Can't decide on hotel..Universal Resort or off-site? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Can't decide on hotel..Universal Resort or off-site?
Hi!
My husband and I will visit Universal Studios for the first time in June. I'm having trouble choosing among the on-site hotels and the off-site hotels.
We're looking for a hotel that is relaxing and doesn't require a long walk to the parks. We will have a rental car, so driving is not a problem. Also, we don't mind paying for the Express Pass upgrade separately. Does anyone have any recommendations? It's just us, no children so that's not a consideration.
If you had to choose among the on-site hotels, which is the shortest walk to Universal Studios?
THanks!!
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I have stayed at the RPR and PBR and both are lovely hotels. I think for adults only PBR is perfect. I have always had very positive experiences with Loew's Hotels and the service has been exceptional (my experience has been better than Disney but I also think with all accommodations some of the service is the luck of the draw.
I have walked from RPR to both parks. It is a nice walk. My favorite thing to do when I had a room overlooking IOA was to watch the Hulk from my room.
I think if you were to buy express passes it would be equal in price to staying one site. I don't think the partner hotels have the same feel as the on site hotels.
We have spent 2 nights on Universal property before our last 2 week long stays on Disney property, and highly recommend it. We have a hard time swallowing the prices of Disney deluxe properties, and have only stayed at WL, but believe that a few nights onsite at Universal are well worth it. The front of the line access is worth about $70 for 2 people for a single day, isn't it? That makes the hotels seem much more reasonable. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Universal properties - we have stayed at Hard Rock both times, and really enjoyed the walk or boat ride to the parks.
We've stayed several times at the Royal Pacific. I think we only walked once, though, we usually took the boat to and from the parks. It's a gorgeous hotel.
Hard Rock is closest to Universal Studios. Royal Pacific is closest to Islands of Adventure. I have stayed at both and would recommend either one. PBR is a little further and a bit more secluded. All 3 have bus service and water taxi service, as well as being within walking distance to the parks. Before you reserve off site, check the Loews website because you can get some amazingly decent deals on the Universal hotels. We once got Hard Rock for less than $200/night and it was cheaper than RPR. $200 for a deluxe resort PLUS the perk of the Express Pass for hotel guests? They were practically paying us to stay there!
Be very careful about hotels that say they're "across the street" or "within walking distance". They may be across the street, but it might not be the street that is on the same side as the entrance to the park. Within walking distance means different things to different people. After spending a full day in the parks, walking 15 minutes to the hotel could be almost too much for tired legs and blistered feet. But if you are used to walking miles, 15 minutes back to the hotel probably wouldn't bother you at all.
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We have stayed at the HRH and like it, however this trip we are staying at RPR since it was less expensive. For our family it makes sense to stay onsite instead of paying for the Express pass and being able take a mid day break easily.
We are going to Universal at the end of our trip to Florida. We booked two days at the hotel and our final night we are staying offsite. Got a great deal from Travelzoo staying at the Hampton Inn for $50.00 a night. I was just going to book 1 day and just go to one park each day since we would have two days of FOTL access, but decided to give ourselves an extra day.
We did a combination of HRH & the Universal Doubletree. We loved the perk of the Front of the Line pass. It's different then the one you purchase. The on site guests have the pass to use multiple times for each attraction- we went on The Simpsons 3 times in a row. The pass you buy is good for only 1 ride per attraction. So if you wanted to go on the ride again later- pass isn't good for it.
We were able to use our on site hotel card for Front of The Line all day after we checked out too, when we switched to The Doubletree across the road.
We liked Doubletree, large rooms, nice pool, and very close to Universal. We walked one morning, and I think it took us 20min.
There is also a Hyatt Place, a little further away, but still close and it's suites, with continental breakfast.
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