Portofino Bay and Hard Rock

[cinmell]

I don't know anything about either of these hotels. We are thinking of going to visit Universal for 3 nights 4 days but we are not sure where to stay. It will be my husband, my two cousins ages 16 and 18 and me. I saw a travel channel special that showed that there is boat transportation from Universal to Portofino. Is there boat transportation to Hard Rock? Which is closer to Universal?

 

[gschmerl]

Hard Rock Hotel is closest to the parks. It actually takes less time to wallk from the HRH to the parks than to take the boat.

 

[PartyofSix]

It's everything you saw on the travel channel and so much more! I hope you get the chance to try it. There's nothing like that boat right from the parks at night into the piazza at PBH it's just breathetaking.

 

[cinmell]

Ooh, I didn't know you can walk to the park from Hard Rock. Can you also walk from Portofino Bay?

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by cinmell
Ooh, I didn't know you can walk to the park from Hard Rock. Can you also walk from Portofino Bay?

Yes, there is a very nice landscaped path that runs along the canal to Citywalk. I understand you can cut the distance in half if you cut accross the road to the HRH.

 

[JessicaR]

Lewisc is correct but I wanted to add that even with the shortcut the walk is still longer than the one from HRH or even RPR. When we stay at Portofino we do the walk a few times but many dont attempt it and take the boat. Portofino has 2 boats running so waits arent too bad for a boat. The boat ride is very nice and relaxing and never seemed an inconvience to us. The captains are informative and personable and we look forward to the ride.

To give you my opinion on your first question, I would choose HRH. With the teens its sure to be a hit! Hope you have a ball wherever you end up.

 

[cinmell]

Thank you!

 

[gschmerl]

It is a VERY SHORT walk from the HRH to the parks. About five minutes for Universal Studios (at a slow pace) and about ten minutes to IOA. City Walk is between the two parks. It's soooooo convenient.

 

[noseybuddy]

When I stayed at the HRH my kids were 10 and 13. They just loved it. Even my husband liked it . Music and videos everywhere, the pool, the lobby, the elevators. I agree with JessicaR. The teens will like it for sure.

But I have to say the PBH is just beautiful. I was just at the RPR this July and my kids are now 15 and 12. We took the boat ride over to the PBH and both of my kids said "Why didn't we stay here". They really liked the look of it. We will stay there next time. Oh, and both the PBH and HRH have slides at the pool, if that matters to them.

 

[BarbaraMB]

Just LOVED the HRH. Your family will as well, especially teenagers. Staying on site was so wonderful, walking distance to everything, FOTL was the best thing ever. We missed it as soon as we left. The kids didn't even want to swim at the Boardwalk pool after being in the HRH pool. I wish I had done Disney first and then went over to Universal. Just my own opinion.