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Look no further than Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at the Universal Orlando Resort if you ever wanted to explore the wonders of Italy without leaving the country. Or how about being able to grab some delicious Italian food and then walk over to some of the best theme parks in the world? In this Loews Portofino Bay Hotel guide, we’ll talk about all the dining, amenities, and perks this resort hotel provides while also discussing if it’s also worth the price point.
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- Why Choose Loews Portofino Bay Hotel?
- Location and Proximity
- Theme and Atmosphere
- Room Options and Features
- Dining Highlights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
- Pools and Recreation
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Perks
- Price Breakdown and Who Should Stay In These Rooms
- Insider Tips to Save On Rooms at Portofino Bay
- Pros and Cons of Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
- Stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Without The Stress
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Why Choose Loews Portofino Bay Hotel?
Many would consider Universal’s most premier and luxurious hotel. But with that title comes with an expensive price tag, and you have to ask yourself – is Loews Portofino Bay Hotel worth the price? Let’s break it down so you can make the best decision for your next vacation.
Location and Proximity
Portofino Bay is one of Universal Orlando’s Signature Collection resorts. The Signature Collection includes Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel Orlando, Royal Pacific, and Sapphire Falls. It also will include the Helios Grand Hotel attached to Universal Epic Universe when that park opens in 2025.
Signature Collection hotels are the most expensive hotels on Universal property, and because of that, they have the most amenities, dining options that tend to lean towards more fine than casual, extensive theming, and other hotel perks that can’t be found at some of the other hotels on property.

Portofino Bay is located behind Hard Rock Hotel on what Universal Orlando has been calling their “North Campus”, meaning that it sits near CityWalk, Universal Studios Florida, and Universal Islands of Adventure. In fact, Universal Studios Florida is just a 15-minute walk away depending on the length of your legs and how quickly you like to walk before and after a day at theme parks. As one of the exclusive benefits of this hotel, you even get your own security entrance before you enter CityWalk, meaning you won’t have to deal with the crowds of people waiting to get through security at the regular CityWalk entrance near the parking decks.

And speaking of great exclusive benefits, one of the perks of this Signature Collection hotel is free boat transportation. Portofino Bay has its own boat dock that consists of a separate security entrance and exclusive water taxi that takes you on a scenic route to CityWalk, dropping you off between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (near VooDoo Donuts for those of you familiar with CityWalk).

Note that you still will need to use Universal Orlando’s free bus transportation if you want to go from Portofino Bay to the Volcano Bay water park or Epic Universe, as those are currently the only options to get there provided by Universal Orlando. If you prefer to rent a car, you can park at Portofino Bay, but know that this will cost you. Parking at Universal Orlando Resort Hotels ranges anywhere from about $15-$35 a night, so be prepared to pay that cost.
Pro Tip: I don’t recommend taking your car from the hotel to Volcano Bay or Epic Universe as you’ll still have to pay for parking at those parks – it isn’t included for resort hotel guests. So save money by parking your car at Portofino Bay and use the free bus transportation to get to Volcano Bay instead of driving.
Theme and Atmosphere
Portofino Bay was the first resort hotel to open in 1999 when the Universal Orlando Resort really became, well, a resort. It opened the same year as Islands of Adventure, making the resort now home to two theme parks and one on-site hotel. Because it’s the oldest hotel on property, the hotel has seen some renovations, and on our most recent stay, there was a lot of construction going on to keep things up to date. Nothing that ruined our trip by any means, but something to keep in mind.

The hotel is themed to, you guessed it, Portofino, Italy, and it has one of the most spellbinding reveals of any hotel I’ve stayed at. Upon entering the resort you’re immediately greeted with a large lake containing various boats, surrounded by the hotel itself, which is themed to look like an Italian seaside village. This ends up being where a lot of the activity around the resort happens, as many restaurants, shops, and that boating dock we were talking about all spring off from what the resort calls its Harbor Piazza.






