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Went for 1 Year anniversary and the wife liked it so I have to give it four stars. There are definitely better values in Orlando like The Point, which has nicer rooms and is less expensive, but here you pay for the theme and ambiance which was very nice.
I upgraded to a Bay View and King Bed (i figure if you're going to stay here you might as well do it right), and the view was definitely nice from the fourth floor where we stayed. Service was good except poolside where it took a while to get out food and drinks.
I wouldn't necessarily stay here again a second time, but i would recommend it for a first.
wow, its like youre in portofino but youre not. everything is an optical illusion. its just wicked weird. their new old buildings recently aged to look like theyve been there for a while, the tenors singing opera in the plaza ... the fake "mamma" walking around the italian restaurant... the fake vespas parked around the fake lake and fake fiats....
i guess this is a themed hotel which is not my thing... but i can see how this hotel might be ideal for you if youre married, have 3 kids, a minivan and a puppy
other than that, the rooms were crisp clean, i had a great view, the bed was super comfortable, the bathroom is packed with great products, theres a fancy coffee maker in the room... but yeah, all of those things are standard at any hotel you pay 300$ per night. i expect that and a chocolate chip cookie by my pillow every night ... which i didnt get, by the way.
Bring the ding and lay it down for the best hotel in Florida. Like water on my parched desert lips.
Excellent setting. Excellent rooms. Excellent restaurants...
Highly Recommended...
I stayed here while in Orlando for a conference. You are impressed when you drive up to the hotel. You go by the lake and get a sweeping view of it. This hotel was well done in almost every way.
Staff went above and beyond. They did a great job of arranging fresh flower for my room.
The only thing about this place is it was so big. To walk from self park to your room could be a long way.
The pools were amazing.
The water taxi was a nice touch and well used. It takes you to Universal city walk.
The rooms were elegantly decorated, spotless and well appointed.
The Portofino Bay Hotel was a top notch place to stay. When I return to Orlando it will be to the Portofino Bay Hotel.
This hotel is well done without being over the top as is par for the course at some theme park hotels. Our room was in one of the far off wings so it did seem like we walked for a while to get to our bed sometimes, but the rooms were nice and clean. That makes me happy. The little square area is cute and the gelato shop is delicious. The bar area in one corner is an excellent place to sit late night as you wind down. They sometimes have live music here.
The water taxi to Riverwalk is nice and it makes getting to the parks, shops, and other restaurants easy. The walk is pretty though so you should do it at least once. Also make a stop at the Hard Rock Hotel to look at the rock memorabilia that they have inside.
The pools at the Portofino are great! There is one standard pool that I never saw anyone at and a second pool that is beach style that was really fun. While husband was busy at his work conference, I took advantage of a quiet weekday pool, ate nachos to my heart's content and drank many tasty fruity drinks. The waitress was excellent and the kids that were at the pool seemed to enjoy the large water slide. It was definitely a fun place!
A group of my girls and I stayed here for my bachelorette party and it was awesome! The hotel was gorgeous, the staff was super nice, and the rooms were great! Everyone said their beds were super comfy and my best friend asked if she could take the shower home with her. The little harborside area was super cute (love the vespas!) and no one complained about the amount of noise we made at 4 am so it must have been pretty sound proof :)
Parking is a little pricey, but that's to be expected - its a theme park and all.
The water taxi to city walk was very handy. Try to talk someone into giving you a "party pass" it means you don't have to pay cover at any of the clubs.
We love this hotel. There is some much great entertainment going on it is fun to take some time to just hang out at the hotel instead of the parks. We love the pool and always plan on one whole day there. We also Love to watch the movies at the pool at night.
Man does this place know how to put on a wedding.
I went there last night for what I could describe as nothing other than a "platinum wedding." The service from the staff at the Portofino was nothing short of excellent. The setting was luxurious! I felt like I was in Italy at some points during the evening (hey, a girl can dream!). The food was defintely 5 star dining and I found myself feeling pampered with all the service.
Their ballrooms are absolutely breathtaking, especially once they are set up for a wedding. Parking can be a little expensive, but if you're there for a special event you get it complimentary.
I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone!
BELLISSIMA
I love the Portofino. Yes, the Italian theme can see a bit cheesy and manufactured at times, but consider the alternative. Would you rather sit out on by the harbor and watch the ducks and sea gulls or hang out a hotel with a Bennigan's in the lobby?
The staff is consistently friendly and helpful, the water taxi is convenient for trips to Citywalk, and the lake is perfect for a relaxing jog. The Mandara spa is pretty good as far as hotel gyms go, but unfortunately it's not included in the price of the room.
