Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

Not a 5 star; no fan or night light in bathroom. No robes, customer service average. The italian cafe is a Starbucks. Location is great for the park but little else, if weather is poor not much to do. The ferry lines had a 45 minute + waiting time in the evening, fortunately the walking paths are beautiful and peaceful. It was okay, for the price they charge I wouldn't go back.

My husband and I chose to spend our 50th anniversary at Portofino Bay for eight nights, and it was the perfect place to celebrate. At check in we were delighted to be given an upgrade to a king room with a bay view. The rooms there are gorgeous and extra large, the bathrooms are huge, and there's daily housekeeping service. The entire staff went out of their way to make us feel special, with chocolate treats delivered to our room, a lovely dessert at the amazing Bice Ristorante, and even more chocolate treats from our waiter at the Trattoria del Porto, where we had breakfast every day. It's easy to imagine you're actually in Italy when relaxing at the elegant Villa Pool, a quieter alternative to the main Beach Pool (with padded loungers, too!). Opera singers serenade the guests every night from a balcony facing the piazza, and the entire resort feels a world away from the theme parks. Not that we didn't enjoy the parks--they're all lots of fun, and the boat ride to and from is the ideal park transportation. Portofino Bay has everything you'd want in a resort (including a gelateria) and the Unlimited Express Passes take away all the stress of having to rush to the parks early to beat the crowds. It's also a short walk to the Hard Rock Hotel if you want to try out their pool. Our time there was an unforgettable experience, and we can't wait to return!

My adult daughters and I stayed at Loews Portofino Bay for a recent girls’ trip to the Universal theme parks, and it truly felt like we were swept away to Italy. The ambiance alone made it an easy choice among all the Universal hotels — the architecture, the waterfront, and the overall atmosphere were absolutely charming. We loved the convenience of the water taxi, which made getting to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure quick and relaxing. The ride was only about five minutes, and after long days in the parks, we were grateful not to walk the beautiful (but lengthy) pathways. For Epic Universe, we took the hotel bus, which was about a 20‑minute ride and worked smoothly. One of the highlights of our stay was dinner at Mama Della’s. The food was delicious, and the live singers visiting each table made the evening feel truly special. Afterward, we stopped by the little gelato shop, and it was the perfect sweet ending. We also enjoyed a happy hour event where they served pasta with your choice of sauce-a fun and unexpected treat before dinner. We spent one afternoon at the pool, relaxing on the comfortable lounge chairs. I appreciated that they kept fresh ice water available nearby. My only suggestion for the adult pool area would be to turn the music down; it was louder than expected for a space meant for relaxation. Our room was cleaned very well each day, and the bathroom was impressively large, with a separate shower and tub. After long days at the parks, soaking in the tub was exactly what I needed. The only area that truly needs improvement is check‑in. We waited over 20 minutes because only two team members were working the desk. More staff during peak arrival times would make a big difference. Overall, we loved the beautiful grounds, the variety of dining options, the relaxing pool areas, and the easy transportation to the parks. Loews Portofino Bay made our girls’ trip memorable, and we would happily stay again.