We just got back this morning from an amazing family trip to Universal Orlando Resort, staying at the Portofino Bay Hotel. This was a first for me (and my family) and while it’s fresh in my mind, I wanted to share my thoughts.
I will be doing a more in depth review later and start a weekly Universal Orlando Resort Hotel post. But for now, let me share with you the highlights to consider for a future stay.
Number 6- Insta Worthy location and theming.
Portofino Bay is the furthest from the parks from the other two Premier Resorts (Royal Pacific, is closest to Islands of Adventure, Hard Rock Hotel is closest to Universal Studios Side). Portofino Bay is on the other side of a Hard Rock Hotel, so it’s a bit further away. That being said the location has its perks.
Portofino Bay is themed to represent the Italian fishing of the same name. It is set on a bay with ships and the wings and buildings represent the village. It’s absolutely gorgeous. The bay and village areas are just picture ready, the outlying areas of the resort are lush and green. It’s a great place to take family pictures, Instagram vacation shots, or just personal photos to remember your vacation by.
Number 5 – It’s So Quiet
Portofino Bay has got to be the most quiet resort I’ve ever stayed in. The location most likely lends to part of it, but it’s so serene and peaceful. Even the natural walking around family chatter seemed to be hushed. I can honestly say that in the five nights we were there that I never once heard anyone in the hall. Never a door shut, people talking or running in the hall. No noise ise from the room next door. This level of quiet lends to a nice relaxing room to come back to after a big park day or just a low key down day taking in all Portofino Bay has to offer.
Number 4- Food Options
Looking for a quick grab and go? Sal’s Deli in the East Village has got you covered, sandwiches, salads, pizza, snacks and beverages a plenty (and so much more).
Mama Della’s & Trattoria del Porto are great family friendly options for sit down meals.
Looking for a good something a little more upscale, look no further than the critically acclaimed Bice. They offer pasta, fish and steak options.
Splendido Bar & Grill kicks your poolside dining up a notch. There’s also an onsite Gelateria and a Starbucks on site. No matter your mood, picky eater, or adventurous there is truly something for everyone.
Number 3- The Pools
Yes, you read that right pools. There are three pools on property. There is the Beach Pool which is where we spent our time. It’s the largest of the three and the home of the Splendido Bar & Grill. It’s the hub of activity, with a zero entry pool, a super fun Aqueduct themed slide and a smaller section devoted to a splash pad and pool for the littlest of travelers. The Villa Pool is smaller and tends to see less families, a little bit more quiet. Then the Hillside Pool is an adults only pool located on the East side of the Village.
Number 2- Complimentary Unlimited Express
As Portofino Bay is a Premier hotel they offer complimentary Unlimited Express Passes for both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. These are worth their weight in gold at Universal Orlando Resort. They allow you to bypass the bulk of the lines and get right to the playing. You can ride the rides as many times as you want, at any time you want with zero planning. The ability to just go and ride is such fantastic perk. At this exact moment in time as far as rides go, only Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and the brand spanking new Jurassic World VelociCoaster are not Express Pass eligible.
Number 1 – The Rooms
These rooms are the largest on property. My family of four had a Bay View two queen bed room and we had plenty of room to stretch out without getting in each other’s spaces at the end of the day. There are plenty of plug ins and USB ports for even the most tech based families (maybe a little virtual schooling even?). This also would be a great option for families or travel groups of five. There would be enough space in these rooms to add the roll away and still have room to spare. The beds are so comfortable I wanted to bring them home with me. Portofino Bay also offers the Despicable Me kids suites, for those who want to channel their inner Minion.
Have you stayed at Portofino Bay? What was your favorite thing?
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