Review of Universal Aventura Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort

If you are planning a Universal Orlando vacation, there are several good reasons for staying in one of Universal’s official hotels. Not only are you closer, but you also have the privilege of getting into the parks earlier than non-resort guests — which can make a big difference in your day. Of the eight on-site hotels you can choose from, Universal’s Aventura Hotel is a solid option for guests who want to enjoy those perks without breaking the bank.

Universal’s Aventura Hotel prices average under $200 per night, but the property feels more upscale than the price tag suggests. The hotel has a rooftop lounge, a resort-style pool, a large food hall and a walking path that takes you straight to Universal’s theme parks.

Here’s everything you need to know before booking a room at Universal’s Aventura Hotel.

What is Universal’s Aventura Hotel?

Unlike most theme park hotels, Universal’s Aventura Hotel doesn’t feel like a theme park hotel. The design is modern and stylish, and the only place you’ll see characters is on the merchandise in the gift shop. Of Universal’s four hotel tiers, Aventura is in the second, called the “Prime Value” category.

This hotel also has some of the best views of Universal’s theme parks, especially if you end up on a high floor. Even if you don’t, you can visit the rooftop Bar 17 Bistro for panoramic views of parks and the city of Orlando.

From the lobby to the guest rooms, Aventura is designed to be chic yet inviting. There are several places for friends and family to gather — both indoors and out — and the comfortable beds feel like they are calling your name by the end of a long day.

How to book Universal’s Aventura Hotel

The easiest way to book Universal’s Aventura Hotel is directly through Universal’s website. You can also call 888-273-1311 to make your reservation.

Cash prices for a standard room start at around $180 per night. You could pay as little as $145 per night when Universal offers a hotel discount, but prices can reach higher than $300 per night during the busy holiday season. Booking directly through Universal ensures that any hotel discounts will be automatically applied.

If you need to cancel your reservation, you must do so six or more days before your check-in date to receive a full refund. You will be charged for one night’s room and tax if you cancel after that.

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Like the resort’s other hotels, Universal’s Aventura Hotel is usually available through the Capital One Travel portal. If you have an eligible Capital One card, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can book this hotel through the travel portal using your Capital One miles. Alternatively, if you pay for your vacation using a Venture X card, you can utilize the card’s $300 travel credit to help offset the cost of your trip.

Location within walking distance to Universal’s theme parks

At Universal Orlando’s hotels, the more you pay, the closer you’ll be to the parks. Luckily, all but two of Universal’s hotels (Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn & Suites) are within walking distance of Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal’s CityWalk shopping and dining district. Aventura Hotel has a walking path that can get you there in 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how fast you like to walk. Aventura is one of just three Univeral Orlando hotels (the other two being Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort) that also have a dedicated walking path to Volcano Bay water park.

If you prefer to save your steps until after you enter the park, all Universal Orlando hotels also offer complimentary bus transportation.

Sleek, tech-forward guest rooms

Universal’s Aventura Hotel’s standard rooms have one king or two queen-size beds. King rooms have a sitting area with a sleeper sofa, and queen rooms have a plush accent chair. The color scheme is subtle and spa-like, with rich hardwood floors, light gray walls and bedding, and accents of soft blue and deep purple, all combining to yield a calming vibe. The panels separating the bedroom from the bathroom allow some light to come through, making the room feel more open and airy.

A door separates the vanity area from the shower and toilet in the bathroom. Bathrooms here have only a single vanity, but there is storage next to and underneath the sink and a hook on the back of the bathroom door if you use a hanging toiletry kit. The shower is spacious and has a shaving ledge.

Rooms also have a small refrigerator and a coffee station with a single-serve Cuisinart coffee maker, coffee packets, sugar, cups and an ice bucket. There was also an iron and ironing board inside the closet and a full-length mirror near the hotel room door. Skyline view rooms are available upon request, and larger deluxe rooms and kids’ suites are available.

