To the point
During March break we went on a family vacation to Florida. One of the hotels we stayed at was Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas Orlando. Here's my review of this wonderful vacation club property.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Booking
The regular price to stay at the Marriott’s Cypress Harbour Villas was US$288/night for a long-stay rate, which includes any stay 3 nights or longer. Our 5-night stay would have cost US$1,732.
Fortunately, a few months prior to this vacation we completed a stay at the Marriott’s Harbour Lake Vacation Club. Upon check-out I was offered another stay at a Marriott Vacation Club for a reduced price if we attended a vacation ownership presentation, to which I was very happy to agree. We received a reduced price of only $259 USD for 3 nights, with the ability to extend it for two nights in exchange for an additional US$199 per night. So our entire stay was US$657 instead of US$1,732, a substantial discount of over CAN$1,400. On our next to last day we went for a 90-day presentation to learn about vacation ownership with Marriott Vacation Clubs. This is a program where you pay a substantial upfront price (which can be financed through a bank) along with ongoing yearly maintenance fees which gives you the right to a certain number of nights per year at their resorts. At the end of the presentation we politely declined and returned to enjoying our last full day of vacation.
I’d recommend for anyone to attend these presentations if given the chance. 90 minutes of time is a relatively small price to pay for the substantial savings you can make at these hotels. In some destinations like Hawaii, you can unlock even greater savings. Be aware, if you’re married or in a partnership, both people must attend the presentation. And you can take your kids with you if you have any. There is a kids room where they can play, or they are allowed to stay with the parents for the duration of it if they’d prefer.
So the entire stay was prepaid using my Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card and I would earn 75% bonus points on any incidentals by being a Titanium Elite Bonvoy member.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Location
Marriott’s Cypress Harbour Villas is well located near Interstate 4 and International Drive in southwest Orlando and near most of the family attractions. It’s a 5-minute drive to SeaWorld and a 15-minute drive to Walt Disney World. The airport is a 15-20 minute drive depending on traffic. The smaller Marriott Harbour Lake Vacation Club and Hilton Grand Vacations Club SeaWorld are right across the street.
Get Marriott Bonvoy Points
The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at more than 7,000 hotels around the world is with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card).
In addition to the great welcome bonus on both cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and 5 points per dollar at Marriott locations. And each year, you’ll earn a certificate for one free hotel stay (35,000 point value) and 15 Elite nights toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Arrival & Check-In
The resort is set on an enormous property. There are over 20 buildings just for housing all the villas, in addition to the others for the significant number of activities you can do on-site. There are numerous lakes, including a very large one in the center of the area which is surrounded by beautifully manicured grounds with numerous bridges and walkways.
The reception is a welcoming space which has the check-in desk, concierge, and a large sitting area with couches, TVs, and a full bar. Check-in was quick and efficient, and I was told that my request for a lake view room on an upper floor was granted thanks to my Titanium Elite status.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Two Bedroom Villa
This wasn’t our first time staying at this property so knew what to expect, yet I was still impressed upon entering our room. We had a large villa with 2 full bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. The villas here are wonderful. They are extremely well appointed and everything is high quality and works well in my experience. It’s really like having all the comforts of home while on vacation. The main living space included a full kitchen, dining area, and living room with a pull-out sofa bed and large TV. There was also another small room near the entrance which featured a washer & dryer.
The first bedroom consisted of a king-sized bed, large TV, chair with ottoman, and full storage closet.
The 2nd bedroom had a queen bed, another double pull-out sofa bed, and another large TV. For those counting, that is four beds which could sleep eight people and 3 TVs. As you can see, it’s essentially like having your own condo with lots of room for the whole family.
The first bathroom was ensuite to the master bedroom and featured a huge jacuzzi bath, double sinks, and separate shower. The second had one sink and a shower-tub combination.
All villas have a screened-in balcony with dining area for four people. Ours looked over one of the smaller lakes with a fountain in the middle.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Pool Areas
With the sprawling size of this resort, it’s no surprise that there are three distinct pool areas. The main area is close to the restaurant and bar, with the other two close to other sections of villa buildings so there is never one far away! There is an assortment of jacuzzis, kiddie pools, and poolside bars. One pool area also features a small waterfall and sauna.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Dining
The dining at this property follows the usual vacation club model: One main casual restaurant with bar, and a marketplace where you can stock up on essentials for your kitchen. When we arrived we stocked up on goods at a proper grocery store nearby, and used the marketplace only to top up the odd item if required. One of the other pools also features a poolside bar where you can order drinks and light meals. The food is very good, but there’s no emphasis on fine dining here since most people cook their own meals in their villa or eat out on the town.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Other Facilities
This is where the the resort really stands out. Being a massive property, there is a significant number of things to do without ever having to leave. There’s a huge lake in the center where a complimentary water taxi takes you back and forth across. With young kids that is a fun activity in itself! There are other boats you can rent and drive yourself, as well as bikes available for hourly rentals and complimentary mini golf.
There are many activities for the young guests including a full kids club with daily activities, at least 3 different playgrounds, and a pirate-themed mini water playground.
There are many BBQ areas for outside cooking, a full gym and spa area, tennis court, shuffleboard, and basketball.
For service, the majority of the staff here during our visit were wonderful. Your experience is usually fairly self-serve seeing how you have essentially your own full condo. But any needs or requests we had of staff we done promptly and cheerfully. The most you’ll generally interact with staff is doing sports like renting bikes or boats, or organizing kids activities. There was actually one staff member at the kids club who was quite rude. But the most memorable thing about her was how she contrasted so sharply with all the other staff who were always quite friendly. It almost seemed like they had the vibe of someone else who was also on vacation.
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Hotel Fact Sheet
| Parking | Free | Breakfast included with room | No |
| Pool | Yes (exterior) | Rooms with balconies | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Rooms with kitchenette | Yes |
| Gym | Yes | USB plugs in room | Yes |
| Restaurant | Yes | Smart TV | Yes |
| Accepts animals | No | Shower/Bath | Both |
| Executive lounge | No |
Marriott's Cypress Harbour Villas - Conclusion
Of the vacation clubs we’ve been to in the Orlando area, this one is definitively my favourite. The villas have all the comforts of home, plenty of space for kids to run around, and high-quality kitchens. The grounds feature so many activities and pool areas that you could spend multiple days here and never leave the hotel.
Having small children, we love breaking up our Orlando activities like days at Walt Disney World with time just relaxing at the hotel and swimming in the pools. Having the convenience of your own fridge that you can pull out healthy snacks from at any time, with a myriad of activities that the whole family can enjoy together, makes for a very relaxing Orlando vacation. if you’re looking for this style of accommodation, then this hotel is a terrific choice.
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