TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Wow! We’ve just got back from a 2.5 week trip to Orlando staying at Aventura (our third time at a Universal hotel having previously stayed at Surfside) and we will definitely be returning. Firstly, the location for the price point is excellent. Using a dedicated path through the Sapphire Falls hotel, you are 15-20 minute walk from City Walk which is ideal for early park entry, walks back after dinner or just skipping out on waiting for transportation. There are frequent buses to Epic Universe and City Walk but the location of this hotel means you can also take advantage of the boat across to City Walk from Sapphire Falls. You also have a dedicated path to Volcano Bay which is a huge pro for us, which is also within 10 minutes walking distance. The atmosphere of the hotel is great and leans towards a more adult vibe. There is a rooftop bar which overlooks Orlando, and you can also watch the Disney fireworks. The drinks are lovely, staff are friendly and helpful and the Asian food is amazing. It was also safe for my Coeliac partner and wait staff and chefs were knowledgeable about this - 99% of the menu was gluten free anyway. There is a restaurant in the lobby called Urban Pantry. This was all around pretty good. My main criticism is that, unlike Surfside, this was not very accommodating of my partner’s allergies. This is quite unusual for Universal in our experience - my partner ordered fries which he was assured were gluten free but he did unfortunately get sick. This does align with other reviews we’ve seen in this regard. I’ve seen other reviews about the theming of this hotel not being as strong. I don’t think that’s a fair assessment (not that theming particularly bothers us anyway) - it has a futuristic and sleek vibe. Having said that, we did walk across to the Cabana Bay resort whose 50s theming was incredible but this definitely felt a lot busier and more chaotic than Aventura. Rooms were clean, spacious and cool. We had no problems with the in room tablet which controls lighting, TV and aircon. Views over the park and Orlando were stunning - a special thanks to the reception team for upgrading us so that we and our family could all be on the same floor. Cleaning in the rooms is every other day - this is fine although if you have a lazy morning in your room, you do miss the cleaning which means it can take 3-4 days between cleans. Pool was great - never felt too crowded and was immaculately clean. Plenty of sun beds and a hot tub on the lower level. All in all, we absolutely loved our stay here and cannot fault it for what we paid. We’ve only given it 4 stars as it’s not a “luxury” hotel but we will absolutely be returning.

Average/good hotel Few areas need attention in room. Like corners need cleaning and limescale around shower etc. The lobby areas need a good Hoover especially in corners and by doors. Servers at restaurant are very welcoming and helpful. Food not too bad with cups for water if needed. Starbucks seem to make up their own prices though and like to fill your cup to the max with ice. So if you want an iced latte say go easy on the ice! Hotel great location to volcano bay. And you can take the hotel towels which is a bonus. Restaurant area clean and well maintained. Breakfast pasty around $5 Beds comfortable but room cold even with no air con on so bring a blanket! Overall a pretty nice hotel

Stayed here for 3 nights while we visited Universal parks nd we had a really nice time. It’s a very modern and minimalist appearance. It was very clean and well maintained throughout. The hotel is directly next to Sapphire Falls so it was easier to get to City Walk by walking there and getting the water taxi. There is also a bus service from the hotel to Epic Universe and to Citywalk. We didn’t have to wait longer than ten minutes for a bus. There is a walkway directly to Volcano Bay at the back of the hotel that takes no longer than five minutes. Staff were really friendly and helpful throughout our stay. We arrived a few hours early but the front desk let us check-in early. The room had a brilliant view of the parks. It had high ceilings, was very clean and had lots of space. Only issue with the room was the beds were uncomfortable. We didn’t have time to use the pool here but it looked nice. We used the main dining area in the mornings which was good and the staff were friendly. Great stay and would stay here again.

