Portofino Sun Tanning Ctr

11/28/09

Best Tanning Salon in New York City

by Sandy333 at Citysearch

I just joined Citysearch and saw that Portofino was #1 nominated for best tanning salon in the city. I would have to agree. It is always a pleasant surprise how much I enjoy going there. I found the salon after a friend came to a wedding looking gorgeous and tan and raved about it. I like to get a spray tan whenever I know I am going out for a special occasion. The whole process takes about 30 minutes and the spray girl is so sweet and makes you feel totally comfy stripping down to nothing... but be warned that you have to get a mani/pedi BEFORE the spray. I almost made that mistake my first time. Ask for Maria or Stella--they have been great. OH and the girls at the desk are fun too. haha lots of good things to share about this place :o)

• Pros: kind staff, clean place, best spray tanning results
• Cons: not open 24 hours

11/19/09

Dark Tan - Classy Place

by RileyHall222 at Citysearch

I went to Portofino and the place was awesome. They told me to go and review them online if I liked my experience. Well, I am here doing just that! Very clean place, which is important to me. The beds all look brand new and shiny and the one I used gave me color that I could see even as I walked out. I liked the staff and the candy they have for you when you walk through the door!

• Pros: Good atmosphere, new machines, nice staff

11/10/09

2 Airbrushes for $99!!??

by trixie258 at Citysearch

I went to Portofino today and got 2 personal spray tans for $99. That is awesome!!!! I have heard of places that charge $99 for just one. This place is good, the girl is skilled, and I love the color I've got. Will definitely be going back here instead of the other place I used to go.

• Pros: That is a sick deal
• Cons: None

11/03/09

Great Spray Tan

by AshSampsonite1 at Citysearch

I got an awesome spray tan here. My mom has been spray tanning back at home and she urged me to try it. I chose this place because it seemed nice and kind of upscale. I figured, for my first time I wanted to try it at a nice place. I loved it and really liked the girl that did the spray tanning, too. I sometimes am cheap about tipping, but I gave this girl a fat tip because I was so impressed. Highly recommend!

• Pros: Awesome color, no sun damage

10/06/09

Vitamin D help

by FunnyFrannie17 at Citysearch

My doctor actually told me to go tanning. Not a joke. Because I don't ever see the sun here in the city, it turns out that I have a Vitamin D deficiency. Hence-PORTOFINO! The staff there is so helpful. The girl picked out a lotion for my sensitive skin and recommended the best tanning machine for me. I felt a little weird the first time tanning, but now I've visited a couple of times and it is a nice break in my busy work schedule.

• Pros: recommended, boosts my spirits
• Cons: I don't really go for the dark tan

09/19/09

LOVE this place

by MirandaSITC at Citysearch

Portofino Tanning is the best tanning salon in New York City (perhaps in the world), hands down.

The staff is unusually knowledgeable, friendly and eager to help. They make sure you get the deepest tan possible without burning. They take the time to get to know each customer and always check in with me to see how I like my tanning results. The managers are in the salon on a regular basis and know every customer by name. Walk in the front door and you'll feel like you've stepped into a party with a group of old friends.

The beds are always clean and they have XM radios set up in each room. The have a variety of other services available too like teeth whitening and spray tans, but I haven't tried those yet myself. (I have been meaning to check out the UV free sprays) It IS a little odd that they are tucked away on the 4th floor.

Bottom line: I'll never tan anywhere else!

• Pros: great tanning results, employees go above and beyond, clean
• Cons: on the 4th floor, hard to find

09/01/09

AWFUL!!!!! DON'T go for spray tan!!!

by NEWYORKER at Citysearch

I went to Portofino after reading all the great reviews here. I really wish I didn't and I'm very disappointed. The woman who did my tan was not very nice and didn't really seem to wanna be there. (which is fine just don't show it to me....) the color she did was not the one I asked for. Therefore she had to do it all over again. The Spray itself was very bad quality (I think it went bad). It took hours to dry....

My skin is looks awful my tan is uneven I have spots of color all over my body and my skin tone is Orange at places and dark and unfaltering at others.

Thank God this will fade eventually . Instead of bragging about my tan I need to hide it with long sleeves in the middle of the summer.

VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. I will NEVER go back there again.

• Cons:  unprofessional staff

08/10/09

great for first time tanners- brides

by bride2bmaureen at Citysearch

I have never tanned in my life because of all of the skin care hype. BUT I am getting married in about a month and I decided I couldn't be in that white dress, getting hundreds of pictures taken, and look like a pale ghost fading into my bridal gown.

SOoo--off to Portofino I went. I called first and chatted with a gal who was so friendly and patient as I asked a million questions. She eased my fear and simplified this process. I came in, bought an intro package, a bottle of tanning lotion that is made for sensitive skin, and bit the bullet. My first experience was such a surprisingly pleasant one. I will be back all month to build up what will hopefully be a nice little wedding day tan. I would recommend this place for anyone with anxiety about tanning, or wants to really feel in good hands.

• Pros: knowledgable, friendly, convenient location
• Cons: it's tanning...

08/03/09

clean new tanning spot

by offthebeeetenpath at Citysearch

Clean, friendly and all brand new. I'm relatively new to tanning, but the front desk staff was polite and helpful, and the pricing was straightforward--no pressure to buy stuff I didn't need. I'm definitely impressed with this place.

• Pros: nice, friendly
• Cons: none yet

07/29/09

I recommend the airbrushing

by kewlk8y at Citysearch

I have fair skin and can't do the tanning machines so I tried out the airbrushing after my friend suggested it. I bought a series of 10 sprays to last me through the summer and with this awful weather lately, I am so glad I did. I shave, scrub and bring grungy clothes to throw on afterward. Stella and Yadira are the two technicians I have had and both are so sweet, professional and thorough. I usually opt for their disposable undergarments and after 30 mins I am a golden goddess. The only down side--it is gone after a week. seriously. don't let people fool you into thinking it lasts longer--it doesn't. As long as i know that-i am a happy and TAN gal.

• Pros: fake tanning/uv free
• Cons: splotchy after a week