Jay Quirk
The convenience of shuttles to and from the parks is fantastic. Having your room card hold money for use in both the hotel and parks is convenient and a great way to have family members have purchasing power without needing everyone to carry their wallets and purses.
The Breakaway Cafe is not fancy, but provides exactly what hungry travelers need at the end of the day and I thoroughly enjoyed the pizza and made to order pasta. The pool was the perfect way to settle down after a hot day and even with so much to do, we still used the TV in our downtime to relax and could always find just the right show to watch.
Blake
Overall we were not happy with our stay here. Early admission to Universal Studios is NOT included with a stay here, which I believed it would be according to their advertisements. That alone felt like bait and switch and left a bad impression. The rooms are uncomfortable, the beds are low-quality. It is very noisy in the hotel and even normal volume conversations in the adjacent rooms can be heard very clearly. Imagine what other things you will hear! The bathroom had many things not working and our room felt humid and wet the entire stay. Parking costs over $18 per night and it can be a very long walk back to your room. The food at the restaurant looked awful (burgers and pizza) and other guests advised us not to eat it and we avoided it. There is a Starbucks in the lobby and the quality and service there was what you would expect. Many guests were having food delivered instead of eating at the hotel.
The staff was friendly and the shuttle to City Walk was convenient.
LOULou Jazzy
Brilliant hotel and great location. If we were to holiday in Florida again we would definitely come back here.
The staff were pleasant upon arrival. The room was lovely, clean and spacious.
The pool area was brilliant, bar staff friendly and plenty of loungers.
The free bus shuttle is great and very frequent.
We ate several times in the hotel and the food was lovely.
Jessiah D.
Upon first impression, the hotel presents itself well, but the experience does not justify the steep costs. It's exasperating to pay such high rates for rooms only to find out that parking incurs an additional, significant fee. No amenities are complimentary, which feels disproportionate to the room rates. The accommodations themselves left much to be desired. There was a notable absence of a closet space, diminishing the room's utility and comfort. The bedding appeared tired and the mattress was less than comfortable, contributing to a less restful night. Soundproofing is inadequate, as conversations from neighboring rooms were easily audible. Moreover, the bathroom was cramped and its door failed to shut completely. I advise against dining in the hotel—the food did not meet expectations. Positives include a helpful shuttle service to nearby attractions and a commendable staff. The pool area is spacious and remains open late, which is a plus. However, these few benefits do not offset the overall disappointing value.
Stacey Gifford
We had a great stay at Surfside! Early access to Harry Potter World and free shuttle are completely worth it alone. It's definitely a family hotel and no-frills, but the price point is super reasonable for a 2-bed suite, which was perfect for our family of 4 and the staff are all extremely friendly and helpful. We enjoyed coming back to the pool after a day in the parks and then returning to CityWalk for dinner - make sure you make restaurant reservations ahead of time!