Which Universal hotel?

[knieriem]

My big and I are spending a few days in Orlando and since we are Harry Potter fans we decided to stay at Universal. Normally I'd stay at WDW when going to Orlando so I've never been in the Universal hotels. Which one is your favorite?

 

[abubu919]

Hard Rock...great location. We usually walk from there over to the parks. Also great atmosphere, seems the most laid back. Usually the median price hotel. Royal Pacific is usually the cheapest and Portofino normally most expenses (more adult hotel in my opinion). We are actually staying at Hard Rock this weekend

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've only stayed at Royal Pacific, but thought it was very nice. It's the cheapest of the three, but it's still a "deluxe" resort. It reminded me a little of the Polynesian. I am looking foward to staying there again this fall.

 

[tink1957]

We've stayed at the Hard Rock (club level deluxe room) and most recently at the Royal Pacific (standard room). Surprisingly, we like the RPR best...there's something about the atmosphere that's very relaxing, plus it's cheaper without being cheap. The HRH is closer to the parks, if that makes a difference and the pool is better.

 

[Purseval]

Lately the HRH has been the most expensive and the Portofino the midrange. All three are good so it really depends on what kind of theming you prefer. Personally my favorite is the Hard Rock. If distance affects your choice the HRH is closest to Universal while the RP is closest to IOA but, unlike WDW, everything is walking distance for even the most feeble walkers.

 

[Disney Padawan]

Another vote for Royal Pacific! We've only stayed there once but it was awesome and a much better value then the Disney resorts.

 

[Planogirl]

I like the Royal Pacific the best unless I get to someday go on a romantic trip and then I want Portofino. All three hotels are great though.

 

[Gillbob316]

My thoughts (early warning: I tend to be long-winded...)

I've stayed at all three. Stayed at Hard Rock the least recently since they had a change of management that seems to have interfered with whatever our standard booking situation was (I don't do the booking for our family, I don't know details).

I'm pretty sure we usually get standard rooms, though we did get a suite at the Portifino once, but the suite was basically just two rooms right next to eachother with the connecting door open, which was kindof a letdown.

I have to say, I've always found the actual rooms in all three hotels more or less identical, with minor differences in themeing. I don't prefer the rooms at any one hotel more than the other.

As far as theming, I think I prefer Hard Rock, but then I'm a male in my 20s. I enjoy the rock memorabilia and hollywood glitz it has. Royal Pacific is also nice. The Polynesian feel, as others have said, gives it a somewhat soothing and exotic flavor. Portifino is my least favorite of the three. I imagine it would be interesting to someone who REALLY like Italy, but to me it's just kindof... no big whoop. My sister and mother seem to love it though, so to each his or her own, I guess. My other biggest problem with Portifino however, which brings me to my next point, isss...

Location! Portifino's sucks. Don't try to walk to or from the parks if you're staying at Portifino, it doesn't look far when you're on the boat, but boy howdy it is. Royal Pacific, by contrast, is a fairly walkable distance. I still prefer the boat, but my family will hoof it from time to time. Hard Rock wins in this debate, it has a great park adjacent location, less than 5 minutes away. You can practically step out of your room and be in the park.

So all and all, I'd say Hard Rock or Royal Pacific. But I know some members of my family would disagree. At teh end of the day I'd say do what we did, try them all out alternately on multiple return trips until you settle into one. (We seem to have settled into Royal Pacific, for the record. For a combination of the reasons already mentioned, and the whole "It's Cheaper" factor, lol.)
So all and all

 

[cieslack]

Standard Portofino rooms are bigger. We have no problem with the walk to the parks.

 

[chimo2u]

Standard Portofino rooms are bigger. We have no problem with the walk to the parks.

This is good to hear!! I am staying at PBH Club Level this August, and I was just beginning to second-guess myself today regarding my resort choice because of the walk to the parks (as a pp above stated it was far!)
Good to hear the walk is manageable! I really love the look/feel/theme of PBH and was very much looking forward to trying this resort!

 

[CaptHomer]

Royal Pacific is an easy walk to the parks. Portifino very long walk or boat ride. I don't stay at Hard Rock because you don't earn LoewsFirst points there.

I will have to go with the Royal Pacific. We are staying there on our next two trips this year.

 

[vettegirl]

We had an amazing time at the HRH a few weeks ago. The rooms were quite large, the pool was super fun, and the walk was super short. I loved all the music playing everywhere and the gift shop was very cool as well. The HRH IMO was better than the Disney Deluxe resorts we have stayed at!

 

[rpbert1]

we have been staying at RPR for 5 years now, going again in 31 days, and the themeing is what we like about it, and plenty of activity around the pool for DD, have twice done split stays with PBH ,did it last July, and PBH was the cheapest for our dates last year, its a lovely resort and was extremely quiet last summer, DD got a bit bored as there was not a lot happening.
Barb had a shortcut through HRH for the walk from PBH , but its a nice walk, and you can always take the water taxi as they do run frequently

 

[AlienNation]

I have only ever stayed at PBH. I enjoyed it (for the same reasons I enjoy POR at Disney) in that it seemed to be quiet and secluded even tho it is on property. As far as the walk, myself and fiance (DF) went for HHN a couple years back and walked to and from the hotel each day (stayed 5 nights/6 days). Didn't seem to take that long to get back and forth, even tho we did stop and take pics of the animals/flowers/butterflies near HRH along the way. We also used the walk through HRH a couple times to explore that resort as well. But all in all to us, neither seemed like too bad of a walk to get in between the hotel and parks.

 

[damo]

My thoughts (early warning: I tend to be long-winded...)

I've stayed at all three. Stayed at Hard Rock the least recently since they had a change of management that seems to have interfered with whatever our standard booking situation was (I don't do the booking for our family, I don't know details).

I'm pretty sure we usually get standard rooms, though we did get a suite at the Portifino once, but the suite was basically just two rooms right next to eachother with the connecting door open, which was kindof a letdown.

I have to say, I've always found the actual rooms in all three hotels more or less identical, with minor differences in themeing. I don't prefer the rooms at any one hotel more than the other.

As far as theming, I think I prefer Hard Rock, but then I'm a male in my 20s. I enjoy the rock memorabilia and hollywood glitz it has. Royal Pacific is also nice. The Polynesian feel, as others have said, gives it a somewhat soothing and exotic flavor. Portifino is my least favorite of the three. I imagine it would be interesting to someone who REALLY like Italy, but to me it's just kindof... no big whoop. My sister and mother seem to love it though, so to each his or her own, I guess. My other biggest problem with Portifino however, which brings me to my next point, isss...

Location! Portifino's sucks. Don't try to walk to or from the parks if you're staying at Portifino, it doesn't look far when you're on the boat, but boy howdy it is. Royal Pacific, by contrast, is a fairly walkable distance. I still prefer the boat, but my family will hoof it from time to time. Hard Rock wins in this debate, it has a great park adjacent location, less than 5 minutes away. You can practically step out of your room and be in the park.

So all and all, I'd say Hard Rock or Royal Pacific. But I know some members of my family would disagree. At teh end of the day I'd say do what we did, try them all out alternately on multiple return trips until you settle into one. (We seem to have settled into Royal Pacific, for the record. For a combination of the reasons already mentioned, and the whole "It's Cheaper" factor, lol.)
So all and all

Next time you stay at the Portofino, take the short cut walk to the parks. Walk out the Portofino driveway, into the Hard Rock driveway, turn right into the parking lot. Turn left and walk to the very end of the parking lots which will dump you out on the service road. You are then right at Universal Studios.