Review of Sheraton Universal hotel

What is Sheraton Universal Hotel?

The Sheraton Universal Hotel was built in 1969. Although it has undergone renovations since that time, it still retains much of its classic Hollywood charm, with palm-lined walkways and crystal chandeliers. and marble cladding in the lobby and luxury lounge where you can see and be seen. In both public spaces and guest rooms, you’ll see vintage photos of Universal Studios, one of my favorite highlights.

How much does Sheraton Universal Hotel cost and how to book a room?

Rooms at Sheraton Universal hotel

I booked a standard room with a king bed but upon arrival I found I had been upgraded to a “family room” with a king bed and sofa bed. It was just my husband and I so we didn’t demand sofa bed, but it meant our room was a bit more spacious and we had comfortable seating in addition to the bed.

I loved the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Hollywood hills. The sunrise view from my room was beautiful.

The bed and other furnishings were comfortable, but parts of the room seemed to have seen better days. The seating areas, tables and wall panels were showing signs of wear and tear. That said, the room felt very clean, just “lived in”.

When entering the room there is a cabinet with a safe, iron and ironing board. Next to it is a small refrigerator, tea and coffee maker, an ice bucket and two complimentary glasses of water.

There is a cabinet and a few drawers for storage, but if I go out with my children there is a lack of storage space.

The bathroom is bright and clean with reusable Gilchrist & Soames “Warm Oak” products in the bathroom. Near the sink there are bottles of hand soap and lotion with the same scent, and there’s also a hair dryer. With a large countertop and many shelves, I’m more impressed with the storage space in the bathroom than the bedroom.

What we ate at the Sheraton Universal hotel

The Sheraton Universal Hotel has several dining options and we took advantage of most of them during our stay.

Amenities and entertainment at Sheraton Universal Hotel

When you visit the Sheraton Universal Hotel, you’re likely to spend most of your time exploring Universal Studios or other attractions and studio tours around Universal City. However, the hotel does have a swimming pool and hot tub where you can relax and enjoy the California sunshine during your free time.

There’s plenty of seating around the pool and umbrellas if you want some shade. The hot tub is a standard size, I would say big enough for six to eight people. There’s a poolside lounge for drinks and snacks, as well as board games like soccer if you want to hang out outside with friends and family.

The hotel also has a gym open 24 hours a day. Unlike many hotel gyms, this one is quite large with lots of cardio and strength training equipment. There was also enough room for me to roll out a mat and work out with the hotel’s free weights.

If you book a room with lounge access, the hotel also offers a premium club lounge that serves a complimentary continental breakfast daily and evening hors d’oeuvres.

Insider tips for staying at Sheraton Universal Hotel

Here are some tips to make the most of your stay at the Sheraton Universal Hotel:

• Some rooms have views of Universal Studios Hollywood, but the hotel cannot guarantee rooms with theme park views. I recommend asking for it after booking and talking to the front desk about it when you arrive for the best photo.

• The hotel is within easy walking distance of Universal Studios Hollywood but they also offer a free shuttle service to and from the parks. The shuttle picks up at the hotel’s front door approximately every 15 minutes.

• It’s less than a 10-minute walk to Universal Studios Hollywood. You just need to follow the sidewalk from the hotel to Universal Hollywood Drive and follow the posted theme park walkway signs.
• The hotel is also within walking distance of the Red Line subway, which guests can use to reach the Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theater, Hollywood Bowl and other area attractions.

Accessibility

During my stay, the hotel seemed to have many good accessibility features. Select rooms are wheelchair accessible, and the hotel also has rooms for the hearing impaired.

Both the pool and hot tub have wheelchair lifts, and all common areas are wheelchair accessible.

Bottom line

The truth is you probably won’t spend much time in hotels when visiting Universal Hollywood. You’re more likely to go to a theme park or take a studio tour. The Sheraton Universal Hotel proved to be an excellent value for what it offered. I’m close enough to walk to Universal Studios and don’t have to go far for my morning coffee or a quick dip in the pool.