Aventura Hotel at the Universal Orlando Resort is a moderate priced resort that offers perks to the Universal Orlando parks as well as basic amenities for theme park guests. This Universal Aventura Hotel review guide will give you the pros and cons to help you decide if it is a good choice for your next Universal vacation.
We spent 4 nights at Universal’s Aventura Hotel on a recent Disney and Universal split trip and it was a great experience for our family.
It was the first time we booked connecting rooms instead of a suite for our family of five. Connecting rooms are a great option when traveling with a big family. Having space and two bathrooms was really great. The hotel offered a comfortable and fun place to stay for our Universal trip.
Universal Aventura Hotel Review
The hotel is one of the smaller hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort with a simplistic style that also features technologically advanced amenities like a room service robot. It is in the Prime Value category of Universal hotels.
When we arrived at the hotel I did notice that is was less busy in the overall decor then other hotels I have stayed at. The simple vibe adds to the uniqueness of the resort and after entering the lobby I was excited to see what the rooms at Aventura were like.
One of the best things about Aventura is the incredible views from the rooftop bar. (More on that later.) Below is a quick overview of what to expect at Aventura.
- Shuttle bus and walking paths to the Universal Parks.
- Early Park Admission
- On-site grab and go, Starbucks, and casual dining
- Pool and hot tub
- Rooftop views
- Fitness Center
- Laundry room (You do not need cash, it accepts credit card)
One of the unique qualities to Aventura is they have a robot that moves around the lobby and delivers room service. Guests can stop an interact with it, it tells jokes, and it was interesting to see it get on the elevator to deliver food.
Location
Aventura is a 7 minute bus ride to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk. It is a 15 minute bus ride to Epic Universe.
Guests can walk to the Universal CityWalk area and Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It will take about 20 minutes.
Complimentary Transportation & Parking
- Shuttle Bus: Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, CityWalk
- Aventura Self Parking Fee: $30.00/night
- Walking Path: Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and Universal CityWalk
We never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus to or from the parks. The ride was around 7 minutes, if you do not need a car during your trip I would not bother with one. The Universal transportation was sufficient for everything we needed.
Perks for Guests Staying at a Universal Hotel
- Early Park Admission to participating theme parks. Check latest info here.
- Complimentary shuttle bus transportation or walking path.
- Use room key for purchases across the Universal Orlando Resort
- Merchandise can be shipped to your hotel room free of charge at participating shopping retailers.
Tickets for the Parks
Tickets to the Universal Parks are not included in your stay at Aventura. Be sure to purchase tickets before you arrive to save time and money at the parks.
Universal Aventura Rooms
The rooms offered at Universal’s Aventura resort are standard rooms and kids suites.
- Standard Room: 2 queen bed rooms that sleep 4, starting at $145.00/night
- Kids Suites: King Bed, 2 twin beds, and sleeper couch, separate sleeping area that sleeps 5, starting at $290.00/night (prices subject to change and are based on accurate information on published date)
We stayed in a standard room and a deluxe room. At this point in our travels as a family of 5 with teens we have shifted to booking connecting rooms for our sanity!
The standard rooms and the deluxe rooms are basically the same except for square footage. The standard is 314 sq ft. and the deluxe is 395 sq ft.
The layout is standard with guests entering to a hall with a closet, bathroom (separate sink area from the toilet and shower), then the sleeping space with 2 queen beds.
The unique part of the room is that the lights and TV are controlled by a tablet. This can be seen as good or bad, depending on who you ask.
I tended to be in the middle. It was cool to use the tablet to turn the lights off and change the channel but there were times when I forgot to turn the lights on from the tablet and had to go back to it.
Once I got used to using the tablet to control things it was a fun feature. Kids will think it is a cool feature too. If you are tech savvy you will enjoy this fun perk!
The views from our room of Volcano Bay were the first thing we saw during our late check-in on our first night and I was blown away. It definitely led to the excitement for our Universal trip.
Average Nightly Cost
As of writing this April nightly rates were around $239.00 a night. This will fluctuate based on time of visit and expected crowds. If you are flexible with your dates you will find a better deal.
Book Your Stay at Aventura Hotel!
Aventura Pool
If you are planning days at the pool Aventura might not be the best choice for you. The pool is not very big but it has a really nice vibe to it.
Let me explain a bit. There is one pool at the hotel which means all guests spend their pool time there. There is a splash pad and a hot tub as well as a fire pit, pool side bar, and lots of chairs.
We first visited the pool mid-day during a break from the parks and spent about 20 minutes. It was just too busy for us. My kids like to splash and jump in the pool and this pool really isn’t made for that.
On our last night at the resort we spent time at the pool for almost 2 hours. It was at night and there were less people. The kids were able to splash and jump around a lot more and it changed our overall view of the pool.
My opinion is that the pool is great, just not very big. It isn’t a huge issue because overall Aventura Hotel is less busy with families but it is something to consider when planning your visit.
Amenities
There is a kids splash area, a Universal gift shop, and a fitness center at the hotel. There were also a few poolside games and arcade games outside near the pool area.
Universal’s Aventura Hotel Rooftop Bar
We almost missed visiting the rooftop bar because I didn’t know if it was kid friendly. If you stay at Aventura you must visit the rooftop bar.
Spending time experiencing Universal’s Aventura Hotel Skyline views was one of my favorite moments from our stay.
Guests have a 360 degree view of the Universal Orlando resort and beyond. We could see Universal Studios Florida Cinesational night show, Islands of Adventure Hogwarts Always fireworks, and Disney World’s fireworks all from one spot on the roof. It was awesome!
I suggest heading up around dusk to watch the sunset. Guests do not need to go to the bar or order food. Take the elevator up to the rooftop and find a spot to sit. There was a lot of couches and places to hang out.
Dining
Urban Pantry offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We only dined in for breakfast and my oatmeal with berries was delicious. Check out the menu for pricing and details.
One thing to note, we did find the snack pricing to be a bit on the higher side. A bag of chips was $5.00, times that for a family of 5 and snacks can run you around $25.00.
This is something to plan ahead for by bringing your own snacks to keep in your room or budgeting ahead of time for snacks and treats.
Final Thoughts
This review is a bit more complicated to write because Aventura Hotel is great but is might not be the best option for families.
The value based on the cost make the hotel comparable to Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Surfside Inn and Suites, or Dockside Inn and Suites.
At Cabana Bay you get a water slide, a lazy river, and a bowling alley. Surfside and Dockside have larger pools and 2-bedroom family suites.
So who is Aventura for? I think Aventura is great for couples or groups of adults visiting Universal Orlando Resort. My teens even mentioned they wanted to come back with their friends to the hotel.
It is a less popular hotel for families which means a less busy resort overall. Guests staying at Aventura will have shorter wait times for the buses and a more quiet overall experience.
The hotel was quiet and peaceful which you don’t get with the hotels that are popular for families. There is also a joke telling robot that welcomes you in the lobby so that is a fun perk to consider too!
Universal hotels are so great and this one does the job but we feel like we get more out of other resorts. If you like a small condensed resort this may be a good choice for you.
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Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
