Aventura Hotel: Highlights and Opportunities

 

Just shy of being open four years, Universal’s Aventura Hotel is one of eight hotel properties at Universal Orlando and tiered in the Prime Value category. The hotel categories are as follows: Premier (Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel), Preferred (Loews Sapphire Falls Resort), Prime Value (Aventura Hotel and Cabana Bay Beach Resort), Value (Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites and Surfside Inn and Suites).

After a 2-night stay, there are standouts that deserve to be mentioned as reasons you should stay at Aventura Hotel and on the flip side, reasons you may want to look at one of the other properties.

Highlights:

1. Starbucks in the Lobby – Although there will be a long line during the peak hours of the morning before the “rush hour” traffic to get over to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay, the convenience of coffee, tea, breakfast sandwiches and pastries is worth the wait especially so time in the park can be maximized.
2. Bar 17 Bistro – Check out this article about why this is a must-do! Being only an elevator ride away from the best rooftop view in Central Florida is definitely a perk.
3. Views from the Skyline Rooms – Aside from Hawaii, where else can you see a volcano from your hotel room in the United States? Aventura Hotel provides the best views of their newest park addition, Volcano Bay. Waking up in the morning and opening up the curtains to watch the sunrise over that skyline staple is a picture-perfect backdrop to kick off a fun filled day. P.S. Volcano Bay is walking distance from the Aventura Hotel, so if hitting the water park is included in your itinerary that’s a plus in our book.

Opportunities:

1. There is no roaming food & beverage service at the pool. If you are a fan of posting up all day on a lounge chair while being waited on with food & beverage service, my recommendation would be to stay at a Premier or Preferred Resort. There is still a pool bar, but there is no food at Bar Sol – only frozen drinks, cocktails, wine and beer.
2. There is no water slide at the pool. Typically, that tends to be where the kiddos spend a lot of their time in the sun, so if that’s going to make or break their pool day, I would recommend Sapphire Falls. They have a great slide with a fantastic pool area.
3. Quick-Service is the only option for breakfast and lunch. Luckily, with Sapphire Falls around the corner, Amatista Cookhouse will satisfy your cravings for a sit-down meal if Urban Pantry and Starbucks don’t cut it.

Something I greatly appreciate about Universal is their transparency regarding the resorts on property. With a little bit of research, you always know what you’re going to get. While the opportunities aren’t reasons I wouldn’t stay there again, they are just things to think about when booking your next stay.