Every time we go, this is where we stay. The smart tv is a necessity for us. I wish they had them in all the hotels. I wish the beds were more comfortable, however.
Oh that’s for sure. The skyline view rooms are great! Especially looking over at Volcano Bay! Totally agree with the idea of a quick getaway when you’re spending most your day in the parks!
We have stayed at a lot of Universal hotels and find ourselves finding strikes against each. Endless Summer - paper thin walls and so difficult to sleep plus unreliable elevators (we saw people being rescued from a stuck elevator more than once). Cabana Bay - so fun but massive and the showers are really weak. Sapphire Falls - we love this place, but also massive and Dutch Trading Co. is poorly designed - way too tight to navigate and easily feels packed. Also, not enough food options during the day. Royal Pacific - feels too dark for us and the food is hit or miss. Hard Rock - love it here only real strike is how pricey it is. Portofino Bay - massive, confusing layout to get the hang of, and beds are way too soft. So when we booked Aventura we didn't expect much but we wound up with so many pluses and loved it! It is so sleek and convenient. All the rooms are arranged so you never have a far walk from the elevator. The bus is right outside the door and has the closest drop off at Citywalk's resort bus drop-off and pick-up area - practically right at the escalator. It never feels packed anywhere but also doesn't feel empty. The food in Urban Pantry is really good. And, the best part - the VIEWS!!! Floor to ceiling windows with incredible views for miles. Also, you have a 30-second walk right into Volcano Bay security. Sure, the pool is basic but the kids still love it because they just want to swim and they have a screen that comes down at night for movies and the kids love a pool movie. Not to mention, Sapphire Falls is your sister resort. Not even across the street - it's in the same driveway as Aventura and has a simple walkway to get there. So, you can use the water taxi and, if you want a water slide, you have one there. As for the bars - most Universal hotels have a lobby bar and a pool bar, so that didn't make it feel overly boozy to us. Highly recommend Aventura for convenience, vibes and views!
That's true! There are a lot of tradeoffs for each of the hotels! We are glad Aventura works great for you and your family! Being at Universal is always better than not being at Universal!
I really like the higher production quality y’all have adopted in recent videos - good editing, music, and stylistic choices 👍 Our fam LOVES Aventura though, mainly because it has by far the best accommodation for 5 teen/adults at a reasonable price
Thank you very much! We like that you appreciate it! If it works for your family that's great! Being at Universal is the important part! We would stay at Aventura every time as long as it meant being at Universal!
Aventura has become our go to Resort; especially for OI Meet-Ups. We agree that it has more of an adult vibe and has some fun amenities (iPad and robot). We haven't done the rooftop bar yet, but we have enjoyed some food and Starbucks. We agree that it is not as luxurious (doesn't have that destination vacation feel). For meet-up weekends, we just need/want a co.fy place to sleep, shower, and get ready for time in the parks. Having access to the Sapphire Falls water taxi after a long night in the parks is awesome! Other pros for us are:1) It's 1 building with an attached parking garage, so it makes it much easier to get to your room and to all the amenities. 2) The views! We always prefer a higher floor, and we've had some pretty great views during our stays. 3) it's one of the quieter places to stay. 4) Proximity to 3 other Resorts where you can enjoy their amenities (Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, and Royal Pacific). 😊🎉
Location is the best, a short walk to the boat, strong water, amatista and cabana bay hhn extras. With the plus side of being more adult oriented for those of us who prefer a less kid/family oriented hotel. The room are simple and clean. I would recommend for people who want a great location, great price point, and only want a hotel as a landing space and not the main attraction.
Appreciate this review. I will be staying at Aventura for the first time the Saturday of the first November meetup this year after two nights at Royal Pacific. I usually go with reasonably priced places. As long as the room is nice, clean and beds are comfy, I'll be golden. I also prefer quick grab food compared to sit down style when at a hotel.
