PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL Information

[damo]

Any requests I shoudl make for my deluxe queen room? Would appreciate any pointers....gonna be there friday! Ahhhh! 1st time

Just ask for villa or west wing. They are closer to everything.

 

[diskids2]

Hi all!
I still haven't made up my mind as to the kind of room at PBH. Usually I can make a decision but for some reason I keep going around and around. I really wish someone would make this decision for me

We are a party of six - basically all adults. My children are 25, 21 and 17. My mom is coming with us this trip.

I keep going back and forth between two deluxe rooms and a Portofino suite. We will be there for four nights. I know I want to be in the villa or west wing.

Any thoughts?

 

[macraven]

Hi all!
I still haven't made up my mind as to the kind of room at PBH. Usually I can make a decision but for some reason I keep going around and around. I really wish someone would make this decision for me

We are a party of six - basically all adults. My children are 25, 21 and 17. My mom is coming with us this trip.

I keep going back and forth between two deluxe rooms and a Portofino suite. We will be there for four nights. I know I want to be in the villa or west wing.

Any thoughts?

what is your priority?

do you plan to spend a large amount of time in the room or at the parks/citywalk/pool?


do you plan all 6 in your group to be together and do everything as one group all the time?
possible, the suite would work best then.


do peeps in your group want more privacy?
will anyone in your group prefer alone time so they can rest, watch tv or do work?
if that is the case, 2 rooms would work out.

 

[jcvalenti]

I'm an old hand at Disney, but totally new to Universal. Family wants to stay there for two nights in June (6/20 through 6/23). Is it worth shelling out the extra money for a deluxe or bay view Queen room on the reservation ?

I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for a nicer experience, but if it's just a slightly nicer view for the 9 hours we're in our room each day, I'd probably rather save the $100 knick-knacks.

 

[wrrock]

For the portofino; you want to stay by the river and above the square by shops and stuff. Any other hotel has a pool view. This you can look out and have some resemblance of Italy. It's nice to walk downstairs; browse some shops and then go on the river for a boat ride.

 

[damo]

I'm an old hand at Disney, but totally new to Universal. Family wants to stay there for two nights in June (6/20 through 6/23). Is it worth shelling out the extra money for a deluxe or bay view Queen room on the reservation ?

I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for a nicer experience, but if it's just a slightly nicer view for the 9 hours we're in our room each day, I'd probably rather save the $100 knick-knacks.

The bay views are really nice but so are the pool views. For one night I wouldn't bother.

 

[bumbershoot]

For the experts....


We have a 2Q Garden view booked. Is that ONLY going to be on the east wing? Or is there such a view on the other side?

Although, typing that out I remember that we are actually Blue level members, and are hoping for the upgrade the Loews site talks about...so I don't know if requesting something would harm that process...any thoughts?

 

[macraven]

what are your dates bumble?

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, 2/10-2/16.


I'm still not sure how we got Blue level, b/c according to their site, our first stay, at RPR, didn't count towards status (used SMSM). But that's what the site says!

Last September we had the same 2Q Garden room that we've reserved this time, and it was perfectly lovely, I quite liked the view. But we were all the way over on the other side of the boat launch (we were in the east wing, right?) and it got frustrating to walk allll that way. I know, sad to complain about.

But I don't even know if Garden views (if we get exactly what we reserved) rooms are on the other side, and if it would be a waste to request a certain wing.

 

[macraven]

Oh, 2/10-2/16.


I'm still not sure how we got Blue level, b/c according to their site, our first stay, at RPR, didn't count towards status (used SMSM). But that's what the site says!

Last September we had the same 2Q Garden room that we've reserved this time, and it was perfectly lovely, I quite liked the view. But we were all the way over on the other side of the boat launch (we were in the east wing, right?) and it got frustrating to walk allll that way. I know, sad to complain about.

But I don't even know if Garden views (if we get exactly what we reserved) rooms are on the other side, and if it would be a waste to request a certain wing.

here is the link to get to the benefits for loews youfirst:

http://www.loewshotels.com/en/youfirst/benefits



for blue level membership, you get the benefits on your 2nd stay at a loews hotel.

you can sign in at the loews youfirst site to see what your standing is.
you mentioned you have stayed at Loews in the past so if this is the 2nd stay since your membership, you should have the blue perks.


from the website:
*All upgrades are applicable to certain room and suite types only and subject to availability. Blue members receive a room upgrade, if available, upon arrival. Gold members receive an upgrade to a premium room, if available, guaranteed at time of reservation. Gold members can also enjoy a suite upgrade for only $50 per night, if available upon arrival. Platinum members receive a premium upgrade, if available, guaranteed at time of reservation. Platinum members receive a suite upgrade, if available at time of reservation, at no additional cost.