For as nice as this hotel is, it doesn’t feel too fancy for families. It really feels like you’re in an Italian village when you’re walking around, with the sights and sometimes sounds of classic Italian aesthetics surrounding you. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by the sight of colorful buildings, the sounds of Italian music, and the smell of freshly brewed espresso.
The colorful buildings lend itself to the seaside Italian vibe, and the architecture feels nice but not too exquisite. The lobby areas of this hotel, as with many Universal hotels, smells great, and is a smell you’ll fondly remember when you visit here again in the future.



It’s a great place to really feel like you’re getting to escape somewhere that’s immersive when you go on vacation instead of staying in a standard, basic hotel. It can also make for a perfect couples retreat, as the picturesque Harbor Piazza makes this an ideal romantic getaway for couples who want to enjoy Italian cuisine and waterfront views.
Room Options and Features
Standard rooms come with a few different view options: Garden View, Bay View, or Deluxe Room with views of the Villa Pool and gardens or Beach Pool. It should be noted that while the Villa Pool is one of the smaller, quieter pools, the Beach Pool is the larger, main pool where activities are held, so it may be louder to face that pool during the day.

These rooms sleep up to 3 or 5 depending on the room and if you want a rollaway bed or not, which costs extra and isn’t going to be something everyone feels comfortable sleeping on. These rooms contain custom-designed furnishings from Italy and marble accents as well as basic amenities like a telephone, alarm clock, hair dryer, TV, desk, and WiFi. They even have Keurig coffee makers if you’re wanting some coffee in your room, but you will be charged if you use any of the Keurig cups provided by the hotel.

Club-Level Rooms and Suites contain some more amenities for a higher price tag. You get a personal concierge service as well as nightly turndown service and you also have access to the Portofino Club lounge, which serves free continental breakfast and complimentary beverages and snacks during the day and hors d’oeuvres in the evening.
If you know you’re going to want a large breakfast every morning or will be popping back to the hotel in the middle of your theme park days for a rest break, this may not be a terrible option to grab some food that you’ve essentially already paid for with that higher price tag. Rooms can sleep up to 5, again depending on the room type and if you want to include that rollaway bed for an additional cost.

Suites are going to be the largest rooms at Portofino Bay, and depending on which suite you choose, you can have things like a Whirlpool tub, wet bar with refrigerator and mini kitchen, outdoor terrace, and a even a fireplace. Depending on the type of suite you pick and if you get that rollaway bed, these suites can sleep anywhere from 5 to 11 people, making them more spacious and able to sleep many more people – something to keep in mind if you’re traveling with a large group.

There are also Kids Suites themed to Despicable Me for the little ones. Kids can enjoy the Despicable Me theming in their own room that connects to the parents’ own master bedroom. These can sleep up to 5 people.

There’s also the highest-level suites with the Governatore suite and the Presidente Suite for those looking for the most luxurious options.
Dining Highlights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Universal allows anyone to make reservations at their hotel restaurants, whether they’re staying there or not, and Portofino Bay is no exception. There’s lots of great dining options here, and worth checking out if you’re looking to take a break from the traditional theme park style food. Remember this is a Signature Collection hotel, so you’ll be spending a little more on food here than you may at some other hotels, both on and off Universal Orlando property.



Mama Della’s Ristorante is one of the signature dining locations at Portofino Bay, and my personal favorite. Serving breakfast and dinner, enjoy authentic dishes from Italy, including some of the best lasagna I’ve ever had, all while sitting in a restaurant themed to Mama’s House. One room looks like a seating area, one looks like a living room, another a dining room, and so on. In addition of the great food here one of the things I love is they often have performers walking around and singing songs to you often while lightly strumming a guitar. It’s great to enjoy authentic Italian dishes while being serenaded by strolling musicians. Ah, Italy.
If you’re looking to have the best Universal Orlando vacation, work with me as a travel advisor! With the help of my host agency, Wishdrawals Travel, I can help you enjoy your next trip and make it one to remember. Whether you’re a family planning the ultimate Universal trip, an LGBT couple seeking a romantic getaway, or a solo explorer ready to conquer the world, I’m here to craft the perfect itinerary just for you.
Bice Ristorante is a smaller chain restaurant that has a location here at Portofino Bay. Open only for dinner, Bice offers upscale Northern Italian cuisine in an elegant setting. This is a restaurant I wouldn’t recommend wearing a t-shirt and flip-flops too, as it’s pretty elegant, especially compared to some other places on Universal Orlando property, and a great place for special occasions.

