There are six Gaylord resorts located across the United States in the following destinations: Nashville; Kissimmee, Florida; Aurora, Colorado; Grapevine, Texas; National Harbor, Maryland; and Chula Vista, California.
Each location has the necessary guest rooms, pools, and fitness centers you’d expect, but the Gaylord Resort is more than just a hotel, it’s a destination.
I’ve been to several Gaylord locations over the years and I can attest to the fact that there’s so much food and fun there that I spent an entire weekend exploring the resort and never left the property.
There are a few things you need to know before you go so you can make the most of your visit, save a little money, and get the most out of your Gaylord experience.
Here are six tips to keep in mind when planning your stay at a Gaylord resort.
It’s more than just a hotel: it’s a destination
The Gaylord Resort is designed to celebrate the local culture, heritage and natural landscape.
For example, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida, you can observe local flora and fauna (including alligators) in the resort’s 4.5-acre glass atrium and dine on fresh seafood aboard a life-size sailboat.
Meanwhile, at the Gaylord Texas Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, the resort’s massive atrium features replicas of Lone Star State landmarks, including the Alamo and the San Antonio Riverwalk.
Each resort has a unique theme, but all have one thing in common: You can spend hours wandering the winding paths of the charming signature atrium while exploring caves, waterfalls, and gardens.
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In and around these atriums, you’ll also find so many shopping, dining and entertainment options that you might forget to leave the hotel during your stay.
Each Gaylord resort offers several restaurants, including pizzerias, sports bars, and fine-dining restaurants perfect for date night. You can also enjoy your morning coffee at the on-site Cocoa Bean Coffee Shop, which offers the full Starbucks menu.
In between meals, you can shop for local souvenirs, visit the full-service spa, swim in the pool or water park, or participate in seasonal holiday activities.
You can book using (or earn) Marriott Bonvoy points
Gaylord Resorts is a Marriott brand and therefore participates in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. This means you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay at any Gaylord hotel.
Just like when you pay with cash, points pricing will vary based on the date and room type. Generally speaking, Gaylord hotels start at around $300 per night or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. If your dates are flexible, you’ll sometimes find prices closer to $200 or 32,000 points per night, but during holidays and special events, prices can jump to over $500 or 60,000 points per night.
Related: Best Marriott Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy members also enjoy additional benefits at Gaylord hotels. Elite Silver members and above can enjoy bonus points and late check-out, while Elite Gold members and above can also enjoy free room upgrades (subject to availability).
When you visit during one of Gaylord’s seasonal events, Marriott Bonvoy members often receive exclusive benefits, including bonus points and room and ticket discounts. Please check the hotel’s Special Offers page to view current offers.
RELATED: Your Complete Guide to Using Your Credit Card to Get Marriott Elite Status
Earning Marriott Elite status requires a minimum of 10 qualifying stays per year, but you can quickly advance to Marriott Elite status and get some of the benefits mentioned above with certain cards. For example, a card like this American Express Platinum Card® and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card You will automatically be granted elite status (registration required).
Rooms with atrium views are worth paying extra for
Most Gaylord hotel rooms feature balconies overlooking the atrium. The only exception is the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, which offers some rooms with mountain views.
You’ll need to reserve an atrium view room when booking to guarantee you’ll wake up to a view of the tranquil indoor gardens below.
Atrium view rooms are typically $70 to $100 more per night than standard rooms; however, that’s where free room upgrades for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite members and above come into play.
We can’t guarantee an upgrade, but if you’re willing to take a risk, you can book a standard room and cross your fingers and hope you get an upgrade to an atrium view room. It may be helpful to call a day or two before check-in with your request and have a customer service agent add a note to your reservation.
There are special offers available
If you’re looking for perks or discounted rates, be sure to check the hotel’s website and social media pages for special offers. These deals vary by location and time of year, but you may see up to 50% off on packages that include rooms and tickets to special events, such as Gaylord’s signature holiday event “Ice!”
Other benefits may include free breakfast, daily resort credit, spa treatments or water park tickets (the latter is only available at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, where water park tickets are not included in the cost of your stay).
Each resort has a year-round water park or swimming pool
Speaking of water parks, every Gaylord resort has an on-site pool or water park that is open year-round.
The Gaylord Texas Resort & Conference Center and Gaylord Palms Resort & Conference Center have outdoor water parks, while those Gaylord hotels that aren’t located in states with great outdoor activities at any time of year have indoor and outdoor water parks or pools that can be enjoyed no matter the season.
RELATED: Hotels with the Best Lazy Rivers to Cool Off and Float
Aside from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, which only has an indoor pool and outdoor sundeck, Gaylord Waterpark is one of the best hotel waterparks around. You’ll find a large splash structure for kids, a lazy river, slides, pools, and more.
Only the Gaylord Opryland water park requires a separate fee. At this resort, you’ll need to book a package that includes water park admission to avoid paying extra fees upon arrival. Waterpark admission is included with your stay at other Gaylord hotels.
The holidays are an especially fun time to visit
If your schedule permits, you’ll make the most of your time at the Gaylord Hotel when you visit during one of the brand’s seasonal events.
During the winter holidays, you can build a gingerbread house, take photos with Santa, explore the atrium’s Christmas tree and decorations, participate in winter activities like ice skating and tubing, and visit the festive walking experience made entirely of ice, aptly named “Ice!”
“Ice!” brings your favorite holiday stories to life using more than 6,000 blocks of ice carefully carved into beloved scenes and characters from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Elf” and more. Each location has several rooms depicting different scenes and includes interactive elements for memorable photo opportunities and a two-story ice slide.
Halloween brings many spooky (but kid-friendly) events, including trick-or-treating and Monster Ball. Around Easter, you can meet the Easter Bunny, decorate cookies, and participate in a spring-themed scavenger hunt.
Summer is also an especially fun time, as the Gaylord Hotel hosts “Pirates and Princesses,” adventure-oriented activities for kids.
Even if you can’t make it to these special events, there’s always an array of activities happening around the resort, like atrium light shows, movie nights, animal encounters, scavenger hunts and more. You can request a schedule of events at the front desk, but you may find a QR code in the lobby or guest room that contains a link to view your visit calendar.
bottom line
we shared almost Everything you need to know to plan the perfect Gaylord Resort stay, except for one thing we can’t deliver: fun. Part of this is up to you, but luckily Gaylord makes it easy with plenty of activities, delicious dining, and beautiful scenery. The only thing missing is you.