You will certainly enjoy Aventura then! You'll have to let us know what you think! We also appreciate you are already planning for the November meetup!
good review. i actually like Adventura more than i liked Portifino Bay. PB rooms were bigger, huge bathrooms, nice views and restarants and if a group doing the express pass with keys is great but otherwise i felt was not all that awesome, i know its getting renovated etc as hallways seemed very dated/worn when i was there 3 years ago. For the amount staying at the resort was worth it for ME. IF you hang out at the hotel resort a lot, (im in the parks most of the time) or a larger group to take advantage of the express pass/key then sure would make more sense. that said, to each their own. GOing to try out the Hard Rock and Royal Pacific to compare, but so far Adventura has been my go to. The proximity to Sapphire falls is great as basically 2 resorts in one stay. Keep up the fair videos!
We are glad you enjoyed it! We completely get that! We will never 'yuk' someone's 'yum' lol, especially if it means saving money at Universal! Have you stayed at Hard Rock before?
We've stayed at Hard Rocm and Royal Pacific, and they both have their pros and cons. If you want more resort time with maybe a pool, then both are great options. We spend the majority of our visits in the parks so Aventura is perfect for us.
Stayed here last year during labour day long weekend, never found an issue to get seating in the dining area of the hotel. I think it's pretty good value for what you get out of the hotel, but we did stay there as childless adults. Next time though may consider a more kid friendly one :) also we just used the shuttles to go to the park which came every 5-10 mins, never had to wait that long, not sure why anyone has to walk there. Taking the water taxis just get you past the stupid long security lines.
@@fudge_factor the room was pretty good along with how technology based the room controls are. Though I’d hate to see my parents try and work through it lol. Would be interested to see what the other hotel pools are like as this one was good only cause it was quiet. Where is the secret entrance to get the water taxi? I wasn’t quite clear on that one, thanks.
Oooo the other hotels have some great pools! The best part is if you want to try them you can pool hop! The secret is to just go to sapphire falls water taxi! You’ll have to walk through sapphire falls to get there, but it’s an easy walk and you get to see what sapphire falls has to offer! That line can get long though!
Never having stayed at either, I think I'd choose Aventura over Cabana Bay. I'm in my hotel to relax. I don't use most amenities in a hotel other than restaurants. When at Universal, my restaurant going is usually done in the park, or on City Walk. To me, this looks more relaxing than Cabana Bay. I feel like CB is just a bustle of activity all the time. Hotel time is chill time..imho
That's a fair assessment! Especially if you don't plan on eating at the hotel! Cabana Bay is definitely more for families and kids! That is definitely true!
I might be in the minority, but I actually enjoy staying at Aventura. Stayed there during the December OI event and have it booked for the June OI. I love the theming of the other resorts, but I don't mind the minimalist theme, and the fact that I don't have to walk an eternity to my room after a long day at the park is a huge selling point. If I want theming on top of a nice sit down restaurant, I'll head to Sapphire Falls. Love your vids❤
Thank you so much for your support! It really does mean the world to us! We totally get that sentiment! People have different tastes and that’s what makes Universal amazing! It has something for everyone! Are you excited for the June meetup??
Thanks for the review, I was definitely curious how it compared to Cabana Bay. Where are you guys staying this week? Excited to see your new videos after this trip.
I understand you saying you thought you would love Aventura. We thought we would love royal pacific but ended up preferring Hard Rock over it. We had Aventura booked for the June Orlando Informer but decided to upgrade to Portofino Bay with the Informer discount.
We love hearing which other people prefer and why! People prefer what they prefer and that is great! Universal has tons of great options for everyone! The informer discounts were insane weren't they?!
@@fudge_factorThe discounts were insane. The preference with Hard Rock came down to the food and the freestyle cups from the park also worked in Emack & Bolio's but not at Tuk Tuk. Sometimes it comes down to the small things.
