Our family has stayed at all three of the Loews hotels at Universal Studios, and Portofino Bay is our favorite, albeit by a slim margin. The most upscale of the three on-site hotels, the Italian-themed Portofino Bay is also the most picturesque. But don't be fooled by its elegant facade -- it's equally laidback and kid-friendly. Inspired by Portofino, a small Italian fishing village, Italian Riviera charm oozes from every faux stone, and the bright hues of its colorfully painted buildings bring life to a lively piazza. The hotel sits aside a small lake with rowboats and water taxis, and has a private, secluded setting. It's the farthest from the Universal Studios theme parks, which might be a deterrent to families with little ones in strollers, since it means slightly farther to travel. But the upside is that it's separated from all the action, so it feels like more of a luxury property than a theme park hotel.

From the moment our kids were greeted at check in with a gift and a snack in the lobby, we felt welcomed, and saw kid-friendly touches, and families, everywhere. There is a terrific family pool with a super-cool waterslide, a little sand beach, and a zero-entry splash area for little ones. We loved participating in the poolside games and activities throughout the day. Factor in the supervised evening kids' club, Camp Portofino, and the fact that your room key acts as an express pass, allowing you to bypass the lines on almost all of the rides in both Universal Studios and Island of Adventure, and you'll be hard-pressed to find better family-friendly accommodations here.

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