (plus taxes and fees), depending on the time of year. At first it sounds pricely, but for a place that sleeps 26 people — split that up between a large group of your closest friends and family, and you’re talking lavish, palacial accomodations for what you would pay for a 20 x 20 room at your average Hilton.
And remember it you will. The “WOW” factor when walking into one of the Reunion showpiece rental properties is difficult to describe — they are mansions in every sense of the word. Grand entrances lead to stunning living areas filled with opulent furnishings (the Eagle Bay mansion boasted $2.2 MILLION dollars in furnishings alone, including a $40,000 Italian red leather sofa in the upstairs game room); floor-to-ceiling window walls looking out over beautiful vistas, many of them on one of the three championship golf courses within the 2,200 acre resort; the kitchens are heaven on earth to anyone who loves OLD CITY LIFE / VOLUME 12 ISSUE 7 84 breakfast each morning without having to worry about being “presentable”?
Many of the lush bedrooms come with ensuite bathrooms that can only be described as sanctuaries — garden tubs perfect for relaxing sore legs after a long day at the theme parks, large marble-tiled showers, double vanities, and closets that would make Carrie Bradshaw happy. The kids aren’t forgotten either. Themed bedrooms — Star Wars, Disney, Princess, Nautical, even Harry Potter — many with multiple bunk beds (the Eagle Bay home has a nautical-themed one that sleeps 10), will make them feel like they’re at camp, or one big, days-long, slumber party…but even better. What more can a family, or families, ask for?
The common areas are designed expressly for chilling, hanging out, and enjoying your traveling mates’ company. Plush, comfortable living and family rooms abound. Many homes have jaw-dropping game rooms with regulation size pool tables, dartboards, indoor shuffleboards, leather card tables, gaming systems — there’s even one home with a bowling alley AND full-screen virtual golf game. Large, flatscreen TVs are everywhere… and then there are the indoor theatre rooms which you have to experience to fully understand the concept of “immersive.” Get into your pjs, pop the popcorn, put the latest Avengers movie into the Blue Ray player and be transported to another dimension for a couple of hours with the rest of your crew.
“But what’s the pool like?” An important question on the lips of every vacationer, for certain. There has been no expense spared for outdoor living here as well and that is reflected in the outdoor pools — waterfalls; lazy river; splash pads; spas; terraces that that will make you feel like you’re at a Mediterranean resort in Naples…and because it’s Florida, a lot of attention has been paid to the outdoor kitchens at Reunion’s luxury rental homes. They beg you to take advantage of Florida living by grilling out at least one night during your stay.
But, as they say on TV, that’s not all. Because you’re a part of the official Reunion Rental program, every guest gets full and unlimited use of all Reunion’s firstclass amenities: the five acre water park with its own lazy river, kids water playground and waterslide, ten neighborhood swimming pools, not to mention access to the property’s three signature golf courses (designed by Palmer, Nicklaus and Watson), tennis center and full service spa (regular fees apply for golf, tennis and spa). And if you decide to take off a night from cooking, you can choose to dine at one of the resort’s excellent restaurants, including the stunning Eleven, overlooking all of Central Florida from the main building’s 11th floor (catching the theme parks’ fireworks is a nightly event here). Or, if you want, hire one of Reunion’s private chefs to come and prepare a fresh, custom-prepared dinner at your abode as a special treat.
This type of experience isn’t limited to only to friends and family get togethers. These gorgeous homes are perfect for corporate outings, team-building events, seminars, wedding parties…anything where gathering together is important, but having your own sense of space is also key.
The lure of Orlando is obvious — a playground for both children and adults — and so many places throughout Central Florida claim to have that “one of a kind” experience. Sadly, many miss the mark because, essentially they are merely another resort among many. That’s not the case at Renunion. Their rental program makes good on that promise of being truly unique, and for a price that won’t drain your bank account. For your next big vacation, treat yourself to a luxurious Reunion…and bring your friends along.
For more information on this unique vacation experience, only a short drive from St. Augustine, call (407) 326-0366, or visit their website: Reunion Vacation Homes.