My name is Craig Dennis i watch your both new videos all the time and i in joy all of your both videos all the time and you both have a great day👍👍👍👍👍👍
Since Bar 17 is Aventura's best-known amenity, it's a bit odd to dismiss it with an offhand, "Bar 17 wasn't open." WHY wasn't it open? And do you think the hotel as a whole suffered in your evaluation because you weren't able to experience this feature? That aside, Aventura's biggest drawback is that it has no theming. It's a tech-forward hotel that's themed as a tech-forward hotel. Seems a bit lazy on the part of Universal.
That’s a fair criticism! It was pretty windy and a bit chilly that day. We have heard it delaying service due to weather. Do we think it skewed our evaluation? No. We enjoyed the room, but the theming, like you said, is a bit lacking. We aren’t into the bar scene as much, so we think that is more a determining factor than bar17 itself. Great comment!
What are your thoughts on Aventura? Do you agree? or disagree?
Aventura is my go to Hotel whenever I travel solo…which is pretty much every time I hit up Universal😅
If your planning to go to volcano bay you have a private direct path to it through the pool area out the back gate.
Every time we go, this is where we stay. The smart tv is a necessity for us. I wish they had them in all the hotels. I wish the beds were more comfortable, however.
Aventura is definitely great for the quick weekend getaway or solo traveler. But you have to admit the views from the Skyline rooms are awesome
Oh that’s for sure. The skyline view rooms are great! Especially looking over at Volcano Bay! Totally agree with the idea of a quick getaway when you’re spending most your day in the parks!
We have stayed at a lot of Universal hotels and find ourselves finding strikes against each. Endless Summer - paper thin walls and so difficult to sleep plus unreliable elevators (we saw people being rescued from a stuck elevator more than once). Cabana Bay - so fun but massive and the showers are really weak. Sapphire Falls - we love this place, but also massive and Dutch Trading Co. is poorly designed - way too tight to navigate and easily feels packed. Also, not enough food options during the day. Royal Pacific - feels too dark for us and the food is hit or miss. Hard Rock - love it here only real strike is how pricey it is. Portofino Bay - massive, confusing layout to get the hang of, and beds are way too soft. So when we booked Aventura we didn't expect much but we wound up with so many pluses and loved it! It is so sleek and convenient. All the rooms are arranged so you never have a far walk from the elevator. The bus is right outside the door and has the closest drop off at Citywalk's resort bus drop-off and pick-up area - practically right at the escalator. It never feels packed anywhere but also doesn't feel empty. The food in Urban Pantry is really good. And, the best part - the VIEWS!!! Floor to ceiling windows with incredible views for miles. Also, you have a 30-second walk right into Volcano Bay security. Sure, the pool is basic but the kids still love it because they just want to swim and they have a screen that comes down at night for movies and the kids love a pool movie. Not to mention, Sapphire Falls is your sister resort. Not even across the street - it's in the same driveway as Aventura and has a simple walkway to get there. So, you can use the water taxi and, if you want a water slide, you have one there. As for the bars - most Universal hotels have a lobby bar and a pool bar, so that didn't make it feel overly boozy to us. Highly recommend Aventura for convenience, vibes and views!
That's true! There are a lot of tradeoffs for each of the hotels! We are glad Aventura works great for you and your family! Being at Universal is always better than not being at Universal!
I really like the higher production quality y’all have adopted in recent videos - good editing, music, and stylistic choices 👍 Our fam LOVES Aventura though, mainly because it has by far the best accommodation for 5 teen/adults at a reasonable price
Thank you very much! We like that you appreciate it! If it works for your family that's great! Being at Universal is the important part! We would stay at Aventura every time as long as it meant being at Universal!
Aventura has become our go to Resort; especially for OI Meet-Ups. We agree that it has more of an adult vibe and has some fun amenities (iPad and robot). We haven't done the rooftop bar yet, but we have enjoyed some food and Starbucks. We agree that it is not as luxurious (doesn't have that destination vacation feel). For meet-up weekends, we just need/want a co.fy place to sleep, shower, and get ready for time in the parks. Having access to the Sapphire Falls water taxi after a long night in the parks is awesome! Other pros for us are:1) It's 1 building with an attached parking garage, so it makes it much easier to get to your room and to all the amenities. 2) The views! We always prefer a higher floor, and we've had some pretty great views during our stays. 3) it's one of the quieter places to stay.
