Unlike its Orlando counterpart, Universal Studios Hollywood has no official, on-site hotel. There are still dozens of Hollywood hotels to choose from, but only a few are within walking distance or offer transportation to Universal Studios Hollywood. Among them, Sheraton Universal Hotel is the closest one.
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In addition to its convenient proximity, the AAA 4 Diamond property offers several dining options and coffee shops so you can fuel up before a day at the parks or unwind with a nice meal after a long day, when Southern California temperatures soar (or those chilly nights (hot tub) and comfortable rooms with sweeping views so you can recharge and park again the next day.
I know this because that’s exactly how I spent my time during a recent stay at the Sheraton Universal Hotel while visiting Universal Studios Hollywood. Here’s what you need to know before you book your stay.
What is Sheraton Universal Hotel?
Sheraton Universal Hotel was built in 1969. Although it has since been renovated, it still retains its classic Hollywood charm with its palm tree-lined drive, crystal chandeliers and marble cladding in the lobby and a beautiful lounge where you can Look and see. In both public spaces and guest rooms, you’ll see vintage photos from Universal Studios, which was one of my favorite touches.
Although it is close to Universal Studios Hollywood, I wouldn’t classify this as a Theme Park Hotel. Aside from a concierge desk to assist with ticket purchases and a few fun touches (like a Mario-themed “Do Not Disturb” sign hanging on your door), you won’t get anything that screams “I’m in a theme park.” “
How much does Sheraton Universal Hotel cost and how to book it?
Rooms at the Sheraton Universal Hotel start at around $200 per night, but average between $250 and $300 per night. If you choose to redeem In Marriott Bonvoy points for your stay, you can expect to need between 39,000 and 76,000 points per night.
In addition to standard rooms with one king, two queens, or two double beds, the hotel has “family rooms” with sofa beds and king-size beds, club-level rooms with lounge access, lanai rooms with direct access to the outdoor pool. and spacious suites.
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When booking a Sheraton Universal hotel, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, as well as possibly offering automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits. This includes:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; Automatic Platinum Elite status; and 25 elite night credits per year toward higher levels.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; Automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward higher levels.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; Automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward higher levels.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; Automatic Gold Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward higher levels.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; Automatic Silver Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward higher levels.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; Automatic Silver Elite status; and 15 elite night credits per year toward higher levels.
Information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
A room at the Sheraton Universal Hotel
I booked a standard room with a king-size bed, but when I arrived I found out that I had been upgraded to a “family room” with a king-size bed and a sofa bed. It was just my husband and I, so we didn’t need A sofa bed, but it meant our room was a bit more spacious and we had a comfortable place to sit other than the bed.
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Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
I enjoyed the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the Hollywood Hills. The sunrise view from my room was beautiful.
The bed and other furniture were comfortable, but parts of the room looked as if they had seen better days. The seating areas, tables and wall panels looked a bit worn. The room, he said, felt very clean, just “lived in.”
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Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
Entering the room there was a closet with a safe, iron and ironing board. Next to it was a minifridge and a tea and coffee maker, an ice bucket and two complimentary glasses of water.
There were cabinets and a few drawers for storage, but if I were visiting with my kids in tow, storage space would be lacking.
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Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
The bathroom was bright and clean with refillable “Warm Oak” Gilchrist & Soames products in the shower. The sink also had refillable bottles of hand soap and lotion in the same scent, and a hairdryer. With a large countertop and several shelves, I was more impressed with the storage space in the bathroom than in the bedroom.
What we ate at the Sheraton Universal Hotel
The Sheraton Universal Hotel has many dining options and we took advantage of most of them during our stay.
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Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
The hotel’s coffee shop, Universal Perk, came in handy for my morning Starbucks fix And Evening after returning from Halloween Horror Nights. The event lasts into the wee hours and by the time I got back to the hotel I was starving and in need of cold water. Right next to the coffee shop is a grab-and-go counter where you can self-scan your items 24 hours a day.
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Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
I also enjoyed the full breakfast buffet ($30 per person) at California, the hotel’s main sit-down dining outlet open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was running out at the airport, so I neglected to get a photo, but they served standard buffet items like bacon, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, and pastries, along with made-to-order omelets and waffles.
Amenities and things to do at the Sheraton Universal Hotel
When you visit the Sheraton Universal Hotel, you can spend most of your time exploring Universal Studios or other attractions and studio tours around Universal City. But, the hotel has a pool and hot tub where you can relax and soak up the California sun during your downtime.
There was ample seating around the pool and umbrellas if you wanted some shade. The hot tub was a standard size, I would say big enough for six to eight people. If you want to gather outside with friends and family, there are poolside lounges for drinks and small bites, as well as fire pits and table games like foosball.
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Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
The hotel also has a gym which is open 24 hours. Unlike many hotel gyms, this one was quite large with adequate cardio and strength training equipment. There was also enough space for me to set up a mat and work out with the hotel’s free weights.
If you book a room with lounge access, the hotel also has an Executive Club Lounge that serves a complimentary continental breakfast each morning and hors d’oeuvres in the evening.
Insider Tips for Staying at Sheraton Universal Hotel
Here are some tips to make the most of your stay at Sheraton Universal Hotel:
- Some rooms offer views of Universal Studios Hollywood, but the hotel cannot guarantee theme park view rooms. I would recommend that you make your reservation and speak to the front desk about it when you arrive for your best shot then request it.
- The hotel is within easy walking distance of Universal Studios Hollywood, but also offers free shuttle transportation to and from the parks. A shuttle departs from the front door of the hotel every 15 minutes.
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Sheraton Universal Hotel. Tarah Chief/The Points Guy
- It takes less than 10 minutes to walk to Universal Studios Hollywood. You simply follow the sidewalk from the hotel to Universal Hollywood Drive and then follow the posted theme park walkway signs.
- The hotel is also within walking distance of the Red Line Metro, which you can use to get to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Bowl and other area attractions.
Accessibility
During my stay, the hotel appeared to have a good range of accessibility features. Select guest rooms are wheelchair accessible and the hotel also has hearing accessible rooms.
Both the pool and hot tub have wheelchair lifts and all public areas are wheelchair accessible.
The bottom line
The truth is, you probably won’t spend much time in your hotel when you visit Universal Hollywood. You’re more likely to be at a theme park or on a studio tour. The Sheraton Universal Hotel proved to be a great value for what it had to offer. I was close enough to walk to Universal Studios and didn’t have to go far for my morning coffee or a quick dip in the pool.
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