2. Loews Royal Pacific Resort

Image: UniversalDo you like Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? Of course! Every sane person does. And that’s why Universal basically stole the concept to create their own version in 2002. More than 15 years later, Loews Royal Pacific Resort maintains its status as a breathtaking tropical paradise that combines the feel of an island getaway with the convenience of a theme park location.

Image: UniversalA recent winner of the AAA 4-Diamond award-winning hotel, the Royal Pacific is one of the most idyllic settings in all of Orlando. When you stay here, the stress of a day at the theme park will wash away in a sea of boat drinks and soothing waterfalls. The Polynesian is my favorite resort at Walt Disney World, which explains why I love Royal Pacific so much. The theme is identical, and while I prefer Disney’s version (mmm, that hotel smell), Universal’s derivative version is a reasonable facsimile.

Image: UniversalThe other great thing about the Royal Pacific is its price value. Yes, it costs $320+ per night, but that’s right in line with top theme park hotels in Orlando. The hotel also offers the Universal Unlimited Express Pass. It’s the cheapest Universal resort to offer this incentive, which legitimately has a value of $100 per day. In terms of what you get for your money, Royal Pacific is hard to beat. But something still does…

Image: Universal

1. Hard Rock Hotel

Image: UniversalThe closest hotel to Universal Studios is also the best one.

The legendary Hard Rock Hotel sits right beside the park gates, a short walk of a few minutes away from the hotel’s pool area. The property even has a few convenient exits that can shorten the distance for people who either don’t want to walk or don’t find it comfortable to do so. It also has a third party rickshaw service that will carry your party to the front gates for a small fee, assuming you don’t mind the oddity of the trip. How many places have you ever seen a working rickshaw service? That aspect alone might be enough to tip the scale on your making the journey.

Image: UniversalOf course, you’ll also receive a Universal Unlimited Express pass, giving you access to the front of the lien at every participating ride at both Universal theme parks. You will also hobnob with the rich and famous at the hotel, especially at its massive, luxurious pool.

Hard Rock Hotel cares so much about music that this aquatic center features speakers in the pool. Even when you’re submerged, you can hear all the hard rock tunes pumping through the property. The same is true of the walls of the hotel, making this property something of an exercise in how to think in a constantly noisy place. Still, the pool speakers offer an additional benefit. When the hotel plays movies at night, you can hear what’s going on while you swim, a creative solution that will keep your kids entertained.

Image: UniversalThe Hard Rock Hotel chain is a famous brand with a high level of respect. The combination of that brand and a location right beside the gates at Universal makes this hotel the clear cut choice as the best place to stay during your visit…assuming you can afford it. The Hard Rock Hotel comes with a bit of sticker shock. You’ll pay right at $400 a night most of the time here. Yes, you can find deals, especially if you play your trip far in advance, but you should accept that you’re going to pay a pretty penny to stay here. Still, the Hard Rock Hotel is worth the money as the anchor portion of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Universal Studios. The property has the same cachet as the monorail properties at Walt Disney World plus the cool factor of the Hard Rock brand. Simply stated, it’s the place to stay when you visit Universal Orlando Resort.

Image: Universal