Last week Fabgrandpa and I finally left the house headed for Amelia Island, Florida. Restaurant Week, that annual celebration of the best meals at the best restaurants on the island, ran from January 17th to 26th. Of course, we needed a place to stay while we were in Fernandina Beach for the festivities, so Residence Inn by Marriott stepped up to the plate. What a delicious place! Yes, a lodging can be delicious, as compared to other places we have stayed that were merely functional. The Residence Inn, was, well, marvelous!
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the front desk staff. I introduced myself, and when I did, they all knew me by name! They had been waiting for us to arrive. I was introduced to the manager as “our special guest” and was given a welcome package that had been left there for me by the public relations person. I felt just like a star arriving in Hollywood!
There were people sitting in the lobby, enjoying the fireplace, and waiting for the hamburger cookout to begin. We were invited to attend, but we had reservations at another place for dinner. So, we went up to our room to freshen up and get ready to go to our restaurant.And just look at this room:
The living room had a desk, sofa, coffee table with ottoman, a chair, and a large screen TV with Cable. Free wi-fi made it super easy to get online, too. There was a small dining table with two chairs. And A FULL kitchen:
The kitchen featured a large refrigerator/freezer, a stovetop with two burners, a convection microwave oven and a dishwasher. It was also fully stocked with cooking and eating utensils for four. And I do mean, there was everything you would need to move in for a while and start cooking. I want this kitchen at my house! Or, I want to live here at Residence Inn. For the whole winter! I went into the bedroom to lie down for a while, and just look at this:
The bedroom featured a king size bed that was oh! so comfortable. I slept like a log the two nights we were there. A large closet with mirrors on the doors, a dresser, and a bedside table on both sides of the bed. The lighting could be adjusted from full light to just above dark, which made it great for sleeping or watching TV on the second big screen TV.
The vanity area had plenty of room for two people to move around and get ready to go at the same time if necessary, with a separate area for the toilet and shower. All of the rooms were so beautifully decorated in a warm red and beige color scheme. I loved it!
When we got ready to go to the restaurant for dinner, the front desk staff offered to have the shuttle take us. But, because we had to run a couple of errands on the way back, we declined. It was nice to know that the shuttle was available though. Other amenities offered were an outdoor heated pool, a hot tub, free Continental Breakfast, Business Center, Fitness Center, and Laundry Services. Residence Inn Amelia Island hotel is pet-friendly too, so my sister, Linda, wouldn’t have to leave her Bunny Boo at home if she came to Amelia Island for a visit.
You know Fabgrandpa and I took advantage of the free breakfasts each morning. Of course Fabgrandpa makes friends everywhere he goes, and met up with Dottie, the very nice lady who takes care of setting up the breakfast and keeping the coffee urns filled. We both met a lot of very nice people who were also staying at the Residence Inn. Amelia Island is a popular spot for snow birders to visit when it is cold and snowy up north. I talked to people from Wisconsin, Illinois, Canada, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
if you want to go there and find out for yourself what a wonderful place Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island is, here are the particulars:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
Contact: 904-277-2440 Fax: 904-277-2449
Email: ameliainfo@residenceinnamelia.com
mommyjenna says
What a gorgeous hotel! Sounds like you had an amazing time and picked the perfect spot for vacation.
Karen says
WE had so much fun! It was just too short of a trip.
Linda Sewell says
What a nice place. I’m glad you and Fabgrandpa got to go and enjoy the good food. I have only been to Amelia Island one time a long time ago. It’s nice to know that there are pet friendly places too…..Bunni would LOVE Amelia Island. 🙂
geogypsy2u says
Dang, that’s a place I could just move right in to.
Karen says
Oh, me too, Gaelyn! I could stay indefinitely
Kimberly says
I’m in love!!!! I have stayed at several hotels over the years and NONE of them are as nice as the one you stayed in.
We live in a condo and your hotel room was about as big as our condo – and the kitchen looks to be twice as big as ours. That is a dream kitchen for me.
It looks like a lovely place to stay. If I am ever fortunate enough to visit that area the Residence Inn would be my #1 destination.
I’m jealous! :-)!
kidsumers says
It looks like a really nice play to stay! I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.
Beth Larrabee says
What a gorgeous hotel! I would love to visit there someday!
Alison says
I’ve never been to Amelia Island but I really want to go. And wow that hotel looks amazing, I would love to stay there!!
Karen says
I would be so much fun to plan a trip to meet up in Amelia Island, wouldn’t it!
Julie Cutshaw says
Simply breath taking in a upscale lodging & that doesn’t surprise me with the Marriot. I’d love to visit Amelia Island, Florida someday. I really miss seeing the palm tress in the south when we lived there in our 20 year Naval career before moving back to TN . Wonderful review with quality pictures taken. Thanks for letting us know of a really nice place to lodge when visiting that beautiful part of Florida 🙂
Karen says
When did you go, Linda? Did y’all go camping down there?
