Loews Portofino Bay at Universal Studios Review: Pricey But Worth It

With Italian-inspired architecture modeled after the seafront town of Portofino, Loews Portofino Bay at Universal Studios is themed without being overly-kitschy.

There’s a fair amount to do on-property, including a spa and three pools (one of which has a Roman aqueduct-themed water slide). Shops and restaurants line the main plaza, which borders a lovely harbor. And every night at sunset, there’s a live opera performance.

Plus, the Loews Portofino Bay at Universal Studios within walking distance to the Universal Orlando main campus, which includes the two original theme parks and Universal CityWalk.

Given all that, NerdWallet considers Loews Portofino Bay Hotel to be one of the best Universal Orlando hotels.

Here's a look at this hotel, and how you can maximize its benefits to squeeze the most value out of its high price.

This hotel has all sorts of benefits, including multiple pools, classy rooms (many with excellent water views) and top-tier service. But some of the best benefits exist off hotel grounds and in the theme parks.

Here are some of the best benefits when staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.

Hotel guests can enter the theme parks early and cut the lines

Early entry at Universal theme parks: A handful of Universal Orlando hotels, ranging in price and poshness offer this benefits. No matter which hotel you choose (including even more affordable properties like the Universal Stella Nova), all Universal-owned hotel guests receive early theme park entry.

Though you’ll still have to pay for your own theme park tickets, the benefit allows you park access one hour before everyone else. That extra hour with fewer guests competing to get on rides goes a long way in making it possible to do Universal Studios in one day.

Free Universal Express Unlimited ride access: Universal Express Pass is basically a front-of-the-line pass, which you can purchase to supplement your theme park tickets. There are two types of passes. Universal Express is the cheaper of the two and lets you skip the regular line once per ride, per day. Universal Express Unlimited is more expensive, but lets you skip the line an unlimited number of times. That can be worth it if you anticipate hitting popular rides like the Jurassic World VelociCoaster more than once a day.

Most hotels in the highest category of Universal-owned hotels (called the Signature Collection) dole out Universal Express Unlimited ride access to its guests for free. Universal's Signature Collection hotels include:

• Hard Rock Hotel.

• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.

• Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

• Universal Helios Grand Hotel (this is the one Siganture Hotel that does not include Universal Express Unlimited).

Universal Express prices vary by day, but here are the ranges:

If you were planning to buy Universal Express Unlimited anyway, then a party of two would get a minimum of $220 in value off this benefit alone by booking the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel — and potentially $760 in value.

An excellent location

It's easy to access the main Universal campus from this hotel — and you have multiple transportation options.

You might catch a water taxi that shuttles you to the Universal theme parks in the most delightfully relaxing manner (this shuttle also gets you to the CityWalk entertainment complex).

Otherwise, it’s about a 20-minute walk on a paved, pedestrian road to the theme parks.

There are also shuttles, which you'll need to take to get to Epic Universe (it's about a 15-minute drive from this hotel).

According to Orlando theme park price tracking site Touring Plans, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel room rates range between $414 to $739 per night (with lower prices during off and shoulder seasons, and higher prices during high seasons).

That ranks among the priciest Universal hotels. For context, the Sapphire Falls Resort ranges between $226 and $350, according to Touring Plans estimates. Meanwhile, Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites typically costs between just $113 and $278.

But only guests at most hotels in Universal’s Signature Collection tier (which includes Portofino Bay) receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Ride access, which is a huge factor in its value.

Beware, a few extra costs

This property delightfully has no resort fees, which otherwise plague budget-conscious tourists in tourist destinations.

That said, there are a few extra costs to watch out for before booking.

Don’t assume you can cram your entire posse into one room and still get free Universal Express Passes for everyone.

While most rooms accommodate four guests (or five with a rollaway), advertised rates assume two adult guests per room. You’ll owe an additional $40 per adult beyond the first two adults per room.

If you’ve got five people, you’ll also need a rollaway bed, which is an additional $35 plus tax per day.

