Universal Orlando invited members of the media to tour around and get a first look inside Endless Summer Resort as Surfside Inn & Suites before it opens to the public.
Set to open June 27th, Surfside Inn & Suites introduces extra affordability with the introduction of the Value category, offering the lowest rates of any Resort hotel; with rates starting as low as $73 per night for a 7-night stay. With such a low price point, while still offering all of the on-site amenities, Universal states that pre-bookings have been some of the strongest in Universal’s resort history.
During our visit, workers were still adding the final touches around the resort, so we were not able to experience Surfside Inn & Suites in its totality. When the resort officially opens, it will be adding 750 rooms to Universal’s portfolio, bringing the total resort rooms to 7,000. The number will grow by 2,000 when the adjacent Dockside Inn and Suites opens next year.
Located on the former site of Wet ‘n’ Wild, the hotel is very reminiscent of Cabana Bay. While Cabana Bay celebrates the beachside motels of an era past with bright and bold colors, Surfside is very modern – with a feeling of an easy-going beach vibe, with clean and relaxing tones.
Guests who stay at Surfside will still receive early park admission, complimentary resort-wide transportation, and charging privileges with their room key.
Surfside Inn and Suites will offer two different types of rooms: the standard room and the two-bedroom suite. The suites include two separate rooms, a kitchenette area, a picnic table, and bathroom; and can sleep up to sleep six. Each room features a coastal theme, with bright and beachy colors.
The on-site restaurant, the Beach Break Cafe, will offer a variety of stations serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. The pool at Surfside is very large and feels very isolated, which is great considering the location of the resort. Surrounded by each hotel tower, the pool also has a great view of the lake. The poolside bar, The Sand Bar, offers frozen drinks, cocktails, beer and wine. Since the hotel is all about value, Universal made an effort to not feature any item over $12.
The hotel’s location may be questioned by some, as it is technically not on the main Universal property. During our visit, we didn’t feel like it was an issue – but we also did not stay the night. As stated before, the pool was closed off, so it offered privacy from the outside. Transportation to and from the Universal hub is actually faster than traveling by bus from Aventura or Cabana. Unless your view isn’t the poolside rooms, it may not be something you notice.
Universal is touting Endless Summer Resort as one of the most affordable resorts on property, and if you’re looking to get all the goodies that staying on-site offers while not breaking the bank, Surfside Inn & Suites is definitely something you may want to consider booking.
Surfside Inn & Suites is set to open on June 27th. The remainder of the Endless Summer Resort will be complete when Dockside Inn & Suites opens in March 2020.