4) Proximity to 3 other Resorts where you can enjoy their amenities (Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, and Royal Pacific).
😊🎉
All true statements! Especially if you just need a place to sleep! The views are amazing for sure when you have a high floor or the skyline view
Location is the best, a short walk to the boat, strong water, amatista and cabana bay hhn extras. With the plus side of being more adult oriented for those of us who prefer a less kid/family oriented hotel. The room are simple and clean. I would recommend for people who want a great location, great price point, and only want a hotel as a landing space and not the main attraction.
That is very eloquently put!
Appreciate this review. I will be staying at Aventura for the first time the Saturday of the first November meetup this year after two nights at Royal Pacific.
I usually go with reasonably priced places. As long as the room is nice, clean and beds are comfy, I'll be golden. I also prefer quick grab food compared to sit down style when at a hotel.
You will certainly enjoy Aventura then! You'll have to let us know what you think! We also appreciate you are already planning for the November meetup!
good review. i actually like Adventura more than i liked Portifino Bay. PB rooms were bigger, huge bathrooms, nice views and restarants and if a group doing the express pass with keys is great but otherwise i felt was not all that awesome, i know its getting renovated etc as hallways seemed very dated/worn when i was there 3 years ago. For the amount staying at the resort was worth it for ME. IF you hang out at the hotel resort a lot, (im in the parks most of the time) or a larger group to take advantage of the express pass/key then sure would make more sense. that said, to each their own. GOing to try out the Hard Rock and Royal Pacific to compare, but so far Adventura has been my go to. The proximity to Sapphire falls is great as basically 2 resorts in one stay. Keep up the fair videos!
We are glad you enjoyed it! We completely get that! We will never 'yuk' someone's 'yum' lol, especially if it means saving money at Universal! Have you stayed at Hard Rock before?
@@fudge_factor not yet but plan to try it in fall OI
That’s a solid choice to try and get it at a great price!
We've stayed at Hard Rocm and Royal Pacific, and they both have their pros and cons. If you want more resort time with maybe a pool, then both are great options. We spend the majority of our visits in the parks so Aventura is perfect for us.
It’s all a trade off and what works for your family and needs!
Definitely a great resort for a quick trip like the Orlando Informer.
Love your Slytherin sweatshirt!
It is! Especially when spending most your day in the park!
Stayed here last year during labour day long weekend, never found an issue to get seating in the dining area of the hotel. I think it's pretty good value for what you get out of the hotel, but we did stay there as childless adults. Next time though may consider a more kid friendly one :) also we just used the shuttles to go to the park which came every 5-10 mins, never had to wait that long, not sure why anyone has to walk there. Taking the water taxis just get you past the stupid long security lines.
That’s awesome to hear your experience! We will give it another go for sure in the future! What was your favorite part about the hotel?
@@fudge_factor the room was pretty good along with how technology based the room controls are. Though I’d hate to see my parents try and work through it lol. Would be interested to see what the other hotel pools are like as this one was good only cause it was quiet. Where is the secret entrance to get the water taxi? I wasn’t quite clear on that one, thanks.
Oooo the other hotels have some great pools! The best part is if you want to try them you can pool hop!
The secret is to just go to sapphire falls water taxi! You’ll have to walk through sapphire falls to get there, but it’s an easy walk and you get to see what sapphire falls has to offer! That line can get long though!
Never having stayed at either, I think I'd choose Aventura over Cabana Bay. I'm in my hotel to relax. I don't use most amenities in a hotel other than restaurants. When at Universal, my restaurant going is usually done in the park, or on City Walk. To me, this looks more relaxing than Cabana Bay. I feel like CB is just a bustle of activity all the time. Hotel time is chill time..imho
That's a fair assessment! Especially if you don't plan on eating at the hotel! Cabana Bay is definitely more for families and kids! That is definitely true!