Prior to this review, I have emailed Lowes Hotels to attempt to resolve my complaint. I have had no reply to address the particular concerns to date. I have attempted to call, and use the online chat. Again, no success. I am adding this review as my concern is still very valid but this in no way reflects my thoughts on OTHER Universal properties or staff members in general. Other than this one incident in Aventura our family have experienced outstanding service since 1995 from Universal staff in theme parks and hotels. I sent my complaint regarding an appalling experience my family and I encountered on the final night of my son’s recent holiday in Orlando at Bar 17 Bistro, the roof top bar within Universal’s Aventura Hotel. As a loyal, multi-year return guest to Universal Resorts Florida from the UK, I was shocked by the hostile, confusing service towards my son and my elderly disabled parents. On this trip, our party of 14 stayed across Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls, most of us for 2 weeks and my eldest son who visited Orlando for 9 nights. The evening was meant to be a special milestone for my eldest son and a treat to me from him for my birthday. This is the first year he is able to purchase an alcoholic drink in the USA as he is now 21 years of age. After many years of travelling to Universal, we have reached many fun milestones together as a family at Universal, this was planned to be another. My son attempted to purchase a drink at the bar and was asked to take a seat and would be table served. We were a large party. We did this however he noticed other people getting served at the bar, quicker, so he returned to the bar. He asked for a glass of Prosecco for me as my birthday treat from him as a milestone he could now achieve being 21 and legal, using his valid UK Driver’s Licence—a form of identification that had been seamlessly and legally accepted across Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, and the Universal theme parks throughout his 9-day stay as ID. Literally he used it half hour previously in the bar in Sapphire Falls! The barmaid, Jemma/Gemma (I believe this was her name) refused service, claiming that "Florida federal law" required both a driver's licence and a passport. When I overheard and intervened to ask if this was simply a strict Aventura policy (which we would have respected 100%), she aggressively said no. I asked for management to confirm. Samantha Schwab was duty manager and explicitly stated that every single Universal establishment and staff member who had served my son over the past 9 days had done so illegally. She doubled down on this statement, proudly claiming she was "doing it the right way" while accusing her own (many) colleagues across Universal properties of breaking the law. I asked if she could provide a written statement of this as upto now he had been served without issue, and without rude attitude and at this point she disappeared. I assumed to get my written document to back up her claims. While Samantha disappeared for a prolonged period to look for an assumed policy document, my family—including my elderly disabled parents who rely on walking canes—waited in the seating area. During this time, two floor staff members deliberately and loudly scraped heavy furniture directly next to us. The noise was agonizing. Despite our direct requests for them to stop while guests were seated elsewhere, the staff completely ignored us, forcing my disabled parents to painfully and hurriedly relocate to the lift so we could leave. Not an easy task when disabled. The remainder of the party had to also leave. We headed down to the front desk and I asked a helpful girl if she knew where Samantha could be. She said the other night manager on reception may know and asked Madison Mariano to join us. She confirmed Samatha was in the office behind reception. At this point Samantha finally emerged (about 25 minutes after disappearing) with the leaflet (attached) and Samantha and Madison reiterated the claim that all other Universal staff had served my son illegally and stated she would "take the issue to the leadership team." When I asked how throwing her colleagues under the bus solved the fact that my son’s final night of holiday and my birthday celebration were ruined, she had no answer or interest. I asked Samantha to please provide written confirmation of the claims she made against ALL other Universal staff which she wrote on the back of the leaflet she had gave me (attached) and she signed her name to it. As Complex Management, I asked them to directly address the issues and clarify whether Universal officially considers a valid UK Driver’s Licence legal for alcohol purchases, or has my son being served mutual times illegally as stated by Gemma, Samantha and Madison? Also whether the executive team condones frontline staff explicitly and loudly accusing hundreds of other Universal employees of illegal operations. In addition I asked explain why Aventura floor staff are permitted to intentionally disrupt and ignore the physical comfort of elderly, disabled guests. This was horrendous. Views are beautiful, staff are unprofessional, the bar seating area is dirty and not kept to expected standard. Treatment of elderly, disabled customers is disgraceful.

We stayed in a corner room on the 12th floor for a two-night stay in late August. There are certainly appealing aspects to the Loews Aventura. We have stayed at 3 other Loews Hotels in the Universal Orlando Area, so felt we needed to experience a different resort. As with all Uniersal Orlando Hotels, the location is excellent, being close to Universal Studios with a complimentary bus to the parks, alongside easy access to the airport. The property offers a wide range of amenities. The foyer and eating areas are spacious, and the pool area is clean and pleasant. The room itself provided a safe, good Wi-Fi, and a spacious shower and sink area, while the high vantage point offered great views. For food and drink, the quick-serve options, Starbucks, and the on-site shop are highly convenient, although not cheap. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, pizza, sushi, noodle bowls, fruit and have a warming station, and 2 Soda dispensers, which are worth paying for if staying longer than 2 nights. The gym is adequately equipped for a short stay, and the 17th floor bar provides a good drinks menu to accompany the excellent views. Unfortunately, the negative aspects of our stay were significant. The overall atmosphere of the hotel feels too cold and minimalist. This isn't an issue if you aren't too fussed about theming. The room lighting is poor due to the lack of a central pendant light. The room technology was frustrating; the provided smart iPad failed to control the lights or air conditioning half the time. The smart elevators are equally inefficient. Despite having six elevators, they take an inordinate amount of time to arrive, resulting in a ten-minute wait just to travel from the second floor to the ground floor, with no easily accessible stairwells. Furthermore, despite being on the 12th floor with double glazing, the room suffered from severe noise intrusion from the road outside, sounding as though a window was left open. The most alarming issues were related to cleanliness and staff's lack of concern. Upon check-in, we found hairs scattered in the bedding and a sticky brown spill at the bottom of the fridge. We reported this to reception, who promised housekeeping would address it. Returning later, we found the bed remade but containing a new set of hairs, the fridge still uncleaned, bins left full, and towels not replaced. Finally, attempting to check out early in the morning revealed a complete lack of staff presence at reception. With the no room iPad function to check our, we had to leave the hotel through a completely unattended front entrance. This lack of security is highly concerning, especially given a police incident outside the hotel the previous evening.