We stayed at PBH in July 2002. I'd visited Universal a few years earlier and saw this hotel just before it opened and vowed I would stay here someday. It is a drop dead gorgeous hotel, inside and out. You really feel transported to Italy. We had an upgraded category room with pool view and balcony, very nice. The room was beautiful, though it had a bad ant problem (and we were on the 6th floor, so I thought that was odd). The bathroom was huge (again gorgeous and great toiletries too) and we had a lovely balcony with a great view. I got lost anytime I strayed from my normal route because the layout of the hotel confused me. We did receive our Loews Member welcome gift on the first night, though it didn't arrive until 10:30pm and we were already in bed... but at least it came.
The staff didn't treat us very well, unfortunately. The only exception was the concierge and the hotel manager. Otherwise, the people we dealt with at the front desk, bell staff and valet were not 'hospitality oriented', to put it mildly. The latter two were downright rude on most encounters. The front desk was just indifferent. The manager did issue a credit on our bill due to our complaint about a few mishaps, so at least that made us feel better. We ate at an italian bistro type restaurant that served pizzas and sandwiches. I had a sandwich that was wonderful, and the plain pizza was good, but the other one we ordered was awful (I forget what kind, but it was extremely garlicky).
Our most recent visit on 1/2/3 for 2 nights was at RP. When we pulled the car up we expected the worst (after our experience with the staff at PBH), but were pleasantly surprised. We absolutely loved this place. Because it's the cheaper of the three hotels I expected less, but that wasn't the case. Though the outside is not really extraordinary (comparing it to the PBH), I found myself equally as mesmerized with it on the inside. Every staff member I encountered was friendly. The gentlemen who helped us unload our bags and valet the car were all courteous. The lady, Nilda at check in was really friendly, not to mention accomodating and we even had a few laughs too. The bellman who brought us to our room was friendly and enthusiastic to help us. Our room was beautiful... definitely smaller than the PBH rooms, but we are only 3, so we really didn't mind. No balconies or lavish baths here either . The furnishings were really nice too. Our room was made up by housekeeping nicely and unobtrusively. We ate at the more casual restaurant on one night and had a really nice waiter and good food. The woman at the convenience store was even friendly. My daughter received a beach pail and shovel at check in and we received the paper each morning, but we never got our Loews Member treat on the first night. I thought to call, but it was already late and I didn't want to get another late night delivery.
I have to give Kudos to Loews... their hotels are so stylish and with well carried out themes. One thing I noticed at both hotels, is that the staff is very young and 'hip'. My 30 something husband and I with our 5 yr old in tote are definitely 'not', so we felt a little 'old' I guess. Just a feeling we shared, no one's bad doing or anything. I think they staff that way because the crowd the Universal parks attractions cater to are families with older kids, singles or couples.
As for the parks, that front of the line access was AWESOME!!! It was sweltering hot in July and very busy in January so it made all the difference in the world. The staff in the parks isn't the most enthusiastic either (I guess that's where the hotel staff at PBH gets their cue!). Why do so many of them look - and often behave- as if they are miserable? At the One Fish, Two Fish ride one of the attendants was arguing with another employee for a good 5 minutes in front of everyone and did nothing to hide it or tone it down. At the Spiderman ride I asked 2 attendants at different times if the ride would be scary for my then 4yr old and both sloughed me off and said it was fine with nary a glance. Well, it really wasn't... I was even a bit scared by this ride and it was way too intense for my poor daughter who was in hysterics. I know they can't really judge these things without knowing the child, but a word of warning that it thrashed you around and that there were many in your face moments, not to mention how loud it was -would've been helpful. It's really my fault for not riding it alone first, but I just wish they'd put more thought into what they say and do. Disney's CM's are so pleasant and helpful, why doesn't Universal try to establish a similar standard ? I'm bewildered by this.
Anyway, we'll be going back in June and though we'll stay in Disney for most of our stay (as we usually do), we'll probably put in 2 nights at the RP to get that front of the line access.
The staff didn't treat us very well, unfortunately. The only exception was the concierge and the hotel manager. Otherwise, the people we dealt with at the front desk, bell staff and valet were not 'hospitality oriented', to put it mildly. The latter two were downright rude on most encounters. The front desk was just indifferent. The manager did issue a credit on our bill due to our complaint about a few mishaps, so at least that made us feel better. We ate at an italian bistro type restaurant that served pizzas and sandwiches. I had a sandwich that was wonderful, and the plain pizza was good, but the other one we ordered was awful (I forget what kind, but it was extremely garlicky).
Our most recent visit on 1/2/3 for 2 nights was at RP. When we pulled the car up we expected the worst (after our experience with the staff at PBH), but were pleasantly surprised. We absolutely loved this place. Because it's the cheaper of the three hotels I expected less, but that wasn't the case. Though the outside is not really extraordinary (comparing it to the PBH), I found myself equally as mesmerized with it on the inside. Every staff member I encountered was friendly. The gentlemen who helped us unload our bags and valet the car were all courteous. The lady, Nilda at check in was really friendly, not to mention accomodating and we even had a few laughs too. The bellman who brought us to our room was friendly and enthusiastic to help us. Our room was beautiful... definitely smaller than the PBH rooms, but we are only 3, so we really didn't mind. No balconies or lavish baths here either . The furnishings were really nice too. Our room was made up by housekeeping nicely and unobtrusively. We ate at the more casual restaurant on one night and had a really nice waiter and good food. The woman at the convenience store was even friendly. My daughter received a beach pail and shovel at check in and we received the paper each morning, but we never got our Loews Member treat on the first night. I thought to call, but it was already late and I didn't want to get another late night delivery.
I have to give Kudos to Loews... their hotels are so stylish and with well carried out themes. One thing I noticed at both hotels, is that the staff is very young and 'hip'. My 30 something husband and I with our 5 yr old in tote are definitely 'not', so we felt a little 'old' I guess. Just a feeling we shared, no one's bad doing or anything. I think they staff that way because the crowd the Universal parks attractions cater to are families with older kids, singles or couples.
As for the parks, that front of the line access was AWESOME!!! It was sweltering hot in July and very busy in January so it made all the difference in the world. The staff in the parks isn't the most enthusiastic either (I guess that's where the hotel staff at PBH gets their cue!). Why do so many of them look - and often behave- as if they are miserable? At the One Fish, Two Fish ride one of the attendants was arguing with another employee for a good 5 minutes in front of everyone and did nothing to hide it or tone it down. At the Spiderman ride I asked 2 attendants at different times if the ride would be scary for my then 4yr old and both sloughed me off and said it was fine with nary a glance. Well, it really wasn't... I was even a bit scared by this ride and it was way too intense for my poor daughter who was in hysterics. I know they can't really judge these things without knowing the child, but a word of warning that it thrashed you around and that there were many in your face moments, not to mention how loud it was -would've been helpful. It's really my fault for not riding it alone first, but I just wish they'd put more thought into what they say and do. Disney's CM's are so pleasant and helpful, why doesn't Universal try to establish a similar standard ? I'm bewildered by this.
Anyway, we'll be going back in June and though we'll stay in Disney for most of our stay (as we usually do), we'll probably put in 2 nights at the RP to get that front of the line access.
. We have been trying to switch to HRH but no entertainment rate for our days. 
