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Universal Studios Hollywood is one of California’s biggest theme parks and draws in hundreds of thousands of guests annually. As a lifetime California resident I know LA traffic is no joke, and to avoid getting stuck in the morning commute, we decided to stay right next to the park during our trip! We opted to stay near the park at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Hotel since the location is unbeatable! It is within walking distance to the park entrance, and even has a free shuttle that will take you to and from the park!
We stayed two nights at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City and paid $351.82 for two nights in a king room, and an additional $99 for two nights of self-parking, for an overall total of $450.82.
Getting To Hilton Los Angeles Hotels/Universal City:
The two main airports closest to the hotel are the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Depending on which airport you are flying into will determine which transportation options are available to get you to the hotel.
From Hollywood Burbank Airport/Bob Hope Airport:
The Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is 6 miles from the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Hotel. There is a range of transportation options available to get to and from the hotel from the airport including; ride-share, taxis, rental cars, and public transportation.
Ride-share like Uber and Lyft is abundant in the Los Angeles area, and easy to come by, especially at airports. Depending on the time of day, and traffic an Uber ride is about $35 to $50 from BUR to the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.
Taxis are also available but do not offer any set rate pricing. Taxi services are operated off of a meter, in addition to mileage, airport fees, and a starting fee of about $3. Due to all the variables that go into determining a price, an estimate for the cost is unavailable. Expect it to be similar in price to an Uber.
Rental cars are available at the airport and can be a good option if you plan on visiting other spots in the city like the Griffith Observatory or Venice Beach. A rental car is about $500 for five days without additional insurance. Parking can also add up quickly, at the hotel self-parking is $45 per night, and valet is $55 per night plus tax.
Public transportation can be found at the BUR Transit Center located on the ground level of the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center. To get to the hotel from the airport there is a Metrolink line running from the airport RITC to the downtown Burbank station, and from there you can get on the Burbank bus pink line which runs to Universal City. The metro link is $2 one way from the airport to the downtown Burbank station and the bus ride from the downtown Burbank station to Universal City is $1 one way. So it would cost $3 per person to get to Universal City from the Burbank hotel via public transportation. This option can take longer, but saves the most money!
From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):
The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is further away from Universal City than the Burbank Airport, and transportation is more expensive. Depending on which route is chosen, it is between 15-30 miles from LAX to Universal Studios Hollywood. Similar transportation methods are available from the LAX airport to the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. Ride-share, taxis, rental cars, shuttle services, and even public transportation are available.
There are always ride-share drivers near LAX. An Uber ride from LAX to Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is about $65 to $100 depending on the time of day and traffic. If you are getting a ride-share or taxi ride during peak traffic in LA (7-10 AM/ 4-7 PM) you can expect to pay more because of how long the ride will take.
Taxis picking up at the LAX airport often charge an additional fee for picking up and dropping off passengers. The average price for a taxi ride from the airport to the hotel is about $80. However, this price can change depending on the taxi company and the severity of traffic.
Rental cars are available at the airport and can be a good option if you plan on visiting other spots in the city like the Griffith Observatory or Venice Beach. A rental car is about $500 for five days without additional insurance. Parking can also add up quickly, at the hotel self-parking is $45 per night, and valet is $55 per night plus tax.
Companies offer shuttle services but are more expensive than ride-share and taxis. LAX Airport Shuttle offers $85 rides for the first guest and $10 for each additional person from the airport to Universal Studios. If traffic is bad this could be a cheaper option since it is a set rate, but otherwise, it is more expensive.
Public transportation is available, but the route is long with multiple transfers. There are multiple different routes, but all take close to two hours. If you are interested in taking public transit check out this article from Welcome Pickups where they go into detail about the public transportation options.
Check-in:
The standard check-in time for the Hilton Universal City is 4:00 PM. We arrived at the hotel late at night around 2 AM, and thankfully they had staff available to help us check in. The hotel is easy to find. It feels like you are pulling into Universal Studios, but the hotel is tucked away outside the park. When we pulled up to the hotel there was signage indicating where to pull in for self-parking, and where to go for valet making it easy to find our way even in the dark.
The parking garage was narrow and had some tight turns. There was not a lot of lighting in there, and some areas were very dimly lit. There was a lot of parking open even though it was so late at night, and they even had specific diamond members parking near the elevators. We snagged a diamond member spot, and only had to walk a few steps before reaching the elevator. It was nice to get such a close spot especially while carrying all our luggage.
As we exited the elevator, we ended up in the lobby. We saw a few employees in the lobby cleaning, and one valet team member on the lookout for late-night arrivals. When we got to the front desk no one was there, but a few moments later a team member came out to greet us.
We got checked in quickly and even got an upgrade to a higher floor that included free breakfast during our stay. The man at the front desk explained the hotel to us, letting us know the hours for breakfast, where we could find parking, how late the pool was open, and how to get to the park both on foot and via the shuttle the hotel provides.
Extra Benefits:
As Hilton Diamond Members we got $18 each to use daily at the on-site restaurants or the small grab-and-go counter in addition to the free breakfast we got each morning. This was nice if we forgot to get drinks or snacks before returning to our room after a long day.
Room Details:
We paid $351.82 for two nights in a king room. We had originally booked a standard king bedroom but were upgraded at check-in, and ended up in a king room with views of the park on an upper floor. The room covered all the basics, a smart TV, a small workstation, a sofa near the window, and a bathroom with a standing shower/tub combo.
The room felt clean, especially the bathroom. There were two shower heads in the shower, one from the wall, and the other was a detachable wand. Both of the shower heads were clean and free of grime. The shower had tile walls and added a little luxury feel to the room.
