Can you RELAX at Hard Rock Hotel?

[tfoster]

While I want to have fun on a vacation, I also like having quiet "down" time. It sounds like HRH has the fun aspect covered, but from some of the reviews I've read I'm nervous that I won't really get to relax at all. Thoughts? Experiences?

 

[donaldduck352]

We did.But the pool area can get very busy depending when your going.The rooms are super queit tho.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

We really enjoyed HRH, and did do a lot of relaxing around the pool after a commando 10 days at WDW, but if you want more laid back and calm PBH did it for us. For me, on a theme park vacation anything is relaxing after a bigger than life visit to the parks but I'm not sure what you mean by relaxing.

 

[tfoster]

Thanks for the responses. By relaxing, I mean that you can find quiet space and that you don't necessarily feel you are on a theme park vacation. I guess I like to have "off" time. I guess the best example is how we felt while staying at a FW cabin at Disney, but I certainly wouldn't expect anything to that extreme while at Universal. The days and parks were busy, but then we went back to our cabin and poof - we weren't on a hectic theme park vacation anymore. We were in our own, quiet little space. I'm hoping to have something comparable, if not necessarily physically, mentally.

Does that make sense?

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

IMHO you would probably enjoy PBH more than HRH. HRH definitely has a vibe going on all the time. I'm sure if you are staying CL but I've been told that since it's been redecorated it feels like you are in a Nicolodeon cartoon whereas PBH certainly has more of a formal feel to it, when you leave the parks - you've left the parks. Kind of like comparing the disney feel at POP compared to FW.

 

[ky07]

While I have never been to PBH or The Hardrock
I have been to RPR with my kids and then with just me and DW and have found it very relaxing both times and you don't feel like your at a theme park and lots of nice places to relax after a long day at the parks

 

[tfoster]

I've been thinking that PBR would probably be the best overall fit for the more peaceful environment I'm looking for. Unfortunately, those 800 SF kid suites are at HRH. My gut feeling, though, has been that HRH would be too "on" for me. Also unfortunately, PBR would cost more than we were planning to spend for accommodations. I've been really struggling with this. . .

And for some reason, RPR doesn't appeal to me. I think because we're not a tropical island kind-of family, I can't get excited about the theming. We're more into either cities (NYC, Montreal, Philly, etc) or camping.

 

[donaldduck352]

Thats what I love about Universal Resorts-POOL HOPPING.We do this all the time when we stay.My fav resort is RPR,not because of price I just love the tropical feel.But we take A day and go to PBH early to stake A claim poolside.Its a very tranquail day and all the food and drinks are very quick with the pool waiters or waitress.Its only A boat ride away!!

 

[possgroup]

Stayed at all three and you can enjoy some peaceful time at any of them. But there is no disputing that the PBH is the most serene. Went one time with my 80 yr old mother and we stayed at HRH. She was fine with the atmosphere there but really enjoyed that we would take the boat every morning from HRH over to the PBH for coffee and pastries at the cafe and then sit in the courtyard overlooking the "bay". It is sooo peaceful. DH and I found it tooo quiet the year we stayed at PBH.

 

[tfoster]

Stayed at all three and you can enjoy some peaceful time at any of them. But there is no disputing that the PBH is the most serene. Went one time with my 80 yr old mother and we stayed at HRH. She was fine with the atmosphere there but really enjoyed that we would take the boat every morning from HRH over to the PBH for coffee and pastries at the cafe and then sit in the courtyard overlooking the "bay". It is sooo peaceful. DH and I found it tooo quiet the year we stayed at PBH.

Serene hotel - makes me feel great just thinking about it! We changed back and forth a few times (between all 3 hotels actually because at one point I had found a really great rate at RPR) but finally settled on PBH. I feel great about going there and the recent $200 dining credit we got takes a little of the sting out of the more expensive rooms (we need two for our family). With a theme park vacation, serenity and morning pastries overlooking water is definitely what I need for my sanity! Thanks for sharing your experiences!