Headed out to LA and looking for a great place to stay that will keep you very close to Universal CityWalk? Look no further as nestled up on Universal Hollywood Drive sits a hotel waiting to be found by you and your family. I recently traveled to the Sheraton Universal on a press trip and enjoyed all the location had to offer. Want to see a bit of the inside of the hotel as well as some of the food they serve? You have come to the right website, because I took plenty of photos and videos to share with you. Get ready to lavishly live travel out loud at the “Hotel Of Stars” situated super close to Universal CityWalk, California!
Exhausted from a truly long flight from the East Coast that started at 4AM EST and ended at 1:30PM PST I could not wait to freshen up, and jump onto my bed and just relax. I really felt like I had been traveling for about 24 hours so the plush carpet that greeted my feet and the welcoming staff was truly an amenity I could not have done without. When you walk inWhen we pulled up, the first thing I noticed was a large foyer, marble, and lovely carpets waiting to greet me! Valet service was outside helping with each vehicle that arrived and everyone was quite friendly.
Pulling up to the Sheraton Universal I was greeted by palms, and greenery as well as a friendly staff waiting to set me on my way to my room.(it’s the small things:)
This is one view from my room and as the sun began to set or when it would just peek out early in the morning, the look of the mountainside took on a whole new look. The speckles are the window, not my camera, they window needed cleaned but nonetheless you can see how pretty it was.
This was my bed, check out the mounds of pillows that were waiting for my sleepy head, that truly never rested while I was there!
Want to see what the room looked like as an overall? I can grant you that wish, take a look at my 15 second video, filmed right in my room.
My one gripe with the heating and cooling Sheraton Universal
Want to see what the room looked like as an overall? I can grant you that wish, take a look at my 15 second video, filmed right in my room.I was not in a room that had a lanai, nor did my windows open. You should know this if you plan to travel here in the cooler months because this is what I found out: if you are there during their cooler months, the air conditioning does not exist, rather the heat takes over and let me tell you the rooms get balmy, like 82 degrees balmy. First I thought it was pure jet lag, you know when you are tired and nothing feels right, and you believe that the humidity is getting to you, or the air, but it was not that.
I called the front desk 3x to let them know that my air conditioner was not working and they never suggested changing rooms. They did inform me that when the temp outside hits a certain level, the air conditioner in this part of the building no longer works, and if you attempt to run it the heat kicks in instead and oh does the heat kick in. No fan, no air circulation and no windows to open, let me tell you, it gets HOT! I had no way to make my room cooler, other than opening the door to the hallway(not a great solution). If you get a room in the other part of the hotel, you do have doors that open to lanai’s so you can let the air in. In the morning, after my meal was delivered and the room service attendant commented on how stinking hot it was in my room, I went to the concierge, but I was headed out for a day of press and would not be back until late. After going to the concierge in the morning, he approached the front desk attendants on my behalf to lobby for a different room, which personally should have been taken care of when I originally called the night before. They did offer to change my room, or for ME to change my room, but I was going to be gone from that morning until 11p that night. When I returned, though I wanted to change my room, I was not feeling well and did not want to pack up my room, and then move everything at that hour, so I stayed yet another night in balmy city!
Room Service
This is one of the nicest hotel room services I have experience in a while. From order to delivery it was about 45 minutes, so I either got ready to leave in the morning and ordered or I ordered when I was getting ready to wind down. The downside is room service closed at 11 and we had gotten in late on a night, so I had to hurry to order. The upside, the food was amazing every time, no matter what I ordered and the servers quite awesome as well.
Here is my breakfast from a few mornings, and please note Starbucks Coffee!
Speaking of Starbucks.. in the lobby, across from the front desk terminals you will find a Starbucks Satellite by morning and a Bar by night, so you never have to worry about fresh coffee. Additionally, my room had a coffee maker in it so I could brew coffee or tea day and night at my own convenience.
Now, I needed a quick snack because I had not eaten for 6 hours and I was starved and we woudl not be eating until much later. This is the Margherita Pizza and it was delicious. Thin crust, cooked just right and it was huge!
As for the bathroom, I loved the shelves that were by my sink, it helped keep everything off the sink and out of the toilet, was right above the sink(a bit too close). There was a hair dryer in the room as well as a safe and a full length mirror which is so far and few between. I loved the mirror so I could make sure my outfits came together before going out into the hall and trying to catch a glimpse in the elevator.
What I did not find in the hotel and I really needed was a built-in iPhone charger or multiple outlets in my room. The alarm clock and lights that were there took up many of the outlets and being there on a press trip, I really needed to charge things like: iPhone, Tablet, Camera, backup batteries(from the days’ events) etc. I found myself trading charging time off with items and high jacking power from my one USB Charging port that was to be used while on the road. The desk that was there was great for working and I loved the television for my wind down time as well(I know bad habit, but I am an entertainment girl!).
As for being close to CityWalk, it is about 10 minutes away and a glass elevator ride close, but I would not suggest walking in stiletto, cause I don’t think you will make it.
I appreciated the palms and the greenery along the way, remember I am from Pittsburgh and we don’t have year round greenery nor do we have palms, so each was a pleasant addition to my trip! I also did not actually situate my camera properly for this, so I apologize ahead, it was just an impromptu video I took and really just decided to share.
The hotel is on it’s own, but CityWalk is close enough. There is valet parking available and a parking garage. There were families there as well as business clients, a fair mix of each, if you are curious. The hotel was clean, and he beds were comfortable. This is in close proximity to many other attractions in the area, and it is about 45 minutes away from LAX(at least that is what it took me to get there from the airport). Make sure you bring your walking shoes so you can get out and about. A trek to CityWalk is a must. Here’s to lavishly living out loud in LA, at the Sheraton Universal!