@fudge_factor ...and if I want to eat at Portofino Bay or someplace nice, I can still do that. Basically, I'm more of a grab n go type person though.
Exactly! Sometimes treating yourself to a night out is wonderful!
The last time we stayed at sapphire falls the line for the taxi was so long we walked to royal pacific and used theirs
Sapphire falls water taxi fills up quick! Especially at the end of the night coming back from CityWalk!
I might be in the minority, but I actually enjoy staying at Aventura. Stayed there during the December OI event and have it booked for the June OI. I love the theming of the other resorts, but I don't mind the minimalist theme, and the fact that I don't have to walk an eternity to my room after a long day at the park is a huge selling point. If I want theming on top of a nice sit down restaurant, I'll head to Sapphire Falls. Love your vids❤
Thank you so much for your support! It really does mean the world to us!
We totally get that sentiment! People have different tastes and that’s what makes Universal amazing! It has something for everyone! Are you excited for the June meetup??
Thanks for the review, I was definitely curious how it compared to Cabana Bay. Where are you guys staying this week? Excited to see your new videos after this trip.
The comparison is coming! Stay tuned! We are staying at Cabana Bay again! 😂 We will be changing it up in June!
Aventura is our go to! Great location, price, close to CB and SF for those amenities- dedicated path to Volcano Bay!!!!!!
Being close to sapphire falls is a huge plus! Being at Universal is better than not being at Universal!
Explain to me what a boozy hotel means? I saw three bars. Cabana Bay has four bars. And using Disney to compare, the Grand Floridian has five bars.
We meant that the bars seem to be the focus due to the adult centered nature
i love aventura . mnus my cell phone reception in the tower
🤣😂 first world problems
I understand you saying you thought you would love Aventura. We thought we would love royal pacific but ended up preferring Hard Rock over it. We had Aventura booked for the June Orlando Informer but decided to upgrade to Portofino Bay with the Informer discount.
We love hearing which other people prefer and why! People prefer what they prefer and that is great! Universal has tons of great options for everyone! The informer discounts were insane weren't they?!
@@fudge_factorThe discounts were insane. The preference with Hard Rock came down to the food and the freestyle cups from the park also worked in Emack & Bolio's but not at Tuk Tuk. Sometimes it comes down to the small things.
It really does!! Plus it will make your day at the parks amazing with express pass!
@@fudge_factor Do love those express passes!
🙌🏻🙌🏻
My name is Craig Dennis i watch your both new videos all the time and i in joy all of your both videos all the time and you both have a great day👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks Craig! Have a great week!
Listen up candidates, if you don’t stay at aventura then you’re wrong
🤣😂 if candidates try and stay at premiers we need to look at their bank accounts
Since Bar 17 is Aventura's best-known amenity, it's a bit odd to dismiss it with an offhand, "Bar 17 wasn't open." WHY wasn't it open? And do you think the hotel as a whole suffered in your evaluation because you weren't able to experience this feature? That aside, Aventura's biggest drawback is that it has no theming. It's a tech-forward hotel that's themed as a tech-forward hotel. Seems a bit lazy on the part of Universal.
That’s a fair criticism! It was pretty windy and a bit chilly that day. We have heard it delaying service due to weather. Do we think it skewed our evaluation? No. We enjoyed the room, but the theming, like you said, is a bit lacking. We aren’t into the bar scene as much, so we think that is more a determining factor than bar17 itself. Great comment!
Hmm.. I’ve thought about staying there. But the “doesn’t feel like a Universal resort” sealed the deal for me.
We love the "feel" of a Universal resort! The excitment, the immersiveness, the theming! Aventura is great for some! Just not for us!
@fudge_factor it never gave me the urge to book it. Maybe if I need to save some money, I'll try it. But it's just looks sterile.
We agreed. We will stay there again! But we just love theming
@@fudge_factor I'm a sucker for a theme!
🙌🙌
Hey FF
Hey Hey!
Pass...
👋