Trattoria del Porto is a newly renovated restaurant at Portofino Bay. Serving breakfast and dinner this is more of a family, friendly casual sit down restaurant. This is where you’ll go for the breakfast buffet where you can pay one price and eat as much breakfast food as you want which I highly recommend doing at least once on your visit maybe on your checkout day. There’s also a variety of soups, salads, steak, fish, and more on their dinner menu.




Sal’s Market Deli is one of the quick service options at Portofino Bay. It’s open for lunch and dinner sometimes for some breakfast things as well but let me tell you they have a breakfast wrap that is the best breakfast wrap I’ve ever had – the tomato jam on it is everything and a hidden gem! It gives it a nice sweet flavor that you don’t typically get on breakfast wraps it’s themed to a market deli and definitely has that old school Italian vibe. I love walking in here and seeing all the different foods and decorations that they have in here it definitely feels like a nice Italian café and it’s a great place to grab a quick bite if you’re heading to the parks.
The Thirsty Fish is a casual bar located right on the water. It has very champagne, beers, wines, and cocktails, as well as small plates that have things like shrimp, hummus meats, and cheeses.

Splendido Bar & Grill is the pool bar located right next to the beach pool it’s open for lunch and dinner and often serves alcoholic drinks. It includes things like pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and salads and it’s really nice because you can actually order a drink and have it brought right to you pull side or you can chill out in your hot tub and sip on your drink as your waiter waitress brings it to you. It also has some ice cream bars and cookies and brownies if you want to munch on something a little sweeter while you’re sitting next to the pool on a hot day.
Gelateria is a gelato bar right along the waterfront. Here you can get milkshake, smoothies, coffee, biscotti, and even gelato. It’s nice to have a full meal at one of the other restaurants on property and then grab a quick dessert here and walk around to the resort.
Pools and Recreation
Three Pools For Every Vibe
There are three pools at Portofino Bay, which is convenient because this is a larger resort, and depending on your vibe, there’s something different here for everybody.

The Beach Pool is going to be the main large pool and includes a waterside. It also is where a lot of the activities for kids are going to happen, as well as where Splendido Bar and Grill is located. It definitely tends to get pretty busy since it’s the main pool and families are usually hanging out here.
It’s nice, but I will say it’s not my favorite pool on Universal property. That definitely still would have to go to the Sapphire Falls pool; however, it is themed well, it’s plenty big, and includes hot tubs and cabanas if you want to have a more relaxing day poolside.

There’s the Villa Pool, which is not quite as big as the Beach Pool. They have private cabana rentals and upgraded lounge chairs as well, and I found this pool is quieter than the beach pool. This is normally where a lot of adults will spend a lot of time. Kids can come here, but when I visited, there haven’t been too many kids here.

