Located 15 minutes outside downtown Orlando in Winter Park, The Alfond Inn is a AAA Four Diamond hotel that doesn’t just cater to its discriminating guests but their dogs, as well.
Owned by Rollins College, a private liberal arts college also in Winter Park, the hotel is known for its salmon stone colors and design featuring more than 450 original works of art throughout the hotel from the private collection of Ted and Barbara Alfond who graduated from the college in 1968. The collection showcases works created by emerging international painters, sculptors and photographers (check out the highlights on the hotel’s happy hour art tour). The 183-room property features luxurious rooms and suites including ADA equipped rooms, two roof-top swimming pools with loungers and cabanas, a spa, fitness center, cafe and Hamilton’s Kitchen, a full-service restaurant.
Voted Best Hotel in the State by the readers of “Condé Nast Traveler,” The Alfond Inn combines contemporary design, high end amenities and impeccable guest services. Its location in quaint Winter Park also makes it a destination in itself.
It’s not that dogs are just “welcome” at The Alfond Inn; they are treated like VIPs. In fact, there’s a package just for them: The Very Important Pup Package, which includes a two-night stay (with its owners, of course), a specialty dog bowl, a variety of treats and toys, a donation to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando and, of course, lots of love from staff and guests alike.
Park Avenue, considered Winter Park’s shopping center, is also dog-friendly with many stores allowing dogs in the store while owners shop. The Winter Park area is also home to a variety of gardens and parks that are perfect for strolls like the Lake Baldwin Loop, Lake Lily Park Loop and the Martin Luther King Jr. Loop, which ranges from a quarter mile to two and a half miles in length, within minutes of the hotel. In the Mead Botanical Gardens, pups on leashes can enjoy the beautiful grounds and maybe catch a glimpse of a flying squirrel, marsh rabbit or a North American river otter.
Traveling with dogs isn’t for everyone, of course, but for those who enjoy taking their pup on vacation or just want a quick getaway, one would be hard-pressed to find a more accommodating and convenient hotel option than The Alfond Inn in Winter Park, especially since it’s just a short two hour drive away.
Room rates average around $260 and up per night depending on the season. All net profits from the hotel go toward The Alfond Scholars Program at Rollins College to further the education of up to ten students each year, many of whom would not otherwise be able to attend this prestigious seat of learning.
