3. Hard Rock Hotel

Image: scmikeburton, Flickr (license)

When you walk through the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, the first thing you’ll think to yourself is, “You know what? This is pretty cool.” That seemed to be the overarching mission of the designers of this hotel: To design a space that is cool, but not overwhelmingly so. Just cool enough to be comfortable, but not so cool as to feel performative.

The building itself looks like a Spanish-style monetary-type construction, with LA vibes and rock and roll flair. The entire building is, obviously, adorned with incredible memorabilia from some of music’s biggest talents. But, the space never feels like a museum or even like a tourist trap — something the chain’s restaurants regularly struggle with. Instead, it feels like how a rich collector’s home might feel — lived in, but fascinating. 

The rooms are hip, but they aren’t tied to any specific genre of rock — rather, a celebration of music in its entirety. That broad enthusiasm extends to the hotel’s party trick: a massive pool that features music playing underneath the water.

The property itself is large, with beautiful areas to escape into. And, its proximity to Universal Studios’ front entrance makes it arguably the most convenient resort at Universal Orlando. On top of that, it offers the Universal Express pass — a perk that, once you have it, is tough to imagine life without.

But still, the hotel is good but not great. The attempts to keep the resort’s focus broad — on music, more generally, rather than any one era or genre — keeps it from being truly great. It’s still a wonderful resort, but it’s not quite the best. 

2. Portofino Bay Hotel

Image: fpra, Flickr (license)

Opened in September of 1999, Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel is the single most beautiful architectural wonder on Universal property. Its rooms are among the most well-appointed and gorgeous you can find in Central Florida. It boasts three table-service restaurants, a bakery, multiple pools, a spa, and even live classical music.

Its showpiece is a replica of an Italian bay village — Portofino Bay — with real guest rooms overlooking the ferry boats sailing into harbor. It is, in a word, stunning.

Universal is extremely proud of the Portofino Bay Hotel. They refer to it as their flagship resort, and they ensure that it receives the best amenities: including those complimentary Universal Express passes. It is the epitome of luxury on Universal Orlando property, and if you’re looking for the finest, most elegant, most exquisite resort to stay at, you should pick the Portofino Bay Hotel.

So, then, why is it only No. 2 on this list? Well, because it’s just so darn expensive.

Universal advertises its standard rooms as starting at roughly $270 per night — but usually, it’s far more than that. Yes, you’re getting incredible luxury at that price. And, yes, compared to Disney’s Deluxe resorts, that’s basically a steal. But, the fact of the matter is, you can get nearly the same level of care and attention at most of Universal’s resorts. And some offer such unique takes on the hotel experience that they make the extra cost of the Portofino Bay Hotel seem silly.

If you want the best of luxury, you should pick the Portofino Bay Hotel without question. If you want the best hotel overall, well, that’s up for debate.

1. Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Image: aloha75, Flickr (license)

Yep. That’s right. For less than half the price of a night at the Portofino Bay Hotel, you can stay at Universal Orlando’s best resort hotel: Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

Themed to the beachside motels of mid-century America, this hotel — which opened in 2014 — was Universal’s announcement to the theme park world that it wasn’t messing around anymore. The rooms are chic and classy, looking like the halfway point between Mad Men sophistication and the silly aesthetic you can find at Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ 50s Prime Time Cafe. The lobby is massive and bold, evoking the googie architecture of the late 1950s and early 1960s — even featuring classic cars positioned outside for perfect photo ops.

And, despite costing less than most Disney Moderate resorts, Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers amenities that Disney couldn’t possibly conceive of: a massive pool with a lazy river and water slide, and even a fully-functional bowling alley. The food is solid, and the multitude of bars on offer serve both fun vacation-y drinks and more period-appropriate libations.

In all, a stay at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort isn’t just a vacation. It’s a trip to the idealized version of what a vacation should be. When we picture a vacation in our minds — with sun, fun, music, food, and all sorts of laughs and stories — we picture resorts like Cabana Bay. Everything that has come since at Universal, from hotels like Sapphire Falls and Endless Summer to even the Volcano Bay water park and the recently-announced Epic Universe theme park, owes a debt of gratitude to the design greatness of Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

Check it out: Both you, and you wallet, will be glad you did.