Review: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

Universal HotelsPortofino Bay HotelHotel Review
Written By Megan Hamilton
Are you ready for the ultimate Italian-themed getaway...in ORLANDO?!
Clayton and I recently booked a 3 night stay at Universal Orlando's Portifino Bay Hotel. Having stayed here a few times to get Express Passes, we wanted to make this staycation resort focused.
The level of detail, quality of finishings, and overall luxuriousness makes splurging to stay at Portifino Bay a must- do at least once! 
In this review, I’ll share information about amenities, the pros & cons of Portofino Bay Hotel, and what you can expect when staying.

What’s the Vibe like at Portifno Bay?

Upscale Italian Riveria! Get ready to not only feel spoiled and pampered, but you'll forget what country you're in.
When turning in- you pass a long, grapevine-filled road, that looks a lot like you’d see at an Italian villa! The lobby will take your breath away. There’s large marble columns, charming Italian architecture, incredible smells. Portifino Bay feels FANCY AF! LOL.
From the Cobblestone streets, quaint walkways, and quiet courtyard. The nightly musicians serenade you in a romantic, village-like setting that is a much needed breather from the go go go inside Universal Orlando.

Room Types at Portofino Bay

  1. Garden-view rooms come with either a king bed or two queen beds. 450 sq ft. 
  2. Bay-view rooms overlook the hotel’s Portofino Bay and  Harbor Piazza.  450 sq ft and come with either a king or two queen beds.
  3. Portofino’s deluxe roomsl have a larger living space. 490 sq ft, Roomier bathroom that has a separate tub + shower. View of the Villa Pool, or the  Beach Pool.
  4. Portofino – suites have a 280 sq-ft parlor & a 450-square-foot garden-view bedroom. A second adjoining garden-view room can be booked to create a 2-bedroom suite.
  5. Villa suites- Have a 280 sq-ft parlor, which adjoins to a 450 sq-ft garden-view bedroom. A second adjoining garden-view room can be book to create a 2-bedroom suite.
  6. Despicable Me kids’ suite-  standard king bedroom for the adults, & a separate room for the kids.  650 to 675 sq ft total. The children’s room connects only to the adults’ room (there is no entrance to the hallway) with a door that can be kept open or closed.

Portinfo’s Room’s

Portifino has the largest room sizes, stating at 450 square ft. Their rooms recently got a face lift, giving them a much needed brighter look. The soft white and teal colors provide a light and airy feel. 
Themeing wise, the rooms are very subdued. Theres a small amount of Italian Flair. I’d say they're similar to Swan & Dolphin Hotel in terms of not really feeling themed. 
Comfort-wise, the bedding and matress are THE BOMB! Their  beds are some of the most comfortable beds i've EVER slept on. 
i'd love to know the mattress brand because I would buy one for our master bedroom. My only issue are the pillows. They keep no shape and provide zero neck support. I always have to double up when I stay at Portinino
Portofino Bay is the only resort hotel at Universal Orlando with rooms that feature balconies. Note rooms with balconies cannot be reserved in advance, but may be offered as an upgrade at check-in: $15 extra per night for a “Juliet” balcony, and $30 extra per night for a full balcony.

The Bathroom Situation

Pretty spacious! No real wow factors for me.
Toiletries are supplied by Julien Farel.
Depending on the room type there's only 1 sink at the vanity with a large mirror above it. Even with 1 vanity, there’s plenty of space to store your toiletries on the counter.
Some room types come with just a a standing shower and no tub option — something to double check if you’ve got littles still needing a bath set up.
If your room has a walk-in shower, it’ll be in the same room as the sinks. This might causes issues for families trying to get ready in the morning or getting ready for bed.

