Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando

Virgin rating

Standard Two Queen Room
Despicable Me Kid's Suite
Sal's Market Deli
Mama Della's Ristorante
MANDARA Spa®
MANDARA Spa®
A video preview image
Standard Two Queen Room
Despicable Me Kid's Suite
Sal's Market Deli
Mama Della's Ristorante
MANDARA Spa®
MANDARA Spa®

The hotel

Experience la dolce vita — the sweet life — at Loews Portofino Bay at Universal Orlando. Set on a stunning harbour, prepare to be transported to the charming, picturesque Italian seaside and cobblestoned streets. Sit and enjoy the views over the glistening harbour waters while sipping on a coffee. Taste traditional Italian food in one of the many restaurants. And, when the sun’s shining, jump into one of the pools to cool off. The parks are only a water taxi or shuttle bus away, and you’ll benefit from amazing extras such as FREE** Universal Express Unlimited ride access, allowing you to skip the regular lines in Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure all day (Valid theme park admission required) and Early Park Admission† to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and Universal’s Volcano Bay.

Amenities

  • Kids Club
  • Wheelchair access
  • Families
  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Games Room
  • Hot tub
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool

Where is it

Within easy walking distance of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure plus Universal CityWalk and a quick shuttle bus ride to Universal's Volcano Bay. A water taxi or shuttle bus is also available to reach all 3 parks and Universal CityWalk. Transfer time from Orlando International Airport: 20 minutes.

Hotel information

750 rooms. All with air-conditioning, 42" flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, coffee maker, safe, iron and board, bathrobes, and hairdryer. Nightly turn-down service on-request. Garden View Rooms are 450 sq ft and have views of the lawns and gardens, with 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Bay View Rooms are 450 sq ft and overlook the piazza and scenic harbour, with 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. 

Deluxe Rooms are 490 sq ft and have views of the villa pool or the beach pool, with a larger living space and 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. 

Club Rooms are 490 sq ft and include exclusive club benefits (listed below), with 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. 

Despicable Me Kids Suites are large family suites, featuring two bedrooms and a separate kids room with a small table and chair set, wardrobe and TV. With 1 king-size bed in the master bedroom, and twin beds or bunk beds in the second bedroom, sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. (Please note: the children's bedroom only opens into the adult's bedroom). 


Club Level Rooms include access to the Portofino Club Lounge, offering the following benefits:  

Access to an exclusive Lounge for American buffet breakfast, drinks and afternoon snacks 

Access to the exclusive Compass Club Lounge for private breakfast, drinks and afternoon snacks  

Please note: all rooms can have an additional rollaway bed, sleeping a 3rd child. Rollaway beds are at an additional cost, payable locally

Complimentary water taxis or shuttle buses to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and CityWalk™. Self-parking $28, Valet parking $37, both plus tax, per day (payable locally, subject to change).

Bice Ristorante (Italian cuisine, open for dinner). Mama Della's Ristorante (Italian food, open for dinner). Trattoria del Porto (Italian with a modern twist, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Sal's Market Deli (pizza, sandwiches and deli items, open for lunch and dinner). Splendido Bar and Grill^ (poolside dining). Gelateria (breakfast items, ice cream and milkshakes). Starbucks®. The Thirsty Fish (harbourside bar with evening entertainment on select nights). 24-hour room service*.

'Musica della Notte' (Music of the Night), an evening musical celebration at the Harbour Piazza.

Beach pool with water-slide, a sandy beach, adjacent children's pool, poolside games, 2 hot tubs and private cabanas*. Villa pool with private cabanas*. Hillside pool (quiet pool). Kids' camp* (reservations required), Mandara Spa®*. Fitness centre with hot tub, sauna and steam rooms*. Games room*.

Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key card. Complimentary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the resort to your hotel. Wake-up call from one of your favourite Universal Orlando characters*. Gift and retail shops. Concierge. Complimentary WiFi. Universal Vacation Planning Centre.

Wheelchair accessible rooms available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. To discover all the special assistance services we offer please see additional information below.

2 nights at all times.

 

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s23).

Special assistance

Please note: one person must be 21 years or over in each room to check-in

^ Must be 21+ with a valid photo ID to consume alcoholic beverages.

**Requires theme park admission. Valid only at participating rides and attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Not valid at Universal’s Volcano Bay. Excludes separately ticketed events. Park-to-Park admission required to board the Hogwarts™ Express. Benefit valid only for guests of Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel® and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, for the number of guests staying in the room for the length of hotel stay. Available during normal theme park operating hours only. Additional restrictions may apply and benefits are subject to change without notice.

†Requires theme park admission. Early Park Admission begins up to one (1) hour prior to regular scheduled park opening to either Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Islands of Adventure as determined by Universal Orlando. Early Park Admission begins up to one (1) hour prior to regular scheduled park opening for Universal’s Volcano Bay. Valid at select attractions at each park. Attractions are subject to substitutions without notice. Additional restrictions may apply.

Portofino Bay Hotel TM & © 2022 UCF Hotel Venture. All rights reserved. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2022 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

Please note: the hotel will be making repairs to the façade of the hotel from June 2023 – June 2025 to maintain the immersive experience of the Italian village. All work will be done during business hours 9am – 6pm. These repairs are being done one section at a time and may be visible to guests. Guests can expect noise from time to time. ​Thank you for your understanding as the hotel make these repairs to the distinctive environment created for guests. Areas where repairs are in progress may be visible to guests, depending on the location of their room within the hotel. Most common areas of the hotel and food and beverage outlets will remain available for guest use. There may be modifications required in certain areas as work is being completed. 

