JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

During gorgeous October, my boyfriend's company sent representatives to a conference in Orlando, held at the JW Marriott resort. Lucky for me, I got a free vacation out of his business trip!

The hotel itself was breath-taking. Lovely and tasteful modern décor furnished the lobby and common areas while the rooms themselves featured oodles of pillows and the softest bed I've ever snuggled into. Beautiful white down comforters, a pillow-top mattress and feather pillows simulated what it must be like to sleep on a cloud.

While the businessmen kept to their work, I enjoyed the countless channels on our immense flat screen TV and caught a nice balmy breeze from our open glass sliders to our balcony. The balcony overlooked the resort's many pools, connected by a lazy river that traced its way through the grounds for a quarter mile! The sounds of a guitar and cover songs by popular artists found themselves just outside my window, urging me to throw on my swimsuit and head down to the pools.

And while the recreational aspects of the JW Marriott left naught to be desired, the eclectic choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner presented almost too many delicious options! The open-air bar and grill by the pools provided an entertaining yet tasty option for a quick lunch and a cocktail or brew. For a creative twist, the bar sold tiny inner tubes for its consumers' beverages.

The restaurants within the hotel embraced an elegance and warm ambiance both romantic and relaxing. Delectable dishes, even as common as chicken tenders, turned out to be an exotic delight time and again. The resort also has its own golf course, spa and fitness center, all of which we did not have time to utilize.

Everything about this resort was wonderful. From the friendly service to the many activities and recreational options, to the savory menus at each of the restaurants, every aspect of the JW Marriott came together perfectly, creating such an enjoyable overall experience.