Portofino Bay Hotel

A smashing luxury hotel opens at
Universal Studios Escape

by Kelly Monaghan

Can't afford that trip to Italy this year? Not to worry, you can head for Orlando, Florida, instead and stay in ducal splendor at Portofino Bay -- Portofino Bay Hotel, that is, the new super-luxury Loews hotel that is the first of five planned themed hotels to open at Universal Studios Escape.

The hotel is an astonishing near-photographic reproduction of the original Portofino, a small Ligurian fishing village that became a favored getaway for Europe's rich and famous, so much so that a stay at the real Portofino's Splendido Hotel (yes, that's its name) will run you $600 to $700 a night. You don't have to be famous to stay at Orlando's Portofino Bay but it might help to be rich because the room rates start at $250 and rise to about $500 a night, still a lot less than the Splendido.

But for $500 a night you can stay in one of the splendid "Butler Villa" rooms, on the top floor overlooking a magnificent beach-like pool with a water slide hidden in the ruins of an ancient aqueduct. Best of all, you have at your beck and call a personal butler (often two personal butlers) who will run all manner of personal errands at no additional cost. Regular Villa rooms are slightly less but offer access to a special lounge for Villa guests only where you can feast on a sumptuous continental breakfast in the morning, get slightly tipsy on cocktails before dinner, and knock yourself out with a nightcap late at night. Villa guests also have exclusive access to the Villa Pool a gorgeous formal affair flanked by towering, arrow-straight palm trees, ringed by tented gazebos and capped with a magnificent formal fountain. Those gazebos, by the way, are for rent (at about $50 a day) and come complete with overhead fans, refrigerators, and electrical and phone hookups.

All rooms at the Portofino Bay Hotel boast "smart room technology" that lets the service personnel know when you are in the room, so you never need fear being interrupted by the maid during those intimate moments. The sensors planted in the mini-bar even signal what's been used and what needs replacing.

The hotel boasts one of Orlando's finest gourmet restaurants -- maybe the best gourmet restaurant -- Delfino Riviera. This is a refined dining room straight out of a Roman palazzo, where waiters in suave white tuxedo jackets whisper recommendations from the inventive menu and serve you with consummate skill. None of that "Hi, my name is Susie!" cuteness here. And the food is just as grown-up as the ambiance. The menu draws its inspiration from Liguria and the chef blends flavors and textures in an almost academic fashion to create dishes that are not only delicious but thought-provoking as well. There is an extensive and well thought out wine list. Expect to pay upwards of $100 per person for a full meal, but expect to find the price worth every penny.

Even Portofino Bay's casual eateries uphold high standards. Mama Della's Ristorante serves Italian comfort food family-style without sacrificing quality and the pizza oven at Sal's Market Deli is overseen by a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who carefully blends his own flour to create exceptional pies.

All Portofino Bay Hotel guests enjoy special privileges at the nearby theme parks and a handsome nineteenth century motor launch awaits to whisk you off along a beautifully landscaped canal to CityWalk and the front gates of the parks.

The Portofino Bay Hotel beats Disney's Grand Floridian in the "special experience" category and makes an excellent choice for that honeymoon or anniversary visit to Central Florida's newest and most exciting theme park destination.

To make a reservation, call (800) 715-4440 and use 4246 8001as your PIN number for any special deals that may be available.

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PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL

A smashing luxury hotel opens at Universal Studios Escape

A smashing luxury hotel opens at
Universal Studios Escape