Universal's Aventura Hotel

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.

Chris Dominguez

Aventura Hotel definitely holds its own when it comes to the Universal Orlando resort lineup. It offers a sleek, sophisticated atmosphere that feels like a breath of fresh air compared to some of the more themed properties. Even at the entry level tier, the rooms are impressive and feature modern day technology that is incredibly intuitive. Being able to control the lights and TV from a tablet adds a high end touch that you do not always expect at this price point. ​The logistics of the stay were just as smooth. The parking garage is notably spacious, providing plenty of room for even the largest vehicles, which is a rare find. Once inside, the lobby offers a quiet and relaxed environment with several great options for food and drinks. It never felt overwhelmed by crowds, making it a perfect spot to decompress after a long day. Plus, when you look at the rates, the pricing is very competitive and offers great value compared to the other hotels on the property. ​The staff also deserves a shout out for being prompt and genuinely friendly during every interaction we had. However, the one major caveat is that Aventura does not include Unlimited Express Passes for the parks. Because those passes are so essential for maximizing your time at Universal, we chose to limit our stay here to just one night. We eventually transitioned over to one of the premier hotels that includes those perks as part of the room rate. ​Overall, Aventura is a fantastic choice if you are looking for a calm and modern experience without the frantic energy of a typical theme park resort. While it is a beautiful hotel, the lack of park benefits means it works better as a short stay or a home base for those who do not mind waiting in standard lines.

Megan Andzulis

Adventura is a great hotel for proximity to parks and to the neighboring Sapphire Falls. This allows you access to a water taxi (the superior way to travel to parks) and a beautiful walking path as well as the dining at Sapphire Falls. I also appreciated that the parking garage elevator had direct access to the hotel so i didn't have to exit the parking garage to get back inside. But the pros for me end there. The hotel has a very adult vibe, which might be great if you’re on an adults only trip! But in my opinion, it felt sterile and almost hospital-like. The pool is underwhelming and the food we had at urban pantry was not good and overpriced. Our room was a strange shape and very small and the bed was hard. We were excited to have relay the robot deliver something to our room, but our first items had to be delivered by housekeeping instead and the second time we tried, relay never arrived with what we requested. We were tired and it was bedtime so I wasn’t going to push the request further with the front desk. I’ve stayed at 4 of the Universal hotels now and this ranks toward the bottom for me.

MaKayla Clark

The rooms were clean, and the staff was kind and always willing to assist. Room needs were met quickly. Our room had wonderful water pressure for showers and the water got hot. So nice! The beds were clean and comfortable as well, and the atmosphere was calm. We had an issue with the kitchen downstairs running out of most food items one night during our stay (it was a busy time) and the on-site coffee shop closed an hour earlier than stated one afternoon. Aside from this, the room itself and views were great. We had a good stay!

Dawn K

This hotel was amazing. Clean, modern, close to parks, close to shopping. Pool and hottub were relaxing. Everyone who works there was exceptional and went out of their way to make my experience amazing. Love the boats to the parks as well. I would stay there again in a heartbeat as I didn't get to do everything. Thank you all!