Portofino suite help!

[ChristiF]

Hi! We are planning our first visit to UO! We are booked at PBH in a 2 bedroom portofino suite The UO rep told me the parlor would connect to two garden view rooms...what kind of view does that mean? The rep wasn't helpful..she just said it means a view of the gardens!! I've read here that all the suites are in the west wing..is that right?
Thanks for all your help!

 

[macraven]

i suggest you go to the universal website and pull up the hotel section.

you will find everything there to explain the rooms at pbh.

 

[ChristiF]

Thanks for responding! I did look at the website. I'm confused because I've read somewhere on these invaluable threads that the suites have views of pools/piazza. Are there some suites with views of the pool area and others with garden views. I'm asking because my parents are coming with us and they will be spending quite a bit of time in the room and would like a view of the pool or piazza. I appreciate all the help!

 

[macraven]

give me 30 minutes.
i'm trying to pull up past threads for you.

 

[macraven]

one poster states west wing
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2128359

info on pbh. read thru all posts:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2122451

I think that all ground floor rooms open up to a mini patio. When we first checked in last November we were in a West side room that faced the Villa Pool and it had a mini patio. It was too loud so they transferred us the second day to a room facing the Beach Pool (in the same wing as the Spa and Fitness Center) - it was on the 3rd floor and we had no balcony but a great view


info on suites:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2070658


thread on restaurants at pbh:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2033724



post #10 in the thread has a link to the hotel:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2005931


balcony rooms in villa suite:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1934467


suite locations:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1932293


thread on suites:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1770392

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1915169



There are Deluxe rooms in all the wings, the west, the villa and the east wings.

DSmom has posted that although still hard to get one, the balconies that you have the best bet of getting are in the East Wing. The entire top floor of the East wing has fabulous large balconies.

The top floor of the West wing also has great balconies, but most of the balconies on the top floor are attached to the two Villa Suites up there, so are very difficult to get. You can only get the deluxe bedrooms if the Villas are not reserved.
__________________


pictures of villa suite:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1880287


suggest you check out the trip reports of tlinus and bubbas mom's links to their pbh stay.

they have a lot of pictures.



i'm sure the above links will help you.

also, check out the list your room assignment at pbh thread. it is a sticky.

 

[ChristiF]

WOW!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! This is a big help! We are debating between the portofino suite or just getting two deluxe rooms and request that they be connecting. Again, thanks so much! I'll let you know how it goes

 

[macraven]

i'm glad to help.


to do a search, just change the options at the bottom of a page.
change the dates to cover "one year".

that is how you can go back more than the 4 pages that are presently showing.



stick with the suite.
you'll love it and it will be cheaper.

 

[goofy!]

We typically stay in either a Portofino suite or the Villa Suites.

There are 6 Portofino suites and they are all in the West Wing.

2 of them (I think) are on the bottom floor and face the piazza/boat dock. They are the ones that have the French doors to a small patio on the Piazza. The other 4 are on the other side of the West Wing and face the Beach pool.

If you have your parents with you, I would definitely recommend the 2 bedroom suite over the 2 deluxe rooms. The only real difference between the garden view and the deluxe rooms is that the deluxe rooms have a separate shower stall along with the tub. The difference is square footage between the rooms is negligible.

With the Portofino Suite, you will have one bedroom that has a king bed, then the parlor, which will have a couch, chairs etc, and then a bedroom with 2 queen beds. Both bedrooms have large bathrooms with double sinks and a tub/shower combo. The Parlor will have a third bathroom with a large shower (no tub.)

If your parents are going to spend time in the room, they will probably enjoy having the living room to hang out in.

Another suggestion (which is what we do) is to add Club privileges to the suite so that they can also go sit in the Club lounge. They can have leisurely coffee and breakfast while you hit the parks. There is also a lovely balcony right next to the lounge (open for everybody) that they can take their coffee and sit on.

Here are some pics from one of our Portofino suite rooms. These are from one of the third floor suites.

Parlor view:

Queen bedroom view:

The king bedroom would be a view to the left of the parlor view.

 

[macraven]

goofy, one of the links i listed for the newbie was the one where you posted those pics from a thread months ago.

i'm glad you were able to help the op here.
you know a lot about pbh.

 

[ChristiF]

Thanks SO Much Macraven and Goofy!! One more question, Goofy, are these portofino suites guaranteed to have one room that has a balcony???
As you can imagine, that is quite important to my parents!

 

[La2kw]

We typically stay in either a Portofino suite or the Villa Suites.

There are 6 Portofino suites and they are all in the West Wing.

2 of them (I think) are on the bottom floor and face the piazza/boat dock. They are the ones that have the French doors to a small patio on the Piazza. The other 4 are on the other side of the West Wing and face the Beach pool.

If you have your parents with you, I would definitely recommend the 2 bedroom suite over the 2 deluxe rooms. The only real difference between the garden view and the deluxe rooms is that the deluxe rooms have a separate shower stall along with the tub. The difference is square footage between the rooms is negligible.

With the Portofino Suite, you will have one bedroom that has a king bed, then the parlor, which will have a couch, chairs etc, and then a bedroom with 2 queen beds. Both bedrooms have large bathrooms with double sinks and a tub/shower combo. The Parlor will have a third bathroom with a large shower (no tub.)

