Disclaimer: this post is in partnership with Hilton Bonnet Creek. We were provided a complimentary Cabana to review. All thoughts are our own.
We recently had a great social distanced staycation at one of our fave resorts: Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek (make sure to check out our full resort review here.) While visiting we got the chance to rent our own private cabana for a day! It was a perfect splurge activity that made for a relaxing day date. Read on to hear all the details about our private oasis for the day and get all the details on this activity perfect for vacation or day guests…
A view of our Cabana for the day.
Booking a Cabana
Group Size
We have always enjoyed the pool area at Hilton Bonnet Creek, but this was our first time booking a private cabana. It is advertised that the cabana rental can accommodate up to 8 guests. We honestly think that might be a bit crowded if everyone wanted to sit together at the same time. Four to six people is probably a perfect amount. And for our party of 2 it made for the perfect day date. (This special experience is also a great add-on for a special celebration!) It is also good to note that you do not have to be staying at the resort to book a cabana, which makes for a perfect day-cation activity option for locals too.
Availability
Cabana rentals are available any day of the week, and a rental is for the entire day. You can enjoy your cabana from 9 am to 7pm and come and go as you please. Obviously a day like Saturday would be more popular so we recommend to call in advance of your date to book it by calling 407.597.3600.
Pricing
Rates may vary by season and are subject to change (make sure to check with the resort for most up to date pricing). During our visit a Cabana rental was listed at $350 for the day, and is 10% off for resort guests (making it $315). This rate includes tax and service charges for the rental, however additional tax and service charges will be added to any food and beverage purchases. We truly think the price is very fair for a private experience. Plus the longer you utilize it during the day and the more people in your party makes the value become even better.
The row of brown cabana roofs can be seen in this picture.
Location
There are eight cabanas available. They are located in a row towards the back of the pool area, bordering the walking trail. It is a quieter area close to the lazy river but also steps away from a pool entrance. From the back, the Cabanas have a view of the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club next door (make sure to check out our golf review coming soon!). We were located in Cabana 1 (the far left in the picture above). Our view was more of the pool entrance while other Cabanas further down would be looking at bushes and the lazy river. We did like being on the end though as we had no other guests to one side.
Our cabana was right next to this pool view.
Our view from inside the cabana.
The view from the backside of our Cabana gave a peek at the golf course next door.
Ammenities
The cabanas are equipped with a lot of great features to include:
Seating inside and outside of the cabana
Welcome refreshments to include (4) waters and (4) sodas
A snack basket
Pool towels
Lazy river tubes
Personalized poolside service featuring cuisine from Beech
Wireless Internet access
HD flat-screen television
Phone charging station
Lockable cubby
Ceiling fan
The cabana was stocked with towels and features like a TV.
The ceiling fan was a nice touch for comfort.
On the left was a lockable cubby for personal belongings (perfect for our work laptops!)
We were able to sit and get a little work done, and lounge and read a book. We loved being able to securely leave out belongings while enjoying the pool. One of the greatest benefits to a designated private area was being away from crowded areas and also being able to enjoy the pool no mater the weather. Being able to take a break in the shade or avoid a quick down pour was amazing, if we had been in the pool area we would not have lasted all day. We loved the flexibility to close the curtains for rain or to change real quick since our room wasn’t ready before check-in time.
We loved having technology like charging ports.
The fridge was stocked with drinks.
We even had our own lazy river tubes.
Here is a closer look at our snack basket, yum!
It was so nice to have cold beverages on hand too!
The Pool
While renting the cabana we also spent lots of time that day at the Hilton Bonnet Creek’s amazing pool. (There is a reason it’s ranked #1 by TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Fantastic Pools.) The pool area has an ambiance that is the perfect mix of relaxing and upbeat. Lush landscaping and a great soundtrack accompany all of the water features:
Lazy river under bridges
Zero-entry, lagoon-style pool
2 hot tubs
Waterslide
Children’s splash area
We love a few laps on the lazy river and visiting the hot tubs. Andrew always has to try the water slide too! It’s good to note that while Bonnet Creek is a great option for families we personally find it great for us child-free adults too. The area is so large we have always found a quiet corner away from the kiddos. The cabana rental made for an even more private adult option too!
