The best places to stay near Universal Studios Hollywood fall into three groups: hotels beside the park, chain and boutique hotels in Universal City, Burbank and Studio City, and private homes or vacation rentals a few miles away. Our own Inn in Valley Village is 4.9 miles from Universal Studios Hollywood, which makes it a quiet, storybook alternative to a hotel for families and small groups.
Three ways to stay near Universal
1. Right beside the park
The nearest hotels are within walking distance or a short shuttle ride from the gates. The appeal is obvious: no driving on a theme park day, and an easy break back to the room. The trade-off is that you are staying in the busiest part of the neighbourhood, with the crowds, the traffic and the prices that come with it. Check what is included before you book: parking, resort-style fees and any early-entry perks are different for every property.
2. Nearby neighbourhoods
Burbank, Studio City, Sherman Oaks and North Hollywood all sit a short drive away and have a wide range of hotels. You trade a little convenience for more choice, more restaurants and, often, a calmer setting. Burbank is handy if you are flying into Burbank airport.
3. A private rental
If you are travelling as a family or a group of friends, a whole property can make more sense than two hotel rooms. You get a kitchen, a living room, space for children to play, and nobody on the other side of the wall. The things to check are the nightly rate, cleaning and service fees, the minimum stay, the guest limit and the house rules, so you can compare the true total, not just the headline number.
What to weigh before choosing
- Distance and traffic: miles on the map can mean very different drive times depending on the hour. Theme park mornings and evenings are the busy ones.
- Parking: ask whether it is free, charged or limited.
- Space: a family of five in one hotel room is a different trip from a family of five with a kitchen and a garden.
- Food: a kitchen saves money and helps with early starts, picky eaters and naps.
- Rest: a day at a theme park is long. Somewhere genuinely quiet to come back to matters more than most people expect.
- Airport: Burbank is the closest airport to Universal; LAX is further and traffic can make the trip longer.
The Inn at The Enchanted Manor
We are a private estate at 5235 Goodland Avenue in Valley Village, on a quiet cul-de-sac with the LA River behind the house, minutes from the 101 and 405. Universal Studios Hollywood is 4.9 miles away. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is 7.4 miles, the Hollywood Sign 7.2 miles and the LA Zoo 8.3 miles.
The Inn is the vacation rental on the property, and it is nothing like a hotel room. Inside there is a large living room with a fireplace and two down couches, a queen Murphy bed with a plush mattress, and a full kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, blender and coffee maker. Coffee and tea are provided. The octagonal breakfast room has French windows on every side and two skylights, looking onto the pool and the outdoor fireplace. There is premium cable, a DVD library, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, ceiling fans and laundry. For families there is a crib, a high chair, toys and games.
The grounds: where the day ends
After a day in the park, the grounds are the point. There is a saltwater lagoon-style pool with three waterfalls and no harsh chemicals, a raised Jacuzzi, and nine light colours for the pool and spa. Beside it is a thatched gazebo bar with a refrigerator, sink and barbecue, a lava-rock fire pit, and a private patio with an outdoor fireplace. At night the trees are strung with fairy lights. Kit R. told us it was "the loveliest pool I've ever swum in." Malaya G. wrote: "My kids didn't want to get out of the pool. They loved the secret room behind the book case."
That secret room is real. Behind a bookcase there is a finished attic with four twin beds, reached by a ladder. It is not suited to very young children, older guests or very tall adults. Open both the Secret Room and the Great Room, which has a stone fireplace and adds 1,000 square feet, and the Inn sleeps up to 6 guests.
What it costs
Rates are published so you can compare with a hotel before you contact us:
- $575 a night Monday to Thursday, $595 a night Friday to Sunday
- Two-night minimum
- $50 per person per night over two guests
- Secret Room and Great Room: $100 a night
- Cleaning $185, admin $190 and a refundable deposit of $300
- Pool heating is optional at $10 an hour; a pet fee of $85 applies by agreement
Check-in is after 3pm and check-out is 11am. The minimum age to book is 21. Bookings are non-refundable once made, so confirm your dates first. The Jacuzzi is open from 9am to 11pm, quiet hours begin at 10pm, and parties are not allowed without permission. There is an alarm in the rental and exterior cameras only.
As an example, a two-night midweek stay for two guests is 2 x $575 = $1,150, plus the $185 cleaning fee and $190 admin fee, with the $300 deposit refundable. Each extra guest over two adds $50 a night. That is a whole property with a kitchen and a garden, not a single room. Add it up against the real hotel total for the same dates, including parking and any resort or service fees, and compare like with like. If you are travelling with a larger group, remember that two hotel rooms double the nightly cost while the Inn stays one price plus the per-person charge.
Weekday stays are lower, so if your dates are flexible, Monday to Thursday is the cheaper way to see the park. Many families choose the Friday to Sunday rate for a long weekend and simply spend more time at home in the garden, since there is plenty to do without leaving the property.
A sample three-day plan
- Day one: arrive after 3pm, swim, light the fire pit, and let the children explore the playhouse, a mini version of the main house with two twin beds, a fireplace and cable TV.
- Day two: Universal Studios Hollywood, 4.9 miles away. Our guide to Universal Studios Hollywood tips and tricks will help you plan the day, and things to do near Universal with kids covers what else is close. Come home for a swim.
- Day three: Warner Bros. Studio Tour or Griffith Park, then dinner at home on the barbecue.
Our guide to vacation rentals near Universal Studios Hollywood compares this approach in more detail, and our family area guide covers other parts of the city.
Is it right for you?
If you want to be able to walk to the park gates, a hotel beside Universal is the right choice and we will say so. If you want a kitchen, a garden and a quiet place to sleep, with the park a short drive away, the Inn is worth a look. Georgia Durante lives on the property and her motto is: "They come as strangers and leave as friends."
Ask about your dates
See photographs and details on our vacation rental page, then call or text Georgia on (213) 999-3050 or email stuntlady@me.com to check availability. Private chef and masseuse services can be arranged if you would like them.
Frequently asked questions
How far is The Enchanted Manor from Universal Studios Hollywood?
4.9 miles by road. We are in Valley Village, minutes from the 101 and 405.
How many guests can the Inn sleep?
Up to 6 guests with the Secret Room and Great Room both opened. The Secret Room has four twin beds and is reached by a ladder.
What are the nightly rates?
$575 a night Monday to Thursday and $595 Friday to Sunday, with a two-night minimum. Extra guests over two are $50 per person per night, and cleaning, admin and a refundable deposit apply.
What are check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is after 3pm and check-out is at 11am. The minimum age to book is 21.
Is the Inn good for families with young children?
Yes. There is a crib, a high chair, toys and games, a full kitchen and a children's playhouse. The Secret Room ladder is not suited to very young children.
