Orlando is blessed to have a number of iconic theme parks that attract millions of visitors every year. Whether you are visiting Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens or SeaWorld, you will likely be considering the myriad of options of where to stay. For those of you planning a trip to Universal, we have found the perfect option. With various on-site hotels and other options nearby, not only is this a difficult decision but one that you will certainly want to get right. Hopefully, after reading this post, you will realize why we consider the Loews brand to be the best Universal Studios hotel choice!
Loews is a luxury hotel brand that has over 25 locations across the United States and Canada. Although we had previously never stayed at a Loews hotel, we heard a lot of great things about the customer service and overall experience at the hotel.
At Universal Studios, Loews is fortunate to have five properties (soon to be six in the near future!), all of which offer distinctive features that will intrigue you to stay. The newest of the five properties is the Loews Sapphire Fall Resort and we were delighted to have the opportunity to stay here for two nights on our recent trip to Orlando.
Let’s find out why Sapphire Falls is such an amazing accommodation option and by the end of this post, if you are not ready to book a stay here, we will be extremely surprised!
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Information
History of the Loews Brand
The Loews brand is focused on delivering the perfect experience for all guests ranging from the business traveler to a family enjoying a long weekend getaway. The Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios certainly achieves this philosophy, continuing the long tradition of Loews Hotels that dates back to 1946 when brothers Larry and Bob Tisch purchased their first property in New Jersey.
Today, this innovative company has the next generation at its helm and is a premier name among luxury hotel brands. (Loews)
If you are planning a trip to Orlando and you agree that Loews is the best Universal Studios hotel option, you will be faced with the incredibly difficult decision of which hotel you want to stay at from the following list.
- Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort
- Loews Portofino Bay at Universal Orlando Resort
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando Resort
- Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando Resort
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando Resort
Depending on your budget, your interests and your style of travel will likely determine which option you choose. When we heard that Loews Sapphire Falls was the brands newest on-site hotel and that it “transports guests to a paradise in the heart of the tropics,” we quickly realized this was the perfect place for us.
Loews Sapphire Falls Location
Conveniently located just a short water taxi ride from the heart of Universal Studios’ theme parks, the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is the perfect option for anyone looking to enjoy everything Universal has to offer.
6601 Adventure Way,
Orlando, FL 32819
Tel: (888)430-4999
Website: Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
As you will see in our review, this hotel has plenty to offer, so even if you are not interested in experiencing the theme parks, this is still a viable option to enjoy the best of Orlando…just take a look at the breathtaking swimming pool!!
Relax at the Pool
After checking into the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, we headed to our room in tower 2 and immediately caught a glimpse of the highlight attraction – the gorgeous swimming pool! I will share more details about our room later but it’s fair to say, we literally dropped our bags, changed clothes and headed down to experience this amazing pool.
The resort-style swimming pool is open daily until 11:00 PM and is a great spot to relax late in the evening as you enjoy your favorite beverage at the poolside bar. The pool measures around 16,000 square feet, so you don’t have to worry about other guests being in your way as there is plenty of room to accommodate everyone.
Two white sand beaches offer a more realistic setting while the kids (or perhaps the adults!) can enjoy a thrilling water slide at one end of the pool.
One of the highlight attractions is the ability for guests to rent a private cabana on the side of the pool.
These fully-serviced cabanas include a flat-screen TV, refrigerator, and relaxing patio furniture to make your experience a little more luxurious.
Dining Options
Hotel guests have a variety of dining options available to them, ranging from the relaxed environment at New Dutch Trading Co. to the vibrant, modern setting inside the Amatista Cookhouse. For those that prefer to grab a bite to eat while relaxing by the gorgeous pool, there are several outdoor options available.
Let’s take a look at each of the dining options that may sway your opinion that the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is the perfect choice for you.
New Dutch Trading Co.
Start your day by grabbing your favorite espresso beverage at New Dutch Trading Co.
We visited this “grab and go” option both days before heading down to the pool to enjoy an early morning swim or relaxing in the gorgeous lobby area where this is ample seating for everyone to relax.
A wide variety of hot and iced coffee options are available while for those that prefer a little less caffeine, Tazo teas are available along with a range of cold beverages from the coolers.
Breakfast sandwiches, muffins, croissants, bagels and much more are all appetizing options but perhaps the real eye-catching area is the hand-scooped gelato with a number of flavors. You will certainly want to return here later in the day!
For those of you that are planning on relaxing at the hotel all day, you may want to consider purchasing a refillable Coca-Cola Freestyle cup for $12 per day (cheaper options are available for longer stays).
