Loews Portofino Bay: It quickly became one of my favorite resorts we have ever had the pleasure of visiting.
So what can you expect when you stay at this Italian themed getaway?
As soon as entered through the doors, we felt like we had been transported to Italy. The attention to detail and decor can not be overlooked.
Express Passes
Upon check-in we received our room keys, which also doubled as our express passes. That’s right, when you stay at Portofino Bay you will received free expresses passes. These will let you skip the line of every ride the theme park has to offer. For us, this was the main reason we decided to stay on property. Express passes alone cost $100 each, but when you stay on property you will get to skip the crowds the day you check in AND the day you check out.
The Room
After relaxing in the lobby for a bit, we made our way to our room. Everything about it felt luxurious.
I was thrilled to see this beautiful desk that overlooked the bay. It truly was a bloggers dream!
We took advantage of the comfortable robes at night, as we drank wine and took in the view from outside our window.
The View
My favorite feature of Portofino Bay is the breathtaking view. The harbor makes you forget that you are actually in Orlando, not Italy.
It’s also clear how much thought went into creating the architecture and theme. Every hall we walked through was decked out and reminded us of Italy.
The Food
I had plans to eat at the parks every day, but the food at the resort made that nearly impossible. Our first night we popped over to the Sal’s Market Deli, which was conveniently located right below our room. We opted to try their Salvatore pizza and we could see why it is so popular.
We returned the next day because we had been so impressed the night before. This time, we decided to split their HUGE signature calzone. I thought the pizza couldn’t be beat, but this calzone instantly became my new favorite.
We didn’t have time to check out every eatery the resort had to offer, but we plan on trying them out on our next visit. Some of the other restaurant include:
Mama Della’s Ristorante
The Thirsty Fish
Bar American
Giving The People What They Want
Considering there is a Starbucks on almost every corner, I know I can’t be the only one who has a serious coffee addiction. Portofino Bay made sure I got the caffeine I needed every morning. On the right side of the resort there is a full functioning Starbucks location(which is connected to their gelato shop).
We made sure to grab a cup of coffee to start our day out on the right foot.
Additional Perks
As if there wasn’t already enough to check out, this resort holds even more hidden treasures.
Water Taxi
The water taxi is arguably the biggest perk of staying on property. You can hop onto Universal Studios water taxi throughout the day. It runs every 15 minutes until 2:30am. This boat will take you directly to the entrance of Universal. There is also a 10 minute walking trail if you want to get to the park by foot.
The Pools
I’m disappointed to say that we didn’t find the time to experience it ourselves on this past trip, but Loews offers a gorgeous pool area, complete with 3 pools and a bar.
Arcade
Your little ones will love this arcade located across from the pool. It is filled with entertaining games that you can play while you take a break from the crowded parks.
Checkers
We might be the only ones who really care about this, but we were thrilled to see that the lobby has a game of checkers waiting for you. We went to the lobby after we got drinks at the bar. It was fun to end our long day with a competitive game of checkers.
I was in denial as we packed our bags and ended our vacation. Portofino Bay far exceeded any expectations I had before our visit.
Though I want to try every Universal resort, I will have a hard time staying away from this magical hideaway. If you are considering staying on property, I can promise you that this Italian themed hotel is worth the investment.
Have you ever stayed at Portofino Bay? How was your experience?
We enjoyed it too! You really can’t go wrong staying at the parks.
Thanks for letting us know about this Jubilee; this looks fabulous! You may have just helped me choose my next vacation destination!
Looks so beautiful and fun! I wanna go! <3
Wow! I’d love to stay here. The express passes alone make it worth it!
Wow! This looks lovely. I didn’t even know it existed. Fabulous photos.
How lovely! ❤️
It really looks like Italy, I love that it’s themed that way. So romantic! Definitely a resort to visit.
I would love to visit this resort someday. Looks lovely!! And also all pics are perfect.
Thank you Twinkle! It was so beautiful that it made getting good pictures easy:)
Oh man, what a beautiful resort. It’s so romantic & that pool area is a dreeeam! Thank you for sharing all there is to know about this place, Jubilee! You always have a way of writing informative yet fun posts. 🙂
Thank you Hunida! You have no idea how much that means to me:)
This place looks so wonderful, I might just stay here just for the views rather than the actual park. How wheelchair accessible is it?
I wasn’t sure, but I did some research and found this article. He goes into the details of what the hotel offers. He rated it a 4 out of 5 for wheel chair accessibility:) http://wheelchairjimmy.com/orlando/hotels/loews-portofino-bay-hotel-universal-orlando/
Oh thank you, I didn’t expect you to do that. I’ll definitely look at this article later when I have a chance. Thanks so much 😌
I’ve never stayed in Portofino Bay or even heard of it, but it looks adorable! You can’t beat the view!! And the pools look wonderful as well!
-Madi xo | http://www.everydaywithmadirae.com
We are definitely gonna take advantage of the pools next time! We were just so busy exploring the parks. It was magical!
I’d love to stay there! It looks amazing! The food looks delicious too!
The calzone was the stuff of dreams! I can’t wait to eat it again:)
It was! 🙂
Wow! This place looks absolutely amazing! And that view is gorgeous! I would be more than happy to just staying at the resort! Definitely saving this for future trip 🙂
The view is BY FAR the best part!:) You will love it!
What kind of camera are you using? I love all the different color of those buildings
These pictures have me wanting to go today!! What a great place to stay and visit!