Everything You Need to Know About Universal Orlando’s Aventura Hotel

Universal Orlando’s Aventura Hotel opened in August 2018 and became the 6th hotel on the property. Surprisingly this hotel is under the prime category, which is only a step above the value hotels. The starting rate is $140 per night based on a four-night stay. The other hotel in this group is Cabana Bay.

Aventura Hotel is a very modern-looking property on the outside and inside. They have a robot in the lobby and tablets in the room that let you control your TV, and the temperature and turn on/off the lights.

Here is how Universal describes the hotel.

Universal’s Aventura Hotel is the modern and stylish place to stay. This perfectly priced hotel offers great views of all three Universal Orlando theme parks and is underscored by a design that is vibrant, free-flowing and calming. It’s your chill zone, your party place, your hangout, your refuge. And it’s just plain cool.

Let’s jump into all the details of this stylish resort, shall we?

Dining

If you are looking for something quick but delicious, the quick-service dining location, Urban Pantry, in the lobby is perfect. Here they have a variety of foods, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Bar 17 Bistro is up on the rooftop on floor 17. Here guests can find small plates while falling in love with the breathtaking view of all three parks and almost all of Orlando. Some dishes you can find here are Signature Baos, Grilled Cheese, Roasted Cauliflower, The Bar 17 Burger, Shimp Ceviche, and many more options.

The menu is a mix of small plates and dishes that can be considered full meals. Not only can you grab food here, they also specialize in craft cocktails. It is important to note that this location opens at 5 P.M. each day, and the closing time for most of the week is midnight, but on Saturdays, they close at one in the morning.

If you want to grab something quick in the morning or need an afternoon caffeine boost, there’s a Starbucks in the lobby. They offer everything you’d expect, and sometimes you might run into a line filled with others getting their morning coffee.

Shopping

In the lobby, there is a Universal Studios Store filled with popular merchandise that is sold in the parks. They also have toiletries and other minuscule items you might have forgotten, so you don’t have to venture from the property to the nearest CVS.

When I stayed at Cabana Bay, the Universal Store was very helpful because I forgot to pack a sweater, and I could run over and grab one. The best part is that I got my Annual Pass discount at the store.

Amenities

They have a state-of-the-art fitness center on the second floor of the hotel. The gym had everything you’d need while on vacation and more. There was a free weight area, cardio machines, and strength training machines. I love the gym and will occasionally dedicate one morning of a vacation to getting a workout in. After looking at this gym, I decided I liked the one at Cabana Bay more just because that one has a theme and is full of color.

Just outside the lobby, there is a pool, which is small but curves with the building. I also noticed that there was plenty of seating on the deck. This pool is perfect for relaxing after a long day at the park or if your travel party wants to soak in the sun before hitting the theme parks. There is also a Kid’s Splash Zone; it’s nothing spectacular. It’s perfect for the little ones who want to run through water and aren’t ready to jump in the pool yet.

Transportation

Like the rest of the resorts here at Universal, there’s bus transportation to CityWalk and the parks. You could also walk to those places, but that would result in a 20 to 30-minute stroll. When we were here, I took the bus, and it got me to CityWalk in 7 minutes. Then it took about 15 minutes to get through security and to the front of Islands of Adventure. On the other hand, the walkway leads guests to the entrance of the park no need to walk through CityWalk.

If you plan on visiting Volcano Bay while staying here, a walking path will lead you to the tropical paradise. This is a much shorter walk than the one to the other parks, and it is helpful if you use the early park access perk you have by staying at the resort.

Perks

Depending on which tier hotel you stay in, the perks vary. This is a Prime Value Hotel, and the resorts in this tier offer Early Park Admission to the theme parks. To use this, you have to have a valid theme park ticket.

I like this perk because if you are a morning person, this gives you a head start on your day in the parks. I’ve used this perk before, and I’ve been able to get at least two rides done before the park opened to the public. One time I was able to use this perk for Volcano Bay, which made getting a locker and finding a spot on the beach much easier. If seating on the beach is important to you, definitely take advantage of the Early Park Admission perk.