TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

The moment we got into the hotel we were greeted by smiles and helpful staff . We were early so our room was not ready but they helped sort out keys and passes for the park . They asked questions about our day and what we got up to the day before and that was very much appreciated. When we came back our room was ready and we were given a beautiful garden view room and it was gorgeous . The room was clean and the bed was very comfortable so much so we had trouble getting my son up . I will always recommend this hotel as it’s worth every penny from the staff to the passes and the easy walk to universal what more could you want ,

Great location however overpriced for what you get. This hotel needs an urgent upgrade. It should be a 5star for what you pay. The Hard Rock brand is slowly dying.

Amy and Chris were the best bartenders I’ve had at a vacation resort in a long time. Great drinks and great company. Looking forward to going back soon!

Overall, our stay was mixed. The location and included Express Passes are excellent, but several issues meant this wasn’t the experience we expected from a premium Universal hotel. Positives • The location is excellent, with a 5–10 minute walk to Universal Studios or frequent complimentary water taxis to both parks. • The pool area is very good, with plenty of sunbeds available and attentive poolside service. • We used self-parking ($36 plus tax per night), and the bell service was helpful in unloading our luggage before parking, with access to the car park via a set of stairs from reception. • The included Unlimited Express Passes are a fantastic benefit and make visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure much easier. • We also used the laundry room on level 4, which was convenient. It cost approximately $6 per load for both the washer and dryer, with detergent powder also available. Negatives • The fire alarm went off twice during our stay, including once at around 5:00 am, which was very disruptive. • Housekeeping was inconsistent. Some days the room was cleaned in the morning, while on others it wasn’t serviced until late afternoon, making it difficult to return to the room for a break. • An incorrect charge appeared on our bill. Reception removed it straight away, but it shouldn’t have happened. • The most concerning issue occurred at around 10:00 pm, when a shopping delivery that wasn’t ours was placed inside our room while the whole family was asleep. I returned it to reception, but there seemed to be little concern that someone had entered an occupied room late at night, despite the delivery not even being for us. • The shuttle bus to Epic Universe, particularly for Early Park Admission, was poor. Buses were only every 20–30 minutes, stopped at Portofino first, and were often already full by the time they reached Hard Rock. On more than one occasion we had to stand or wait for the next bus. Given that Early Park Admission is a key benefit of staying at a Universal hotel, the transport to Epic simply wasn’t good enough. For the price and reputation of Hard Rock Hotel, we expected a much more consistent experience. The location and Express Passes are outstanding, but the repeated operational issues meant this was an average stay overall rather than the premium experience we had hoped for.

Lived everything about our stay the rooms, pool, bar, breakfast- just fabulous- we will be back. It is a bit tired but let’s face it every great rocker is a bit past their best!