And then there’s the Hillside Pool. This is located, as the name mentions, on the hillside on the hotel’s East Wing. There’s not much to this pool; it‘s pretty simple. But that’s nice if you’re going to be looking for something that’s quieter and doesn’t have a lot of the extra frills some of the other pools do. This is really a pool where you could just go sit by the pool itself, lounge out, and have a relaxing quiet time.
Shopping, Fitness, and Entertainment
You can shop at the Universal Studios store, but you can also shop at a few other places that carry Portofino Bay-themed merch, as well as some general treasures that you may want to look for.
This hotel does have a complementary state-of-the-art fitness center, so if you are somebody who likes to work out on vacation, you do have the option to do that here. It’s also in between the Villa pool and the beach club pool.
There’s also a walking and jogging path that you can take a picture of, walk, jog through the beautiful resort property.
On evenings, occasionally you’ll find some performers performing classic opera and live music, so you can grab a drink, sit by the waterfront, and just listen to the music that plays around you.
Pro Tip: From time to time, they’ll be different activities for kids like ping-pong tournaments, water balloon tosses, trivia contests, arts and crafts, and more. Just make sure to check what’s going on during your stay at the front desk and at what pool or location it’s going to be located at.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Perks
Let’s talk about some great hotel perks. As with all Universal hotels, you’ll get the benefit of early theme park entry, which allows you to enter a particular theme park one hour before it opens to the general public. Just make sure to check before your visit which theme park that’s going to be, as it can vary from time to time, as well as what rides are going to be open.
Pro Tip: This is a perfect opportunity to hop in line for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, as the line tends to get pretty long and doesn’t have Express. It’s best to do it first thing in the morning before the park opens to the general public.
For seamless shopping, you also get free merchandise delivery from the parks to your hotel, so if there’s something that you buy in the park, you can have it sent to your hotel so you don’t have to worry about carrying a bag with you the entire day.
You can charge things to your room instead of having to carry around a credit card if that’s something you prefer to do. Just keep in mind that if you’re charging things to your room, it may affect what points you’re getting on your credit card. If you’re somebody who really likes racking up those credit card points and say you get dining points, charging things to your room key will not get you those dining credit card points.
As we mentioned before, this resort hotel has exclusive water taxis, which are extremely convenient for getting you to CityWalk and therefore also Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. You’re also close enough to be able to walk to those two parks and CityWalk. You also get priority seating at many restaurants throughout the Universal Orlando resort.
Now onto what my favorite perk of this hotel is: Universal Express Unlimited. Universal Express Unlimited lets you shorten your wait times pretty drastically when inside the theme parks at most popular rides. Every person that stays at this resort gets free Universal Express Unlimited starting the day they check in through and including the day they check out.

So instead of having to pay for a Universal Express Unlimited pass for every single day of your visit, it’s automatically included when you stay at this hotel for everyone in the room. With the added cost of the hotel rooms, is it worth it? That’s a huge benefit depending on how many people come with you.
When you do the math, this can be cheaper than actually staying at one of the more affordable hotels and then paying for Universal Express Unlimited on top of that, since Express Passes can sometimes cost around $200 per person per day. If you’re somebody who doesn’t like waiting in ride lines and you want to maximize your time in the park without having to wait around all day in a line, I definitely recommend this as one of the hotels to visit. That added Universal Express Unlimited perk makes this hotel worth it almost by itself, in my opinion.
Price Breakdown and Who Should Stay In These Rooms
As mentioned a few times, this is one of Universal‘s top-tier resort hotels meaning you’re going to pay for a lot of these extra amenities, fine dining, and transportation options. There’s a few different options whenever it comes to rooms at Portofino Bay.
- Standard Rooms – $350-$600 per night – Great for solo travelers or people who want a nice place to rest their head after a day at the parks without all the extra frills of more expensive rooms.
- Club Level Rooms – $600-$900 per night – They have a higher cost, but include Club Lounge access with those free breakfast meals, snacks, and drinks. Great for people who want to have a free breakfast and snack throughout the day and plan on taking midday rest breaks from the parks.
- Suites – $800-$3,000 per night – Best for larger groups or luxurious stays with all the perks of a luxury hotel.
Insider Tips to Save On Rooms at Portofino Bay
If you have an annual pass, you can save quite a bit on Universal Orlando hotels. I myself have saved around 40% depending on when I’m going to the resort.

Go during times when crowds are lighter, so think January – February or the very beginning of December. The most expensive times to stay are going to be around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and closer to Halloween because of Halloween Horror Nights. Standard rooms tend to start around $400 a night on those cheaper nights, but can go all the way up to starting at over $1,000 a night during the busy season, so plan accordingly.
You could also work with me as your travel agent! Travel agents can often find the best deals, help with room preferences, and even secure dining reservations while helping you customize your vacation.
I can save you time by handling booking details and monitoring for discounts that may come up before your trip.
I can even help you create a FREE itinerary for your entire vacation, so you can have the most fun without any of the added stress that can come with theme park vacations. With over 25 years worth of theme park industry knowledge, I’m here to help you before, during, and after your trip. Reach out if you want to start booking your next vacation!
Pros and Cons of Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
So is Loews Portofino Bay Hotel the right resort for you? Is it worth the higher price tag? Well, it’s going to come down to a few different factors, so let’s go over the pros and cons of this resort first.
Pros
You get a really nice theme to this hotel. It’s not so in-your-face tacky and over the top, but you really do get the vibe that you’re at a seaside location here with the beautiful buildings along the water, the boats, and the water taxi option.