Yet considering that Universal Express Pass is worth between $109 and $379, the additional $40 (or $75 once you account for the rollaway bed) is still not a bad deal if your priority is getting Express Pass at an incredible rate.

Book Loews Portofino Bay through FHR

Certain American Express card members have access to book this hotel through the Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or The Hotel Collection (THC) via the American Express' travel portal, which is one of the best deals.

That's because — besides the aforementioned benefits — you get the following additional benefits:

• 12 p.m. check-in, when available.

• Room upgrade at check-in, when available.

• Daily breakfast for two.

• An $100 food and beverage credit, valid during your stay.

• 4 p.m. check-out guaranteed.

The free breakfast offering is typically the buffet at Trattoria del Porto, which is worth $30 per person (thus $60 for two). There, you’ll find American fare including an omelet station, biscuits, pancakes, oatmeal, bacon, fruit and pastries.

That $100 food and beverage credit can be used at the property's roughly-half-dozen restaurants, most of which jive with the hotel’s Italian theme. You might dine on lasagna or gnocchi at Mama Della's Ristorante ($100 roughly covers dinner for two). To stretch your credit, you might make multiple orders at lower-cost restaurants, such as Gelateria or Sal's Market Deli.

Note that the $100 credit is offered per stay, not per night.

For what it's worth, about a half-dozen other hotels bookable through either FHR or The Hotel Collection are located within five miles of one of Orlando’s Disney World or Universal Resort parks, including:

• Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.

• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando.

• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando.

• JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa.

• Waldorf Astoria Orlando.

• Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort.

• Walt Disney World Swan.

• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve.

» Learn more: Is Universal Express Pass worth it?

One another drawback to be aware of? Room rates on FHR are occasionally higher than rates when booked directly with Universal Studios or through other third-parties. NerdWallet did not find that to be the case in our analysis of prices, but your mileage may vary.

Sure, Amex bookings entail extra benefits including the $100 dining credit, extended check-in and check-out, room upgrades and free breakfast. But, you might rather just pay a lower sticker price and forgo those extras. If so, compare prices before booking.

Portofino is not your only option.

Loews Sapphire Falls at Universal Orlando is part of The Hotel Collection, which is a similar (albeit lesser) American Express program. With that, you must book at least a two-night stay at Loews Sapphire Falls at Universal Orlando through The Hotel Collection. When you do, you get you a room upgrade (when available), a $100 property credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa or other resort activities, plus early check-in and late check-out (when available). Terms apply.

Though the rooms are comparable in quality, it's the FHR-related upgrades that make Portofino a generally-better pick. Here's a comparison of those two hotels:

Of course, plenty of people come to Orlando for more than just Universal. Unsurprisingly, Disney dominates the theme park landscape, and some hotels offer benefits at the Disney parks instead.

If you want early Disney entry

With Disney’s version of early entry, guests at certain Orlando hotels can enter the four Walt Disney World theme parks 30 minutes before everyone else. Great properties that allow early Disney park entry include:

• Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.

• Waldorf Astoria Orlando.

• Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort.

• Walt Disney World Swan.

• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve.

• All Disney-owned resorts.

If you prioritize walking distance to the parks, choose the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan and Swan Reserve. The sibling properties are walkable to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

If you value VIP hotel treatment, consider the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort or Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Both are also FHR properties, which entails extra benefits including complimentary daily breakfast for two and guaranteed late checkout.

If you’d otherwise pay for Universal Express Unlimited out of pocket, then it’s almost always a good idea to book one of the Universal Signature Collection hotels.

Of those, this one is the best balance of price, location and theme.

The question comes down to whether or not you’d pay for Universal Express Unlimited. If you’re unlikely to ride the same attraction multiple times, the Unlimited version isn’t any better than standard Universal Express. And even Universal Express varies in value. When visiting during off-season, lines can be so short that it sometimes takes longer to have the employee scan your Universal Express badge than to simply hop in the regular line.

Additionally, not every ride participates in the Universal Express Pass program.

But during peak season, Universal Express can save hours that you’d otherwise spend in the queue. If time is money, then Universal Express Pass is absolutely worth it.