Universal's Aventura Hotel

Robin Calandra

Aventura was a wonderful stay. Staff was great from check in to housekeeping to the urban pantry, pizza and they have a wonderful gift shop. Room was wonderful, view was amazing, we could watch the fireworks from our room. Control settings for the lights right from the tablet. Shower was also very nice. Option for pizza delivery was good, we didn't use it, but great option. Bus for parks and Epic, right out side, close to sapphire if you desire to go there as well. Great hotel.

Amanda Kochirka

My husband and I stayed at the Aventura for 3 nights while visiting before a cruise. We checked in late (close to 11 pm) on a Wednesday evening, the lobby was mostly empty so we were checked in very quickly. We got to our room and immediately noticed the tablet wasn't properly connected to our reservation (it was displaying that the room wasn't rented) which prevented us from fully accessing everything. We called the front desk and they sent someone up, he was there for a solid 10-15 minutes but couldn't figure out what the issue was. Eventually it seemed to self-correct, though, so I guess it ended up being a non-issue? Overall though this was a perfect example of "just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD." The tech-enabled features of the room were really more of a hindrance than a help, as it caused issues with turning on lights (if you turn any light on or off manually by accident, it would stop working on the tablet), some of the light switches on the tablet didn't work at all, and the TV controls were finicky (and of course, the actual remote that was in our room didn't work either). It just seemed like if you're going to commit to that level of technology in every room, you need to make sure it REALLY works and is reliable. It's just not there yet. All that said, the room was extremely clean, the view from our room was beautiful, the bed was very comfortable, there was plenty of storage, the staff was friendly, and having a Starbucks in the lobby was very convenient for quick coffees and grab-and-go breakfasts before taking the shuttle to the parks. For these reasons, we would stay at the hotel again and because we'd anticipate technology issues, it wouldn't be as much of a headache.

Erik T

This hotel is universal’s best kept secret for adults. The hotel is manageable in size, geared toward younger adults and families with older children. The rooms are well appointed and immaculate housekeeping is top notch. Every last employee is friendly and knowledgeable. Amenities are right for the price point and urban pantry is a gem! I saw people walking over from the more expensive hotel to get food! It’s that good! The hotel even has a rooftop bar with excellent food, drinks AND staff! In addition to those offerings there is a lobby bar, pool bar, universal store and Starbucks. The location is great, with about a 15 minute, shaded walk along the river. Simply cut through sapphire falls to get there. I extended by one more day, I enjoyed this hotel so much. It’s also across the street from Volcano bay, if that’s your thing. As said before, this place is a gems thank you for a great trip. I’ll be back!

Kristine Carranceja-Gurski

Stayed here for three nights between Christmas and New Year's. It wasn't terribly busy, but getting the attention of these 20 somethings running the front desk was almost impossible. Oddly enough, none of the hotel staff smiled at the front desk. Are they miserable? Even the cleaning staff, who we barely saw because they only clean your room every other day, seemed miserable. Maybe I just got spoiled because I got off a cruise ship where the staff actually acknowledged you. Here, it was worse than being in the motel. Don't get me wrong. Facility is gorgeous. Rooms were very up-to-date and although not the roomiest and somewhat clunky in its design, being a brand new hotel has its perks. Location was exactly what we needed since we were going to Universal. But that's where it ends. Would I stay here again? Yes, because it was reasonable compared to the Loew's next door. And it was a beautiful walk to Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventure. Got loads of steps in. Would I try the Cabana Bay Resort across the street? Probably, because at least with a lower tier hotel, I might expect the lack of warmth and friendliness in the service I got here. I think the kicker is when the valet would gladly take our luggage for storing, but come time to pick it up and after being asked to bring it up to our room, I got that cold "We don't do that." I can bring my own luggage just fine, but it was done with such disdain in the valet's tone that I was really put off. I guess we should just retitle them as baggage storage, not valets. All in all, don't expect much from a hotel that costs over $300 a night. It's like having a very tiny Airbnb, where you do everything yourself. But if you want easy access to the parks, this is a good place.

Ryan Orlosky

A positive experience, but room comfort was not great. Check in was easy, with no wait for our visit in February 2026. After check in, we easily got our park passes. The hotel lobby was sleek and open, with several food options and a convenient Starbucks. We appreciated the easy bus access to the parks. There were plenty of elevators and we never had to wait long. Our room was quite tight with an odd glass barrier between the bathroom sink and the beds. Although the pillows were OK, the bed linens were quite thin/cheap. The blankets were straight from a hospital, including the towels/washcloths. You could tell they went cheap on the construction of this hotel, including the finishes of the bathroom with plastic instead of tile. Housekeeping only cleans your room every other day... another cost cutting effort. The website noted that the pools were heated... not so much. In colder seasons, the hot tub is an option or the pool is more like a cold plunge. With the express pass, the early entry benefit is not really necessary. Pros - Early park entry, Starbucks, food options inside the hotel Cons - Comfort of room, overall value compared to non-Universal branded hotels