4. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Image: UniversalMad Men reminded people of how great the 1960s were. The Rat Pack’s heyday happened at the turn of that decade, as Frank Sinatra and his friends made Las Vegas seem like the coolest destination for theme park tourists. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is the tribute to these halcyon days of yore, the 1950s and early 1960s.

The theming here is unmistakably 1960s Vegas desert cool. The colors are pastel, and the vibe is stubbornly retro. Opened in 2014, this property aims to make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time more than half a century. It’s an impressive achievement in architectural design, one that would seem right at home at Epcot.

Image: UniversalIn terms of pricing, this hotel is also a great deal. It’s the cheapest official Universal property onsite. In terms of Disney comparisons, it’s like the All-Star Resorts in that the rooms are small, generally around 300 square feet, with family suites only slightly bigger at 430 square feet. That’s not as big as All-Star Resorts, and guests here also lose out on the best feature of a Universal Orlando Resort hotel stay: the Universal Unlimited Express Pass.

The hotel is also always crowded. It holds 1,800 rooms, half of which are family suites. A LOT of people stay here each day. The result of these crowds is that the pools in particular are a mob scene. You may have a vision of Sinatra and Dean Martin lounging poolside near a bevy of beauties, but the reality is that you’ll struggle to find a spot to sit here. Staying at this particular hotel may seem like a celebration of Vegas during the glory days of JFK. In reality, you’re really just picking this hotel for the room savings. This property sounds better in theory than in execution.

Image: Universal3. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Image: UniversalThe line of demarcation between Universal’s best three hotels and the worst ones is right here. The fourth and fifth entries aren’t bad resorts by any stretch. They simply lag behind the original three properties that Universal built in Orlando. The catch is that you’ll pay much more to stay at one of the top three hotels, and that makes the ranking process is tricky. In a vacuum, Universal has done a great job of pricing all five resorts in line with their quality.

Image: UniversalEach of the next three properties includes the best benefit at Universal Orlando Resort. Each member of your party receives a Universal Unlimited Express Pass. With this item, you can walk to the front of the line at most Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure attractions. While some key exclusions exist, you will generally have your run of the parks with these passes. You can feasibly ride every major attraction at Universal in a day thanks to these passes. You can assuredly do so in two days. So, if you’re on the fence about the cost of staying at one of the next three properties, keep in mind that you may offset the expense by reducing the number of days of your trip. You can experience more of the parks in a faster timeframe thanks to the Unlimited Express Pass. It’s a huge benefit.

Image: UniversalUnquestionably the most beautiful of Universal’s Orlando properties, the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel embraces the beauty of Italian waterways. You’ll feel like you’re in Venice, Florida when you stay at this resort. Its ambience is one of classic elegance. Walking the grounds of this property is like traipsing through an Italian village. You’ll find gorgeous touches throughout the facility, including cute boats in the waters by the shore.

Image: UniversalLoews Portofino Bay Hotel is undeniably gorgeous, but it comes at a high price. This is the most expensive of Universal’s properties, with a rack rate $360 per night. Realistically, you’re going to pay more than $400 each night you stay here. For that money, you’re not getting the convenience of a short walk to the theme parks.

Proximity isn’t part of the package, making this Universal’s equivalent to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, only without the convenience of the monorail. You’ll likely use the water taxis at Portofino Bay. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the property to the gate entrance for the parks. That’s not bad by any stretch, and the journey has one of the loveliest backdrops imaginable. It’s just not great for a hotel with such a high nightly rate.