What is your favorite Universal hotel and why?

[chrissyk]

We have not stayed at Universal yet, so I am looking for opinions on which hotel to book. Thanks!

 

[Cinderella822]

It depends on what you're looking for. We've only stayed at PBH, but loved it and will be returning there next summer. It has the Italian theme, which we really enjoyed. The rooms were very large, had a deluxe room overlooking the villa pool. It actually has 3 pools, however, we only went in the villa pool and beach pool. The beach pool is great for families with kids, has a nice slide and a small sandy beach. The villa pool is nice for relaxing in a quiet environment. We rented a cabana there for a day and it was heaven. PBH also has some great Italian restaurants, Mama Della's and Trattoria del Porto. Very good food. We ended each day at the Thirsty Fish bar and sat at their outside tables overlooking the harbor, listening to the Italian singers. Overall, we found it to be just a very nice relaxing place to come back to after running around the parks all day.

 

[AlexandNessa]

I agree... it depends what you are looking for. We have stayed at both PBH and RPR. We have visited HRH and have been inside the standard room. We did not like PBH. We went when the hotel was sold out (spring break), and the place felt like a morgue to us. Plus, we had some issues with the staff and found them to be unfriendly. Others have had much different experiences there. Our stay at the PBH made us try a new resort for our next visit. We stayed RPR Club, and have been staying there ever since. We love the tropical feel, we love the walks to the parks, and at this point, all the club staff knows who we are and they make us feel at home. Again, others have had much different experiences there. I am sure we will try HRH at some point, but for right now, we don't intend to fix what ain't broken for us!

Have fun deciding! The best thing about the Loews hotels (next to FOTL, of course) is that you are encouraged to pool hop, which makes a great way to check out the other resorts for your next trip!

For pics of all three resorts, click here:
http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/Universal/main.htm

At the bottom, you can click on each resort for lots of pics.

 

[silverhaze269]

I love the HRH because I love rock music and it’s themed around rock music. It's also really close to the parks, which isn't a bad thing either.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We've been to all 3. Here's my 2 cents as a mom with a DH & 2 young kids.

Remember the old saying "If its too loud then you're too old", well 'too old' is how I felt at the Hard Rock. DH & I are huge rock fans (Metallica, Nickelback etc) so we thought we would love the HardRock. Well, as it turns out as we've gotten older we prefer it if the 'loud times & music' remain in the lobby. The Hard Rock would probably be best for party animals of any age, younger 20'sish people and parents with teens. I like my peace & quiet at night and the hoards of teenagers slamming doors and roaming the hallways left me cold. It felt like we were trying to sleep in a nightclub.

The Royal Pacific was just lovely & clean but the VERY lightly fragranced air filtration system (or scent in the room)left my son with a really bad Asthma attack this past Feb. I had requested no fragrance at all and hypo-allergenic pillows for the room due to medical necessity but neither request was honored. This will keep me from ever returning but might not bother other people. This was a shame too because, for the price, it really was very nice.

Finally, we are always pleased with the Portofino Bay and will probably stick with it in the future. It might be a little more expensive but it delivers on luxury. Yes, like another poster said the staff can be snotty (some are under the impression that they live in the place instead of work at it) but most of the employees are nice. The grounds are just beautiful, the rooms are spotless and it tends to be the least crowded of all the hotels, probably because of the expense. In my opinion quiet and luxury are at the top of my list of 'must haves'.

I guess each hotel has its pros & cons and what will work best for you depends on your own personal taste & style. I can only give you my impressions based on my own ideas of 'the perfect trip'.