Portofino Bay Hotel – in-room amenities

  • Fast Wifi ideal if working remote!
  • Coffee maker and coffeeFancy cotton bathrobes
  • On-demand in-room movies
  • Smart room technology for automated heating and air conditioning
  • In-room safe
  • Refreshment pantry
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Hair dryer and make-up mirror

Portifino Bay’s Biggest Selling Points

  1. The ideal hotel for guests wanting luxury mixed in with their theme park experience. 
  2. Portifino & Adventura have the least amount of children around.

  3. Express Pass unlimited included for all guests, Including day of check-in + check-out

  4. On-property gelato.

Portifino Bay Hotel Amenities

-Club Level option
-3 Swimming Pools.
-Enclosed splash pad area.
-Bocce ball court.
-Spa: The Mandara Spa has 14 private treatment rooms, 2 couples rooms, relaxation lounges, steam rooms, a therapy, a full-service hair salon, and more.
-Private cabanas for rental. These come with a phone, HD plasma TV, ceiling fan, refrigerator full of beverages, wireless internet, and other sweet perks.
-Large gift shop.
-Free Wi-FI throughout.
-Upscale dinning options.
-Complimentary water taxis to and from the Universal theme parks.
-Large fitness center.
-Game room.
-Ability to schedule shuttles to SeaWorld and local water parks.

Dining at Portifino Bay

Portofino Bay Hotel has the most restaurant options. In total, Portofino Bay has 9 restaurants options at pretty much every price point. 
The main harbor area is known as Harbor Piazza, is where most of the restaurants and shopping are located. Take some time to wander around this area. It makes for fantastic people watching. 
if you want something less Italian-themed, CityWalk is a short boat ride away.

The Thirsty Fish

Clayton's favorite bar.
Located in front of Harbor Piazza, it's a fun spot to hang at after coming back from the parks.

Trattoria del Porto

Trattoria del Porto is a casual, full-service restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Serving Americanized Italian cuisine.
Breakfast- HELLO BUFFET OPTION! Eggs, waffles, pancakes, pastries, and cereal. We always do this buffet at least one morning, and it's never disappointed. I'll also save some buffet item in reusable snack bags to help spread meals out.
Lunch + Dinner- choose from signature pasta dishes, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and lots of other entrée choices.  Don’t sleep on their gelato for dessert!

Bice Ristorante

*The* best place to have a romantic dinner.
Authentic comfort Italian food best describes Bice Ristorante. The views alone while eating are unmatched for any other Universal Orlando hotel.  The outdoor dining patio has my absolute  favorite view of the Portifino Bay + harbor.
 Northern Italian cuisine full of seafood, meat, and fresh pasta options. I'm not a wine snob, but their selection is very good!
It is very pricey, so I’d avoid this restraint if you're visiting with a large family. The quality of the food is worth every penny though..

Mama Della’s Ristorante

 A popular family-style dining option at Portofino Bay. Features authentic Italian dishes from Naples, Tuscany, and Piemonte.

Sal’s Market Deli

Sal’s Market Deli was the closest option to a quick-service dining experience on property.
Located in the main plaza, Sal’s offers pizzas, sandwiches, salads, fruits, cheeses, and more.  Grab a glass of wine or beer and enjoy it out on the plaza.

Portifino Bay Has 3 Pools!

Prepared to be wowed! You can choose from: the Beach pool, the Villa pool, and the Hillside pool. Beach pool is the largest, and the other two pools are ideal for a more peaceful, relaxing pool experience.
You can also take advantage of the 2 hot tubs, and the poolside bar & grill.
All 3 are heated throughout the year (as needed). Beach pool has, by far, the most amenities and activities. You can rent cabanas at the Beach or Villa pools. Rental prices range from $50 to $400 per day, depending on the season. On select nights there's dive-in movies played by the pool!

