e Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes Orlando, FL

BACKGROUND The Grande Lakes complex includes The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and a new section called The RitzCarlton Residences with nearly three dozen multi-bedroom luxury rental homes. With 582 rooms and suites, this is the largest Ritz-Carlton by room count. Nevertheless, the hotel deserves kudos for its ladies and gentlemen (how the brand refers to its sta ) who remember personal preferences.

WHERE IS IT? Fifteen minutes from Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World, the Grande Lakes complex is convenient to many area attractions.

WHAT'S IT LIKE? The property was mid-way through a total makeover when I stayed, with rooms expected to be completed by early 2021 and many public areas and the pool due for completion even earlier. Notable were the resort’s COVID-19 protocols, reminding guests of mask usage, social distancing and hand sanitising.

Despite Coronavirus setbacks, the hotel had not cut back on expected amenities, from the nightly turndown service to an impressive club lounge with multiple food and beverage presentations and an open bar. While Marriott Bonvoy members do not receive free upgrades to the club level, it is available as an add-on to most rates. The $38 resort fee includes benefits like shuttle transportation to area parks, daily bike rental and access to the Ritz Kids programme, among others.

ROOMS The garden- or lake-facing rooms feature beautiful foyers that lead into spacious bedrooms, with Florida-themed photography and a clean palette of white and grey hues.

The showpiece is the pillowtop mattress, with cloud-like duvets and enormous pillows. Bedside power and USB outlets are convenient and more are available by the leather-topped desks. Beautiful cabinetry folds up and out with storage and drawers including space for a Nespresso machine and an honour bar. Enormous flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations come standard, as do free wireless Internet and plentiful bottled water.

Bathrooms feature dual marble vanities stocked with plush towels, Asprey toiletries, separate shower stalls and water closets, soaking tubs and robes.

Most impressive are details like toothbrush and shaving kits, hair dryers and hair straighteners in bathrooms.

FOOD AND DRINK Fine dining is a hallmark, especially since the October opening of Knife & Spoon, the hotel’s decadent steakhouse with prime cuts of meat and seafood prepared in an exhibition kitchen. Other restaurants include the all-day Highball & Harvest with craft cocktails, a spa café, lobby café, pub, sushi bar and poolside café with burgers and frozen drinks.

The Ritz-Carlton guest can dine at the adjoining JW Marriott’s restaurants while charging to their room (and vice versa).

LEISURE FACILITIES Unlike the crowded resorts close to Disney and Universal parks, this property has ample space for outdoor pursuits including hiking, biking, kayaking and fishing. Multiple pools include a lazy river at the JW Marriott and an adults-only spa pool.

BUSINESS FACILITIES Conference rooms ranging from breakout to full ballrooms are an essential part of this bustling resort. Meetings and events are a mainstay here, and events are starting to return in small sizes. Free wireless Internet and a full-service business centre add to the amenities.

VERDICT Traditional Ritz-Carlton attention to detail and a total renovation will keep this on top of Orlando’s best hotel list for years to come. Ramsey Qubein

BEST FOR World-class dining and newly renovated guestrooms

DON’T MISS The Knife & Spoon’s house made selection of breads and tasty cheese cart (on par with Paris)

PRICE Internet rates for a traditional room start at $313.

CONTACT 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32837, Phone 407-206-2400. ritzcarlton.com

The hotel deserves kudos for its ladies and gentlemen (how the brand refers to its sta ) who remember personal preferences

Our guide to...

Airports o ering Covid-19 tests

Travellers will have to get accustomed to testing requirements should they wish to go on work or leisure trips before the various vaccines are fully rolled out. To encourage the recovery of global travel, airports worldwide are setting up COVID-19 test centres ranging from walk-in and drive-through facilities to rapid testing in departure and arrival lounges. Here we round up some of the UK and European airports o ering such services. Be aware that not all COVID-19 tests permit entry into every country – see “Which Covid-19 tests allow you to travel?” (businesstraveller.com/tag/pcr-test) for more details.

