rewrite this title Universal Helios Grand Hotel Review: Stunning Views, Steep Prices – NerdWallet

The Universal Helios Grand Hotel is spectacular for one big reason: its unbeatable view into Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park. The “Park View” rooms and the hotel’s rooftop bar, Bar Helios, offer sweeping vistas of the theme park. And since the hotel has its own private entrance to Epic Universe, it’s convenient for park visitors.

Despite the prime location, the Universal Helios Grand Hotel’s prices are tough to justify when it’s not difficult to find a quality hotel in Orlando for less than $200 per night. Room rates at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel easily top $700 per night. Even other Universal-owned hotels within walking distance — Stella Nova and Terra Luna — typically come in at less than $300 per night, though they lack the views and private park entrance.

I didn’t stay the night, but I recently toured the new Universal Helios Grand Hotel during a media preview ahead of Epic Universe’s opening. I left dreaming of a return visit with my own room keys in hand, but with the high price, it’s unlikely I ever will.

However, if gazing at the park — especially lit up after dark from your bed — is on your bucket list, then the Universal Helios Grand Hotel delivers.

The Universal Helios Grand Hotel sits at the edge of Epic Universe, and there’s a private hotel guest entrance leading right into the park. For guests who plan to spend most of their time at Epic Universe, you truly can’t beat this location.

But the location can make you feel trapped on an Epic Universe island. Epic Universe is about a 15-minute drive from the heart of Universal Orlando Resort, which includes two other parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure), a water park and the Universal CityWalk dining and entertainment district.

Universal provides complimentary shuttle buses from the Helios Grand Hotel to the resort hub, but it doesn’t offer the same pleasant experience as strolling or riding a water taxi from Universal’s older hotels. Instead, you’re riding what feels like a city bus past strip malls and a TGI Fridays. It’s functional, but not exactly magical.

And besides Epic Universe, there’s basically nothing within walking distance of the Universal Helios Grand Hotel besides Universal’s two budget-oriented hotels — Stella Nova and Terra Luna — which you don’t need to visit unless you’re staying there.

Standard guest rooms with a king bed are fairly compact at about 340 square feet, with space for a rollaway bed to accommodate four guests total. For a room this costly, you might find it a bit smaller than you expected.

Still, rooms are well-designed with modern touches, like a 55-inch smart TV, mini refrigerator and coffee maker.

Bathrooms also feel luxurious, with high-end toiletries and rainfall shower heads. A touchscreen tablet controls the lighting, temperature and blinds, making it easy to adjust settings without having to fumble with multiple switches.

You can book bigger suites, which, of course, are more expensive. The How to Train Your Dragon Kids’ Suite is ideal for families. At 545-square-feet, it features two bedrooms. One room has the standard theme seen across the other hotel rooms, but the second room features two twin beds with a viking-inspired headboard and themed wallpaper.

I expected this suite to have views of the Isle of Berk (that’s the world within the park themed to the film). Instead, the How to Train Your Dragon Kids’ Suite I toured had among the worst views in the whole hotel: a parking and loading area.

Key amenities at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel

The hotel’s standout feature is its exclusive park entrance into Universal’s Epic Universe. Off the main lobby, hotel guests have access to a private security checkpoint and gate that leads directly into the park’s central hub.

This helps Helios guests easily access the park each morning without waiting in long public lines. When paired with Universal’s early entry perk (more on that later), it can essentially get guests to the front of the ride lines.

The convenience throughout the day is fantastic, too, as you can come and go freely if you forgot something in your room or just need a mid-day break.

Note that you do need a valid park ticket and your room key (or proof of a dining reservation at one of the restaurants) to use the private entrance. It’s not open to the general public.

Helios Grand’s pool, dubbed Lotus Lagoon, is a stylish, zero-entry pool (meaning it has a gentle slope entry like a beach). It’s surrounded by palm trees and umbrellas that create a Mediterranean vibe.

Cabanas are available to rent for an additional fee.

The pool doesn’t have any extravagant water features or slides, so kids seeking maximum stimulation might be disappointed. Consider this more of a relaxing, upscale pool.

While I only peeked in during the tour, I saw that the gym was well-equipped with a variety of cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes) and a selection of weight machines and free weights.

Floor-to-ceiling windows brought in lots of natural light.

There’s also an arcade with a typical selection of video games. As with most hotel arcades, it costs about $1 to $3 per play for each game.

