Portofino...which Park is located the closest..take boat?

[rapunzal]

Can you walk to either park? or take the boat? Also is there a section of rooms in the hotel that that the pets can't stay? Last time at RPH we got stuck next to a barking dog all night...no fun especially since ours were at home with the sitter! How do the two resorts compare? Want to go to the parks and relax a lot at the pool. Are the club rooms on the same floor as the room? Is it a inconvience to leave the pool to get a soda? Thanks

 

[Cinderella822]

Although PBH is the furthest hotel from either park, it's still not that far. We walked to both parks on several occasions. If you're tired or in a rush, the boat was very convenient and went to City Walk, where you can walk to each park. We loved PBH and plan to go again next year. Since our daughter is a teenager, we stayed clear of the beach pool, which had a lot of younger kids in it and went to the villa pool each day. It was heaven. Not many people, very relaxing. They had waiters come by every now and then for drink/food orders, so getting a soda would be no problem there. I believe the beach pool even has a bar right next to it to get beverages. Not sure about the dog rooms, but we had a deluxe room in the villa wing and realized part way into our stay that it must have been a dog room because we found a little dog bone hiding behind the curtains. Wouldn't have known it otherwise though - very quiet room. Never heard barking.

 

[robvia]

It's 13-15 minutes from the PBH boat dock to USF. It's best to walk the path in the morning, and take the boat back in the afternoon.
PBH has bigger rooms, and the bathroom is huge.
RPR has a big pool, but the rooms are small.
HRH has slightly bigger rooms, and it's more of a "hip" place to be.

 

[aztecgoods]

If money is no object, the Portifino is maybe one of the nicest hotels in the world. (BUT ASK FOR A BALCONY!!!!) Dont forget that, the balconies are the best there. I stay at the Royal Pac, cause its cheaper and I love the Asian tropical theming. If cash was equal, I would probably go back and forth from P to RP cause both are nice. Never stayed at the Hard Rock, but hear its very nice too and different, loud rock music playing in the lobby etc. The HR probably would be great for you if you are into rock music, if your not, then definitely one of the other ones. Also the walk is a lot closer at the RP, the P walk is quite a bit longer but still doable.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I may be alone on this but we take the resort shuttle bus to the parks or other resorts from PBH. They have A/C and normally go directly where you ask to go. The water taxi is a romantic option but takes longer and requires more walking.
The club rooms are not on the same floor as the lounge (3rd floor) for the most part. That said, we just returned and had a villa suite with club access on the 3rd floor. Most club rooms are 5th and 6th. It is not too convenient to walk to the club lounge from the pool for a soda. You can take sodas from the lounge to your room though.
The pools at PBH are the quietest and the villa and hillside pools are very relaxing. The beach pool has a slide and tends to attract the most kids.