Loews Sapphire Falls Resort will become Universal Orlando’s fifth on-site hotel, adding to the already amazing lineup of hotels on property. It was previously announced that the hotel will welcome guests on July 14th… and I’ll be staying here about a month after that date. As excited as I am to stay at this all-new hotel, this article will not discuss my excitement but rather what you should know about Sapphire Falls.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort was first announced in September of 2014; it was announced that it was to be located adjacent to Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. With the hotel just weeks away from opening, guests will soon be able to enter the tropical Caribbean-inspired paradise where cascading waterfalls soothe the soul as they intake the beauty of a leisurely estate in the heart of the tropics. Sapphire Falls allows ordinary guests to escape reality and relax with every comfort.
The hotel is inspired by magnificent landmarks and architectural ruins from islands throughout the Caribbean. In fact, the waterfall seen at the lagoon is actually inspired by Jamaica’s iconic Dunn’s River Falls. Every aspect of the the new hotel provides the setting of an island charm.
Sapphire Falls Resort greets you with a waterfall cascading into a sparkling pond and ruins of the stone turret in the lobby. The hotel is beyond impressive! Whether you stay in a standard room, king suite, kids suite, hospitality suite, or sapphire suite, you’re guaranteed to adore the vivid and cozy atmosphere that all rooms provide. Best of all, all guests may enjoy scenic views, complimentary WiFi, huge flat screen televisions, and benefits such as early park admission (valid theme park admission required), complimentary transportation to and from the theme parks and CityWalk via bus or water taxi, complimentary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the resort, resort-wide charging privileges, free scheduled transportation to Wet ‘n Wild, character appearances, and more. Guests staying in a suite, however, may enjoy room amenities such as a kitchenette, separate rooms, and full baths depending upon which suite is chosen.
Once you have checked in and unpacked I highly recommend exploring the hotel. With all there is to do you may just want to spend more time at the hotel than in the theme parks (I certainly will considering how many times I’ve visited the two parks). Sapphire Falls features the largest swimming pool on property, several dining locations/lounges, an on-site store, and outstanding amenities (I’ll discuss this in further detail below).
The Swimming Pool
I don’t know about you but when I think about a tropical vacation I think of swimming. This all-new hotel features a 16,000 square foot swimming pool. That’s 4,000 square feet larger than the Hard Rock Hotel’s, which is currently known to have the largest pool on-site! But that’s not the only intriguing factor about the hotel’s swimming pool. According to Universal, there will be two sand beaches (this further adds to the tropical theme), a children’s play area (with pop-up jets), a large hot tub (now that’s a bonus!), a waterslide (even better!), and best of all: the pool will have random and slightly varying depths to mimic the sea floor (a brand new feature that no other on-site hotel has). For those who like to roast marshmallows, there will be a fire pit in the pool area. And to keep the kids active, there will be poolside activities provided by hotel staff including hula-hoop contests, splash contests, poolside movies, and more.
On-Site Dining Locations
Sapphire Falls offers both grab-and-go options and regular meals. If you’re up for a light meal or just want to order a beverage or a snack, New Dutch Trading Co. is your stop. This spot offers ready to go meals, drinks, fresh-baked breads, ice cream, snacks, and supplies, making it a quick stop and light on your pocket. However, if you want a larger dish, Sapphire Falls has just what you’re looking for. Amatista Cookhouse is one restaurant that you may like! Caribbean cuisine is prepared here in an open exhibition kitchen. You can order breakfast, lunch, or dinner and dine either inside or outside — the restaurant has stunning lagoon views of the property!
In the mood for a different meal? Perhaps you’ll like Drhum Club Kantine (it speaks the word ‘seafood’). This dining location serves fresh seafood in addition to taste-tempting tropical drinks. And if that doesn’t quite hit the spot you can visit Strong Water Tavern, a lounge serving both lunch and dinner meals. For those of legal age: you can stop by here for daily rum tastings.
On-Site Shopping
Don’t want to leave the hotel to purchase resort merchandise? Not a problem! Loews Sapphire Falls Resort features an on-site Universal Studios Store so that you can pick up sundries, guest necessities, newspapers, magazines, as well as Universal Studios and Sapphire Falls Resort themed products.
Hotel Amenities
The swimming pool isn’t where the excitement stops (at least not for the older crowd)! At the hotel you can also visit the Kaline Health & Fitness center, a complimentary fitness center offering workout equipment. The center also provides locker rooms with full amenities, towels, and a lounge area; the locker rooms have their own dry sauna and showers.
Although not located at this hotel, as a guest, you can obtain access to the Mandara Spa, located at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. You can take advantage of this by relaxing and rejuvenating yourself with a wide range of spa services.
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