A view of the lazy river.
Us enjoying some floating time.
Andrew is a big fan of the lazy river.
There was hot tub right near the cabanas.
There is even a water slide too!
Food and Drinks
Another favorite thing at Hilton Bonnet Creek is the food choices. And even the casual poolside restaurant Beech provides top-notch noms. Beech offers a pretty varied food menu and a long list of tropical inspired beverages to put you in vacation mode. During our cabana stay we ordered the following:
Beech Tuna Tacos ($15)
Blackened Tuna, Jicama Slaw, Avocado Relish, Roasted Corn Salsa, Pickled Red Onion, Jalapeño, Served with Tomatillo Salsa and Roasted Pineapple Salsa
These were so delicious. The three tacos featured fresh fish with so many flavorful toppings. While this was an appetizer, it worked well size-wise for a meal for Julie.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($16)
Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Spicy Aioli, Brioche
Andrew went with this tasty sandwich. The size was huge and the ingredients quality. And the fries were seasoned and addictive.
Hibiscus Margarita ($16.50)
Milagro Silver Tequila, Cointreau, Fresh Lime Juice, Hum Hibiscus Liqueur, Grand Marnier Floater
This is hands down Julie’s fave drink on the menu. It’s somewhat strong and has a unique hibiscus flavor.
Caribbean Colada ($15.50)
RumHaven Coconut Water Rum, Bacardi Anejo Cuatro Rum, Strawberry Puree, Frozen Pineapple and Coconut, The Kraken Black Spiced Rum Floater
Andrew loves Pina Coladas and this drink takes its up a notch with extra add ins. Dangerously good.
Berry Aqua Fresca ($14.50)
Titos Vodka, Fresh Blueberries, Mint, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup & Club Soda
This fresh drink was on the lighter side and perfect for a hot Florida day. Loved the fresh fruit in it too!
(Note these items were an additional cost and not included with the cabana rental).
Menus are currently digital for social distancing.
Our fave Hibiscus Margarita and Caribbean Colada.
Beech had a great place to hang out, but you can’t beat having the servers bring it to you poolside too!
A Berry Aqua Fresca and off-menu Mudslide.
Our lunch options were delicious!
Service
We find Hilton Bonnet Creek has top notch service to begin with. We aren’t sure if in “normal” times there may be designated cabana servers. During our visit it was quiet enough that we were being helped by the same servers for the pool area. They were still so on top of things though, checking-in and bringing us what we needed. The pool staff was super helpful too bringing us new lounge covers after a down pour soaked ours. We had a great time chatting with the staff and found them all very friendly and knowledgeable. We felt completely taken care of all day.
Does this say vacation vibes or what?
We had some friendly neighbors too!
Final Thoughts
All we can say is wow what an experience. We truly were in our own little private oasis for the day and were able to really relax. While the service and pool area at Hilton Bonnet Creek is already top notch, renting a cabana just took this to the next level. Being able to stay safe and social distance while still having an escape from every day life was just what we needed. While it wouldn’t make sense to do this all the time, it is a perfect idea for a vacation activity, special occasion, or a day-cation idea for locals. For the exclusiveness and high quality experience the price is really reasonable and the cabana certainly made our pool day a full interrupted day of relaxation. We thank the team at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek for hosting us for such an amazing time and we are hoping to see those cabana views again real soon!
Recently we booked a little staycation at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek (make sure to read more about this unbelievable resort in our review here.) One evening we had the chance to enjoy date night at the signature restaurant at the resort: La Luce. This modern restaurant was created by a famous Napa Valley chef and features Italian dishes, Mediterranean-inspired drinks, and a Trattoria-style wine program. Currently La Luce is ranked as the #2 restaurant in all of Orlando by TripAdvisor and we couldn’t wait to experience it…