Resort Spotlight: Universal Orlando Loews Portofino Bay

A taste of Portofino Italy in the heart of Orlando! Recently my family and I stayed at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel during our Universal Orlando vacation. Elegance and Luxury are two words that come to mind when I look back and reflect on our stay. Designed to mimic a small-town Italian Village, the façade will literally take your breath away.

With 750 guest rooms and suites you are bound to find the perfect place for relaxation after a long day at Universal’s Parks. Choose from a Garden View, Bay View, or Deluxe Room with views of the Villa Pool and Gardens. Room sizes are HUGE and range from 450-490 sq. ft. Our room was a Deluxe Room with a Villa Garden View.

The amount of restaurants to choose from while staying at the Portofino Bay Hotel will blow you away. Dine at Mama Della Ristorante for authentic Italian dishes from Tuscany. You can also dine with characters at the family friendly Trattoria del Porto. Relax by the pool and have your meals delivered to you or dine at the pool side restaurant Splendido Bar and Grill. Make sure you stop by Gelateria and enjoy artesian gelato. There is also an on-site Starbucks, you will never have to go without your Starbucks fix while on vacation again!

There are three pools at The Portofino Bay Hotel. The Beach Pool is designed for the whole family! With waterslides, cabanas, sandy beaches, hot tubs and a separate children’s’ area you are guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face. There are always poolside games to be played, you never know what your family might win! The Villa Pool is a more secluded and additional amenities like upgrading lounge chairs and cabana rentals. The Hillside Pool is located in the east wing and offers more privacy and is often the “quiet pool”. There is an arcade game room located near The Beach Pool. Check with the front desk for the nightly Dive-In Movie Schedule. Don’t forget to shop your way through the Harbor and enjoy the traditional opera performers.

Staying at The Portofino Bay Hotel grants you Express Unlimited Passes for your entire party and priority seating at most restaurants in the Universal Orlando area. I highly recommend you staying at this beautiful resort during your next Universal Orlando Vacation! My only regret was that we were not there long enough to enjoy it all!