Why We Chose Aventura Hotel
For our trip to Universal Studios – Orlando, we booked Universal’s Aventura Hotel, one of the resort’s on-site “Prime Value” hotels, which is the middle tier of Universal’s three hotel categories, sitting between the budget-friendly Value Inns & Suites and the more luxurious Signature Collection.
There are 11 Universal Orlando hotels in total, but Aventura ended up being the cheapest option for our travel dates, even at that mid-level tier.
We wanted the convenience and immersion of staying on the theme park campus, and Aventura delivered on both.
If you’re picturing a heavily “themed” hotel, though, this isn’t it — it’s more of a sleek, modern, mid-level hotel with crisp design elements. I found it to be ideal for adults just looking for a nice hotel with great amenities, but if you’re bringing kids, there are other hotels that have more of the “magic” they may be hoping for.
Rooms & Location
We booked the smallest, lowest-level room to keep costs down, and it was still plenty spacious for two people. It was spotlessly clean, the bed was comfortable, and the layout was practical. For reference, Standard Rooms run about 314 square feet and Deluxe Rooms about 395 square feet, with the option to upgrade to a Skyline View on the hotel’s higher floors. Families traveling with kids can also book the Kids’ Suite, a 575-square-foot room that sleeps five and includes a separate kids’ area with twin beds.
Aventura Hotel sits close to Universal Volcano Bay, within walking distance, and it’s connected to the rest of the resort by both shuttle bus and walking paths. One especially fun touch: we took a boat shuttle back to the hotel one evening, which was just as quick and convenient as the bus and made for a nice change of pace. Not every hotel offers boat access, so it’s worth checking if that’s a perk you’d enjoy.
One thing that was unusual about the room but ended up working quite well, was that everything in our room, right down to the lights and thermostat, was controlled from an iPad. At first I thought this would be overly complicated to use, but it was instead way easier than hunting for all the light switches and thermostat in the room.
Staff & Service
Honestly, one of the highlights of our stay was the staff. Everyone we interacted with was knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly, and we asked plenty of questions to nail down our park logistics. The team here was accommodating every time.
Dining at Aventura
There are five food and drink options at Aventura Hotel:
- Bar 17 Bistro — The rooftop bar and restaurant, with sweeping views of the parks. We happened to be there on Super Bowl Sunday and watched the game up here with a bottle of champagne and a few appetizers. The food was fine — one of the better options we’ve had at the resort, though a bit overpriced for the quality. Portions were generous, so it’s a good choice if you’re feeding a hungry crew.
- Urban Pantry — The hotel’s main dining hall, with a variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I had a surprisingly good açai bowl here on checkout day, and my husband enjoyed his chorizo breakfast burrito. It’s also one of the more affordable spots to eat at the resort.
- Starbucks — A full-service Starbucks in the hotel, perfect for a caffeine stop before heading to the parks.
- Bar Sol — The poolside bar, serving frozen drinks, cocktails, beer, and wine.
- barVentura — The lobby bar, a laid-back spot for a pre- or post-dinner drink. We didn’t try Bar Sol or barVentura ourselves, but both looked like a nice atmosphere for a relaxed evening.
Perks of Staying Here
Staying at any Universal resort hotel comes with Early Park Admission, letting guests into the parks a full hour before general admission (8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.). This ended up being one of the most valuable perks of our entire trip because it meant significantly shorter lines first thing in the morning. If you upgrade to one of Universal’s fancier resort hotels, you’ll unlock additional perks like complimentary Express Passes, but even at the Prime Value tier, Early Park Admission alone made staying on-site worth it for us.
Beyond that, Aventura has a pool, arcade games, a Universal merch store, and easy transportation to and from the parks — everything you need without having to leave the resort.
My Verdict on this Hotel
Aventura Hotel isn’t going to wow you with theming, but if you want a clean, modern, well-located home base for your Universal Orlando trip with excellent staff and the built-in perks of staying on-site, it’s a smart, budget-conscious pick. For the full rundown of our two-day Universal Orlando adventure, including where we ate, which rides were worth the wait, and our key takeaways for planning your own trip, check out our complete Universal Studios – Orlando guide.
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