Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

Mike Bresnahan

This has been our favorite hotel at Universal Studios for 25 years. Excellent service from all departments. Really nice people who go out of their way to make sure you have a pleasant stay. The rooms are clean and spacious. It's easy to get to the parks. The food is delicious.

Sam McDowell

This was our second time staying at the Portofino and we sure are glad we chose to stay here for our Anniversary trip. First - it’s an absolute life hack to stay in such a gorgeous place and receive free fast passes. Second - the texting service provided is a wonderful feature and makes it so easy to find info or order items throughout the stay. Third - The room we stayed in was beautiful. Very clean, gorgeous view of the bay and the bathroom was very large. Bed was VERY comfortable. Before pulling out of the parking garage, my wife and I booked another night for next month when we bring our kids up to universal. TWO NEGATIVES: 1. Parking should be included. Ridiculous $36 a day fee. 2. The Cafe Espresso has TRASH coffee. Total waste of our money. Couldn’t even drink it. Service wasn’t great either. For such a nice hotel, I’m shocked that they don’t have this figured out.

Sean Lovely

It is a beautiful resort with excellent staff and comfortable rooms. But the reason I cannot give 5 stars is the value for money. I stayed in the Portofino suite, which I believe is the cheapest suite in the category. Even so, I still paid over 1,600 dollars for a one night stay, and I feel like I didn’t totally get my money’s worth. You still have to pay for parking, even when you spend 1,600 dollars. Competition (Disney) does not charge anything for parking if you are a guest at the resort. While the rooms are nice, they are a bit dated. You only get two outlets on the night stand and for some odd reason there are very few light fixtures mounted in the ceiling, meaning you have to individually turn on 6 different lamps to get good light in the room. This is a minor gripe that is exaggerated when you consider the room was over 1,600 dollars! Then there is the issue that even when you spend that much money on a suite, you still do not receive club level. This is also a minor issue as there are tons of food options at the hotel, but it’s just a bit annoying that even after you spend such a large sum they still want that little bit extra if you want access to the club. I love this resort and I’d like to come back but when I do I will be booking a cheaper room as the value you get for the suites simply isn’t good enough at the moment.

James Scissom

I had high expectations for the Portofino Bay Hotel, but unfortunately, my experience was far from what I anticipated—especially at $945 per night. The room was extremely dated and had a noticeable musty/moldy smell, which made the stay uncomfortable. For a hotel at this price point, I expected a much higher level of quality and maintenance. The main reason we chose this hotel was the included Express Pass, but in hindsight, it wasn’t worth it. The early park admission to Islands of Adventure was underwhelming, with only a select few rides open during that first hour. It didn’t add much value to the experience and certainly didn’t justify the premium price. For the same cost, Disney’s deluxe resorts offer far superior accommodations, service, and overall experience. Portofino Bay simply does not compare. If you’re considering staying here solely for the Express Pass, I’d recommend looking at other options—you may find better value elsewhere. Would not stay again.

Jeremiah Bond

All around 5 star experience. The hotel staff were friendly and went above and beyond to make our stay great. The rooms were more than comfortable. The proximity and transportation to the parks were perfect. The inclusion of fast passes basically deleted the cost of the hotel. The text concierge service was responsive. Specifically, Sarah at the front desk was amazing and made our check-in/check out process simple. We would 100% stay here again and we wish the entirety of our vacation had been spent at Loews Portofino Bay.