Amatista Cookhouse
The highlight dining experience at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is at Amatista Cookhouse. Get ready to enjoy a selection of Caribbean cuisine, freshly prepared in the open kitchen while enjoying the gorgeous surroundings of the resort.
Why not head outdoors to the patio area for a romantic meal as you enjoy the sight of the lagoon area with the water wheel, waterfalls and tropical landscape the perfect backdrop?
Amatista Cookhouse is open for guests to enjoy a breakfast buffet (or a la carte menu), lunch and dinner so regardless of your desire to experience the variety of restaurants nearby at the Universal CityWalk, you can be assured that you have a great dining option on-site to meet all your needs.
Strong Water Tavern
If you are looking for the perfect option for a late afternoon beverage or perhaps a nightcap, head over to Strong Water Tavern on the main lobby area to enjoy your favorite vintage rum or other drink.
Tapas style cuisine options are available but I think this is arguably the perfect place to catch up on some work while overlooking the gorgeous lagoon. Strong Water Tavern is advertised as the following…and I think it’s fair to say this is 100% correct!
this is a true destination lounge in the heart of an island jewel. (Loews)
Although we are by no means rum experts, we enjoyed our visit to Strong Water Tavern after a day exploring Universal Studios.
Drhum Club Kantine
An evening cocktail to end your day is definitely an experience you won’t want to miss and Drhum Club Kantine by the gorgeous pool is the place to do this. A delightful offering of seafood dishes with a hint of Mexican flavor is available at lunch or dinner, while those that prefer a more traditional burger will also be satisfied by the variety of options on the menu.
The signature cocktails are understandably a popular attraction for guests, so whether you are ready to sample a Reggae Rita or a frozen creamsicle, the Drhum Club bartenders will be raring to create the perfect concoction for you.
Hotel Rooms
All of the rooms at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort offer guests the opportunity to enjoy the island charm that is apparent throughout the hotel. Whether you are staying in a standard two queen room or one of the larger suites, you will find they are spacious, vibrant and offer a wealth of amenities to meet all your needs.
Views overlooking the lagoon or the resort pool ensure that there isn’t a bad room at this hotel and for those of you that really want the ultimate luxury experience, consider booking the Sapphire Suite that is more than 850 square feet.
Guests are known to have their very own “private island” when they stay inside this suite but regardless of your chosen accommodation, you can be sure that your stay will be the epitome of relaxation.
The bathroom was amazing, with a spacious shower and everything you need to relax after a long day by the pool or at Universal Studios.
Be sure to hop on the text messaging service that allows you to text the front desk/concierge for extra towels or anything else you may need during your stay. Enjoy room service delivered directly to your door with a large selection of options available.
Best Universal Studios Hotel
Are you convinced that Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is the best Universal Studios hotel choice? I am sure folks staying at other Loews hotels on the Universal Resorts property will argue otherwise but based on our experiences, there would need to be something pretty spectacular elsewhere to sway our opinion.
However, before making your final decision, we want to share just a couple more incentives that the Loews Sapphire Fall Resort provides to guests.
These benefits are actually available to guests staying at ALL five of the Loews properties!
- Early Park Admission – This is HUGE!! If you are an early-bird and want to take advantage of this extra hour, you can enjoy many of Universal Studios’ attractions before any of the large crowds hit! This feature includes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s brand-new water park, Volcano Bay.
- Complimentary water taxis and shuttle buses – We used the water taxis multiple times each day and it’s an awesome service. I believe they are scheduled to run every 7-10 minutes but we honestly found that every time one taxi was leaving, another one was pulling in (or within a few minutes!). We strongly recommend using this because the short journey passes through a gorgeous stretch of a lagoon with a myriad of tropical surroundings.
- Complimentary delivery of merchandise – Visitors to Universal Studios will undoubtedly purchase souvenirs and memorabilia during their visit. Rather than worrying about carrying these everywhere, guests at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort can have these delivered directly to the hotel.
Summary
It’s fair to say that we have quickly fallen in love with the Loews hotel brand and this is thanks to the amazing experience we had at the Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios in Orlando. We may be a little biased given that we stayed here and if all of the other Loews hotels are similar to Sapphire Falls, you will have no problems at any of these locations.
If you are looking for a tropical paradise without having to travel all the way to Bora Bora, the Maldives or even the Caribbean, be sure to consider Sapphire Falls as a viable alternative. The meticulous detail throughout the hotel makes this an incredible experience for all guests and we are already planning our next vacation to this resort!
Disclaimer – We would like to thank Loews Sapphire Falls Resort for hosting us for a two-night stay in exchange for consideration of a blog post review. These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.