Universal’s Aventura Hotel is a sleek, stylish, modern high-rise tower smack dab in the middle of Universal Orlando Resort property. Competitively priced as a Value Resort, Aventura Hotel is perfect for families who spend the majority of their vacation in the Universal theme parks, and just want a place to sleep after a long day. As with all Universal Orlando Resort hotels, families receive exclusive theme park benefits such as early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as well as Universal’s Volcano Bay water park. The contemporary styling feels a bit sterile and spartan, but the price is right.

Standard Guestrooms
Standard guestrooms are 314 square feet and equipped with two queen beds. The beds are plush and comfortable. Dresser drawers are located underneath the desk console, but there is no closet for storage. The room also contains a coffee pot and mini-fridge.

Bathroom space is separated from the living/sleeping area by a thin frosted glass divider, with the bathtub/shower combo and toilet behind a pocket door. There is not much storage area in the bathroom.

Suites
Families may wish to opt for the larger 395-square-foot deluxe room or the 575-square-foot kids’ suite that contains a separate sleeping area for the children. There are a few connecting rooms available in the hotel.

Each room contains a flat-screen TV (two in the kids’ suite) that is controlled by the iPad tablet next to the bed. It's a technologically innovative feature that, unfortunately, our family found challenging to use for simple things like adjusting the television volume. Our family appreciated the compact design of the hotel that did not contain long hallways. No room was far from the elevator lobby, which was nice after a long day in the theme park. Cribs are available upon request, but the room may feel too tight to set up a portable crib.

Universal’s Aventura Hotel is surrounded by other Universal Orlando hotels and theme parks, and therefore does not have much room for large outdoor recreation spaces.

Pools
There is a small pool, children’s splash pad, and hot tub all located outside and open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Games
You will also find a game area with Ping-Pong table, foosball, and billiards. On the second floor, there is a virtual reality game room with headsets and immersive gaming (additional charge for a five-minute experience), open from 2 to 10 p.m.

Urban Pantry Food Court
The hotel lobby contains a number of kid-friendly dining options in the Urban Pantry food court. There are four separate dining locations in this area, open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Breakfast is standard fare with many grab and go sandwich options for those looking to hurry to the parks. There is also a Starbucks that opens at 6 a.m., with muffins and pastries, in addition to the traditional coffee, teas, and specialty drinks.

Lunch and dinner offer the typical American fare of burgers and pizzas, but families can also find more interesting food such as teriyaki stir fry, sushi, smoked salmon, paella, and rotisserie chicken. All food is made with fresh ingredients.

Bar 17
In addition to Urban Pantry, Bar 17 Bistro is located on the 17th floor rooftop of Aventura Hotel and features stunning views of the three theme parks and greater Orlando area. Despite being a lounge, Bar 17 Bistro is kid-friendly and has a children’s menu. Families will find small plates, sliders and bao bun sandwiches. Hours of operation are 4 p.m. through 2 a.m.

All About the Extras

• Check-In/Check-Out
  Check in is 4 p.m. and check out is 11 a.m.
• Gym
  The fitness center is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and contains multiple treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, free weights, and Technogym resistance machines.
• Wi-Fi
  Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout Universal Orlando Resort, including Universal’s Aventura Hotel.
• Shuttle Service
  Transportation to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk is complimentary and departs every 15 minutes from Universal’s Aventura Hotel between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.
• Special Perks
  Guests of Universal’s Aventura Hotel get one hour early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay (theme park tickets required).
• Theme Park Purchases
  Theme park purchases can be delivered to your hotel free of charge.
• Parking
  Overnight self-parking for guests is available in the attached garage and for an additional cost.
• Laundry
  Onsite laundry is available via credit and coin-operated washers and dryers on three floors of the hotel.
• Pet Policy
  Pets are not permitted at Universal’s Aventura Hotel.
• Smoking Policy
  No smoking is allowed at Universal’s Aventura Hotel.

The Best Time to Visit
Like most Orlando theme park resorts, high and low seasons will correspond to times when kids are out of school. Expect the highest crowds during summer, holidays, and spring breaks. The lowest rates and fewest crowds will occur in early November (before Thanksgiving), early December, and mid-January to mid-February.

Getting There
The nearest airport is Orlando International Airport, located 17 miles east of Universal Orlando Resort. Expect a 20- to 40-minute drive from Orlando International Airport to Universal’s Aventura Hotel, depending on traffic. A shuttle is available for hotel guests via Mears Transportation for an additional fee. Rental cars are readily available through multiple companies at Orlando International Airport.

Getting Around
One convenient factor in Universal’s Aventura Hotel’s high-rise design is its compact structure. Families will never have a long walk with a stroller from the pool, lobby, or elevator to their room. The hallways are short and everything is conveniently located. This is a definite plus for anyone with mobility issues.

Once at Universal’s Aventura Hotel, families can rely on complimentary transportation to get to theme parks, Universal CityWalk, and the other Universal Orlando hotels. Bus and boat transportation are available to ferry visitors around the property. The theme parks are within walking distance to Universal’s Aventura Hotel -- approximately 10 to 15 minutes to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure and five minutes to Universal’s Volcano Bay. If you plan on visiting other Orlando destinations besides Universal (such as Walt Disney World), a rental car makes it easy to get around town.

For Parents
Universal’s Aventura Hotel has multiple bars and lounges, such as Barventura in the lobby, Bar Sol near the pool, and Bar 17 Bistro on the top floor of the hotel.