AAA One Diamond
No-frills accommodations for the budget traveler:
- Basic building and landscaping
- Guest rooms with functional furniture, a wall-mounted TV, a clothes rack, a couple of bars of soap and a pack of tissues
- Telephone, vending and ice machines
- Examples: Motel 6 Orlando-Kissimmee Main Gate East (from $33)
Still low-priced and low-frills, but with some added design and amenities:
- Good curb appeal, landscaping and lighting in the parking lot; covered drive-up entry
- Coordinated décor and furnishings with seating in the registration area
- Sundries at the front desk
- Food court, restaurant or at least continental breakfast
- Guest rooms with inexpensive furniture, a TV in view (with remote), a partially enclosed clothes rack, a vanity area outside of the bathroom, a couple of bars of soap and a box of tissues
- Elevator, coin-op laundry, telephone, vending, ice machines
- Examples: Disney's Pop Century Resort (from $82); Best Western Lakeside (from $55)
More attention has been paid to style and décor, and amenities and services have been added:
- Better curb appeal, landscaping and lighting in the parking lot; porte-cochere entry
- Carpet, wood or tile floors with accent rugs; more seating in the registration area; luggage carts
- Small gift shop
- Swimming pool, hot tub and an exercise room
- Full service restaurant or food court (or an expanded continental breakfast) and a lounge
- Larger guest rooms with coordinated furniture and décor, better bed linens, blackout drapes or shades, closet with hangers, TV on a credenza with remote and movie channels, coffee maker, two-line phone, video games, wall-mounted hair dryer, shampoo.
- Internet access, elevator, valet laundry, telephone, vending, ice machines
- Examples: Nickelodeon Family Suites (from $136); Holiday Inn Express Lake Buena Vista (from $89); Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (from $215)
More attention has been paid to style and décor, and amenities and services have been added:
- Excellent curb appeal, landscaping and lighting in the parking lot; impressive architectural features; added security
- Upscale décor and furniture; excellent quality flooring (marble, wood, granite, etc.); plenty of seating in a larger registration area; bell desk; better luggage carts
- Upscale gift shop
- Swimming pool with food served poolside, hot tub, steam room, exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment and lockers
- At least one upscale, full service restaurant and a lounge
- Larger guest rooms with upscale or designer furniture and décor, excellent bed linens; comforters with duvet covers; closet with wood hangers; luggage racks; oversized desk; TV in a closed armoire; mini bar; iron and ironing board; marble or higher-grade tile bathrooms; upgraded shower heads; plush towels; free-standing hair dryer; makeup mirror; five-piece amenity set (shampoo, body lotion, etc.)
- High-speed Internet access, service elevators for staff, valet laundry
- Example: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (from $375); Gaylord Palms Resort (from $150); Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress (from $200)
A much higher level of service is required for Five Diamond status, and the facilities must be quite luxurious; fewer than 100 hotels are on the list.
- Stunning curb appeal and architectural features; extensive landscaping; valet parking
- Antiques and paintings; live floral arrangements; highest quality flooring (polished marble, stone, distinctive tile); concierge area
- Upscale shops
- Swimming pool with attendants; full-service spa; exercise room with customized fitness programs
- Multiple upscale full service restaurants and a lounge
- Elegantly appointed guest rooms with high-quality furniture; outstanding linens and comforters; triple sheeting; multiple pillow choices; lit closets with at least ten hangers; umbrella; robe and slippers; CD player with at least one CD; fax machine; separate shower; toilet in its own room; seven-piece amenity set
- Example: There are none in Orlando. The closest is The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (from $200).
