Hard Rock or Portofino Bay???

[MargoBoo]

Please help me choose between the two...

Is Hard Rock maintained well? I like the fact that you can walk to either park in short distance. How is the pool?

Portofino seems like it may be a grade better..... Is the pool better that Hard Rock?

 

[Tizzy_Meliss]

The Hard Rock is absolutely maintained well. My family loves it there. We have an extra person in our party this year, so we are staying Portofino, otherwise, we would be back at the Hard Rock.

The pool looks like it is themed better at the Portofino, but the HRH has an awesome pool. They both have slides. The both have activities during the day for the kids too. You can't go wrong with either hotel, plus you can pool hop.

 

[minniejack]

Never stayed at HRH, but loved PBH and the walk is not much further than the other.

Also, when I called reservations the other day I was told by 2 different agents that HRH will not be participating in the Loew's 1st program--which makes me wonder what else that they won't be participating in.

IMHO, I would check to make sure they will still honor FOTL before booking that hotel.

Both are better than.......the deluxe Disney....please don't hate this little thug

 

[Tizzy_Meliss]

I was told HRH will always honor FOTL as it is a perk offered by Universal, not Loews.

 

[ruzer28]

I've stayed at both and I love both. I like the overall theming of the Portofino better, and I think the rooms are much nicer than those at the Hard Rock. This is really all a matter of taste, though. I love the way the whole resort looks like an Italian village. I also love that there is a parking garage with lots of spaces. I always have had difficulty finding a parking space at the Hard Rock, as they have a REAL small parking lot. Having said all this, I prefer the pool at the Hard Rock. The pool is huge and the whole area surrounding it is beautiful. They have a nice bar/restaurant right at the pool, and the staff is fantastic. The hotel itself is beautiful too (with the exception of the rooms themselves, which I think are kind of ugly.)

Overall, my vote goes to the Portofino, but I really think that you can't go wrong with either one.

 

[macraven]

i have stayed at all 3 onsite hotels.

this fall will be my 19th stay at hrh.

i enjoy myself there or wouldn't be a repeat guest.


when i do hhn in october, it is the shortest walk back to the hotel at 2:30 in the morning............

a big reason i stay there in octobers........

 

[macraven]

in answer to some of the statements and questions above, the hrh has the perks of all universal hotels do.

fotl
pool hopping
fitness center for loews card holder guests
charge back on rooms for park purchases
late check out if available
could be another, i would have to go back and reread the info pack.



they are not a part of the loews youfirst as they have their own program.

if you read the information on the hrh site on the universal website, you will read what amenities it includes for being a universal on site hotel.

the other two hotels are in the loews first program.
just hrh is in a different program for other amenities.

 

[dlbbwu]

We have also stayed at both and have gone with the Portofino, mainly due to room size. My family consists of four and my DW and I are the type that don't like our children right on top of us (if you know what I mean???) The Portofino has the "largest" of the three in room size and when it is "break" time for us, we don't have to worry about the kids bouncing all over the room right on top of us.
Also the parking seems, at times, to be an issue. The Portofino has a large parking garage. Both pools are large and have slides (we like the HRH slide best).
I believe it is just personal preference. For you see our family goes for the room not the vacation....

 

[d4est]

in answer to some of the statements and questions above, the hrh has the perks of all universal hotels do.

fotl
pool hopping
fitness center for loews card holder guests
charge back on rooms for park purchases
late check out if available
could be another, i would have to go back and reread the info pack.



they are not a part of the loews youfirst as they have their own program.

if you read the information on the hrh site on the universal website, you will read what amenities it includes for being a universal on site hotel.

the other two hotels are in the loews first program.
just hrh is in a different program for other amenities.

Has HR announced a program? Or are you referring to the All Access Pass? TIA

 

[macraven]

hrh will announce it officially soon.

i'm sure if anyone is staying there, they will be informed if they call and ask

 

[happyNCgirl]

Haven't stayed at either hotel, but read this in Kelly Monaghan's book 'Universal Orlando' regarding Hard Rock Hotel.

"Don't be suprised if you hear the dull throb of bass notes from other rooms lulling you to sleep and waking you up in the morning."

Now I don't know about any of you, but personally I hate loud bass. I hear it on the road all the time, when I'm shopping at Wal~Mart, the building rattles from it, ect.... Anyway, my two-cents. I go on vacation, I like peacefull quiet rooms.

 

[barnaby1]

We love the PBH and I have only visited HRH to do my laundry (since they had closed the PBH one last time we were there).

The main difference I can see is that they play LOUD music in the public areas of HRH. "Loud" is of course very subjective but I would hate it if I stayed there.

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

We've stayed at the HRH 3 times, the latest being last month in July
they play music in the lobby, down at the pool
But NEVER have I heard any music while in our room
It is a beautiful resort and my kids kicked and screamed when it comes time to leave

And the BEST PLACE you hear the music is underwater in the pool!
I can still see my youngest DS5 dancing underwater, I was dying laughing!

 

[macraven]

Haven't stayed at either hotel, but read this in Kelly Monaghan's book 'Universal Orlando' regarding Hard Rock Hotel.

"Don't be suprised if you hear the dull throb of bass notes from other rooms lulling you to sleep and waking you up in the morning."

Now I don't know about any of you, but personally I hate loud bass. I hear it on the road all the time, when I'm shopping at Wal~Mart, the building rattles from it, ect.... Anyway, my two-cents. I go on vacation, I like peacefull quiet rooms.

he is totally wrong about that.
way off base with that comment in his book.
so many people like to make off hand comments about loud music saying hard rock is that type of place in every part of the hotel.

you will see as many families staying there as the other hotels.

the only time you hear music is in the lobby, elevator and pool.

believe me, there is no boom boom bass coming thru the walls in your room.

this fall will be my 19th stay there.
i wouldn't be back if what someone wrote in a book about disruptive music vibrations coming thru your room's walls was true........

 

[kevin harrison]

the only time you hear music is in the lobby, elevator and pool.

believe me, there is no boom boom bass coming thru the walls in your room.

this fall will be my 19th stay there.
i wouldn't be back if what someone wrote in a book about disruptive music vibrations coming thru your room's walls was true........[/FONT][/COLOR]

I'll second that, the only time you catch music is when you get to the lift. We had a suite over looking the pool and heard nothing.

You can get sound from guests making a noise, but that happens at all hotels.

 

[starseed]

I've also stayed at both and prefer PBH (going back in October! ), but I completely agree that while at HRH, we did not have a problem with hearing loud music or bass in our room.

Both hotels are great, but my DH and I both feel that PBH has a warmer and friendlier vibe. HRH is more about the cool, I think... both in decor and service.

Good luck deciding! Either way, you will have a great stay!