Clarion Inn & Suites Across From Universal Orlando Resort

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

779 reviews

• 

  Clean Bargain Priced Motel

  Super clean rooms and bathrooms! I have stayed at most of the hotels across from Universal and this one has been the cleanest by far! Room doors open to the outside which gives it a motel feel - but very quiet all three nights we stayed and safe (located right behind a luxury apartment complex and medical center). As a single traveling woman with daughter I never felt uneasy. Good bar and cafe in front lobby open most hours of the day. 20 min easy walk to Universal. Price is the cheapest in the area and a good bargain for those that stay for the park.

  Nov 30, 2025
• 

  Could have been better

  Great location near the parks, but my stay had some issues. As a Diamond member I was disappointed there was no recognition at check-in. The lighting in the living area was so poor I ran into the table, and the AC split between the living room and bedroom made the temps uncomfortable. Trash sat in the hallways for days, and my room had some wall stains that made it feel less clean. The water temperature was perfect and the location can’t be beat, but the on-site restaurant was pricey with food that didn’t impress. Facing the pool meant hearing guests past midnight, which made it tough to rest — closing the pool earlier would help. Not perfect, but I’d give this place another shot for the location alone.

  Sep 30, 2025
• 

  Decent Night’s Stay, Conveniently Located!

  I chose this hotel because it was literally across the way from Universal and it offered free bus rides to/from Universal. I, however, did not completely enjoy my stay here. Firstly, the receptionist didn’t speak English very well so I don’t think she understood English very well either as she had a difficult time explaining how to find my room. It was very confusing to me, the way she was trying to explain directions. She kept telling me to drive around the back but I spent about 45 minutes driving around and around the different buildings trying to find “Building 5”. I kept seeing every building EXCEPT 5. OI finally figured out that Building 5 was in the center of the complex so if you’re assigned to Building 5, you actually walk through the courtyard looking area, with all the plants, next to the gym, between the office building & gym. She was perceptive enough to give me a bottom floor so I greatly appreciated that. Another issue is that the ice machine is located all the way around to the back, in Building 1. Why isn’t there an ice machine near building 5 or perhaps the office? I’m mobility challenged so it’s a struggle to walk that far to get ice & it’s just plain silly for to drive around to the ice machine. I was disappointed that I was unable to use ice for my ice pack on my swollen feet & ankles. Another issue was that I didn’t understand the window curtains. I didn’t notice or see the third set of curtains against the window so I had to leave the curtains open the first night & next day as well. As I was walking back to my room, I saw the adjacent room’s curtains drawn so I knew there had to be curtains in my room so I looked again but more thoroughly & finally saw the curtains that drew closed. The set closest to the room are stationary & are just for show so just keep that in mind, the curtains you close are against the window. Another thing to note is that you’re supposed to make a reservation to utilize the bus to Universal. The bus driver gets really upset if you didn’t make a reservation although he’ll take you anyway, he makes it known that you’re supposed to make a reservation. Also take note that you catch the bus back to the hotel BEHIND the elevator on the ground floor at Universal, same area as the regular hotel busses but go BEHIND THE ELEVATOR! Or just ask a security officer there at the bus drop off, they’ll tell you where to go. The bus drivers were not friendly nor very helpful at all but it’s a free ride so I can’t complain. The hotel has several places to eat inside the main office building but are charged separately so it’s not included in the hotel room price. The hotel looked like it was recently updated, it was very clean, still smelled of fresh paint & the bed was VERY comfortable and had a variety of pillows that had different levels of softness. The shower had a safety bar inside the shower so I greatly appreciated that. The water pressure wasn’t all that great but worked nonetheless. It took a minute to find the refrigerator, it’s behind a cabinet door, beneath the tv. There’s no microwave and the only convenient outlet is beneath the tv so I had to unplug the lamp & tv to use the outlet. There’s a second outlet on the other side of the tv but my cord was too short to reach so consider using a 10’ cord to reach the top of the cabinet, if you plan on using it to charge any devices. There’s a table blocking the connecting door to the adjacent room but someone actually tried to open the door from the adjacent room! So scary! The hotel is in a decent location. It’s very close to Walmart & fast food places so it was conveniently located and easy to get in/out but you can’t turn left out of the parking lot, you must turn right then make a U-Turn so just be aware of that. The hotel parking is narrow & has minimal parking available in front but should be enough parking for each room in the adjacent buildings. I’d definitely consider staying here again in the future. Despite the initial issues I had, I know what to do now to avoid any of those particular issues in the future. I had a decent night’s stay & any issues I mentioned don’t deter me from staying here again.

  Sep 01, 2025
• 

  Very happy.

  Very happy with my stay the hotel is currently being renovated. The rooms are comfy with 2 queen beds a coffee maker flat screen TV with plenty of channels. The location is ideal just off International Drive facing the Icon park. The pool is relatively small with tables and chairs and sun loungers. I was usually the only person using the pool which is ideal. There is a free shuttle bus to universal and sea world. I would definitely recommend this is my 3rd time here.

  Jun 18, 2025
• 

  This is a MOTEL!!

  I hardly know where to begin. I stayed at a Clarion in Charlotte a few months ago and had a great experience, so when I saw the reviews for this location, I assumed it would be similar. Unfortunately, that was not the case. First, this is a motel, not a hotel. All the rooms have exterior doors, which I would not have chosen if I had realized beforehand—especially while traveling with a child. The online photos were misleading, as the only exterior images shown were of the pool area, which gave the impression of balconies rather than motel-style access. Second, the water barely got past lukewarm, and that was only after letting it run for an extended period. After long days at the park, all I wanted was a hot shower, but that was not possible. Third, the television had very few cable channels, and the local channels appeared to be dependent on an antenna, as we constantly received a weak signal message. Fourth, the hotel has a policy of servicing rooms only on the third day to promote energy efficiency. On the morning of day three, I gathered all the used linens and towels for housekeeping, expecting service while we were out. However, when we returned, nothing had been done. I had to walk outside to the front desk just to request fresh towels. Lastly, the air conditioning unit only produced cool air, even when set to 80°F. Nighttime temperatures dropped to 56°F, and at times, the unit wouldn’t even turn off. We had to cover it with a poncho and a towel just to block the cold air. This was the worst hotel stay I have ever had. I did contact the front desk to report these issues, and maintenance visited twice, stating they would inform management. However, nothing was ever resolved. I considered requesting a refund but knew that booking through a third party would make that process difficult. Next time, I will spend the extra $200 for a better experience. In this case, I truly got what I paid for.

  Feb 22, 2025