If your parents are going to spend time in the room, they will probably enjoy having the living room to hang out in.

Another suggestion (which is what we do) is to add Club privileges to the suite so that they can also go sit in the Club lounge. They can have leisurely coffee and breakfast while you hit the parks. There is also a lovely balcony right next to the lounge (open for everybody) that they can take their coffee and sit on.

Here are some pics from one of our Portofino suite rooms. These are from one of the third floor suites.

Parlor view:

Queen bedroom view:

The king bedroom would be a view to the left of the parlor view.

Thanks for the great info from everyone on this thread. I'm not the OP, but we are also staying in a Portofino Suite this July, so this thread and all the other ones macraven posted links to have been very helpful. We prefer RPR, but since we are going to lose our platinum status at the end of the year, we wanted to cash in on the upgrade at least once while we still can.

I have a question- how much does it cost to add club privileges, and can that be done if I am being upgraded to the suite with my platinum status?

 

[macraven]

if there is a sign out on the lobby counter when you check in that states:

want to stay club, ask how to upgrade, or something worded like that, ask the tm at check in.

i have seen the cost to run anywhere from $50 to 100 a night to upgrade to club.


it is cheaper to upgrade at check in than to book the club in advance.

i'm at platinum level also so i always book at the lowest rate for a standard room.

the suite is the upgrade with you paying the lower priced room.
if you check in and pay per night to upgrade to club, you are getting more of a deal.


and to the op, read thru those links.
one of them stated about the balconies for the suites/villas.
you might find that answer in the links if goofy does not come back here soon.

 

[macraven]

Thanks for the great info from everyone on this thread. I'm not the OP, but we are also staying in a Portofino Suite this July, so this thread and all the other ones macraven posted links to have been very helpful. We prefer RPR, but since we are going to lose our platinum status at the end of the year, we wanted to cash in on the upgrade at least once while we still can.

I have a question- how much does it cost to add club privileges, and can that be done if I am being upgraded to the suite with my platinum status?

i might have confused you in my last post.

your free upgrade is the suite.
you can add the club status at check in time for a nightly fee

there should be a sign on the desk that states upgrading for club is available.

 

[La2kw]

i might have confused you in my last post.

your free upgrade is the suite.
you can add the club status at check in time for a nightly fee

there should be a sign on the desk that states upgrading for club is available.

Thanks for the info macraven! I did understand you, but thanks for clarifying.

 

[goofy!]

Thanks SO Much Macraven and Goofy!! One more question, Goofy, are these portofino suites guaranteed to have one room that has a balcony???
As you can imagine, that is quite important to my parents!

No, they are not guaranteed to have balconies. In fact, except for the two on the ground floor with patios, I don't believe any of the others have balconies at all.

The balconies at Portofino are very few and far between and they will never guarantee one for you, in any room.

A few of the Villa Suites have balconies. The two in the West Wing have fantastic balconies. They are huge with tables, chairs and lounge chairs. They face the boat dock on the Piazza.

The Villa Suite above the Club room has the walk-out balconies. You can fit a chair on them and sit out there.

The two Villas in the Villa wing do not have balconies, but do have floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Piazza.

As DS mom stated, there are a few deluxe rooms in the East wing that do have balconies. You can request them, but they are not guaranteed. Your best bet is to call the rooms manager at the Portofino and explain that you will have your parents and would really like a balcony. The Portofino has always been helpful in that way for us.

Yes, you can add club privileges when your suite is your Platinum upgrade. That is how we do it. The last few times we added it, it was $75.00 per night. The price fluctuates though, and as Mac said, there is usually a brochure at the front desk when you check in offering it and the price. If you don't see it, just ask how much it would be to add club.

Mac- thanks! I didn't click on the links. I should have known you would be completely thorough

 

[rpbert1]

A few of the Villa Suites have balconies. The two in the West Wing have fantastic balconies. They are huge with tables, chairs and lounge chairs. They face the boat dock on the Piazza.

I think Damo stayed in one of these last year.
We are staying in PBH suite this year, only thing i know is we have a Suite on the top floor, as it was picked for us.

 

[ChristiF]

Upon the advice of all the experts on this board, I called and spoke to a room manager at PBH. He was AWESOME! We switched our reservations over to two deluxe rooms and he blocked out for us two connecting balcony rooms in the villa wing!! And it's cheaper...I don't think we'll miss the parlor too much...my parents really want a balcony!!
Now, for all you experts our there...what can we expect in the villa wing???
THANKS so much everyone!

 

[macraven]

i'm not sure what you mean.

are you asking it's location to the water taxi, restaurants, type of thing?

are you set up for the west wing?



there are some threads about the deluxe rooms.
you need a pic?

you might be asking what is in the deluxe rooms, right?


let us know......



i'm glad you called and talked to someone at PBH.

they are known to be very helpful in working with guests to secure the room/s they need.

 

[ChristiF]

I was so happy I guess I kind of rambled!! I was just wondering what experiences people have had staying in the villa wing. The manager told me the deluxe rooms were with balconies overlooking the pool in the villa wing...does that make sense??? I'd love to see a pic of a deluxe room in the villa wing that overlooks the pool!!

 

[damo]

Here are some pics of villa wing rooms with balconies.