Feature



The Peabody Hotel
Author(s): Robin Roth
Photos: Robin Roth
Editor: Mark Lewis
Published: June 9, 2009

Orlando has more than DISNEY… IT HAS THE PEABODY RESORT AND HOTEL       

   

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  STORY AND MANY PHOTOS BY: ROBIN ROTH

Readers, I am truly excited to share with you one of the finest hotels anywhere! If you know about the legendary Peabody and have already had the pleasure of experiencing this amazing hotel, then you know why I am so excited! I feel it is the best kept secret in Orlando! I can't keep it a secret or hold it in anymore! I simply MUST tell all of our readers about this fabulous, superb, luxury hotel in Orlando. We all know there are so many lovely hotels in Orlando including the Disney hotels, but I must brag a bit about this divine hotel, The Peabody Orlando! No matter what your needs or desires are, the Orlando Peabody has it waiting for you, with style.

 

When you step into this glowing and radiant hotel, you immediately enter into a world of tropical, transitional fusion. Its stunning interior décor, unique version of chic sophistication, highly stylish ambiance is what sets this hotel apart from all the rest. The Peabody’s comfortable, casual elegance puts you immediately at ease. The dramatic, grand entrance has a “WOW” factor; a sleek, modern sculptural waterfall and a soaring atrium with stately palm trees that will take your breath away the moment you enter. The Peabody’s signature duck fountain is crowned with glorious orchids.

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The Peabody is well known for its unparalleled, high caliber blend of services and facilities, extraordinary amenities, elegance, and unrivaled location. The hotel is located amidst the main entrance of the three-million-square-foot Orange County Convention Center.

The Peabody Orlando is only the second hotel to bear the illustrious Peabody name. For the 18th consecutive year, it has won AAA’s Four Diamond Award for the quality of the hotel, services, and facilities. The luxurious 891-room convention/resort hotel offers a variety of accommodations, including two Presidential Suites, several VIP suites, and private-access to the wonderful Peabody Club level. In addition, you can enjoy the Peabody Athletic Club, an Olympic-style swimming pool, a children’s pool, large Jacuzzi pool, sauna, steam-room, whirlpool spas, four lighted, hard-top tennis courts, therapeutic message treatments, shops/boutiques, and Captains Choice golf services, Hertz Car Rentals, and three award-winning restaurants that I WILL get to later!

 

If rest, pampering, and relaxation are what you need, then you have come to the right place. Simply sleeping at the Peabody Hotel is like sleeping on a cloud. You will experience the best sleep of your life on their new-age, scientifically engineered Peabody Dream Bed mattresses, specially created for the Peabody Orlando by Simmons Beautyrest. To top it off, you will be cuddling with your down comforter and pillow. (You can purchase all of this and more online at ThePeabodyGalleria.com… I DID!) Your room, no matter which one you are in, is lovely, beautifully appointed, clean, and comfortable. In addition, the bathrooms are wonderful as well and include a flat screen television, amazing amenities which are of the finest products around (these, also, can be purchased online). You will want for nothing in your room. For you business travelers, a full-service Executive Business Center on the convention level provides secretarial support, office equipment and supplies, photocopying, facsimile services, and 24-Hour Internet access! What more could you ask for? How about state-of-the-art, audio/visual services for convention needs through its in-house provider, Audiovisual Innovations! This grand hotel is known for its efficient handling of groups as large as 5,000 and also designed to accommodate groups of every size.

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When it’s time to relax or work out, meeting and convention delegates gravitate towards the Peabody Athletic Club. Here you can enjoy a certified Nautilus training center that is state of the art. You will (for sure) want this exercise after you dine in any one of the hotels truly amazing restaurants! If you desire a massage, then you can choose from a variety of memorable massage therapies.

For those who might be looking for some fabulous pampering (And I was), the Shala Salon and Day Spa is a full-service beauty salon with an extensive range of hair styling and coloring, manicures, pedicures, waxing, paraffin dips, and facials. All my pampering hopes were more than met here.

Need some more physical activities? Then you will no doubt want to dive right into the huge Olympic-style swimming pool. The large, surrounding deck, pool bar, and cabanas are the perfect location for island-themed sunset parties and barbecues. A favorite place for the meeting and convention set is at the large Jacuzzi pool, where the stresses of the day vanish.