The food is okay, but nothing spectacular; I'd suggest going to Citywalk to eat instead. If they can address that, this could be a 5-star place.
Want to take a trip to Italy, but can't afford to spend the thousands of dollars it would take to make that happen? Well have no fear there is a way to make it happen in a more affordable fashion without the long plane ride and numerous security checks. The answer is the Portofino Hotel at Universal Orlando.
Like most of Universal's properties, the Portofino is rather extravagant and a good replica of the real thing. Everything from the architecture and structure of the hotel buildings, the restaurants and shops, costumes of the hotel's workers, food, and the gondola ride follows suit of what you would find in the country of Italy. You can either stay the night or the week or simply go there for a romantic date for dinner a gondola ride down the river.
My favorite restaurant among those found within the hotel is the Trattora Del Porto. The mere smell of their cuisine is enough to make you drool and beg for the food...a fare that is very simple, but so good. Their pizza is tasty along with their other dishes, but what stands out most in my mind is the dessert, my favorite part of every meal. I had a chocolate concoction that was like heaven in my mom. I can't remember the name, but it was the only all chocolate dessert item on the menu at the time. Of course, I had to try the tiramisu being that it is an Italian restaurant...very good, but this dessert isn't one that I'm crazy about.
The fourth of July is a great day to check this place out if you don't have any other fans. Aside from parking, it's free to get into the resort to watch the fire works next to the man made river. So beautiful...it's perfect for a romantic outing with your significant other.
Overall, I'm a fan!
Prob. one of the best hotels in Orlando, if not the best. Clean up-to-date atmosphere. Italian style. Customer service is good. Room service food... ehh. Suites are great and standard bedrooms are also more then enough. Bathrooms are very spacious. *One plus for staying here is you can use your room key as an Express pass for the rides at Universal Studios.
There is an adorable ferry that brings you to and from Universal and the hotel (for free). The restaurants are ok; over priced yet decent food. Gift shops could be better but I guess for Universal they are good. Valet is fast. Romantic or good for families. Views are amazing... truly makes you feel outside of the country.
Have been about 4 times and never had a complaint except for the room service). You can buy your tickets, for the park, by the lobby to save time. Will return to again.
Does a wonderful job at creating a European flair. Convenience to the park makes life easy. Would probably receive 5 stars if I didn't have to compare it to Atlantis.
I stayed for a work function and I was thoroughly impressed. The rooms were great, the food was good and it's just a short ride from some nightlife at Universal Studios (their main street, or something like that).
The decor and design of the hotel are both impressive with an obvious Venice theme. From a work perspective their facility was large enough to accommodate our big group and it was well appointed.
Something (and it's bugging that I can't figure out what) is keeping me from giving the Portofino 5 stars, but overall it's a great resort.
An awesome hotel! I felt like we did go to Italy! It was such a classy hotel...Soo fun! The boats to go to universal was fun too!!!! Ahhh...I wish were on our honeymoon again!
I will say this, if you got some money then please please go to this hotel. It is clean, service is good, the beds are comfortable, the view is spectacular (if you get a bay view). The food is delicious, bathroom are big, can fit a twin bed in the bathroom. The concierge is so helpful, I say this because my wife wasn't content with the view they gave us of the bay so I went downstairs and told them that I need to change it, they look at the reservations and accommodated me to go to a different room, they ask me if i wanted help with my bag, gave me a big smile, treated me like if I had millions of dollars (which I don't). My wife still wasn't content so I ask for the same room that we had before and the gentleman did not make any faces what so ever, great customer service or what!!!!. The beds are magnificent, after a day at the parks I wanted to lay down and be comfortable for the next day, and that is exactly what these beds are. The ferry is one of the best parts of the amenities you will always take advantage of these boats. There are also buses or bicycles that can take you to the parks but you need to give them tips. The restaurants close early but the pizza was amazing but too expensive. The pools are great and the jacuzzi (outside) are a little to hot but are very nice. I guess the only thing that I can say that I dislike about this hotel was the guest. Many of them Caucasians and just look at us wrong as if we were the help, we actually ran into someone in the elevator and he said do you mind helping me with the bags, I give great tips, mind you that I was carrying my own bags and my niece of 10 was next to me. In another occasion we went to the pool and when we got in (and I am not being ridiculous) all Caucasians gave us to much room as if we were going to kill them or something, incredible! I was so annoyed at the stupidities of some people. I don't pay attention to those things but it did make me upset a little but did not stop me from enjoying the pool and many other parts of this beautiful hotel. If you come to the Universal make sure you visit portofino hotel.
Orlando, FL
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: Winter Park
Category: French
Orlando, FL
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: College Park
Category: American (New)
