Many people plan mid-winter vacations to the various Disney parks in Orlando Fla. Not only is it a fun time for kids, but you also get to escape the cold and dreary days of winter and remember what the sun and warm weather are like. When it comes to choosing a place to stay, why not make it a true escape and book a stay at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Spa? You’ll feel like you’re actually visiting the Italian seaside village of Portofino. Talk about a great escape!
The hotel is located at Universal Orlando Resort and is modeled after Portofino, including outdoor cafes and cobblestone streets. Not only are the accommodations spacious and inviting, there’s a spa, three themed swimming pools and fine dining. Sounds like the perfect pick-me-up for grownups, especially after a day at Disney!
Stay in Style
This is a massive resort hotel, featuring 750 guest rooms and 45 suites. To go with the Italian luxury theme, each room has custom-designed furnishings and marble accents. Traveling with kids? Portofino Bay Hotel offers rooms with kids’ suites modeled after the popular “Despicable Me” movies with an adjoining entrance for parents. Kids will enjoy sleeping in missile-shaped beds while parents relax in their own room.
Guest rooms offer views of the gardens, pools or Portofino Bay. An upgrade to a Club Level Room gets you access to the lounge and fitness areas, a continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres.
If you prefer a suite, there are other options besides the kids’ suites. Choose from one of the five other types of suites available, ranging from to 900 to 2,725 square feet and a range of amenities. Choose the room that suits you best, and enjoy an escape to luxury!
Escape the Heat
The Portofino Bay Hotel offers three themed pools to cool off and relax in. The Beach Pool features a Roman sandy beach and a Roman Aqueduct water slide. There’s even a separate pool area for small children and hot tubs for adults. If you enjoy organized activities, you can participate in pool basketball or ping-pong tournaments.
The Villa pool is a bit more exclusive, with upgraded amenities and lounge chairs that promote relaxing. If you really want to get away from it all, visit the Hillside Pool, a quieter and more private place to soak up the sun.
Mandara Spa and Fitness Center
The hotel’s Mandara Spa offers everything from massages to skin and body treatments to steam and sauna rooms. You can indulge in a spa package or go a la carte, but whatever you choose you’ll be pampered in an indulgent manner. The spa was inspired by the spiritual island of Bali, and combines island traditions with European spa methods. Enjoy the best of both worlds and relax both your body and your spirit.
Choose from a variety of massages, including Four Hands, Balinese, Swedish, Reflexology, Aroma Stone or Deep Tissue. The Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage includes the application of a warm seaweed body mask followed by a foil wrap. While the treatment is working, enjoy a scalp and foot massage, followed by a half- or full-body massage. This is truly a treat for the senses!
There are numerous body treatments to choose from, including the Elemis Exotic Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap. A traditional Balinese recipe of coconut, mungbean, spices and lavender is used as a skin polisher, while warmed monoi oil and milk bath is drizzled over your body. You also get a scalp massage and a body massage.
Facial treatments are tailored to many different skin concerns. The La Therapie Micro-Therapy Facial is a microdermabrasion and cleansing treatment that reveals healthy, undamaged skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and discoloration.
You can keep in shape at the Fitness Center or treat your hair, hands and feet at the Beauty Salon. Pedicures, manicures, hair-conditioning treatments are all great ways to keep you looking good while navigating the theme parks.
Dining: From Fancy to Fun
There are eight different dining options at the Portofino Bay Hotel, from indulgent experiences to poolside noshing.
Mama Della’s Ristorante is a casual family restaurant complete with strolling musicians and Mama herself as your host. Bice Ristorante is part of a network of restaurants that opened in 1926 in Milan. It combines Old World elegance with modern chic and offers an extensive wine list. Trattoria del Porto captures the colorful festivals of the Italian countryside and features a brasserie-style menu.
There’s also a deli, harborside wine bar, a bar featuring specialty drinks, a poolside eatery or room service. There’s no shortage of options here!
Fun for Kids
Of course, visiting the parks is fun enough, but there are more options to keep little ones busy. Not only can they stay in their own “Despicable Me” suites and enjoy the pools, they can also enjoy evening “dive-in” movies at the Beach Pool and enjoy the kids-only dining area and menus at some of the restaurants.
The Loews Loves Kids program offers game libraries, welcome gifts and supervised recreational programs. Teens will enjoy a spa treatment just for them at Mandara Spa’s Y-Spa Program, including a fake-bake self-tanning treatment.
If you need a solo night out, there’s a Resort Kids Camp at the children’s activity center where they can enjoy fun activities while you take a night out on the town.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is a destination that the whole family will love, offering lots of luxury and good times. Enjoy your escape to Italy and all the fun Orlando has to offer. It’s truly a magical place.
Photos from the Portofino Hotel and Mandara Spa.