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Moving along, The Peabody Club occupies the uppermost three floors of the 27-story hotel and features a professionally trained, private concierge staff, complimentary continental breakfast, (beautiful display of foods) and early evening hors d’oeuvres, an honor bar for cocktails, a complimentary petit fours (which are delectable), and coffee. If you are not staying on one of these floors, you may also partake in the Peabody Club for an additional daily fee. If you can't take your home with you when you travel, The Peabody Orlando is the VERY next best place to stay. A comforting and warm atmosphere, with an old-fashioned-style of friendly hospitality is what will keep you coming back to this marvelous hotel again and again! As the Peabody organization states, “We pride ourselves as both a business and family friendly get away and one of Florida's most romantic hotels. Instead of resting on our laurels, we're raising our standards even higher, because we won't be satisfied until we please the toughest critics of all!” Run to Orlando and pamper yourselves at The Peabody, the best-kept secret in Florida! IN MY BOOK, IT IS A++...ALL THE WAY!

For more information and reservations, call 1-800-PEABODY or   407-352-4000  . You may also go online to www.peabodyorlando.com.

Capriccio Grill

Love it, love it, and love it! Capriccio Grill is casual, with a trendy décor. It has a charming and inviting elegance. You are served by a gracious and friendly staff. My server, Mary Ann, only made my perfect dinner even more perfect. Did I mention that I love this restaurant?

To start with, the Crab Cakes are a “for sure.” They are Maryland-authentic filled with crab meat. If you are a brie lover, go ahead and devour the Warm Almond Crusted Brie. The Minestrone is right out of an Italian grandma’s home. For your main course, if you are into pasta, you have found your happy place. I suggest the Capelin Tangelo served with seared shrimp, angel hair pasta tossed with olive oil, garlic, basil, and white wine. If you like some meat in your pasta, then your dish is the Spaghettini Bolognese. SO ITALIAN! The Penne Alla Vodka is fantastic as well. Note that you can get half orders of any of the pasta dishes for your appetizer. Other fantastic dishes are the Zuppa Di Pesce teaming with seafood, any of the prime steaks and chops, and the Veal Marsala. All of the dishes here are heaven on a plate. I have to give kudos to the adorable and brilliant Chef Jared Gross.

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You have to save room for dessert! They are all great, but get the signature dessert shooters, each one with a different dessert inside. They are desserts in shot glasses. You can choose how many you want or get them all. I say, get them all!

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This restaurant is nothing short of perfection. I dream of returning! Thank you for the food memories, Jared! A+!

 

B-LINE DINER

This is the best 24-hour restaurant in the world. B-Line Diner is the Peabody’s casual restaurant. You can dine here for breakfast, lunch, dinner or desserts. I did it all! The food reminds me of the film, “Defending Your Life.” Everything is delicious and looks great, too! They have a showcase of over 50 decadent desserts that you can have at your table or take to go. I did both!

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Everything on the menu is great. I will share a few dinner selections for you. I had help ordering from my adorable server, Andrea. To start with, ALL the burgers are fantastic and cooked to your taste. The BBQ Ribs are sensational, the Slow Roasted Lemon Thyme Half Chicken is divine, the Sweet Soy Glazed Salmon is beautiful, and the Shrimp Rosa is fantastic. For the old-fashioned flavors go ahead and try the down home selections, such as the Chicken Pot Pie, and Meat Loaf. All of their famous signature salads are great, huge, cold, and fresh. If you are just looking for a snack, sample the Quesadilla, Crab Artichoke Dip, or the Mediterranean Chickpea Hummus and Pita.

If you have a 24-hour sweet tooth, you have come to paradise. There are over 50 desserts made on the premises to choose from. Have them all as they are all to die for…I did! There are ice-cream desserts, cookies, pies, cakes, tarts, chocolate covered strawberries, and on and on. You can also get all types of coffee beverages as well. For the boring dessert people, there is a wonderful fruit selection.

This is one of my favorite diners anywhere. A big A+ is due here!

So there you have it, folks; the Peabody Hotel and Resort is Paradise Island in Orlando, Florida. I promise you, after you visit the Orlando Peabody Hotel, you will be calling me to thank me. This is one of my happy places and I have NO doubt it will be yours as well! GO AND ENJOY!

For reservations and more information, contact the Peabody Orlando at 800-PEABODY or   407-352-4000  .