It really just feels like this hotel is very well-rounded, and it’s dining. It’s experiences; you can tell it. It’s just a very clear, cohesive theme. The theme could also be an idea for a romantic getaway for couples, as what can be more romantic than being able to enjoy some Italian cuisine and Italian music along a beautiful waterfront scene on the picturesque Harbor Piazza?
You’re also pretty close to CityWalk, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios Florida. You can even walk there; like I said, it’ll take about 15-20 minutes, but you can walk there pretty easily. You also have the exclusive transportation perks, like water taxi transportation, so you can hop on a boat and just be voted right over to CityWalk. And this is all with your own exclusive security, so you don’t have to wait in the long lines at the regular security entrance for CityWalk.
The dining here is also really great. If you love Italian food, this is the place for you. You’ve got great Italian restaurants like Mama’s that have a great Italian atmosphere as well as the great food.
If your kids are big fans of Despicable Me, there are Despicable Me-themed suites here, so that could be something that they would really enjoy.
And we can’t talk about this hotel without talking about the free Universal Express Unlimited that’s for every person staying in your room starting the day you check in through and including the day you check out. If you’re somebody who doesn’t want to do theme park lines at Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios Florida, I highly recommend taking advantage of this perk. If you’re a family or traveling with a larger group, it can actually be cheaper for you to stay at this hotel than to say a cheap hotel and have to buy Express Passes for each person per day.
Make sure to work with your travel agent to decide if that’s going to be the best option for you.
Cons
First of all – price. This is one of the most expensive hotels on Universal Orlando property, so if you’re somebody who is looking to have a more budget-friendly vacation, this may not be the hotel for you. The cheapest options here still are pretty expensive, in part because of that free Universal Express Unlimited pass.
Not everything technically is free, so you have to weigh your options on whether you think having that benefit is going to be worth it for you. If you’re going on a slower day or you don’t mind waiting in the park lines, you may want to get a cheaper room at a cheaper resort because that’s just not a benefit you really need.
If you’re traveling by yourself, those rooms can be pretty expensive for one person for one night, so it may be better for you to say the cheaper hotel if you’re on a tighter budget.
If you’re somebody who doesn’t really like Italian food or doesn’t really have a desire for that Italian setting, you’re probably not going to be super thrilled with this resort. Also, the food here does tend to be more expensive since you’re at a Signature Collection hotel, so if you’re somebody who doesn’t really plan on eating a lot of food at the hotel or doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on it, you may want to stay somewhere else.
This hotel is great if you’re going to actually be spending time here. If you’re somebody who is at the parks from sun up and so close, and you’re just looking for a place to rest your head every night, you may want to stay at a cheaper hotel if you’re not really going to take advantage of some of the things this hotel offers like its dining, pools, or experiences.
If you’re somebody who’s planning on spending most of their time at Universal Epic Universe once it opens, keep in mind that this hotel is not super close to there. You will have to take bus transportation there and back, so it may be better for you to stay at one of the Epic Universe hotels like Helios Grand Hotel, Terra Luna, or Stella Nova.
Stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Without The Stress

Remember that planning a vacation doesn’t have to be stressful. If you’re unsure if this is the right hotel for you, you can work with me as your travel agent, and I will make sure that you have the perfect hotel for your situation. I can offer FREE personalized itinerary planning to maximize your time at the parks and provide dining and experience recommendations based on my 25+ years of theme park industry knowledge.
You’ll be able to know you have priority travel support before, during, and after your trip to make your vacation as stress-free as possible. And I may be able to save you some money with some Universal Orlando discounts that you weren’t even sure were out there.
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