There was a large stack of towels placed on the bathroom vanity. Three of each kind, which was nice since we did not have to ask for more towels. Mounted on the wall of the vanity was a large bottle of lotion as well as a box of tissues placed nearby. Also proved was hand soap, and a small box with a shower cap inside.
In the shower there were three provided bottles of toiletries, they are the same at most Hilton properties, and we have used them in the past and they get the job done.
The vanity was backlit and provided nice light for getting ready in the mornings. There was also a small hairdryer in a bag placed on one of the shelves of the vanity.
Throughout the room, there was fun Hollywood-themed art hanging on the walls. The artwork added some fun colors to the room and helped to liven the dull beige walls and furniture with some color. There was an adjoining room door right next to the bed, which made us a little uncomfortable, but there was a lock on it.
There was a small sofa next to the bed in front of the windows, and we believe it was a pull-out bed. A small workstation beside the TV stands with a desk chair and a lamp. On the other side of the TV was a small bench, a great spot to put our luggage as we sorted through it looking for clothes.
Near the entrance of the room was a small cubby with a coffee bar and some complimentary water bottles. Near the coffee station was a closet that had a safe, two robes, and some extra pillows and blankets.
Overall, the room was in good condition, and the bathroom was exceptionally clean. We got a good night's sleep and enjoyed the comfy beds.
Extra Benefits:
Since our room got upgraded we received free continental breakfast each morning. This is not included for every guest, only certain room types. This benefit was included on top of the $18 credit we received each day as Hilton Diamond Members.
Property Perks:
The Pool and Gym:
The Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City had a large property with lots of amenities. The pool itself was pretty standard, with a few poolside chairs and cabanas, but we liked that it had extended hours! The pool stayed open from 6:00 am to midnight! It was nice to return from the park, shower off, and still have time to use the pool.
On our way to the pool, we also stumbled upon a CVS vending machine, and inside were a bunch of necessities like deodorant, diapers, medicine, and even hairbrushes. It was a pleasant surprise and we could see how this could be helpful in an emergency!
The hotel has a small gym and laundry room, and they are located right next to each other. The gym offers a variety of cardio equipment along with a dumbbell rack, and even a cable machine. There was enough in there to get through most workouts! The laundry room was small, but there was enough room to move around. Having a laundry room was nice especially since our clothes got soaked from the water ride at the park!
The Shuttle to Universal Studios Hollywood:
Another helpful amenity the hotel offers is a shuttle to the entrance gate of Universal Studios. The shuttle runs every 15-20 minutes from around 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through Wednesday, and 7:00 am to 11:00 pm Thursday through Sunday. The shuttle is great for families and anyone with accessibility issues since the walk to the park is about a half mile with some stairs and inclines.
We opted to walk since we had just missed the shuttle, to give families and those who needed it the space on the shuttle. The walk to the park did not take us very long, and it was easy to find our way there thanks to multiple signs, and markers on the sidewalk leading you there. You do have to cross a few smaller intersections, however, there is a bridge to cross over the busy road that is the vehicle entrance to the park. It did not take us more than 10 minutes to get there on foot, and the path led us to the entrance. We even walked past a cute little koi pond as we walked to the park from the hotel!
Tickets and Shopping:
The lobby was filled with signs advertising various ticket options available for purchase, including Universal Hollywood tickets and Tesla rentals, all of which could be conveniently arranged at the concierge desk. The concierge staff were incredibly helpful, ready to assist with any requests or provide recommendations for local attractions and dining. Although we had already purchased our tickets in advance, it was reassuring to know that we could rely on the concierge for any last-minute plans or inquiries.
Right next to the concierge desk, there were a few other amenities that caught our attention, including a refillable water bottle station, a small gift shop, a jewelry stand, and even two massage chairs. We appreciated the convenience of the water refill station, especially after a long day at the park, and the massage chairs were a welcome surprise, offering a chance to relax and unwind before heading back to our room.
Dining Options:
There are five dining options in total including the pool bar. There was a Starbucks in the hotel lobby tucked away to the side near the elevators for the parking garage, a lounge in the atrium serving drinks and snacks, Cafe Sierra which serves a wide variety of food including the continental breakfast, and for more formal dining FIVE on the Hill. Room service is also available, and in-room delivery ends at 11:00 pm, but pickup is available at the front desk after hours.
Parking and Valet:
The hotel offers valet parking and self-parking. Self-parking was easily accessible in an attached parking garage, with a direct elevator to the hotel lobby, which made unloading our luggage hassle-free. Self-parking cost us $45 per night, and valet parking was $55 per night, not including tax.
Check out:
The check-out time for Hilton Universal City is 11:00 am. Later checkouts are a perk for Hilton Diamond Members, however, we had enough time to gather our things before the posted time. We did not have to do a formal check out at the hotel and instead opted to receive an email copy of our final receipt. We received it later in the day and had no discrepancy with the charges. We had been given a parking key card to go in and out of the garage, and there was a box at the toll gate to place it in as we drove off.
Summary:
We stayed two nights at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in a king room and paid $450.82 in total with two nights of self-parking. We were upgraded to a higher floor room with a sofa, and included in the upgrade was a free continental breakfast. The hotel had both a shuttle and a direct walking path to Universal Studios which made it convenient and easy to get to and from the park. Our room was clean and comfortable, and we slept well after a long day at the park. The location is hard to beat if you are planning a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, and we would stay here again the next time we visit the park.
Do you think a stay at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is worth your wallet? Let us know in the comments below!!
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