Inspired by the picturesque Mediterranean seaside resort, our Orlando FL hotel is a romantic getaway

I had seen the pictures and had visited the Portofino alaskan cruise inside passage Bay Hotel website , but nothing really prepared me for just how amazing this hotel would be.  Here is how the hotel is described on their website:
Inspired by the picturesque Mediterranean seaside resort, our Orlando FL hotel is a romantic getaway reminiscent of sunny days on the Italian Riviera. Every guest room features authentic Italian furnishings and marble accents.
And it really was all about Italy at this hotel. They even had pictures of Portofino, Italy inside at the hotel that looked remarkably similar. The front entrance of the hotel has an amazing fountain with some Italian vehicles and Vespa scooters stationed around it (see picture, above). As I drove up to the hotel itself, this immediately set the tone for what was to follow. Walking inside the hotel, I was immediately blown away by the architecture and the beauty. You could tell that a lot of work had gone into designing it. I ve been in my fair share of hotels over the years, but I was intrigued by this one because of the uniqueness of its design. alaskan cruise inside passage As I entered my room, I became alaskan cruise inside passage even more impressed. It wasn t so much that it was a five-star room, but the layout and design were just so original and unique and appealing I couldn t help but take some more pictures. Heck, I even took a couple of pictures of the bathroom (one of them is to the left). I mean, I felt as though I was in a villa in Italy, and that s just not something one gets to experience every day As I walked out to the balcony, I was immediately taken by the view. I realize that this was a man-made area from top to bottom, but I certainly wasn t going to let that get in the way of something like this: The hotel, as mentioned previously, was built to resemble Portofino Bay, Italy and it did NOT disappoint.
The colors are bright, the lines are striking, alaskan cruise inside passage and the buildings are designed to look a certain way on the outside while being completely different (and modern) alaskan cruise inside passage on the inside. alaskan cruise inside passage The building, from the outside, looks like a number of old houses lined-up side-by-side as you can see from these shots of the interior and exterior courtyards:
There are 750 rooms, 8 restaurants and lounges, and 3 themed swimming pools in this expansive hotel. Of course, you can t forget the numerous gift shops and boutiques throughout the resort. The building to the right housed BICE Ristorante , which is considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Orlando and is not only known for its food but also the spectacular harbour-side view.
One of the best features of the hotel is, of course, the harbour. It s a gorgeous spot that is the focal point of the hotel, alaskan cruise inside passage primarily for the views. It s also a means of transportation to the rest of the Universal Studios resort, taking you from the different hotels to the City Walk, Islands of Adventure, and the actual Universal Studios theme park area.
I can tell you from experience that it is extremely cool to sit in a water taxi and slowly wind my way through the waterways. In the map of Universal alaskan cruise inside passage Studios below, the hotel is highlighted in red and the waterway is highlighted in yellow (you can even see a couple of water taxis in the picture!):
But of course, one really isn t able to truly appreciate the beauty without seeing it for themselves. Where that s a bit tough with a blog, I thought I d at least provide some of the pics that I took of this fantastic setting
Not only was the hotel itself incredible, but you also get to SKIP THE REGULAR LINES at most rides and attractions at both theme parks! All you have to do is show your room key and you re in! I also found that I didn t have to pay cover charges at the night clubs at the City Walk area if I showed them the key, as well. Definitely some great benefits to staying on site.
So would I recommend this hotel to others? ABSOLUTELY!! The staff was tremendous, the accommodations were beautiful, the food was fantastic, and the benefits of the area were second-to-none. It definitely was one of the most memorable hotel stays I ve ever had as the location is first class from top to bottom. alaskan cruise inside passage If I get ever get a chance to stay here again, you better believe I will.  It s worth every penny.