I Stayed at a Villatel Orlando Villa; Good Deal, Close to Disney | Invesloan.com

The four-bedroom, three-bath villa I stayed in can sleep up to 10 guests.

After testing out each bed Goldilocks-style, I settled into the largest main bedroom, which featured an en-suite bathroom and decor resembling a luxe hotel suite.

One of the villa’s bedrooms was themed with dragons and featured a vintage arcade game, bunk beds, and a slide, which I shamelessly enjoyed.

The furniture and finishes felt brand new because they were. The resort only opened earlier this year, not long before our stay.

I’ve dreamed of staying at a resort with my own personal pool, and now that I have, it’s just as wonderful as I’d imagined.

As much as I love the vibe of a lively resort pool, I appreciated having a space that was my own for an early morning or late-night dip.

The pool was on the small side, but it felt like it had more than enough space for a small group. The yard also had seating for outdoor dining and a tiny golf course.

I spent most of my days fueling myself with totchos from Woody’s Lunch Box and other theme-park bites, so I enjoyed returning to my villa and having access to a kitchen.

It came with a full set of cookware, an oven, a large refrigerator, several small appliances, and everything I needed to cook meals. I ordered groceries through Instacart so I could make breakfast and consume some veggies in my kitchen between park trips.

It was nice to save money by eating at my villa instead of dining out for every meal.

I love the convenience of traveling with only a carry-on, but I hate the anxiety of potentially running out of clothes and having to do laundry in my hotel sink.

Due to the villa’s in-unit laundry facilities, I never had to worry about having clean clothes during my stay.

After a sweaty day of walking a bazillion steps, coming home and popping my clothes in the suite’s washing machine was a true luxury.

A highlight of Villatel Orlando’s property is its pool area, which features a pristine resort-style pool with a lazy river — and no, it wasn’t overcrowded with children when I visited.

There’s also a poolside Aqua Bar & Grille that serves cocktails and food throughout the day, from breakfast pizzas and acai bowls to burgers and nachos. The space’s vibe is tropical chic, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious strawberry margarita.

Though I liked having a private pool in my backyard, I also enjoyed lounging by a much bigger one with a cocktail.

Aqua Bay, the compact water park next to the resort pool, has four decent waterslides.

It’s not huge, but Universal Volcano Bay — the mega water park with the unmissable faux volcano — is just a 10-minute drive from Villatel for those who want more.

The resort is a gated community with security, so as a solo female traveler, I felt safe wandering around the resort, even after sunset.

The only pitfall is that the villas all look very similar from the outside, and I got lost a few times trying to make my way back from the pool.

The villa is about 10 minutes from Universal Studios and about a 25-minute drive from Disney World. I appreciated that the resort had complimentary shuttles to both parks.

Going to Disney alone was unexpectedly freeing. I set my own schedule, ate whatever I wanted (hello, Mickey-shaped snacks), and retreated to my villa whenever I needed a break.

The shuttle wasn’t running as late as I’d hoped during my trip, so I spent about $25 on an Uber back to my villa after a long day at Disney. It was well worth it to maximize my time at the theme park.

My stay at Villatel Orlando was peaceful, and I felt insulated in my villa as I rarely saw or heard my neighbors.

After a day of overstimulation exploring the parks, returning to a spacious, calm space that didn’t involve a busy hotel lobby and crowded elevators was the ultimate luxury.

Prices vary throughout the year, but even during spring break (peak season), I saw a four-bedroom villa listed for as low as $450 a night.

If you split that cost between a few friends or family members, you can get plenty of space and a private pool for as much or even less than a hotel room.

Though staying at Villatel Orlando was the perfect solo vacation, I can’t wait to return with my girlfriends. I may even suggest they bring their kids — I call dibs on the slide.