Hotel suggestion for Univ Studios Hollywood

[jperry]

hi guys-returning after several years as my 18 year old son is graduating high school (yipee!) with a 4.0 and also his AA degree So he picked a trip to DCA for 5 days with a quick 1 day stop at Universal to see harry potter for his his graduation present. probably going to hit the 2nd week in august for a day at the beach and a day at universal-would really like a hotel that has a shuttle to universal (if its not walking distance-we are active so could definitely walk a mile no problem to get there) as parking looks like its $25, and also free continental breakfast (hey, 18 and a 16 year old...bottomless pits!). So, the wife and i have been searching online for a few hours, but figured i would check the forum as i value everyone's opinion on here rather than some blogger or newspaper ! Would like a nice clean place, but not fancy-it looks like most of the places charge for parking and we are driving, so thats why the shuttle thing or walking distance. Don't feel like paying $20 to park at the hotel and another $25 to park at the park (that will eat up our in-n-out budget!) Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated !
jp
ps-we have our stay at DCA all dialed in, so this would be a separate place just for the beach/Universal. we stay at the PP and its pretty spendy so we don't really want to spend the extra 2 days at the Pier at that price if that makes sense.

[JerrodDRagon]

Sheraton Universal Hotel is very much in walking distance but kinda pricey



BLVD Hotel & Spa is a little more of a walk or the Nite Inn or Universal Inn....and you could always drive to Metro Lot. Get a Metro Card and pay about 5 bucks for parking if you want to and then go across to Universal Shuttle

[jperry]

Thanks JDR-yes, we have those on the list so good to know our research has us on the right track. (1/2 the fun for me is planning way ahead and doing as much research as i can-we are super familiar with DL/DCA but Universal is a whole new thang for us)
jp

[SaskMouse]

We just got back from a stay at Hilton Universal. It was fabulous. The parking IS $28/night. But it is walking distance to the park/Universal City and there is a free shuttle, whichever suits you best. Very nice hotel. Excellent service. We booked early, so got a relatively decent price, but note that the prices seem to go up the closer you get to your dates.

[Whipland]

ps-we have our stay at DCA all dialed in, so this would be a separate place just for the beach/Universal. we stay at the PP and its pretty spendy so we don't really want to spend the extra 2 days at the Pier at that price if that makes sense.

In my opinion you really don't need to book a separate hotel for a one day visit to Universal Studios, just take transportation from your DCA hotel for the few side things you are planning to do. Why waste many hours in check out / check in for something that would only be about an hour drive at worst from your Disney based hotel?

BTW, the beaches in SoCal are BOTH northwest AND southwest from either the Los Angeles or Orange County central locations. From the Disney parks I would recommend beaches form Newport/Balboa, Huntington Beach, or Sunset and Seal Beach. Seems like many visitors think that Venice Beach is the only beach in SoCal. In my opinion if you like dealing with street/sketchy people by all means go to Venice or Santa Monica, but there are much better beaches than that in my opinion.

[SaskMouse]

In my opinion you really don't need to book a separate hotel for a one day visit to Universal Studios, just take transportation from your DCA hotel for the few side things you are planning to do. Why waste many hours in check out / check in for something that would only be about an hour drive at worst from your Disney based hotel?

BTW, the beaches in SoCal are BOTH northwest AND southwest from either the Los Angeles or Orange County central locations. From the Disney parks I would recommend beaches form Newport/Balboa, Huntington Beach, or Sunset and Seal Beach. Seems like many visitors think that Venice Beach is the only beach in SoCal. In my opinion if you like dealing with street/sketchy people by all means go to Venice or Santa Monica, but there are much better beaches than that in my opinion.

Having done both, I have to respectfully disagree. The drive from DL to Universal and then back again can be quite unpleasant, which is not welcome after a full day at either park. Plus, we really enjoy having a beer during the day at Universal, and then a beer or two with our meal afterwards. Since we have zero tolerance for any drinking and driving, the hotel allows us to relax and enjoy ourselves without any worries about driving. There are many great places for a beer at City Walk, and having the entire evening to explore them and then walk back to our hotel was fabulous. Plus the Hilton is a great hotel.

Huntington Beach is a great choice to satisfy any beach-going desires.

[Whipland]

y

Having done both, I have to respectfully disagree. The drive from DL to Universal and then back again can be quite unpleasant, which is not welcome after a full day at either park. Plus, we really enjoy having a beer during the day at Universal, and then a beer or two with our meal afterwards. Since we have zero tolerance for any drinking and driving, the hotel allows us to relax and enjoy ourselves without any worries about driving. There are many great places for a beer at City Walk, and having the entire evening to explore them and then walk back to our hotel was fabulous. Plus the Hilton is a great hotel.

Huntington Beach is a great choice to satisfy any beach-going desires.

I guess being a SoCal native and having worked for several years at 10 Universal City Plaza (the former MCA building now Comcast NBC Universal), my opinion on city walk and the many obnoxious drunks and others there- especially during the summer months, has likely jaded my viewpoint. I would much rather stay anywhere other than that area.

Personally the only good thing that was ever at Universal was the Amphitheater venue, sadly now gone.

[SaskMouse]

I guess being a SoCal native and having worked for several years at 10 Universal City Plaza (the former MCA building now Comcast NBC Universal), my opinion on city walk and the many obnoxious drunks and others there- especially during the summer months, has likely jaded my viewpoint. I would much rather stay anywhere other than that area.

Personally the only good thing that was ever at Universal was the Amphitheater venue, sadly now gone.

Went two nights. Never saw anyone I would consider to be an 'obnoxious' drunk.

[Whipland]

Went two nights. Never saw anyone I would consider to be an 'obnoxious' drunk.

You are lucky. Lots of people come to citywalk just to get drunk.

"At 1:15am on May 12, 2014, a man was shot and killed by police officers at Universal CityWalk. Officers were called to a fight in a crowd in a club. They were confronted by the man carrying a gun."

[JerrodDRagon]

You are lucky. Lots of people come to citywalk just to get drunk.

"At 1:15am on May 12, 2014, a man was shot and killed by police officers at Universal CityWalk. Officers were called to a fight in a crowd in a club. They were confronted by the man carrying a gun."

I mean it happened at 1 AM....I don't think I've ever been at City Walk Later than Midnight

Most people wont see them if they are going to the theme park

[jcruise86]

I mean it happened at 1 AM....I don't think I've ever been at City Walk Later than Midnight

Most people wont see them if they are going to the theme park

I like to leave the parks and eat at Karl Strauss in City Walk. I've felt like City Walk had a safer crowd than Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, but I could be wrong.

Also, speaking of hotels, my daughter & I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Burbank last Halloween after Horror Nights so we wouldn't have to drive all the way home. We liked that and might do that again.