[Pooh Fan]

We booked a week at Royal Pacific in December, but I am now wondering if maybe we should try the Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal. We have stayed at the Royal Pacific before and enjoyed it, but I am wondering if maybe we should try a different hotel this trip. Any thoughts?

[bali]

Portofino Bay looks really beautiful...

[dznygrl]

Probably because of my age, I'm most attracted to Hard Rock. The theme appeals to me the most.

Otherwise Royal Pacific would be my 2nd choice.

Aw heck, I don't know what I'm talking about. I'd give a toe to stay at any of them! But since you've tried RPR already, I might think about trying a different one!

[ddoll]

We stayed at the RPR last summer, so we tried the HRH this time (we just returned a week ago).

I personally liked the HRH better as it was more upscale and had more amenities. The pool was awesome: it had a big water slide, there was music piped underwater, they had organized activities during the day with dancing and games, and they served cocktails IN the pool!!! The people you can see standing under those two white umbrellas here are having drinks:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...05/HRHpool.jpg

Also, the restaurant in the pool area was so good, we chose to eat there twice in the 4 days we stayed there.

Howwever....DH preferred the RPR because he felt it was more relaxed and informal.

I think it's just another matter of personal taste. Check out the pictures of both and see what appeals to you.

(I haven't heard the best reviews about Portofino)

[bali]

Originally Posted by dznygrl

I'd give a toe to stay at any of them!

Ew.

[Soundgod]

The truth is, the Hard Rock and the Royal Pacific are pretty similar buildings. My experiences at Royal Pacific lead me to recommend the Hard Rock over it, plus, the Hard Rock is the closest of the three hotels to Universal's gate and pretty close to IOA. The Portofino is the nicest of the three, and I believe has just gone through a refurb, so everything should be refreshed after being open for 6 years now. The service is supposed to be the same at all three, but I think the Portofino has always been the best of the three. Portofino's biggest plus is the hard core themeing that recreates the actual Portofino Bay in Italy, but the downside is, in order to create the illusion, it is also the farthest from the parks and as such, you'll need to take the boat, which does consume time.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by bali

Ew.

I just realized there's a big hole in my scheme though......I'd have to wait for my toe stub to heal before I could swim in the pool!

OMG, I am such a weirdo. How do you guys put up with me?? LOL

[BuzzLightyear]

I'd stay at the Hard Rock, but I am a big music fan.

[Pooh Fan]

I am leaning towards Portofino, but I did not realize that it was even further away than RPR. I was hoping not to have to take the water taxis if there was a wait. DH grumbles if he has to wait more than 5 minutes. Anyone else have some input to help me with this decision?

[PhilliesFan]

I agree with ddoll. I loved the HRH and the convenience of being able to walk to both parks and City Walk quickly. The restaurant The Kitchen is very good for all meals (and they make great Martini's too). The pool is terrific, especially the slide. The rooms were large, clean, and very comfortable. If you have teenagers, they will just love this place.

[Pooh Fan]

Well, call me crazy but we will be staying at all 3 on our next trip. There was n ot enough availability at HR to stay the whole time because you are not allowed to check out on New Year's which is when we need to check out so they had it blacked out for there and for Portofino Bay. The 26th was not available at the HR at all, so we will stay at the Portofino Bay Hotel on the 26th, Hard Rock Hotel on the 27th, and then finish our trip at the Royal Pacific Resort. I guess at least this way we will get to try all 3 on the same trip and really know which one is our favorite for future trips. I was told that we won't have to do anything, but have our bags packed in our room before we head to the parks and they will transport our bags to the next hotel and put them in our room. Then, we just go to the front desk and get our room key and off to our new room. Hopefully things will go smoothly.

[ddoll]

Hey! That sounds cool! You can give us a detailed comparison when you get back.

[Pooh Fan]

Well, DH had a fit when I told him the plan, so we compromised and are staying half the week at HR and the other half at RPR. Maybe we can try our Portofino Bay on our next trip.

[Soundgod]

In 2001, we had to split one day at the Portofino and one day at the Hard Rock (RPR wasn't open yet) and it was a huge hassle moving from one hotel to the other. It was so bad that we had to actually check out, check in and one of us had to ride with our bags. It was a huge pain in my butt. Perhaps the Lowes/Universal staff have it figured out now, but 4 years ago, with only two hotels, they didn't. Especially with my wife, we don't change resorts, although we did swap rooms midway through our stay at Disneyland in June. It's just too painful and time wasting for us.

[Mouselander]

We have stayed at all three. Royal Pacific the first year it opened. Portofina Bay last year. Hard Rock 3 times so far and will be staying there again this fall. All three are great. Depends on what you want. The Royal Pacific offers lower prices, and Emerill's Choup chop! Portofina Bay offers quiet comfort and larger rooms (we had a delux room with both a tub and separate shower stall. It is the highest priced of the three resorts but well worth the price. We loved it there last year. Our kids 15 & 17 like the Hard Rock, it's the medium priced resort at Universal and it 's lots of great fun and very , very loud music everywhere. When we visited the Hard Rock last year and told a staff member we were currently saying at the Portofina he replied "It really quite there, isn't it?" What an overstatement! The staff at all three resorts treat guests like visiting royalty. We've enjoyed every stay on-site and would recommend any of the three.