Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

Heather W

The location to the parks was perfect! The bonus of early entry and the express pass made the trip fantastic. The rooms are outdated and could use some updates and care; our tub didn’t drain so showers meant standing in ankle-deep water and there’s nowhere to plug a cord directly in, you have to have a wall adapter. The restaurants were really good for the most part and the service all around d was fantastic! The hotel is gorgeous and we enjoyed spending time there as much as we did at the parks. Already planning our next stay!

Mike Seydell

The Portofino is a great spot for any Universal trip. 15-minute walk or boat ride to the park, early access, and a wonderful location. My fiancée and I are annual passholders to Universal — normally we stay at Hard Rock, but we wanted to try Portofino. I’d like to give a shoutout to our front desk agent, Santiago, for his amazing service during check-in and his kindness in sending up a bottle of champagne to our room simply because he enjoyed our interaction. He was a wonderful initial touchpoint, and the experience carried over as someone from the front desk walked my in-laws to the on-site restaurant, Trattoria del Porto, and comped our first round of drinks. This place was amazing. Our server, Mariana, was absolute perfection with her recommendations and we had a great time. This is night and day difference form my experience at Grand Helios where we had the presidential suite and were treated no where near this great as we stayed in a regular room at Portofino.

Wimbreth Carville

Hotel was very nice. Buffet breakfast was fantastic. Staff was all wonderful - so nice and helpful. The only downside was the room was on the smaller side with a huge bathroom where most of the space was useless. There was a counter that was completely open underneath. Not even a shelf to set your toiletry bag or extra towels on, which left the counter very cluttered. Hopefully they'll do something with the bathroom the next time renovations are due. In the mean time, I'd still happily stay here again. Convenient to the Universal parks. Boat transportation to the 2 older parks was quick and easy. Express in the 2 older parks made the price worth it.

Brianna G

I was very impressed with this place! It felt like being in little Italy. The room was perfect and the amenities were actually great. The beach pool was so cool! We went on a weekend where it was in the high 60s/low 70s so the hot tub was very nice to discover! Being able to order drinks poolside felt so luxurious. The boat that brings you to universal was so convenient, that was such a nice service. Janine at the front desk deserves a raise! She was the most helpful person I have met, hands down. She helped get us our universal passes, explained everything and was just so kind. She even gave us some coupons to use around CityWalk and my husband scored a free lanyard. This place makes it hard to leave, we had such a great time!! Thank you everyone at portofino

Jing Jiang

We stayed at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel during Christmas and had a wonderful experience overall. The holiday atmosphere was festive without feeling overwhelming, and the resort felt both relaxing and special. The customer service via text was very helpful and responsive throughout our stay. The front desk staff were also excellent and thoughtfully accommodated my requests as part of the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits, which I really appreciated. We especially enjoyed the Christmas Day breakfast buffet at Mama Della. There was a wide variety of options, and it felt like a nice, relaxed way to start the holiday morning. Transportation to the Universal parks was very convenient—the boat ride was quick and enjoyable, and being able to arrive without dealing with parking was a big plus. The only improvement I’d suggest is running the boats a bit more frequently, especially during peak times in the late afternoon. The Unlimited Express Pass included with the stay was by far the best overall benefit. It made a huge difference during the busy holiday season and easily justified staying at the hotel, allowing us to enjoy attractions with much less waiting. Overall, it was a memorable holiday stay with great service, excellent park access, and unbeatable perks. We would happily stay here again, especially during the holidays.