To be perfectly honest, my children have been dragging me to Orlando for years, although I have never been a big fan of theme parks, but my most recent visit this spring break was a little different. 

Imagine a place where the ambience of a seaside village on the Italian Riviera has been recreated in charming detail.  Where sun washed stucco, cobblestone streets, and meandering waterways share one unexpected twist - they all lead to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure Theme Park and Universal Studios City Walk.

The Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando offers all this and more. In addition to enjoying luxurious accommodations, guests can walk around to the tunes of piped Italian music, to discover a large main square with café tables and chairs, replica streets complete with shops,  trompe l'oile paintings, and decorative boats in the harbor. Best of all the resort is just a five-minute boat ride to the theme parks and city walk.

Other hotel features include three heated swimming pools;( the main Beach Pool with hot tub and slide)  a full service spa, salon and fitness center and Campo Portofino for the kids. 

 Portofino offers eight on sight dining options.  The include Delfino Riviera, Mama Della's Ristorante, Trattoria del Porto, Sal's  Market and Deli and Piccolo Forno Backery, and Splendido Pizzeria.  Delfino Riviera is an upscale. Candlelit restaurant , complete with a strolling guitarist.  There are also numerous themed restaurants found at Universal Studios City Walk.

The biggest selling point of the trip for me was that hotel guests receive exclusive theme park benefits.  The most important benefit was the "NO LINE, NO WAIT" access to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure rides and attractions all day, every day. Hotel guests also enjoy first available seating at select restaurants at Universal Orlando.

In closing I have to admit that I even had fun at a theme park.  Islands of Adventure, with its state of the art roller coasters, flume rides, raft rides , and others, is truly a theme park for the 21st century.