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Loews Hotels on-site at Universal Orlando
In Brief
Universal is currently home to three luxury resorts operated by Loews Hotels, each with it’s own unique theme and very individual personality – the lineup includes the Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel, and the Royal Pacific Resort - and all, without exception, are fabulous places to stay and play.
The Hard Rock Hotel
It’s always rockin n’ rollin at this resort as the sounds and vibes of the hottest hits resound throughout the grounds - and even under the water (to ensure that you never miss a beat the pool is equipped with a unique underwater sound system), emanating from the hundreds of speakers secretly hidden and carefully placed throughout the hotel property.
The Hard Rock Hotel, designed to look as if it were, in a previous life, the extravagant estate of a flamboyant rock star, features an extensive and varied collection of music memorabilia. You’ll find hundreds of pieces scattered throughout the public areas, with a select and limited number of photos and works of art throughout the guest rooms, for all to see. The mission style property, inspired by “Hotel California”, features an extensive pool-and-play area lined with towering palm trees and surrounded by sugary white sands and “Malibu-esque” cliffs.
The entire property, inside and out, is very chic, very hip, and very cool – definitely the hottest and hippest place to stay with tweens and teens (though families with kids of all ages would likely fare quite well too).
Rooms: 650 (335 garden view, 154 pool view, 42 deluxe, 90 club level, 12 kid suites, 10 king suites, 2 club kid suites, 2 club king suites, and 3 additional suites).
Connecting rooms are available.
Rates: $229 to $2,000 depending on the season and type of room
Standard Rooms $229-$359
Premium Rooms $299-$459
Suites $479-$2,000
 The Hard Rock Hotel is going more hip and more chic than ever – all 650 rooms and suites are currently undergoing renovations to include (upon completion) 32-inch flat screen TV’s, an MP3 landing station (with connectivity to the rooms stereo system), and an all new urban chic color scheme of chocolate brown, aqua, lime, and other warm neutral colors. All new linens, carpeting, and granite-topped mini-bars are part of the perking up as well. Suites will get a few extras too - including tabletop stereos and iPod docking stations. Work began back in August and is scheduled to be completed at the end of November 2006.
The Royal Pacific Resort, A Loews Hotel
The glamour and charm of the 1930’s is apparent throughout this exotic retreat, reminiscent of an era when travel to the islands was only possible for a privileged few.
Upon entering the resort, having made your way across the elaborate bamboo bridge suspended high above the terraced rice patties and waterfalls, you’ll immediately feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a remote island of the South Pacific.
The resort’s lobby surrounds a spectacular open-air orchid court, with stone pillars and tremendous plate-glass windows creating its perimeter. The delicate and colorful flowers are scattered throughout the garden while hand-carved stone maidens and elephants gently spout water into a tranquil reflecting pool. The lobby itself is filled with mahogany furnishings, hand painted panels, batik wall hangings, and intricate carvings of stone and wood, creating an atmosphere reflective of an enchanting island paradise.
Surrounding the grand lagoon-style pool are sugary white sands, swaying palm trees, and dense exotic shrubbery. Adding to the ambiance is an old clipper plane, just like the one Captain Jake used to island-hop through the South Pacific, or so the story goes.
Walkways wind through the towering bamboo, palms, and tropical vegetation, while stone lanterns lead guests back to the resort – or off to the parks depending on which path you decide to take.
Of the three on-site Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, the Royal Pacific is the largest - and likely the best choice for families with younger children (under the age of 7 or 8) given its casual island-friendly atmosphere and numerous kid-friendly offerings.
Rooms: 1,000 (730 standard, 181 pool view, 38 Royal Club level, 36 executive suites, and 15 other suites). Connecting rooms are available.
Rates: $199 to $ 1,900 depending on the season and type of room
Standard Rooms $199-$329
Premium Rooms $299-$405
Suites $319-$1,900
The Portofino Bay Hotel, A Loews Hotel
Even as you drive up the winding roadway lined with grape vines and greenery you feel as if you are touring the picturesque countryside of northern Italy. Olive trees and cypress are plentiful, and a grand ornate entrance welcomes you at the end of the winding roadway. If you arrive from the harbor by water taxi you can take in the full view of the beautifully colored stucco buildings in muted hues of golden yellows and sun-washed reds inspired by the architecture and colors of the Mediterranean. To re-create this look with absolute authenticity, the hotel was finished and painted in the very same painstaking technique used so many hundreds of years ago in Italy’s fishing villages.
Throughout the grounds of this resort, an almost exact replica of the Italian seaside village of Portofino, the attention to detail is very apparent right down to the Italian sports cars and Vespas parked along the piazza among the array of small shops, and restaurants.
Filled with cobblestone streets, ornate ironwork, stone fountains, and archways, the entire resort is filled with an air of European elegance.
Rooms: 750 (197 garden view, 243 bay view, 91 Club level, 174 deluxe, 18 kid suites, 6 villa suites, 12 Portofino Suites, and 9 additional suites). Connecting rooms are available.
Rates: $259 to $2,400 depending on the season and type of room
Standard Rooms $259-$389
Premium Rooms $299-$479
Suites $489-$2,400
Also keep in mind that the rates shown above are rack rates and in no way reflect any discounts (like AAA), or promotions that are often available. Please call the resort directly (or the main Universal Orlando resort reservations number) for the most up-todate pricing available. Occasionally discounts are listed on Universal’s official website however they are often found on the “Hot Deals and News” page – not necessarily within the resort pages of the site.
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