The closest hotel to Universal Studios Hollywood: Hilton Los Angeles Universal City
I spend a lot of time in hotels and theme parks, which also means I spend a lot of time in theme park hotels.
One of the most important features I look for is proximity to the theme parks. If it's a five-minute bus ride between my hotel room and my favorite attractions, great. If I can walk, that's 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 that there are no on-site hotels. However, that doesn't mean I couldn't find a hotel with the all-important convenience factor.
Luckily, there are a handful just a short walk from Universal Studios Hollywood's iconic red carpet and all the fun that awaits inside the gates.
For my most recent visit, I chose the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. According to Google Maps, it's the closest hotel to Universal Studios Hollywood. So, I packed my suitcase and laced up my walking shoes to find out for myself.
Convenient location
The Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City's claims that it's the closest to Universal Studios Hollywood turned out to be true.
I walked from my hotel to the park's front gate in less than 10 minutes. The path was well-marked with signage that pointed me in the right direction. Coming home in the evening was just as easy. After exiting the park, signage points you back to the walking path.
If you choose not to walk, the hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle to Universal Studios Hollywood. A ride-hailing service between the hotel and Universal cost me $10, including a tip, if you go that route.
If you have a car, you can drive, but you would have to pay for theme park parking, which costs $35 per day before 5 p.m. or $10 after 5 p.m. This would be in addition to the hotel's daily parking fee of $35.
The rooms are large and comfortable
Because I was in town to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, I opted for 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 a theme park view and a standard room is, on average, less than $40 per night, which felt more than worth it after I saw my room.
For comparison, standard rooms start at around $224 or 61,000 Hilton Honors points per night. The room type I stayed 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 a king bed and a queen sofa bed, sleeping up to four guests. There was a closet in the entryway, as well as open storage shelves and a coffee and tea maker.
Because of the unique corner layout of the room, the bathroom was one of the largest I've seen in a standard hotel room. The sink offered a lot of counter space, and it had a lighted mirror. There was also a separate vanity area with a lighted 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 included a large desk for working, a dresser with storage drawers and a hidden mini-fridge, a large smart TV and plenty of USB and eclectic outlets around the room for charging my devices.
The real reason I chose this room was the view, and I was not disappointed.
Amazing theme park views
The windows in my corner room spanned the entire length of one wall. When I pulled back the curtains to see if the view was as good as I had hoped, I shrieked with delight. I could see all of Universal Studios Hollywood right outside my window.
Related: Thrills for all ages: 6 best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood
In the distance, I could see the turrets of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the colorful scenery in Super Nintendo World and the iconic red carpet and globe at Universal Studios Hollywood's entry arch.
The San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains views beyond the park weren't too shabby, either.
Full-service amenities
Though 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 was larger than many hotel gyms I've seen, with separate areas for cardio and strength training and complimentary towels and water. There was even a Peloton bike so you can stick with your at-home schedule even when you travel.
The pool area had a hot tub, plenty of seating, cabanas available to rent, an accessible pool lift and a poolside bar and grill. There was also a large gift shop in the lobby with not only the typical items like toiletries, medicines, snacks and other items you may have left at home but also clothing, jewelry and souvenirs.
Drink and dine all day long
Running around a theme park all day requires lots of fuel in the form of food and caffeine. Luckily, I was able to satisfy both of those needs at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. The on-site coffee shop is open daily from 6 to 10:30 a.m. and serves Starbucks coffee drinks, as well as snacks and pastries.
Also, Cafe Sierra in the lobby atrium serves breakfast. You can choose from a buffet with a selection of international and traditional American breakfast items or order off the menu. Cafe Sierra also opens on Saturday evenings for a seafood and prime rib buffet and on Sunday mornings for a Champagne brunch.
Thanks to my Hilton Honors gold status, I earned a $15 daily food and beverage credit for each day of my stay.
Related: What is Hilton Honors elite status worth in 2023?
Dinner is served outdoors at Five on the Hill, a fine-dining restaurant with handcrafted cocktails, shareable small plates and gorgeous views.
After a long day at Universal Studios Hollywood (and a lot of work to catch up on), I was too tired to dine at the restaurant and opted for the 24/7 room service. The crispy seasoned fries and hearty burger were just what I needed to refuel at the end of the day.
Theme park perks
The Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is considered an official Universal Studios Hollywood Partner Hotel. There was a concierge desk in the lobby where hotel staff could assist you with your Universal ticket purchases and add-ons like Universal Express skip-the-line passes and VIP tours.
Checking out
Next time I visit Universal Studios Hollywood (which I hope is sooner than later), I plan to head straight back to the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.
Even though it isn't technically a "theme park hotel," the views and walkability to Universal made it feel like one. Pair that with earning Hilton Honors points and the hotel's full-service amenities, and I was a happy theme park fan and hotel fan.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.