Whatever you choose have a blast

 

[macraven]

i have stayed at all three hotels.


for me, hands down, hard rock hotel all the way as my favorite.
i love the layout in the rooms, the view from the pool side rooms towards the parks, the close 3 minute walk to the park (i use the shortcut ) and the theme throughout.

its only in the lobby and poolside you hear the music.
once you are on your floor, you don't hear it.

only problem is the hard rock is now costing more than pbh.
i just priced out the room for next years stay and others must love hrh also.
supply and demand is making those rooms rise in price again for next year.

pbh was fine, large rooms, bathroom ......wow boy, was it large.
rph, great choice of resturants, great lobby.

my priority is close proximaty to the parks.
i don't use the pools or exercise room.




thinking i should stop posting on these threads and encouraging more to stay at hrh.
the more they sell out
the higher the room charge........


stay at rph or pbh.
you will love it there!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I have stayed at the HRH (twice) and RPH; staying at PBH this summer. Heres my .02:

HRH: beautiful resort, great pool. I felt both times that the employees were too hip and snobby for comfort. It's just too loud and busy for me (but my teens loved it).

RPH: Quiet, laidback, very nice. Employees were incredibly friendly.

Both were a quick and easy walk to the parks. Boat service for both was a long wait (end of June and end of August).

We're trying PBH this year because I'm not planning to spend a lot of time in the parks. I like that they have several pools; the Villa pool sounds quiet with less kids.

 

[Kimberle]

If you plan on doing laundry, RPH does not have a laundry facility. The other 2 do. I did a load one night at RPR. I was the only one in the room. Unlike every other hotel dryer I've used, their dryers were FAST. $2 for a 50 min dry actually dryed my load (which was on the small side).

If you plan on hanging by the pool a lot, the RPR is a great choice. We never had problems getting chairs.

 

[LuvOrlando]

If you plan on doing laundry, RPH does not have a laundry facility. The other 2 do. I did a load one night at RPR. I was the only one in the room. Unlike every other hotel dryer I've used, their dryers were FAST. $2 for a 50 min dry actually dryed my load (which was on the small side).

If you plan on hanging by the pool a lot, the RPR is a great choice. We never had problems getting chairs.

I would call & check on this because when we stayed at the Portofino we were told that they don't have laundry facilities but that I would be welcome to drag my stuff over to Royal Pacific to do my laundry. Of course, things might have changed but if you have a family it's best to confirm.

 

[goofy!]

Royal Pacific and the Hard Rock have self serve laundry facilities. The Portofino does not. Portofino does offer the standard pick up dry cleaning/laundering services that you often find in upscale resorts.

 

[SnowWitch]

Some of what I will post will be repetive but here goes:

RPH- PROS: cool resort, nice walk to the parks that comes out right by
Margartiville, inexpensive.

CONS: Had serious issues with housekeeping letting people into one of
our rooms on the club floor. Housekeeping extremely rude. Will not
return. Had stayed here x3 on club level.

HRH- PROS: Cool resort and very quick walk to US. Although I hear they
have closed off the shortcut by the pool.

CONS: Loud.

(I should add the HRH is the resort of choice for our teen boys)

PBH- PROS: Beautiful, huge rooms, huge bathrooms in the deluxe rooms, the
grounds, the beds! We loved sitting outside sipping wine and listening
to the violinists. The boys loved the pizza here.

CONS: Yeah can't think of any.

(This is the resort of choice for my DH and I.)

 

[robvia]

I've been to all 3.

PBH is also our favorite. We stayed twice this year.
Beautiful resort, largest room size, huge bathroom, pool that allows dogs on the top deck.

 

[Bucsfan]

They're all great but I prefer the RP because of the awesome views you can get there of IOA, plus its the cheapest!!!! But if you don't mind blowing the extra bucks the Portifino is awesome. Make sure you get a balcony if you stay there.

