6 days ago
I stayed at the world's best airport hotel – with a rooftop pool and sunbathing deck with runway views
Plus, what Universal's huge new £7billion theme park is actually like
TOP SPOT I stayed at the world's best airport hotel – with a rooftop pool and sunbathing deck with runway views
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NO-ONE could guess that a highlight from an Orlando holiday would be the airport hotel.
However, this airport hotel within Orlando International Airport, in the US, is easily giving Disney and Universal a run for their money.
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The Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport Hotel overlooks both Disney World and Universal Studios stores
Credit: Tripadvisor
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The hotel huge refurbishment and expansion in 2010, adding a 31-story tower and pool
Credit: Jenna Maxwell
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There are 455 rooms in total with some overlooking the runway
Credit: Tripadvisor
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The Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport Hotel is a familiar sight for any frequent Orlando visitor as it dominates the main terminal building and overlooks Disney World and Universal Studios stores.
The hotel originally opened as The Peabody Orlando in 1986 and underwent a huge refurbishment and expansion in 2010, adding a 31-story tower and pool.
As the ninth busiest airport in the US, Orlando welcomes nearly 60million passengers through its doors every year.
So the Hyatt, with its 445 rooms – some overlooking the runway – gets a lot of visitors, and it's a plane spotter's dream.
The rooms and suites are all soundproofed to ensure no one is disturbed by overhead flights.
But the real highlight is the rooftop pool and sun deck, which is located on the sixth floor and overlooks the runways.
My family and I had booked the hotel as we had a 7am flight to Boston and – with two young kids in tow – wanted the morning check-in experience to go as smoothly as possible.
When we arrived at the hotel, we were pleasantly surprised when the receptionist mentioned the 'outdoor pool'.
Luckily for us, the pool is open until 11pm so there was plenty of time to dump our bags and grab some food first.
Inside Universal Epic Universe with incredible thrill rides and amazing food
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But the rooms and suites are all soundproofed to ensure no one is disturbed by the noise of the airport
Credit: Tripadvisor
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There is even a jogging track around the rooftop helipad which has better views than the pool
Credit: Tripadvisor
The hotel has an appealing-looking restaurant – McCoy's Bar & Grill – but with the airport's food court just downstairs, we decided to grab a final portion of orange chicken from Panda Express before leaving Orlando.
Up at the pool later, there were ample opportunities on the sun deck for those who know their Boeings from their Bombardiers to use binoculars to zoom in on their favourite aircraft, and we got to swim while watching planes take off.
For my husband, his highlight was running with runway views as the hotel is also home to a special jogging track around the rooftop helipad which has – so I'm told – even better views than the pool.
As we had a super-early start we couldn't stay as late at the pool as we wanted to, so if we were to return, we'd make sure to check in as early as possible to take full advantage of the swimming and plane-spotting opportunities.
A one-night stay for our family of four cost £200 which is pricier than other airport hotels in the area but the convenience of it being just steps from the check-in desks and the bonus of the roof-top pool, made it worth it.
Weeks after our return and reminiscing about all the fun we had at the Disney parks and even the brand-new Epic Universe, the Hyatt is still talked about as one of our top adventures.
The Sun headed to Epic Universe - here's what it is like
THE Sun's assistant travel editor Sophie Swietochowski recently headed to Epic Universe - here's what she thought...
I screamed and I prayed', the stranger next to me recalled as we clambered out of our seats with a dishevelled look.
We had just ridden Stardust Racers, the must-try thrill ride at Universal's brand new theme park.
Epic Universe, which opened this week, is the first major theme park to come to Orlando in 25 years, costing a mega £7billion to build.
This dual 'racing' roller coaster is on par, intensity wise, with Universal Studios' leading thrill ride, Velocicoaster.
It's one of the largest steel coasters in the US and it hurls riders down steep drops and in spiral turns at speeds of up to 62mph for a terrifying 90 seconds.
Theme park fans say that this is one of the best dark rides ever created, thanks to its storytelling and advanced technology - and I agree.
The fun lies in the fact that you're not sure what to expect, no matter how many times you ride, with carts spinning at random paces.
I was blown away by the magic, especially the entrance to the Ministry via the Metro-Floo, which makes riders disappear in a cloud of smoke.
Universal is also set to build a theme park in the UK - here's what you can expect including nightclubs and film studios.
Plus, a man who creates rollercoasters has shared the best place to sit on the popular rides.
