Portofino - Club Level Views

[johnvree]

I just booked a Club Level Room at the Portofino for first week of May. I was surprised that there was no way to book a specific view. They told me it could be a pool view or a bay view.

The view is important to me. So I told the agent I would skip the Club Level and just book a bay view. He then told me he would check to see if he could guarantee the view. He came back on the phone and told me that since the rooms are first-come, first-served and since I am booking early, he would guarantee the bay view.

This doesn't sound legit to me. I will be disappointed if I get down there and put in a pool view. Has anyone had any experience like this at the Portofino? Thoughts?

 

[RMulieri]

Club level is usually the deluxe room category and those that are booked are generally in the VILLAS wing. Your views from there are either the Beach pool ( main pool) with Universal parks in the distance, or the Villas quiet pool and grounds. There are NO club level deluxe rooms that are Bay view. At least that is what I was told , because I called the hotel concierge on 3 occasion and asked the same question ( plus I have stayed 3 times already and ALL 3 times I was in the Villas wing with the pool views and was told at check in NO club delue rooms are bay view.). Club access can be from anywhere in the resort technically, but if you specifically book the Club level ( which is the deluxe room category), you are placed in the villas wing. My guess is the loews representative is incorrect. You can email the hotel concierge at portofinoconcierge@loewshotels.com

 

[johnvree]

Club level is usually the deluxe room category and those that are booked are generally in the VILLAS wing. Your views from there are either the Beach pool ( main pool) with Universal parks in the distance, or the Villas quiet pool and grounds. There are NO club level deluxe rooms that are Bay view. At least that is what I was told , because I called the hotel concierge on 3 occasion and asked the same question ( plus I have stayed 3 times already and ALL 3 times I was in the Villas wing with the pool views and was told at check in NO club delue rooms are bay view.). Club access can be from anywhere in the resort technically, but if you specifically book the Club level ( which is the deluxe room category), you are placed in the villas wing. My guess is the loews representative is incorrect. You can email the hotel concierge at portofinoconcierge@loewshotels.com

Thank you. As I was reading your response I remembered having this issue the last time I stayed at the Portofino. We booked a Deluxe Room and ultimately went with a Beach Pool view. I remember being disappointed in not having a bay view. But the Beach Pool view was fine.

I emailed the concierge. I bet they will confirm your suspicion that the phone rep was not accurate. We'll probably stay with the Club Level room just to try it. Frankly, I think the extra space in a deluxe room probably outweighs the bay view room anyway. Thanks again.

 

[RMulieri]

Thank you. As I was reading your response I remembered having this issue the last time I stayed at the Portofino. We booked a Deluxe Room and ultimately went with a Beach Pool view. I remember being disappointed in not having a bay view. But the Beach Pool view was fine.

I emailed the concierge. I bet they will confirm your suspicion that the phone rep was not accurate. We'll probably stay with the Club Level room just to try it. Frankly, I think the extra space in a deluxe room probably outweighs the bay view room anyway. Thanks again.

We much prefer the larger room over the view anyway.It isn't like the rooms all have balconies( only a few in the whole resort do) so it is not like I am outside staring at the view..I did enjoy the view of the Beach pool more since you can see Rip ride Rocket, Men in Black etc in the distance and all lit up at night

 

[johnvree]

We much prefer the larger room over the view anyway.It isn't like the rooms all have balconies( only a few in the whole resort do) so it is not like I am outside staring at the view..I did enjoy the view of the Beach pool more since you can see Rip ride Rocket, Men in Black etc in the distance and all lit up at night

Probably the way I'll go. But I'm a bit disappointed in the agent. That was pretty misleading.

The concierge emailed me back confirming that there are no deluxe bay view rooms. And my reservation does not say anything about this.

 

[Bluer101]

That's crazy as the website says that their are rooms.

We don't do club at PBH as we get the parlor suite instead.

 

[johnvree]

I called the Portfino's Front Desk this morning to change my room to a bay view (I decided to forgo the extra space for the bay view after all).

The front desk then told me that there are in fact a limited number of club lever/deluxe rooms with bay views. They are located on floors 5 and 6 above the restaurants facing the bay. The woman helping me blocked one of those rooms for me.

Has anyone ever stayed in one of these rooms?

 

[RMulieri]

I called the Portfino's Front Desk this morning to change my room to a bay view (I decided to forgo the extra space for the bay view after all).

The front desk then told me that there are in fact a limited number of club lever/deluxe rooms with bay views. They are located on floors 5 and 6 above the restaurants facing the bay. The woman helping me blocked one of those rooms for me.

Has anyone ever stayed in one of these rooms?

Interesting..I should call them again then..They insist there are no Bayview club level rooms everytime I have called or emailed..

 

[Bluer101]

Like I said, they advertise bay view club rooms.

 

[johnvree]

Interesting..I should call them again then..They insist there are no Bayview club level rooms everytime I have called or emailed..

Let me know if you find out something different. The woman I spoke with today supposedly works at the front desk at the Portofino. I assume she knows what she is talking about (though you would think the Portofino's concierge would have known too).

I'm going to repost a more specific post to see if anyone one has any actual experience with these rooms.

 

[Go Vols]

I called the Portfino's Front Desk this morning to change my room to a bay view (I decided to forgo the extra space for the bay view after all). The front desk then told me that there are in fact a limited number of club lever/deluxe rooms with bay views. They are located on floors 5 and 6 above the restaurants facing the bay. The woman helping me blocked one of those rooms for me. Has anyone ever stayed in one of these rooms?

We have stayed in a bay view deluxe club a couple of times. Very nice rooms and view. I posted a couple of view pics here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3363802

 

[RMulieri]

So I called..The first person I got insists there is no such thing.I asked for a mgr and then was told that there IS.But is by request at check in only and I cant request it or book it ahead of time..Guess when I get down there in 2 weeks I will find out for sure

 

[ElizabethB]

We have stayed in a deluxe club level bay view room several times. The are great rooms.

Too bad club level offerings have declined so much in quality and quantity. After several wonderful stays there, our most recent stay was a huge disappointment (notwithstanding the great bay view room we had). We are going to try HRH or RPR for our next visit.

 

[goofy!]

There are actually deluxe bay view rooms in the West Wing. We have stayed in them. However, they are tied to the Villa Suites, so it is very rare that you can get them separately without the parlor.

We have been upgraded a few times from the Portofino suite to the Villa Suite and had the queen deluxe room as the bedroom. The king deluxe room on the other side must have been available as just a room as there was somebody in it each time.

 

[goofy!]

We have stayed in a deluxe club level bay view room several times. The are great rooms.

Too bad club level offerings have declined so much in quality and quantity. After several wonderful stays there, our most recent stay was a huge disappointment (notwithstanding the great bay view room we had). We are going to try HRH or RPR for our next visit.

We found the offerings at the club level a couple of weeks ago excellent in quality and quantity. They were constantly refreshing, even within minutes of closing.

The appetizer selection was not as great as the lavish spreads a few years ago, but they always had at least 3 hot entries, a salad, assorted veggies, cheeses with breads/crackers and then some cold appetizers (some trout thing, a sundried tomato chicken salad, etc) served in large ceramic spoons.

Desserts were 2 different petit fours and then big chocolate chip cookies. The lemon tarts and the chocolate mousse were particularly outstanding.

Several different types of beers, whites and red wines.