Standard Universal Orlando hotel perks

Staying at the Helios Grand Hotel comes with the same Universal Orlando on-site hotel benefits offered across all its Orlando properties (yes, even the Stella Nova down the road that’s less than half the price of Helios).

Helios Grand gives its guests early entry access to the Universal Orlando theme parks. This means you can enter the parks up to one hour before the official opening time to hop in line for select attractions with shorter lines. This is one of the best perks of staying at a Universal hotel, and it might mean you won’t have to buy a Universal Express Pass (Universal’s version of a fast pass) if you can hit your must-do attractions early in the day.

There’s no free airport shuttle, but at least there’s a free shuttle across all of Universal’s parks. The shuttles run often and are complimentary, so you won’t need a rental car to get around Universal.

Another neat benefit is complimentary merchandise delivery to your hotel. If you go on a souvenir shopping spree in the theme parks, you don’t have to lug them around all day. Universal’s gift shops will send your purchases to Helios Grand’s gift shop or bell services, and you can pick them up later (often the next day).

Keep in mind it typically isn’t available on your departure day (since deliveries happen overnight), so use it early in your trip. Still, it’s a fantastic benefit that costs nothing extra.

Universal Helios Grand Hotel restaurants

Across the hotel, the culinary theme is Mediterranean-inspired with a modern twist, fitting the hotel’s sun-kissed Greek god Helios motif. Here’s a breakdown of each dining establishment.

Located just off the lobby, this upscale-casual restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a light, airy space with an open kitchen and both indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the gardens of Celestial Park.

The menu has options for picky and non-adventurous eaters like eggs and bacon for breakfast and pizza during the day. The restaurant also has more unique offerings like shawarma-spiced beef hash for breakfast and octopus or seared halloumi cheese later in the day. I didn’t dine there, but the staff told me the baklava French toast ($28) is worth coming back for.

This is the hotel’s star dining facility, which opens in the late afternoon and stays open until past midnight on most weekends.

The central, circular bar has a dramatic domed ceiling painted with golden constellations. If you can’t get a seat under the dome, head outside to the terrace which offers views of Celestial Park — especially ideal if you can time your reservation with sunset.

Reservations are recommended particularly on weekends or during sunset. The restaurant uses Resy as its reservation system, a win for holders of certain American Express cards.

For example, the American Express® Gold Card offers up to $50 in statement credits twice a year at U.S. Resy restaurants (enrollment required). With The Platinum Card® from American Express, cardholders can access exclusive reservations held specifically at prime times, as well as priority notifications when tables open up at restaurants that were previously booked. Terms apply.

Food and drinks aren’t cheap — most cocktails cost more than $20 before tax and tip — but you’re paying for the vibes and views.

And hey, if you don’t want to buy a park ticket but want to still be able to see it (albeit from a bird’s-eye view), a round of drinks at Bar Helios might just be the cheapest way to see Epic Universe.

Located at the pool of the same name, the Lotus Lagoon is pretty much your standard pool bar with salads, burgers and fries. The drink menu is more creative with frozen cocktails, including the signature prosecco popsicle, a glass of prosecco with a fruity popsicle that slowly melts into the drink.

This is the spot for a quick bite or specialty coffee on the way to the parks. There’s some Mediterranean flair here, but nothing to go out of the way for.

Lines can get long in the morning, but if you’re headed inside Epic Universe anyway, don’t panic. There are two Starbucks locations inside the park, which serve similar fare to what you’ll find in Aurora.

Universal Helios Grand Hotel: Is it worth it?

If Epic Universe is the star of your trip, Helios’s location is unbeatable. The convenience of popping in and out of your room for a midday break (or skipping the shuttle or parking upon arrival and departure) is a huge perk.

But if you’re planning to spend more time at the original Universal parks, you might be happier at a more centrally located hotel like Loews Portofino Bay Hotel or Hard Rock Hotel, where you can walk to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

And don’t overlook the cost. Helios is one of the priciest hotels you can book anywhere in Orlando. Even notoriously lavish hotels like The Ritz-Carlton Orlando and the Conrad Orlando are typically cheaper than the Universal Helios Grand Hotel.

For Epic Universe fans, a stay here might be a bucket list experience. For everyone else, walking through the lobby and stopping for a drink at Bar Helios would be sufficient.