BENEFITS: MEMBER BLUE GOLD PLATINUM
Eligibility 0-1 stays 2-4 stays 5-9 stays 10+ stays
Special Partners Offers Yes Yes Yes Yes
Free Internet No Yes Yes Yes
Free Fitness Center Access No Yes Yes Yes
Free Room Upgrade* No Yes Yes Yes
Late Checkout** No Yes Yes Yes
Guaranteed Availability*** No No Yes Yes
Custom-created destination packages No No Yes Yes
Special Welcome No No Yes Yes
Spa, Golf, or Food & Beverage Credit valued at $100 No No No Yes

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh yes, I've looked at that.


What I'm wondering is if I should try to make any requests for a wing, or if the room upgrade, if available, will interfere with requests (or worse, if requests will interfere with the potential room upgrade).

Also, if the upgrade is not available and we do end up in the Garden View, are there any Garden Views available on the west wing? (or is that just pool view on the non "pretty" view side?)

 

[damo]

Pretty sure there are other garden view rooms in the villa wing. Go to googlemaps and type in Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. You can see several areas that neither overlook the bay, nor a pool in the villa wing.

You can always email the hotel directly and ask what your options are.

 

[diskids2]

what is your priority?

do you plan to spend a large amount of time in the room or at the parks/citywalk/pool?


do you plan all 6 in your group to be together and do everything as one group all the time?
possible, the suite would work best then.


do peeps in your group want more privacy?
will anyone in your group prefer alone time so they can rest, watch tv or do work?
if that is the case, 2 rooms would work out.

Good things to ponder....
Groupings would be DH, me, DS (17) and my Mom (75). The other group is DD (21) and DD's BF (25).

We do everything together, but parts of our group go back to the room to rest while others keep trucking along.

For this trip, we will spend most of the time in the parks, but some time at the hotel.

We will be there for four nights, but this is the second leg of our trip. WDW is the first...where we will be for 10 nights. 1 Bedroom villa and a studio villa at BCV.

Is there a floor plan for the suites anywhere that I could look at?

 

[damo]

http://www.uomeetingsandevents.com/Hotels/Portofino_Bay/Accommodations/Accommodations.asp

This has photos and floor plans.

 

[vbarry]

I just booked the portofino suite. So the parlor room is only 280 square feet. I thought I ready somewhere that the suite was 900 square feet. Not sure if I am willing to pay as much as I am for just another 280 square feet.

Is there a fridge in these rooms?

Those who have stayed...would you choose a Portofino or Deluxe Club?

 

[macraven]

I just booked the portofino suite. So the parlor room is only 280 square feet. I thought I ready somewhere that the suite was 900 square feet. Not sure if I am willing to pay as much as I am for just another 280 square feet.

Is there a fridge in these rooms?

Those who have stayed...would you choose a Portofino or Deluxe Club?

doesn't that include the large suite?
you get the suite and the side parlor room.
or if i have that wrong, damo will correct me........

 

[macraven]

Portofino Suites

Our Portofino Suites are cozy and comfortable with plenty of space to relax after a day at the theme parks. These suites have a 450 square foot parlor which adjoins to a 450 square foot Garden View bedroom. A second adjoining Garden View room can also be reserved to create a two-bedroom suite.

Call 1-888-273-1311 to book this suite.


isn't this what you booked ?

go to http://www.universalorlando.com/Hotels/Loews-Portofino-Bay-Hotel/Accommodations/Luxury-Suites.aspx for the picture of the suite.

 

[damo]

doesn't that include the large suite?
you get the suite and the side parlor room.
or if i have that wrong, damo will correct me........

When we stayed in one, the parlor was pretty much the same size as the bedroom. The sofa in the parlor pulls out to a full bed. Each room then has its own bathroom.

 

[General Panic]

Have just tretaed myself and 2 brothers to 3 nights in the hotel arriving 17th September.

This will be our 4th visit and only on our first visit did we end up on the top floor in a room with a balcony which was just wonderful.

Next visit garden wing and also one after that. I asked if we could get a balcony on our last trip and was told this was for guests paying the bay view supplement which of course we hadn't. Our first trip must have gained us a free upgrade and i didn't realise you had to pay for the view and balcony on subsequent visists

Soooo , does anyone know of a room number we can request that would hopefully net us a balcony again? We just have the regualr bay view room booked not a suite or club room if that helps.

I've paid the supplement myself this time and brothers think we'll just have a garden view again but i'm hoping to surprise them with another lovely room with somekind of balcony


Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[diskids2]

http://www.uomeetingsandevents.com/Hotels/Portofino_Bay/Accommodations/Accommodations.asp

This has photos and floor plans.

Ok thank you. Does anyone know if you can take a Rickshaw from PBH to HRH. We will be having dinner there one night and I'm not sure at the end of the day if my DM (75) could do the walk. I know I can boat it to Citywalk and transfer which I would do if that was the only option.