What makes Aventura’s rooms stand out from other Universal Orlando hotels, though, are the tech-friendly room controls. Each room is outfitted with a Bluetooth speaker and an iPad that allows you to control the television, temperature, lighting and more. You can use the tablet to stream your Netflix account to the TV, to order room service and to request toiletries. If you request toiletries, you can chat with a team member via the tablet and request that Relay the Robot bring your items to your room.

Don’t be surprised if you see Relay roaming the halls during your stay. You can interact with the robot if you see Relay in the lobby. Relay loves to tell jokes and take selfies.

Dining options: From coffee to cocktails

It’s not often that a budget-tier theme park hotel has such a plethora of dining options. Universal’s Aventura Hotel has quick-service and table-service options and a poolside lounge, lobby lounge and a Starbucks. Urban Pantry is the hotel’s food hall, located in the lobby. Each stall offers different types of cuisine, including everything from sushi to stir fry to burgers. I visited Urban Pantry for breakfast and had the vegetarian folded eggs ($13.50). The portion size was huge, and my meal tasted fresh and delicious.

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Urban Pantry also sells various grab-and-go items like snacks, cereal and oatmeal. There is a warming station with microwaves and toasters if you buy or bring anything that needs to be heated.

Bar 17 Bistro is one of my favorite late-night spots at Universal, and it is located right here at Aventura Hotel. This rooftop lounge is open daily until midnight, with food service until 10:30 p.m. During my visit, I tried the Bao sampler, which comes with three bao buns of your choosing for $18. I’ve had every variety at this point and love them all, especially the jackfruit and crispy pork belly. I had the Parmesan fries ($8) on the side, which I was less impressed by. The fries and the dipping sauces were good, but nothing helped the Parmesan adhere to the fries, so most of it was just piled up at the bottom of the bowl. Bar 17 Bistro also has a robust beer, wine and cocktail menu.

Because you can see practically the entire resort from up there, the views and atmosphere at Bar 17 Bistro are a huge draw.

A fitness center that gets the job done

Aventura Hotel’s fitness center is on the second floor and is open 24 hours a day. Like most hotel gyms, this one is not what I would consider spacious, but there is a decent variety of equipment. There was a good selection of free weights, weight-training machines and cardio equipment. I appreciated the few fold-up mats for floor exercises and a foam roller for post-workout recovery. About 10 people were working out when I was there, and it definitely felt crowded.

A large pool with family-friendly amenities

The pool at Universal’s Aventura Hotel curves around the hotel, which gives it a quiet, private feel. There is ample seating, and palm trees surrounding the pool offer shade.

The pool has a hot tub and a kids’ splash pad with fountains. Next to the poolside lounge, you’ll find an outdoor game area with a pool table, yard games and arcade games.

Reasons Universal’s Aventura Hotel might not be for you

I’ve stayed at Universal’s Aventura Hotel numerous times and enjoyed my stay. The hotel is clean, comfortable and has a well-rounded selection of amenities. That said, if you are looking for a hotel that feels more like a true theme park hotel, you may want to look elsewhere. Aventura’s theming would not look out of place in a major metropolitan area, which is ideal if you aren’t into heavily-themed hotels.

Suppose you like the theme park experience to carry over to your hotel stay. In that case, you may prefer Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort or Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel for a higher price point.

Accessibility at Universal’s Aventura Hotel

All of Universal’s on-site hotels are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, including Aventura. All entrances and routes are wheelchair accessible. The pool has a zero-entry point, and both the pool and the hot tub have accessible lifts. Accessible guest rooms are available, with features like wheelchair access, braille room numbers and hearing-impaired kits (available at the front desk).

Checking out

Whether Universal’s Aventura Hotel appeals to you really depends on what you are looking for in a theme park hotel. Its chic, pared-back design may appeal to some, while others may prefer one of Universal’s more theme-forward hotels. Regardless, I am consistently impressed by this hotel’s offerings and price and will continue to stay here on future visits.

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