1. The Beach Pool

Although the biggest, and busiest of the 3 pools at Portofino Bay..the soft white sand and comfortable chairs lend to an enjoyable pool experience.
Ancient aqueduct themed water slide, and cabanas you can rent. An ideal pool area  for families wanting a fun, activity filled pool day. 
Splendido Bar & Grill, is right next to the pool. The Mudslide is my favorite item off the menu!
The zero-entry pool is awesome for kids, as they can easily splash around and explore on their own. It was nice letting Carson play in the water without us having to hold him. A huge perk for parents.
I also really appreciate that the waterslide has 2 lifeguards at all times. Children must be at least 36 inches tall and kids under 48 inches need to use a life jacket (provided at the water slide).
On one side of Beach pool there’s a small hot tub, and on the other is an enclosed kids splash pad area. CARSON IS OBSESSED WITH THIS KIDS AREA!

2. Villa Pool

The Villa pool feels more exclusive and fancy with upgraded amenities options and lounge chairs. Quieter and the perfect choice for afternoon of poolside relaxation. Cabanas are also available for rent here, as well.
You definitely feel fancier at this pool. Villa Pool would 100% be my pool choice if Carson stayed behind at his Grandparents.

3. Hillside Pool

One of the most hidden features of Portofino Bay is the Hillside Pool.
Located behind one of the wings towards the entrance of Portifino. It’s a super small pool, providing the most privacy. I would choose this pool area if you needed to work remote while enjoying the sun.

Portifino Bay’s Exclusive Theme Park Benefits

Portofino Bay includes Unlimited Express Pass for up to 5 people in your room. (with valid theme park admission).
Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Complimentary bus transportation from Portifino toVolcano Bay.
Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key card. Complimentary merchandise delivery from the theme parks to your room.

Where is Portifino Bay located?

Located across across the street from Hard Rock Hotel, which is directly behind Universal Studios Florida.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel feels the most remote, but it’s actually only a 20 min walk to the parks.  
To get to Universal Orlando, take advantage of the complimentary water taxis.
Portifino Bay is less than 20 miles from MCO airport.

Things to Keep in Mind When Booking Portifino Bay:

  • Check-In process always seems to take a while. Roughly 45 minutes for us every time.
  • Portofino Bay is a huge and really spread out meaning it make take you a little bit longer to get to and from you room from the boats + pools. I also always seem to get lost.
  • Pet Friendly hotel option.
  • Self-parking overnight $31.00 + tax per night
  • Rooms don’t have refrigerators — call ahead if you want 1 included.

Overall Review on Portifino Bay Hotel:

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is my favorite resort at Universal Orlando and 1 of my top 5 theme park hotels in the world. Apart from Royal Pacific, this is the one I'd always choose if budget constraints didn't exist.  
Having watched the Disney movie “Luca” a million times (thanks Carson) Portifno 100% reminds of Portorosso.
If you want the best in-room amenities, concierge, club level options, and romantic ambiance, Portofino Bay is it
Rooms with bad views essentially don’t exist at Portifino — most overlook the pool, gardens, or bay. Ask for a bay room overlooking the piazza for the BEST night views and ambience.
Portifino does the best job at balancing being very family friendly and romantic for couples, and honeymooners.
For a quieter, more romantic vacation, choosing the club level and/or visiting the less crowded “adults only” pool areas will allow you to relax in peace.
The best perks are the built-in Universal Express Unlimited pass and Early Park Admission. Express Passes can be essential if you're visiting during one of the busiest times of the year. 
My favorite room type for families: The Portofino Bay Hotel – deluxe rooms. They have a ton of space, and you can also request 1 of these rooms with a sofa bed for additional family members.
For the price, I would stay somewhere else in Orlando if I wasn’t visiting Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure.

Comparing Portofino Bay Hotel to Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts

For my Walt Disney World friends, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is going to be on par with your hotel standards.
Price point wise- comparable to WDW's Moderate Resorts.
I'd compare Portofino Bay Hotel to Walt Disney World's Riviera Resort. As you know, it's themed the French Riviera. Portofino Bay however, blows Disney’s Riviera Resort out of the water!
Looking for information on one of the other premier Universal Orlando Hotels?  Click here to read my review on staying at Royal Pacific.
Megan Hamilton
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