Universal Orlando takes the guesswork out of choosing a hotel

After touring various Universal hotels and staying in three of them, there does seem to be a price point and style for almost any traveler. It's impressive that Universal and Loews have made each hotel unique as it is. There's the music-themed Hard Rock Hotel; Loews Portofino Bay, which replicates the coastal Italian town's harbor; the laid-back surfer vibe of Surfside Inn and Suites; and the space theme at Universal Stella Nova Resort among them.

Guests can choose to go all-in on rooms that showcase Universal Intellectual property (there are four suites in the Signature collection themed to specific Universal lands). They can decide they want a view of the Volcano Bay's towering crater or to be walking distance to Universal Islands of Adventure. They can base hotel selection on whether it has the best waterslide or a rooftop bar.

With so many options and different characteristics to consider, Universal tried to narrow it somewhat with those three categories. As [Kate] Thomas told me, it's easier to research three hotels than 11.

Read the full story here: A fresh look at Universal Orlando's hotel options: Travel Weekly