Royal Floridian Resort

Royal Floridian is a large resort with a busy, bustling lobby. The building itself is a sprawling, beige concrete structure on the beach; there are green awnings out front, along with some tropical plants at the entranceway, but the overall feeling is pretty bland. Inside, the decor is a bit older looking, with yellow, sponge-painted walls, wood paneling, and slightly worn rattan furniture with green and orange floral and striped cushions. Outside is more inviting, with a long pool that curves toward the beach and a deck filled with green-and-white-striped lounge chairs and umbrellas. The vibe is family-friendly and casual, particularly with the mini-golf course and game room with old-style arcade games. Staff are friendly, though guests should expect to be offered a timeshare sales pitch in exchange for a gift. 

The resort sits off busy South Atlantic Avenue, on the ocean and with easy access to the beach. It’s within a five-minute walk of several chain and local restaurants, as well as a shopping village, and there are a couple of grocery stores within five minutes' drive. It’s a 10-minute drive to the Daytona Beach boardwalk, which has an amusement park, a 20-minute drive to the Daytona International Speedway, and a 25-minute drive to Daytona Beach International Airport. 

Royal Floridian's 168 rooms are one- and two-bedroom condominium-style units. Units in the north tower may have full kitchens or just mini-fridges and microwaves, while units in the newer south building all have kitchens with full-size refrigerators, sinks and stoves, along with coffeemakers, cookware, and utensils. Some units have washer-dryer combos and balconies with partial or full ocean views. There are separate living rooms with flat-screen TVs in all units. Decor is a bit bland, with basic wood furniture, patterned bedspreads, and Formica counters. Premier Villas are slightly more luxurious, with granite countertops in the kitchens and white furniture. Some units have jetted tubs in the bedrooms. Large bathrooms have plain vanities with a good amount of room to store toiletries, and curtained shower/tub combos. There’s an extra fee for housekeeping services. Some units are cramped and lack closet space, and/or have minor maintenance issues, particularly in bathrooms. 

The oceanfront pool is massive and curves toward the beach, and the surrounding deck has plenty of lounge chairs. The indoor pool is a no-frills space, but provides a place to swim in bad weather. A tiki-style bar offers drink specials. Sports facilities include a mini-golf course and basketball and shuffleboard courts. The gym is housed in a large windowed room and has several cardio and weight machines overlooking the pool area and beach. The resort organizes activities, including crafts, bingo, movie screenings, and ice cream socials. There's also a game room with a pool table and arcade games. Coin-operated laundry machines are available. Underground parking is free, but the lot fills up quickly. There's additional parking nearby for a fee. A small business center has two desktop computers and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort.