11 Best Hotels in Universal Orlando, Florida

This reasonably priced, recently refurbished hotel is less than a mile from Universal and offers free Wi-Fi, free parking, free shuttle to Universal, free hot breakfast, free long-distance and local phone calls, and free hot food and cold beverages in the late afternoon.

The charm and romance of Portofino, Italy, are conjured up at this lovely luxury resort, where part of the fun is exploring the waterfront Italian "village" from end to end; the other part is relaxing in well-appointed rooms (with deluxe beds and flat-screen TVs) and by one of the three pools that offer aquatic fun or peaceful sunning. Waterfront restaurants, entertaining singers and performers, and other perks themed to the resort are part of the appeal. As a premium resort guest, your room key serves as a Universal Express Unlimited Pass for front-of-the-line access to the theme-park attractions.

Universal's nostalgic, mid-century-theme beach resort transports you to a 1950s Florida beach town with a modern twist; it also offers families a less-expensive but still benefit-rich alternative to on-site Universal properties. Extras include a 10-lane bowling alley, a Jack LaLanne fitness studio, early park admission, two pools (one with a slide), a lazy river, poolside activities, and free shuttle buses to and from Universal parks and CityWalk, as well as to nearby SeaWorld and Aquatica.

Music rules in this mission-style building, from public areas decorated with rock memorabilia—Elvis's pajamas, Lady Gaga's latex gown, and Elton John's boots—to stylishly modern rooms, with deluxe bed linens, an entertainment center with a flat-panel TV, and lots of accessible media-device plugs. Its cool "Hotel California" look, hip accent pieces, convenient location adjacent to Universal Studios—along with the perk of using your room key as a Universal Express Unlimited Pass to get you to the front of each line—can make it worth the wallet-denting room rate.

This Pacific Rim–theme hotel—amid 53 serene acres of lush shrubs, soaring bamboo, orchids, and palms—features lots of amenities, including a weekly Polynesian-style luau, a 12,000-square-foot lagoon-style pool bordered by a white-sand beach, an interactive water-play area, and kid-friendly activities.

The romantic and sophisticated Sapphire Falls is connected by walkway and water taxi to Universal and CityWalk and has a beach vibe that carries through from its blue waterfalls to the distant sound of steel drums. Inside are two Caribbean-themed restaurants, a coffee shop with sandwiches, and a rum-rich watering hole.

Within view of all three Universal theme parks (best seen from the rooftop bar), this Miami Beach–style resort hotel has a casually elegant look and simple, modern rooms with free Wi-Fi, in-room safes, mini-refrigerators, flat-panel TVs, and on-demand movies. A pool, splash zone, and fire pit are a few of the outdoor amenities. Since this is a Universal resort, you'll receive complimentary transportation throughout Universal Orlando as well as early admission to the parks on selected days. 

The far larger half of a dual resort created atop what was once the Wet 'n Wild water park, this property is massive even by Orlando standards, and about half the rooms are two-bedroom suites, making it a smart choice for families who need a little more space. The feeling here is relaxed, affordable, and easy with game rooms, a food court, and two resort-style pools. Guests also receive theme park perks like early admission and complimentary transportation to the parks.

A sweet deal for families, this resort is right across the street from the Surfside Inn and Suites and offers similar amenities, including value pricing, plenty of standard rooms, and family suites that sleep up to six.

Opened nearly in tandem with its larger sister property, the Dockside Inn and Suites, the family-friendly sun-and-surf-theme Surfside Inn and Suites is considered a value property. The extra room in the suites is a godsend to those with more than one child. There's a game room and food court, as well as a surfboard-shape pool that attracts kids who, even after a long day in the parks, somehow still have the energy for a pool party. As one of Universal's Loews hotels, another perk is early admission and complimentary transportation to the parks.

This beach-themed resort features standard rooms, two-bedroom family suites that sleep up to six, two pools, and a splash area. Classed as a value lodging by Universal, the resort is not on the main Universal campus, but southeast, across I-4, close to the area where Universal's Epic Universe theme park is slated to open in 2025.