I spend a lot of time at hotels and theme parks, which also means I spend a lot of time at amusement park hotels.
One of the most important features I look for is proximity to theme parks. If it’s only a five-minute bus ride between my hotel room and my favorite attractions, great. If I could walk, that would be even better.
Related: The best hotels near Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood stands out from other theme parks in many ways, one of which is the absence of an on-site hotel. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t find a hotel with paramount convenience.
Luckily, there are spots just a short walk from Universal Studios Hollywood’s iconic red carpet, and all the fun awaits inside the gates.
For my most recent visit, I chose Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. According to Google Maps, this is the closest hotel to Universal Studios Hollywood. So I packed up my suitcase and put on my walking shoes to find out for myself.
Convenient location
The Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City claim that it was the closest to Universal Studios Hollywood turned out to be true.
I walked from my hotel to the front gate of the park in less than 10 minutes. The road is clearly marked with signs pointing me in the right direction. Going home at night is easy. After exiting the park, signs will direct you back to the walking path.
If you don’t choose to walk, the hotel also offers a free shuttle to Universal Studios Hollywood. The ride-hailing service between the hotel and Universal cost me $10, including tip, if you go that route.
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If you have a car, you can drive, but you’ll have to pay for park parking, which costs $35 a day before 5 p.m. or $10 after 5 p.m. This fee will be added to the hotel’s daily parking fee of $35.
The rooms are big and comfortable
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TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINT
Because I was in town to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, I chose a theme park view room to extend the experience of being in the park to my hotel room. The price difference between my corner room with the theme park view and the average standard room was under $40 a night, which made me feel more than worth it after I saw my room.
For comparison, standard rooms start at around $224 or $61,000 Hilton title points per night. The type of room I stay in starts at around $260 or 100,000 Hilton Honors points per night. I paid cash for my stay and earned 20,575 points.
Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
My room had one king bed and one queen sofa bed, enough room for four guests. There is a dresser at the entrance, as well as open shelves and a coffee and tea maker.
Due to the room’s unique corner layout, the bathroom was one of the largest I’ve seen in a standard hotel room. The sink offers a lot of counter space, and it has a bright mirror. There’s also a separate makeup area with a bright mirror (great if you have multiple people getting ready at once).
In addition to the bed and sofa bed in the main living area, the room has a large work desk, a dresser with storage drawers and hidden mini-fridge, a large smart TV, and an eclectic array of USBs and sockets around the room. charge my device.
The real reason I chose this room was the view, and I was not disappointed.
Amazing theme park scene
The windows in my corner room span the entire length of one wall. When I pulled back the curtains to see if the view was as beautiful as I expected, I gave a shout of joy. I could see the entirety of Universal Studios Hollywood right outside my window.
Related: Thrills for all ages: 6 best games at Universal Studios Hollywood
In the distance, I could see the turrets of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the colorful scene in Super Nintendo World and the iconic red carpet and globe at the entrance of Universal Studios Hollywood.
The view of the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains outside the park isn’t too shabby either.
Full service facilities
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TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINT
Although I spent most of my time at the theme park, I appreciated that anything else I needed was right there at the hotel. The 24/7 fitness center is bigger than many hotel gyms I’ve seen, with separate areas for cardio and strength training as well as complimentary towels and water. There’s even a Peloton bike so you can stick to your home schedule even when you’re traveling.
The pool area has a hot tub, plenty of seating, cabanas for rent, a pool accessible lift, a bar and poolside barbecue. There is also a large gift shop in the lobby that not only has typical items like toiletries, medicine, snacks and other items you might have left at home, but also pants clothes, jewelry and souvenirs.
Drink and eat all day
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TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINT
Running around an amusement park all day takes a lot of fuel in the form of food and caffeine. Fortunately, I was able to meet both of those needs at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. The on-site coffee shop is open daily from 06:00-10:30 and serves Starbucks coffee drinks as well as snacks and cakes.
Alternatively, Cafe Sierra in the lobby serves breakfast. You can choose from a buffet with a selection of traditional American and international breakfast items, or order off the menu. Cafe Sierra is also open on Saturday nights for a seafood and prime rib buffet and on Sunday mornings for a champagne brunch.
Thanks to Hilton Honors gold status, I earned $15 worth of daily dining credits for each day of my stay.
Related: How much is Hilton Honors elite status worth in 2023?
Dinner is served outdoors at Year on the hill, An upscale restaurant serving handcrafted cocktails, shareable plates, and stunning views.
After a long day at Universal Studios Hollywood (and so much more to do), I was too tired to dine at the restaurant and opted for 24/7 room service. Spiced fries and hearty burgers are just what I need to fuel up at the end of the day.
amusement park privileges
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TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINT
The Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is considered the Official Partner Hotel of Universal Studios Hollywood. There is a concierge desk in the lobby where hotel staff can assist you with purchasing Universal tickets and add-ons such as Universal Express skip-the-line tickets and VIP tours.
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Next time I visit Universal Studios Hollywood (which I hope is as soon as possible), I plan to go straight back Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.
While it’s not technically an “amusement park hotel,” the views and walkability to Universal make it feel like one. Combine that with earning Hilton Honors points and the hotel’s full-service amenities, and I’m a happy theme park fan And hotel fan.
