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Overview
Aventura Resort is one of Universal Orlando’s most distinctive and visible features. It consists of a 17-story tower that looks sort of like those 1960s hippy flowers. The blue and white steel design and floor-to-ceiling windows give the resort a very cool look.
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Most of the amenities are on the ground floor of the hotel, which is very open. Upon entering the lobby, the front desk is to the left and the elevators are to the right. Beyond these to the left are the Starbucks, Universal Gift Shop, and elevators to the parking garage. Finally, the restaurant is at the far end of the ground floor. The Asian-inspired wok bowls are excellent here.
Concluding the overview of the resort is the outdoor area. There is a pool and a bar. The pool is fairly small and basic, but it has the standard loungers and towel rentals. I didn’t spend much time in the pool area, but my room did overlook it so you can see a bit below.
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Rooms
Some pretty cool features are included in these admittedly small rooms. Every room includes an iPad, which works as a thermostat, TV remote, room service, and even a light switch. You can control pretty much anything in the room without leaving your bed! Because the hotel isn’t too big, no room has a very long walk to the elevators.
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The rooms themselves are fairly small, and uniquely laid out. Entering into the room, a hallway leads to the beds, with the bathroom on one side. There is a glass separator between the bed and the sinks. The windows are floor to ceiling.
Pros
Bar17, the rooftop bar, is absolutely fantastic. Even if not staying at the resort, visitors should make it a priority to visit Bar17. Not only does it have stunning views from every angle, it also has very good food and cocktails. Best of all, you can watch Disney fireworks if you come at the right time! My personal go-to drink is their house margarita, which is one of the best I’ve had anywhere.
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Another major pro to staying at the Aventura is its location. Not only is the resort bus to Citywalk very efficient, but it is also possible to walk into Citywalk and the parks.
Cons
The walls and ceilings of the rooms are just about the thinnest of any hotel I’ve ever stayed in. Not only could I hear people walking down the halls, but I could hear the TV in the neighboring room like it was my own room.
Additionally, the wait for the elevators is absolutely horrible. Despite having three elevators to the rooms (plus an express elevator to Bar17), lines can and do form well into the lobby. Not only are the elevators an issue, but it is also difficult to locate the stairs. This is definitely a concern during high season.
Finally, the parking garage feels very cramped. Locating a spot can be quite difficult even in shoulder season. Fortunately, there is a silver lining: the parking garage has an elevator that goes directly into the lobby. Moreover, the hotel does not have a large footprint, so it doesn’t take long to get anywhere.
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Should You Stay Here?
I was not particularly impressed by my stay here. This was really unfortunate, too, because I had been coming to Bar17 for years and always enjoyed it, so I had high hopes. My issues with the hotel are not things that can be resolved, like a dirty room or unhelpful staff. (On the contrary, the staff were all very friendly and helpful). There is no getting around the bottleneck at the elevators, and no way to soundproof the rooms. Consequently, you should consider whether these issues would impact your stay negatively. If you would like to read some more general hotel advice, read this article here.
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Despite these rather serious drawbacks, I really do enjoy this property. Not only does it have the always-amazing Bar17, but it also just exudes a kind of coolness. Ultimately, I can recommend the Aventura, with a few caveats. First, go during low season to reduce chances of long lines for the elevators. And second, bring earplugs to cut down on noise when sleeping.
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If you would like to book, click here.