If you’re checking out this guide, I can only say that you’re a very lucky person. Not only can you explore some of the best theme parks in Universal Orlando, like Islands of Adventure, but you’re also planning to do it in style. You want the best hotels, restaurants, and ticket options when it’s finally time to ride the VelociCoaster, hop on Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, and explore Universal CityWalk.
Sit back, grab your favorite drink, and follow us as we explore the best options for a luxurious trip to Universal. Much like Disney, Universal offers top-tier hotels, rooms, and dining experiences that are perfect for those looking to take their Florida vacation to the next level.
Let's go over some great tips for a luxury trip to Universal, including a (very) quick overview of what should be your top choices for hotels, restaurants, and ticket options.
Overview
- The hotel you should pick: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
- The restaurants you should try: Bigfire (Universal Citywalk), The Palm (Hard Rock Hotel)
- Tickets and special add-ons: At least a regular 3-day ticket per person, two 1-Day Ticket for Epic Universe and VIP tours for each theme park.
Hotels & Rooms
If you have a luxury trip to Universal Orlando in mind, there are only three hotels you should consider: the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Each one is considered a Premier resort, is within walking distance of Universal CityWalk (as well as Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), and, most importantly, includes a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass. That alone makes your day at the parks so much easier by saving you a ton of time.
Choose the Hard Rock Hotel if you love a rock ’n’ roll vibe and want to be just five minutes from the theme parks. Go with Royal Pacific if you're after a cozy, tropical atmosphere, and pick Portofino Bay if you’re looking for a great pool and spacious, luxurious rooms. Our top overall pick is Portofino Bay, with Hard Rock close behind, followed by Royal Pacific.
Loews Portofino Bay Resort
- Recommended Room: Club Level Rooms (5 guests)
Portofino Bay is a fantastic choice for a romantic getaway or if you just want to escape the chaos of the theme parks for a while. The funny thing is, Universal CityWalk is only about 13 minutes away, and you can hop on a boat to get to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, but the hotel feels like a portal to another world. It looks stunning, features one of the best pools on the property, and the theming is top-notch. You won’t be disappointed.
Be sure to book a Club Level room, which starts at about $1,100 per night. Club Level comes with some great perks, including access to a private lounge, continental breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, and personal concierge service.
Hard Rock Hotel
- Recommended Room: Club Level 1 King Bed (4 Guests)
Hard Rock Hotel has a lot of awesome perks and very few downsides. The best part? It’s the closest hotel to Universal CityWalk. Seriously, you can get there in about five minutes, and nothing beats that short walk. The hotel also features The Palm, one of the best restaurants in Universal Orlando, and an overall aesthetic that’s perfect for fans of Van Halen, KISS, and classic '80s rock. Oh, and the swimming pool is incredible… you can even hear rock ’n’ roll music underwater!
The only drawback is that the layout is a bit more complex, and the theming isn’t quite as luxurious as Portofino Bay or Royal Pacific. Still, this is an amazing choice for anyone who wants a top-tier location and a seriously fun pool. The Club Level room at Hard Rock Hotel starts at around $800 per night.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
- Recommended Room: Royal Club Level 1 King Bed (4 Guests)
Royal Pacific is similar to Portofino in that both are focused on luxury, offering great pools and solid dining options. The general consensus is that Portofino is more laid-back and relaxing, while Royal Pacific is closer to the theme parks, which is a big plus. If your priority is staying close to the parks while still enjoying a relaxing atmosphere, go with Royal Pacific. But if you’re all about the full resort experience, Portofino Bay is the better pick.
Royal Pacific also has some great rooms, including massive presidential suites that can accommodate up to 10 guests! The room we mentioned above includes Club Level access and costs around $1,200 per night.
Dining Options
I’m going to say something that might be a bit surprising or disappointing to some: Universal isn’t known for having top tier restaurants.
Sure, you can find some great options at Universal CityWalk like Antojitos and Margaritaville, but I wouldn’t call them “absolutely amazing GOAT 10/10”. They aren’t bad, no, but it’s difficult to find a truly outstanding option at Universal Orlando, and that’s an even harder job inside Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios.
With that said, let’s go with our top picks.
Big Fire
Located in Universal CityWalk, Bigfire feels like an upscale LongHorn and is known for serving what many consider the best steaks on property, along with some seriously good crispy potatoes. The menu features high-quality T-bones and filet mignon, making it a must-visit for steak lovers. Bigfire also has a great atmosphere for a romantic night out, so be sure to make a reservation in advance and try to grab a table near the fire pits.
The Palm
Wait, another steakhouse? Yes. Great food, amazing drinks and top tier ribs. The difference is that you are eating at the Hard Rock Hotel instead of Universal Citywalk, and they also have seafood (including giant lobster claws).
More Dining Options at Universal Orlando
Here are some other excellent dining options at Universal Orlando:
- Finnegan’s Bar & Grill (Universal Studios, great for drinks)
- Central Park Crepes (Universal Studios, some of the best crepes in Orlando)
- The Three Broomsticks (Islands of Adventure, for the Harry Potter fans)
- Mythos (Islands of Adventure, a little bit of everything)
- Antojitos (Universal CityWalk, Mexican)
- The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar (Universal CityWalk, Sushi & burgers)
Tickets & Special Addons
Let’s get one thing out of the way: you’ll need at least two full days at Islands of Adventure, two full days at Epic Universe, and one full day at Universal Studios.
As of this writing, Epic Universe tickets are only available as single-day passes or as part of combo packages that include access to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. To enjoy Epic Universe to the fullest, you're better off purchasing two single-day tickets. For Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, a three-day ticket should do the trick.
Universal Express Pass
Keep in mind that staying at a Universal Premier Resort includes a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass, but this pass only works for Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Epic Universe has its own Express Pass, which is currently only available as a standalone purchase. Prices vary by date, typically ranging from $130 to $260.
One more thing to note: the Epic Universe Express Pass is the standard version, not Unlimited. That means you can use it once per participating ride, not multiple times.
VIP Tour
VIP tours are guided tours across Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios or Epic Universe. VIP Tours do not include the base ticket price, and are considered addons. A Vip Tour to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure starts at $259.99 per guest, while for Epic Universe it starts at $419.99. The VIP tour gives you:
- Choice of 4 hour one-park tour or 7 hour two-park tour
- Priority entrance at select attractions
- VIP Priority access to rides & attractions during the tour
- Valet parking for one vehicle
I imagine the VIP Tour will be very valuable for a park like Epic Universe, since we expect heavy crowds and long lines there for the foreseeable future. For a theme park like Universal, you can arrive early and, depending on the day of the week, you might even have a better time exploring the park on your own than by sticking to a VIP Tour.
