Where do you stay when visiting the Universal Orlando Resort? The Universal Orlando Hotels on property are a great choice! They offer budget friendly to luxury options that make staying at the hotels work for all Universal visitors.
Universal Hotels offer standard rooms with budget friendly prices to family themed suites and luxury amenities. Depending on your Universal budget you will be able to find something that fits your traveling needs.
There are 11 hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort. The resorts offer perks to guests staying at the resorts. There is also complimentary transportation between hotels and parks.
Universal Orlando Hotels
With such great options I always recommend staying at a Universal hotel. You may save a bit of money staying off-site but the perks really make it worth it, plus parking, renting a car and drive time can make it a wash.
Keep in mind there is not a dedicated transportation option to and from the Orlando International Airport. You will need to rely on public transportation, ride share services, or taxi/uber.
Signature Collection($$$$)
- Loews Portofino Bay Resort (includes Universal Express Pass with stay)
- Hard Rock Hotel Review (includes Universal Express Pass with stay)
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort (includes Universal Express Pass with stay)
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel
Prime Value Hotels ($$)
- Universal Aventura Hotel Review
- Universal Stella Nova Resort
- Universal Terra Luna Resort
Value Inns & Suites ($)
- Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review
- Universal Surfside Inn and Suites Review (Endless Summer Resort)
- Universal Dockside Inn and Suites Review (Endless Summer Resort)
- Universal Endless Summer Resorts Review (Comparing Dockside and Surfside)
Why We Choose Universal Orlando Hotels over Off-Property Hotels
As a family we have stayed at 7 out of the 11 of the resorts on property. Hotel guests receive perks that I believe make staying on property the best option. These are:
- Early Park Admission– Guests can enter one of the parks an hour before official park opening. If you want to ride the most popular rides at the park and take advantage of this you will be done with those rides before the park officially opens.
- Transportation– Universal guests can use bus, boat, or walking paths to get to all of the Universal Orlando Resort parks and CityWalk. This saves money on parking, gas, as well as the stress of Orlando traffic. We like to take mid-day breaks during our park days and hopping on a bus is much easier than getting in car driving back to hotel and then driving back later in the day.
- Unlimited Express Pass– There are 3 hotels that include express pass. They are Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, and Royal Pacific. These include Unlimited Express Pass to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure with your stay. It does not include Epic Universe.
- All-Inclusive Feel- The hotels are not all inclusive but it is nice to take a little break from the outside world.
When Should You Stay Off Property
There are times you may want to stay off property. Maybe you are traveling with a group of families and need a house. If you are visiting other places in Orlando other than Universal it may also make sense to stay off property.
If you are considering staying off property for budget reasons I encourage you to compare the prices. Be sure to add in parking costs, gas, renting cars, and all the extras.
Check out this article for my top picks for best Universal hotels in 2026.
Final Thoughts
Universal makes it very easy to find a hotel that will fit your family and your budget. I love that all of the resorts make staying on property worth it.
We typically stay at the value resorts to save money and because we are at the parks most of our days. The accommodations have always been clean and comfortable for my family of five.
If you are considering staying off property I highly suggest comparing the costs of parking, car rental, as well as the value of your time sitting in traffic to decide where you should stay for your Universal trip.
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