Just back and am in LOVE with PBH!

[tfoster]

We just got back from our trip to Universal and SeaWorld. Dec 12 - Dec 17, we stayed at PBH. It was our first time staying there (and our first time going to Universal), and I fell in love with the hotel!

We had two connecting garden rooms reserved, but they were able to upgrade us to bay view rooms and were able to grant my request for ground-level rooms with patios. It was cold so we didn't get to use the patios as much as we had hoped to, but we loved them anyway and DID find ways to use them! Actually, we absolutely loved everything about the rooms in particular and the hotel in general.

Beautiful buildings and grounds. Quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Very good housekeeping service. Ate at Sal's three times, ate at Trattoria once, and got gelato sundaes once - all of the food was prepared perfectly and was delicious. Spent several hours on our lone really warm day at the beach pool, and that was just fabulous. And all of our interactions with the hotel staff were positive and pleasant.

Unfortunately, because of the cold weather and because we were so busy at the parks, we didn't explore the hotel and grounds nearly as much as we had hoped to, but we plan to go back at some point. We wondered if staying there 5 nights would be too many, but it wasn't at all. Next time, we think we want to spend 7 nights there. (I just hope the prices don't get too, too high!)

The only negative I can think of is the boat transportation because there was a long wait between boat trips - which was kind-of a miserable wait in the cold weather. It was a pretty slow week, and it seemed they only had one boat going back and forth for each hotel. We learned pretty quickly that if the boat wasn't at the dock, chances were high we'd get to the parks faster by taking the shortcut (thanks!) through the HRH parking lot. A couple times in the early morning, we saw people in line watching the boat fill up and leave and having to wait for another one. I was surprised more people weren't just walking.

Lovely, lovely place to stay. If anyone has any questions about our experiences, feel free to ask.

 

[damo]

So glad everything worked out so well!!!

 

[CornishPixie]

I loved reading your post! We are going to PBH for the first time next month and I am really excited about staying there. We have already stayed at HRH and RPR and have really enjoyed both. So glad you had an awesome visit and if you have any other advice for me and my family about the hotel please let me know.
You mentioned the pool...were they heated? Wondering if we could swim in January but betting it will be too cold.

 

[tfoster]

I loved reading your post! We are going to PBH for the first time next month and I am really excited about staying there. We have already stayed at HRH and RPR and have really enjoyed both. So glad you had an awesome visit and if you have any other advice for me and my family about the hotel please let me know.
You mentioned the pool...were they heated? Wondering if we could swim in January but betting it will be too cold.

We only used the Beach Pool, and it was heated to a comfortable temperature. There are also two big hot tubs in that area, and they were wonderful! Try to be out there near sunset. It's just beautiful how the fading light shines on the buildings around the pool area.

We had requested the West Wing (bay view) and got it. It was great because it was right near the boat launch and close to the start of the path to the parks. However, it was SO bright in the mornings; we couldn't believe how bright it was.

Definitely eat at Sal's. We're a big panini sandwich and theirs are amazingly delicious. Don't be afraid to make requests; they're happy to honor them. e.g. I ordered a turkey panini but wanted mozz cheese instead of pepper jack. Their hot chocolate is also super yummy and is topped off with lots of whipped cream - perfect for the cooler temps.

Be prepared for a s-l-o-w check-in. I couldn't believe how long it took, and DH came over a couple of times to see what was going on because he thought there must have been a problem since it was taking so long. The clerk was super nice, but I've never experienced such a long check-in procedure.

Don't hesitate to contact "star service" if you have any problems. We ended up using the laundry service to wash some of the kids' clothes ($5/pound for that). It was after 9 AM when I called it in, and I was told that to have it back that evening, I'd have to pay for express service (50% more); otherwise, I'd get it back the next day. (Note I don't even know if that's indeed how it's supposed to work because I ended up hearing different things from different people, but I definitely know that's what I was very clearly told when I called to arrange pick-up.) We needed some of it for the next morning, so I agreed to go with express. When we got back that evening, there was no laundry in the room. I called and was told our bag of dirty laundry was still sitting there and it was marked regular, not express. The guy was super nice - apologized and said he'd make sure it got back to me as soon as possible the next day. Well, it came back the next day but I was charged the 50% express surcharge. I called and was kind-of prepared to be given a hard time about it, but the woman I spoke with nicely and immediately took the extra charge off. I was relieved that I didn't have to end up being assertive about it.

Take the shortcut through the HRH parking lot. From our rooms (middle of the West Wing) to the gates of Universal Studios, it didn't take more than 10 minutes - and that's not speed walking as we had a 5-year old in the group.

If you eat at Trattoria (and I'd recommend it because the food was DELICIOUS!), prepare to spend a long time there. It took a very long time to get our food. I started to complain to DH a little, saying the food had better be great given how long they were taking to prepare it. Well, it was worth the wait! Each dish was just perfect. If you have children, check to see when they have children's activities. We ended up eating there the night they had a face painter and balloonist, and that definitely helped pass the time. Also note they aren't open every night. We learned that the hard way when it was freezing cold (literally!) and we decided to just go back to the hotel and eat at Trattoria - sorry, not open! <sigh> I remember reading they weren't open every night, but once there I forgot about it.

Wish I had more tips, but unfortunately, we didn't get to explore the hotel nearly as much as we had hoped. Looking forward to doing that next time. Just really take in how beautiful it is. Even DH commented on it, and he's not big into those things. He said the bathroom in the lobby area was the nicest bathroom he's ever been in.

We walked and boated by HRH many times, and I have to say that there was no comparison in my mind which of the two I'd rather stay at. We didn't go into HRH, but from the outside, I didn't find anything at all appealing about it. Inside and out, I found EVERYTHING appealing about PBH.

 

[JessicaR]

Thanks for sharing. PBH is very special to us also! Such a beautiful hotel.

 

[CornishPixie]

T, that review was awesome! I will plan to eat at Sal's for sure and we are big walkers so I will take your tip of cutting through HRH parking lot. I am also going to call and request the West Wing. We got a APH rate and I reserved cheapest room, which I think is garden view, but I may upgrade to bayview when we get there.

You mentioned HRH. We have stayed there and I will say that it is fantastic on the inside. You should go in next visit and look at all the memorabilia. We stayed on club level and LOVED it. I took teenagers last summer and they had a blast. We have stayed at RPR too and I thought it was beautiful.

We are thrilled to try PBR and I think we will also enjoy their room size. They have the biggest rooms of all three resorts. Thanks again!!