The Best of Universal Orlando
by: Cara Goldsbury
So you’ve done Walt Disney World and now you’re ready to discover
Universal Orlando. But where to start? Universal Orlando is a whopper of a
destination composed of exceptional resorts, first-rate restaurants, and
two theme parks offering a certain brand of high-speed intensity certain
to please. Here are some of Universal’s best experiences:
Best Deluxe Resort
For the height of luxury in a Mediterranean seaside setting head
straight for this exclusive hotel designed to resemble Italy’s idyllic
seaside town of Portofino. The scenery is pure postcard with colorful
fishing boats bobbing in the seductively curving bay, sun-bleached stucco
buildings with shuttered windows and trompe l’oeil decorative facades,
and a charming, waterside piazza loaded with appetizing restaurants.
Guestrooms are large and luxurious with four-poster beds, luxe linens,
down pillows, and a pile of other amenities that can’t be beat.
Best Resort For the Utterly Cool
Hard Rock’s motto is “love all, serve all” and serve they
certainly do at the single coolest place in Florida to hang out in
California hip style. It’s a mix of pure luxury and star worship where
an ultra slick marble lobby, a marvelous pool complex, and stylish
guestrooms are interspersed with over one million dollars worth of rock
and roll memorabilia and rock music blasting away in every public space;
over 900 speakers are scattered throughout the property, all running seven
days a week, 24 hours a day. But rest assured, from the moment you enter
the hallways leading to your trendy guestroom, only beautiful silence is
heard.
Best Resort Pool
Hard Rock’s 12,000 foot zero-entry pool is almost too hip to handle.
It comes with an underwater sound system and a 250-foot slide (the longest
at any U.S. hotel), all surrounded by a sand beach and swaying palm trees.
For the ultimate in luxury, rent a poolside cabana equipped with lounge
chairs, TV, telephone, fax line, refrigerator, and ceiling fan. You can
even order up your own private masseuse.
Best Resort Lounge
It depends. The hip crowd should head to Velvet, Hard Rock Hotel’s so
cool cocktail lounge offering a huge list of specialty martinis and
premium cigars along with rock and roll, chic seating, and a great outdoor
terrace with a view of the resort’s pool. Those with a more
sophisticated inclination will love Bar America at Portofino Bay Hotel
where a pianist entertains a fashionable crowd feasting on Beluga caviar
and fine wine in an elegant setting.
Best Attractions For Thrill Seekers
Universal Orlando is the perfect place for those who crave a rush of
adrenaline. And the best park for thrills is Universal’s newest, Islands
of Adventure. Head first to the Incredible Hulk Coaster where you’re
launched from a near standstill to 40 mph in 2 seconds, then immediately
into a zero-G dive roll looping through inversion after inversion and
twice underground before coming to a halt. Then take a ride on Dueling
Dragons, the world’s first inverted, dueling (there’s two of them),
near-miss coasters. At certain points during the ride you’ll swear your
dangling feet almost touch those of the opposite dragon as it goes roaring
by.
Best Way to Spend an Evening Without the Kids
First check the children into one of the Universal resort’s excellent
child care centers. Then head to either Emerils at Citywalk, a classy spot
reminiscent of the New Orleans warehouse district with intoxicating
Creole/Cajun food or Tchuop Chop at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort,
one of the most beautiful restaurants in Orlando serving innovative
Asian/Polynesian fare. Afterward dance the night away at Universal’s
Citywalk. Buy a Party Pass for unlimited admission to all the nightclubs
and enjoy!
Best Resort Restaurant
It’s a toss up. Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific Resort for it’s
breathtakingly beautiful dining room and imaginative cuisine or Delfino
Riviera, Portofino Bay Hotel’s stylish and sophisticated Italian
restaurant perched above the piazza overlooking the bay.
Best Way to Spend an Afternoon Away From the Parks
Immerse yourself in luxury with one or two soothing spa treatments at
Portofino Bay’s Mandara Spa. Choose from a variety of massage, face,
anti-aging, and body treatments including Indonesian four hands massage
and Javanese Lulur. Follow this with an afternoon lazing beside one of the
resort’s three luxurious pools.
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