9000 Bay Hill Blvd, Orlando, Florida, United States | (618) 248-8274
On-site Bay Hill Golf Course hosts the Arnold Palmer
Invitational on the PGA Tour
Spacious rooms have furnished balconies with the
option of golf course views
Golf equipment and luggage shipping service between
the lodge and guests’ homes
Bay Hill Marina has private guided fishing excursions
Fitness Center, two tennis courts, and a lap pool
9,000 square feet of meeting space and banquet
facilities
Salon and spa provides haircuts, massages, and skin
treatments
Three restaurants (indoor and outdoor dining), a
fireside bar, and room service
Free Wi-Fi
Required dress code for dining, clubhouse, pool, golf
course, and tennis courts
Bay Hill Championship Golf Course is not always open
due to maintenance
Rooms lack mini-fridges and microwaves
Automatic tip added to dining bills
High rates for golf course, spa, and salon
Dated decor and facilities
Surrounded by the gated upscale neighborhood of Bay
Hill Community and the Butler Chain of Lakes, Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge and
its 70 rooms provide guests with a relaxing and quiet atmosphere. Like many
resorts in Orlando, a car is needed to access the popular entertainment attractions
of the city which are less than a 15-minute drive away. This four-pearl hotel’s
main feature is its Bay Hill Championship Course (not open year-round), which is used during the PGA Tour in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and named after
the owner, and golf legend, Arnold Palmer, who sometimes interacts with guests. The
rooms are large and have private patios, but are less inspiring than the resort’s features: a pro shop,
pool, fitness center, tennis courts, several dining options, a salon, and spa. Most
of the resort’s amenities close fairly early compared to other resorts in the
area and require a strict dress code. Check rates at the nearby Villas of Grand
Cypress Golf Resort for comparable features, a casual atmosphere, and other family-focused
amenities like a free shuttle to the Disney theme parks.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Upscale hotel with '70s-style stone lodge decor and golf paraphernalia; attracts older couples, golf enthusiasts, and business travelers
Upon entering the grounds of the Arnold Palmer Bay
Hill Lodge, guests are greeted by the sight of the golf course’s green lawns, one
long building that houses most of the lodge’s amenities, and a few other
buildings connected by stone paths. The decor of the hotel reflects a cozy '70s-style stone lodge, a sight more often seen in cold northern areas. The lobby is a mixture of stone walls, wooden furniture, and vintage carpets. The
rest of the hotel is decorated with wood paneling, plush retro-style chairs and
couches, and elegant pieces like antique lamps and patterned carpets. Additionally, many of the walls are covered with
golf-inspired art, trophy cases, and photographs of Arnold Palmer, a world-wide
successful golf professional. Arnold Palmer took over the lodge in 1975, and
soon after in 1979 it began hosting a tournament on the PGA Tour, the Arnold
Palmer Invitational. Guests are mostly golf enthusiasts, older couples, and
business travelers looking for a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. The resort is also
open to members of the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Club. Guests can expect
additional visitors beyond those staying at the lodge such as golfers or the
Bay Hill Barracudas swim team which practices year round in the lodge’s junior
Olympic-sized pool.
Location
Located in upscale neighborhood and less than a 15-minute drive from Orlando's biggest attractions
The Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge is a secluded resort
surrounded by 270 acres of golf courses, the gated neighborhood of Bay Hill
Community, and the Butler Chain of Lakes. Pop star Justin Timberlake once owned
a house in the Bay Hill Community. The lodge’s Bay Hill Marina is located on
Lake Tibet, from which guests can experience the wildlife of the lakes or go on
fishing excursions. Entertainment or restaurants are not easily accessible by
foot from the hotel. However, this seems to be common for most resorts in the
Orlando area. The closest off-site restaurants are about a five- to 10-minute
drive away. Similarly, Disney World is about 11 minutes away by car, Universal
is a 12-minute drive, and Sea World is 15 minutes away. The Orlando
International Airport is about 23 minutes from the resort by car.
Rooms
Spacious rooms with terraces and the option of golf course views
There are 70 Lodge and Suite Rooms and six Guest Cottages. All rooms have a
brown and cream color scheme and golf decorative pieces, such as photographs of
Arnold Palmer. The '70s-inspired vintage chairs in the rooms appear dated and
worn compared to the beds and other furniture. The bathrooms
are large and include double sinks, shower/tub combos, and Arnold Palmer
bath products. The Suites offer more space as well as the added bonus of a separate parlor
room. Both room types have flat-screen TVs, DVD players, plush robes, hairdryers, and free Wi-Fi, but no mini-fridges, microwaves, or tea/coffee facilities, though there are free morning coffee/tea stations in the hallways. All rooms have furnished patios and
those facing the golf course offer lovely views. Lastly, the six Guest Cottages are two-bedroom, two-bath
cottages with all the features of an actual house, such as a full-size kitchen
with a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and oven, a dining room table, and a living
room. There are three beds in the Guest Cottages, one king-size bed and two
full-size beds. The cottages also have patios with either lake or golf course
views. Unlike the Lodge and Suite Rooms, the Guest Cottages are about a two-block
walk from the lodge, giving guests more privacy during their stay.
Features
PGA Tour golf course, marina, three restaurants and a bar, pool, tennis courts, salon, spa, and fitness center
By far the best feature of the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill
Lodge are the two golf courses which cover 270 acres and 27 holes. The Bay Hill
Championship Course is used by pro golfers every March on the PGA Tour during
the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Unfortunately, this course isn’t open year-round
due to maintenance, however, the nine-hole Charger Course is always open. The
Halfway House stocked with snacks and drinks as well as a well-stocked Pro Shop with
equipment, apparel, and keepsakes for purchase are nice bonuses of the course. The resort offers many other amenities beyond the golf course like a marina, a spa, and a salon. Guests can access the Bay Hill Marina to fish, alone or on a private guided fishing excursion, or
enjoy the lake area. The salon offers haircuts,
styling, manicure, pedicures, and a scalp massage, while the spa
provides body and skin treatments, massages, men and
women’s steam rooms, dry saunas, and a whirlpool. As for exercising, guests can do laps in the pool, use
the two tennis courts, or work out in the large fitness center. The fitness equipment is a little dated for a resort of this caliber and the
center closes fairly early in mid-evening. Guests can hire on-site personal
trainers or professional tennis instructors. Compared to other resorts in the area, the pool deck is quite basic in style with lounge chairs and some tables and umbrellas. Lastly, the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge has three restaurants and a fireside bar, and also offers room service. The
Terrace Cafe and the Bay Window have a lofty, relaxed dining atmosphere and
provide light, casual menus. The Terrace Cafe has outdoor, indoor, and poolside dining. The Grill is the most elegant of the dining
options with a classy northern lodge ambience. The prices reflect the upscale
nature of the hotel and there is an automatic tip included on each dining
bill. The Member’s Lounge is a large full-service bar set up like a private gentleman’s parlor, with a TV, seating area by a fireplace, and plush couches and chairs, though the furniture could be updated as it
appears worn and dated.