OyVeyaDay (@OyVeyaDay) says
Sounds like you had an amazing trip.
We love Residence Inn. We rarely stay anywhere else. We love to stay there when it is just hubby and me (vacations without the kids… what a nice idea). But it is also great to stay there with the kids. Having a kitchen and a little extra elbow room makes it so much easier to travel with the little ones.
I won’t tell you about the time Isaac almost got us kicked out when he was kicking in his crib and, apparently, annoyed some cranky business man in the room below us. :}
Karen says
oops! that would be embarrassing!
robyn says
The hotel looks lovely! We LOVE Residence Inns!
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. 🙂
Amy Orvin says
It sounds like you had a great time. I would love the free breakfasts, too.
Sandy VanHoey says
I am now living in Florida but never been to Amelia Island. Looks wonderful!
bernetta says
Looks FAB!! I love to visit new places although I have never been to Amelia Island, we are in Florida often. (Hubby is from there!) we will have to try it!
Billie Rowell says
I really like the style of the Inn. It just looks so inviting! I bet you could have great conversations sitting around the fire in the lobby. The room looks fantastic too, especially the bed!
Betty Baez says
Looks great! We stayed at the residence inn when we went to daytona by far my favorite to stay in!
Olivia Rubin says
I live in south Florida, yet have no idea where Amelia Island is..ehhh I am a New Yorker. I love the room you have. I have seen rooms such as these like personal apartments. They seem quite reasonable in price if you are the type to cook in your room and bring food on trips. I remember living off of knock off lunchables when I was young beciase our room didn’t even have a mini fridge. Something like this would have been great.
Cynthia Conley says
What a beautiful place. It’s below zero here today and I’m longing to be someplace warm.
Margaret Smith says
Would love to visit Amelia Island and I’d pick this Residence Inn. The Hotel really looks wonderful.
Wanda McHenry says
That looks like an amazing place to stay during a vacation. After a long day of the tourist activities it would be great to come back to a fancy suite like that!
cole mckinnon says
What a fantastically beautiful place. How nice that you and Fabgrandpa shared great food. I have never been to Amelia Island, but I would love to visit.
Gloria Attar says
Oh it looks so nice and warm compared to Ohio weather right about now!
Anne Flickinger says
lovely! love to be there!
PAIGE CHANDLER says
Oh how I wish I was there…eating and relaxing. awesome
Claudia M says
gorgeous !!! It’s been forever since I went on vacation . Lucky you 🙂
Wendy R. says
Sounds so fun! I have never been to Florida or stayed at a Residence Inn.
Kathy B says
That looks wonderful, we need to get down to Amelia Island
paula s says
Beautiful somewhere I would love to go someday
Robin M. says
Looks like a wonderful place to visit!
Mary Beth Rogers says
wow that looks lovely I’m sure you had fun. I used to go to florida every summer when I was a kid
micaela6955/michele p says
very nice hotel! I love the kitchen area, these are actually the types of hotels I prefer to stay at, so I can buy my own groceries and cook at least 1 meal while there to save on expenses. And the free breakfast is a plus too! Looks like you had a wonderful time too, I’m jealous, it’s been so cold here in Maine! lol.
Lorena Keech says
So makes me want to leave Kansas for the warmth.
Lesley F says
What a beautiful hotel! I would have no problem staying there
Heather! says
That looks so inviting! Lovely place, and I am pinning your crab cakes recipe! YUM!!
Gina Ferrell says
I love staying at a Residence Inn. They have nice rooms and amenities. You look like you had a great time.
RICHARD HICKS says
Looks like a nice little get away. With winter here, I would love to visit that place for a few days.
pam love says
I would love to go to Amelia Island. Your pictures make me want to stay at the Residence Inn Amelia Island hotel. It looks very comfy and inviting.
Mya Murphy says
This place is gorgeous, but wayyy too much for me…
Sky Evans says
I’d love a trip there!
Sarah L says
Somewhere WARM!!! Looks lovely and I could use the warm right now.
Barb Stenby says
Looks like you had a great time I would like to go there! It also looks like a nice place to stay
kathy pease says
This looks like an awesome place to stay and that bed looks so comfy. I would never want to leave
Mary Gardner says
What a nice place to stay! Florida is such a great place to go this time of year.
Buddy Garrett says
I have heard a lot about Amelia Island It sounds wonderful. I have stayed in several hotels including the high end Disney hotels. They didn’t impress me more than lower cost hotels. I was expecting something special. Our daughter was impressed staying in a $500 a nught hiotel.
Kat Emerick says
Sounds like a real nice relaxing place to go. Thanks for the info.. I would love to find out more.
Trish says
I love Residence Inn. One of my favorite places to stay.