An old Hollywood homage close to Universal Studios: My stay at the Sheraton Universal Hotel

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Unlike its Orlando counterpart, Universal Studios Hollywood has no official, on-site hotels. There are still dozens of Hollywood hotels to choose from, but only a handful are within walking distance of or provide transportation to Universal Studios Hollywood. Among those, the Sheraton Universal Hotel is one of the closest.

In addition to its convenient proximity, the AAA 4 Diamond property offers several dining options and a coffee shop so you can fuel up before a day at the parks or unwind with a nice meal after a long day, a pool to cool off when the Southern California temperatures soar (or a hot tub for those chilly nights) and comfortable rooms with expansive views so you can recharge and hit the parks again the next day.

I know this because it’s exactly how I spent my time during a recent stay at the Sheraton Universal Hotel while visiting Universal Studios Hollywood. Here’s everything you need to know before you book your own stay.

What is the Sheraton Universal Hotel?

Sheraton Universal Hotel. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

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

Despite its close proximity to Universal Studios Hollywood, I wouldn’t classify this as a theme park hotel. Other than a concierge desk to help with ticket purchases and a few fun touches (like a Mario-themed “do not disturb” sign to hang on your door), you won’t find anything that screams “I’m at a theme park.”

How much the Sheraton Universal Hotel costs and how to book it

Rooms at the Sheraton Universal Hotel start at around $200 per night, but average closer to between $250 and $300 per night. If you prefer to redeem 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, this hotel has “family rooms” with a sofa bed and king-size bed, club-level rooms with lounge access, lanai rooms with direct access to the outdoor pool and spacious suites.

When booking the Sheraton Universal Hotel, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

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 a higher tier.
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 a higher tier.
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 a higher tier.
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 a higher tier.
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 a higher tier.
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 a higher tier.

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Rooms at the Sheraton Universal Hotel

I booked a standard room with a king-size bed, but when I arrived I found I had been upgraded to a “family room” with a king-size bed and a sofa bed. It was just my husband and myself, so we didn’t need the sofa bed, but it did mean our room was a little more spacious and we had somewhere comfortable to sit other than the bed.

I enjoyed the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the Hollywood hills. The sunrise views from my room were beautiful.

The bed and other furniture were comfortable, but parts of the room did seem as if they’d seen better days. The seating areas, tables and wall panels were showing some wear and tear. That said, the room felt very clean, just “lived in.”

Upon entering the room, there was a closet with a safe, iron and ironing board. Next to that was a minifridge and tea and coffee maker, an ice bucket and two complimentary glasses of water.

There was a cabinet and a few drawers for storage, but if I had been visiting with my kids in tow, the storage space would have been lacking.

The bathroom was bright and clean, with refillable “Warm Oak” Gilchrist & Soames products in the shower. There were refillable hand soap and lotion bottles in the same scent near the sink and a hairdryer as well. With a wide countertop and several shelves, I was much 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.

Before heading to Universal Studios Hollywood for Halloween Horror Nights, we had dinner at In the Mix just off the lobby. The truffle fries ($10) were hot and crispy and the chicken quesadilla ($17) was delicious and came with a smoky dipping sauce. I skipped the cocktails for my tried-and-true IPA, but I watched the bartender make a Halloween-themed margarita that had a red-sugar rim and red chili pepper “horns.” I loved that the hotel was getting in the Halloween Horror Nights spirit.

The hotel’s coffee shop, Universal Perk, came in handy for my morning Starbucks fix and in the evening after returning from Halloween Horror Nights. The event runs until the wee hours and I was starving and in need of cold water when I got back to the hotel. Just next to the coffee shop is a grab-and-go counter where you can self-scan your items 24 hours a day.

I also enjoyed the full breakfast buffet ($30 per person) at The California, the hotel’s main sit-down dining outlet open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was rushing out to 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 are likely to spend most of your time exploring Universal Studios or the other attractions and studio tours around Universal City. But, the hotel does have a pool and hot tub where you can relax and soak up some California sun during your downtime.

There was ample seating around the pool and umbrellas if you wanted a little shade. The hot tub was standard size, I’d say large enough for six to eight people. There is a poolside lounge for drinks and small bites, as well as fire pits and table games like foosball if you want to gather outside with friends and family.

The hotel also has a gym that is open 24 hours a day. Unlike a lot of hotel gyms, this one was quite large with ample cardio and strength training equipment. There was also more than enough room for me to set out 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 the Sheraton Universal Hotel

Here are a few tips for making the most of your stay at the Sheraton Universal Hotel:

Some rooms do have a view of Universal Studios Hollywood, but the hotel cannot guarantee a theme park view room. I would recommend requesting it after you make your reservation and speaking with the front desk about it when you arrive for your best shot.

The hotel is within easy walking distance of Universal Studios Hollywood, but they also provide complimentary shuttle transportation to and from the parks. The shuttle picks up at the hotel’s front door about every 15 minutes.

It takes less than 10 minutes to walk to Universal Studios Hollywood. You just 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, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the 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 the hot tub had wheelchair lifts and all public areas are wheelchair accessible.

Bottom line

Truth is, you will probably not be spending much time at your hotel when you visit Universal Hollywood. You are more likely to be at the theme parks or on a studio tour. The Sheraton Universal Hotel proved to be a great value for what it provided. 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.

I’ve also stayed at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City next door, though, and I have to say I prefer that one over this. I was able to book a room that guaranteed theme park views, it felt newer and has similar full-service amenities. All of that comes at a price, of course, so if budget is the deciding factor, I would recommend the Sheraton Universal Hotel for its location alone.

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