Hard Rock

Nothing to say, it is the ideal choice for visiting Universal and the cost is absolutely affordable if you consider that it gives access to the priority pass for both the check-in and check-out day. It is a pity that the room decor is not exactly current and not in the best condition.

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.