Reviews of Clarion Universal Hotel, Universal Studios, Florida

The Clarion Universal is an...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr J S Montgomery

Comments:

The Clarion Universal is an older hotel situated at the nort end of I Drive close to the Universal Parks. Upon arrival we were tired and had just driven through a torrential thunderstorm and the very friendly receptionist couldn't have done more to make us feel welcome. My son (16) and Daughter (12) my wife and I upgraded to a suite as the ordinary rooms would have been just too cramped and were given a suite on the second floor.



The word suite is being generous as it is just a larger room with a microwave, fridge and (lord be praised) a computer. We needed a roll away bed for our son and this was waived, as we upgraded making it very reasonable $20 per night ( bed $10 per night ). This suite was clean but showed lots of wear and tear with the bathroom especially looking very shabby. We had been travelling for 22 hours approx with transfers and my wife was very upset.



We spoke to the receptionist and were immediately shown another identical but recently refurbished room on the 8th floor which was much better, the staff really could not have done more to resolve the issue.



We made the cardinal mistake on our first trip to Florida of trying to do too much and had tickets for everywhere and this made for many tiring, long days trying to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms in the parks.



The shopping was excellent, eating out a pleasure and very reasonable, we found Bahama Breeze to be excellent and the Black Angus Steakhouse does a mean t-bone.



Overall we loved Florida and have already booked a villa for next year with friends.



The Clarion is as good as it can be within an older building that is definately showing its years.

The hotel was clean & tidy,...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Mr N Johnson

Comments:

The hotel was clean & tidy, nice reception area, big rooms with two double beds. The rooms were cleaned every day, clean sheets, clean towels etc.



The only downside was the air con was really loud & wakes you up and the room smelt of smoke even though it was a non smoking room, the lift also smelt of smoke on occasions.



Good shop with all essentials. Nice sized pool with sun deck & Jacuzzi’s but not enough loungers for amount of people staying.



Clean towels provided around pool all day. Saw two snakes around pool area so glad we didn't have a ground floor room.