LONDON HEATHROW

The airport has partnered with Collinson to o er four types of tests – antibody, antigen, LAMP and PCR. Samples are processed on-site by sta from Prenetics, one of Collinson’s biotech partners. Passengers must book their test at collinsongroup.com before leaving for the airport. Heathrow has also set up a drive-through PCR test facility with Express Test. Travellers should schedule a test 48-72 hours prior to their departure and those who screen negative will be emailed a “Fit to Fly” certificate authorised by a doctor, plus their test result. Book at expresstest.co.uk and you will be sent a QR code to show alongside your passport. Location: LAMP testing is carried out at Terminals 2 and 5 – see available time slots online. Express Test is located in the airport’s N4 car park, opposite the exit to Business Parking (T2 and 3) on Northern Perimeter Road (o Bath Road); open 8am-8pm daily. Cost: LAMP test £79; results in 90 minutes. PCR test (in terminal) £99; results in 48 hours. Antigen test £50; results in 45 minutes. Antibody test £40; results in 45 minutes. Drive-through PCR test £80 for passengers, £60 for Heathrow sta , £99 for the general public; results typically by 10pm the following day. heathrow.com

LONDON GATWICK

Gatwick has also partnered with Express Test for passengers, sta and local residents. It is also possible to get a test at Boots (pre-booking required at boots.com/covid-19-testing), while the airport’s Hilton and Sofitel hotels are o ering “Test and Rest” packages that include PCR self-testing. Location: Express Test is open 8am-8pm daily in the South Terminal’s long-stay car park. Boots o ers tests at its South Terminal arrivals branch. Cost: Express Test costs £60 for passengers and airport sta and £99 for the general public; results typically by 10pm the following day. Boots charges £120; results in 48 hours. gatwickairport.com

PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLE/PARIS ORLY

PCR and antigen tests are available for departing passengers up to 72 hours before a flight, in conjunction with Cerballiance laboratory. Book at doctolib.fr. Location: Paris CDG Terminal 2E departures, opposite Gate 17; open 7am-5pm (12pm Sun). Orly 22A, at the arrivals level; open 7am-7pm (antigen tests only until 11am). Cost: Free. PCR results in 48 hours; antigen in two hours. parisaeroport.fr

DUBLIN

The airport’s in-clinic and drive-through facilities o er PCR and LAMP tests. Book in advance via healthcare companies Randox (booking.randox.ie) and Roc Doc (rocdochealthcheck.ie). Location: Randox Travel Centre close to T2 short-term car park; Roc Doc drive-through in Green car park (in-clinic test also available). Cost: Clinic service PCR test €99; results in 24 hours. Drive-through PCR test €129; results in 24-48 hours. LAMP test €149; 12 hours (€199 for results within five hours). dublinairport.com

FRANKFURT

Centogene is o ering PCR and rapid antigen tests – prebook at corona.centogene.com. Passengers from high-risk areas must enter a 10-day quarantine on arrival in Germany and can be tested from the fifth day. Location: Pedestrian bridge linking T1 and mainline rail station; 6am-7pm (antigen test 8am-3pm). Cost: PCR test €59 for results in 24 hours, €79 for 12 hours, €139 for six hours. Antigen test €79; results in two and a half hours. frankfurt-airport.com

MUNICH

Aicher Ambulanz Union (AAU) is o ering PCR tests. Travellers can also use the MVZ Martinsried Test and Fly centre; advance booking necessary. Out of hours, departing passengers can get a Medicare PCR, antigen or antibody test. Location: Level 4, Forum, Munich Airport Centre; 6am-12am. Test and Fly T2, Level 4; 5am-7pm. Medicare centre T1, Module E, Level 3. Cost: AAU tests are free; results in 48 hours. Test and Fly €128; six hours. Medicare PCR €181, antigen €81, antibody €55 (weekend/night surcharges); results in 24 hours. munich-airport.com

VIENNA

A PCR and rapid antigen testing centre has been set up for all passengers at the airport, but is not bookable in advance.

Location: O ice Park 3, between NH hotel and the Tower; 7am-7pm. Cost: PCR test €120; results in a few hours (next day on weekends). Antigen test €35; 30 minutes. viennaairport.com