 

[Motherfletcher]

RPR is luxury at the best value. It comprises more than 50 acres, has 1000 rooms (the largest), and was built in 2002 (newest). The South Pacific theme is well done with entry through a Balinese thatched roof porte-cochere and over the bamboo footbridge adorned with frog sculptures crossing a tropical landscaped stream to the elephant fountains in the orchid courtyard, the teak wood smell in the impressive lobby and the 12,000 square foot lagoon pool. My kids always play on the hollow, wooden, carved fish drum in the lobby while I check in. I like the check in at RPR the best where the "natives" have always been friendly and accommodating. We are especially fond of Pia who always remembers us and fills us in on what's new. The sea plane with the 90' wing span in the boat basin always reminds me of Gilligan's Island and even more so after Hurricane Charley blew it ashore.
Accommodations- The rooms are smaller than the other two at 335 square feet but if you become a Loew's Platinum member the complimentary upgrade is to a spacious 670 square foot King Suite. Tower 1 standard rooms can have an awesome view of the Hulk and IOA. Tower 3 pool view can have decent views of IOA as well. Tower 2 is where we stay when we take the dogs. Rooms on the lower floors have a nice garden view.
Recreation- My kids love playing volleyball in the largest pool in Orlando but they are a little too old for the steamboat play area. The dive-in movies are great and the torch lighting ceremony at dusk are fun too. I love the steam room, sauna and whirlpool in the fitness center.
Restaurants- The Island Dining Room has an excellent breakfast buffet at about $17 per adult. The homemade cinnamon rolls are sinfully good.
Emeril's Tchoup Chop has always been a memorable experience with its trendy Asian cuisine and a decent steak.
Jake's has an excellent cheeseburger.
The Bula Bar has the best Caesar Salad I've ever had.

My kids like HRH the best because of the "cool" factor and the pool.

PBH is secluded luxury. We have always received the best upgrades from PBH.

All of the hotels have something specail to offer and the next time I'm asked I may change my mind!

 

[polkadotminnie]

I loved the pool at HRH better than RP, but would be happy to stay at either again.

 

[KEW80]

For our family it is hard to choose between HRH and PBH. Our first experience was the Portofino. After a 7 day visit to WDW staying at the Dolphin we deceided to visit UO for the first time. Portofino just opened and we were able to get a DELUXE for $189. per night. We immediately fell in love with PBH. Words cannot describe the experience. The next year the HRH opened and we stayed there. Excellent! Since the year Portofino opened we have visited every year sometimes twice. We rent Cabana #9 at the Hard Rock every day we stay even if we are at the Portofino. We love both Hotels!!!!!!!

 

[Motherfletcher]

We just returned from a RPR trip and since I reserved the right to change my mind I think I will. Pia has left for California. Check in was a mess! I never received my Loew's First amenity after paying an extra $60! Dale McDaniel is leaving for Las Vegas.
My new favorite is PBH. That was our first on-site hotel and it was a memorable experience. Paul LeClerc, General Manager, and Brian Johnson, Rooms Director, have always been very good to us with upgrades.
The rooms are bigger and the bathrooms are among the best in the industry. PBH has 3 pools and the water slide at the Beach Pool is the best on-site. The Club lounge is huge and the offerings are above expectations. We like the pool table and the games tables. The villa suites are luxury presonified.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Oh, no! Dale is leaving? (Don't you love how I feel I am on a first-name basis with this man? ) I wonder who his replacement will be?

I will write to Shannan to see if I can get the skinny. I know when I was there in September, she had mentioned that a lot of their staff was leaving for a new convention property in Orlando (I can't remember which one, but it wasn't a Loews Hotel; they were being poached as I understand it).

Sorry you didn't get your LF welcome amenity. I have come to ask for the $10 mini bar credit, because even though we stay club level, Mike always feels the need to steal something out of there. If the credit doesn't show up, I just take my bill down to the front desk on check out day and remind them. They take the charge right off.

 

[macraven]

motherfletcher............your box is overflowing........no room for me.....

clean it out, or at least enough so my pm will go thru.....

 

[Motherfletcher]

............your box is overflowing.......

I hate when that happens!

Kim Jones, who was the LF Coordinator left for Rosen Shingle Creek. Now they just don't have one.