First night universal?

[Mandsjh]

Plan is to stay at Portofino bay club level for the first few nights of the holiday with no car. Then pick up a car and move to a villa.

What I’m struggling with is Portofino club level isn’t cheap and we are not going to get any use from it on the night of arrival.

I’m thinking of booking somewhere cheaper to crash out and get up early first morning and check into Portofino.

But with no car how easy will this be and will transfers push cost up so might as well just go straight to Portofino?

Would it be better to book into a cheap universal hotel for 1 night so we are onsite? Or cheap airport?

Not really sure.

[Florida virgin]

I'd look for a very cheap hotel near Universal studio's - use that to sleep for the first night - check out early doors and get a taxi to Universal - that way you get a full day of FOLP - like you said check in the day you arrive and it's a waste of a day.

[Derbydave4]

We have done exactly this Have booked one night at Rosen Inn nearest to universal for the night we arrive and then will get an Uber (less than $10) to Royal Pacific the next morning will check in early and hopefully get breakfast in club room before hitting the park I recon it’s a saving of about £200😁

[Rescuer]

We’ve done this before but for 2 nights. One of the Rosens on idrive. Dinner and sleep the first night and pool, shopping and dinner the second before moving on to universal the following morning.

I love Aventura at Universal as well so we are thinking of starting with a couple of nights there next year before moving on to RPR club level for a week.

[cornishfrogboy]

We did similar last August.

We flew into Orlando from Cincinatti at around 1700 and then got a Taxi to the Ramada on IDrive and towards the Universal end ($48). The Ramada was a perfectly acceptable 3 star for the four of us and came with Breakfast at £70. We went cheap and dined at very nearby Cici’s

Next morning it was a $10 taxi to the Royal Pacific at 0700 and dumping of bags with the concierge before getting straight out to the Parks. I received a text that my club level room was ready at 1300 or so,. We obviously used the Club level facilities all that day, all evening and all the next day. The nibbles, wine, unlimited takeaway tins of soda and the breakfast were great value at £65 over and above the standard room.

At the end of that second day, I got a taxi to the nearby Holiday Inn where we picked up our car and departed for the Villa that we had rented.

The plan worked great and we would unquestionably do the same again. We save loadsa money.. and not many say that after a Universal visit. You will find all details in the trip report in my signature.

Hope it helps.