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (5097)
  • Very good (1638)
  • Average (798)
  • Poor (425)
  • Terrible (443)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating So many issues

Dec 5, 2023 Crissy T

I’m writing this review at 5 am after a long terrible night. It started with us asking for dust free rooms due to my asthma and allergies. We ended up being placed in a room with severe water damage in the closet with mold. I took a photo sent to the front desk so the offered to Change rooms ok good. (Water damage can be seen throughout the… Read more
I’m writing this review at 5 am after a long terrible night. It started with us asking for dust free rooms due to my asthma and allergies. We ended up being placed in a room with severe water damage in the closet with mold. I took a photo sent to the front desk so the offered to Change rooms ok good. (Water damage can be seen throughout the property) jose from luggage was wonderful he came and helped us move all our stuff over. And brought new key cards. We then went down to the club to have dessert and none of the cards worked. So I went to the front desk and proceeded to wait over 30 minutes since only one person was available, they reissued new cards but again they didn’t work. I asked them what would happen if I get to the parks and I had issue and was simply told to go to guest services. So I should inconvenience my family and have to wait in line during my time at the park because they can and won’t fix the key card issue. During this time my daughter calls me stating that everytime they flush the toilet it sounds like a machine gun going off behind the wall. I quickly come upstairs to check what it could be, not only does it make this terrible sound when we flush but apparently when other guest flush as well, we can hear all the plumbing and loud terrible noises from the wall. I contacted front desk they said an engineer would be sent up and no one has come that was at 10 pm last night. I’ve been woken up no less than ten times by this loud banging noise. My blood pressure is through the roof from lack of sleep exhaustion and anger. Honestly we just wanted a nice vacation and sleeping if importan then you have kids and spend all day at the parks. I also have t worrying if our key cards for thr fast passes will work or not since they refused to fix the issue or if I will spend all day at the park trying to fix this issue or enjoying my day Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great Staff Bad hotel

Dec 4, 2023 Jake Y Noblesville, Indiana

Every member of the staff here was ridiculously nice and very helpful it’s incredibly important I say that before I say what is wrong this resort. The major problems my family and I had with this resort was the little to no options for allergy sensitive guests even at the club level. The perfume in the hotel was triggering alot of allergies.… Read more
Every member of the staff here was ridiculously nice and very helpful it’s incredibly important I say that before I say what is wrong this resort. The major problems my family and I had with this resort was the little to no options for allergy sensitive guests even at the club level. The perfume in the hotel was triggering alot of allergies. This was the second reason why this was not a 5 star hotel for me. If you have a gluten allergy all you have access to in the club lounge is gluten free toast when requested, vegetables, and lunch meat and cheese. Sal’s market deli makes gluten free pizza that’s good it’s best to go there for food. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Very large resort

Dec 3, 2023 Bean-Buggles Plumsteadville, Pennsylvania

This resort is very large and has a beautiful harbor with multicolored buildings set to look like the Portofino bay in Italy. There are many things to do at the resort, but we were not given any information on them at the front desk at check in so we missed out on lots of things. I didn't realize I until I filled out a survey after our stay that… Read more
This resort is very large and has a beautiful harbor with multicolored buildings set to look like the Portofino bay in Italy. There are many things to do at the resort, but we were not given any information on them at the front desk at check in so we missed out on lots of things. I didn't realize I until I filled out a survey after our stay that there was supposed to be a piece of paper given to us at check in with all of the activities for the week called out. The location is very nice. We enjoyed the beautiful walk to City Walk and the ferry cruise. The main pool was a lot of fun. The pool activity coordinator had many events planned that EVERYONE enjoyed, with several of them being scavenger hunts awarding a free small smoothie to the winners. They had connect 4 games and a pool table with no balls along with lots of beach balls in the pool. The pool bar restaurant was nice, but service was hit or miss (some staff are amazing, some not so much). Our room was nicely appointed with plenty of room and nice large bathroom and a mini fridge (no microwave, unfortunately...it's a hefty charge to ask for one per day). There are several restaurants and stores for souvenirs and clothes, along with a Starbucks. There is also another pool set in the back that is more private/quiet with bocce ball. The downside to the resort is trying to figure your way around as it not well marked and you can't get to some areas from the main lobby. This is our 3rd resort we've stayed at on Universal's property. We prefer the smaller size and wonderful theming of Royal Pacific over the sprawling size of Portofino. The resort just doesn't have much theming feel...it's hard to put my finger on it. There were many aspects that were nice, it just didn't leave me wanting more or wanting to come back. If the pool had not been as fun as it was, I would not recommend this resort for families. The pool activity coordinator made our whole stay. Would argue the pool activities here were better than at Disney resorts as they don't just target younger kids and encourage adults to get out there and have fun. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Exceptional Vacation

Dec 1, 2023 diamond452023 Bossier City, Louisiana

Great customer service. Rooms were beautiful. Room service is superb. The water boat to and from the parks is awesome. One of the best resorts we have every stayed. The setting of Italy was perfect. Reminded us of our recent trip there over the summer. This resort is a must stay.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Would not stay any where else :-)

Nov 29, 2023 TinN96

From walking in to checking out. Our family love the experience, the express pass at the parks, activities, the well kept and cleanliness. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The restaurants choices are great to our taste buds