Thinking About Switch to Universal--How to Book Hotel

boxer

DIS Veteran

DVC Platinum

Joined

Dec 30, 2005

• Oct 5, 2015

• #1

Just sold our DVC ownership--and thinking about switching next years vacation over to Universal. How is the booking process for the hotels (PBH preferably)? I know when we went a couple years back, we got an email offer that was great----but it is tough to plan a vacation on a 'possible' email offer. Are there any discounts for fall like at Disney? What about if we got a AP--do they offer discounts?

Just curious how some of you put together your Universal vacation packages, and when you start planning them.

 

wookiebeck

Fan of both WDW and USO

Joined

Jul 26, 2011

• Oct 5, 2015

• #2

Sign up with universalorlando dot com. They will send you email sales. The best are the discounted room rate pin codes. They are usually for 30% or more during nonpeak times (like fall).

You can search both rack rate and discounts right there at that site, too. There is an automatic discount for the stay-more-save-more (SMSM). The more days you book, the more discount you can get without needing any codes.

They offer AAA and AP discounts, too. The absolute best way I have found to navigate it is to call the resort directly. Ask the concierge about your pricing options for all three I mentioned. They are very helpful and friendly.

Do not use a package from uni. Best to book hotel and tix separately.

 

boxer

DIS Veteran

DVC Platinum

Joined

Dec 30, 2005

• Oct 5, 2015

• #3

Ok...this is a little different from Disney--by calling the resort directly. Didn't know not to use the Universal site packages either--so I guess that means go to a 3rd party vendor like Undercover Tourist? What about AP's--do they get good offers for hotels?

 

R

RMulieri

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jul 5, 2001

• Oct 5, 2015

• #4

We book thru Loews hotels.com and buy our tickets thru undercover tourist.Sign up for emails on both Loews and Universals website and if there is a discount or deal, you MIGHT get one. There are also the Stay more,save more rates that are for stays greater than 3 nights on Loews website. AAA also offers a discount or you can occasionally find great deals on hotels on 3rd party sites like Cheaptickets.com or hotels.com..We stay Portofino and book about 6-10 months out ( we are already booked for our 7 nights next August).There are discounts with an AP, but truthfully the 2 times I looked into the rates, I saved more using the Stay more ,save more discount, and by quite a bit.

Also keep in mind that Universal does not own the resorts and a lot of the restaurant venues. The resorts are operated by Loews. Loews also does NOT build in the prking costs into the room rates, so if you bring a car, you will be charged a nightly rate for that car

 

M

macraven

Proud Redhead

Moderator

Joined

Apr 21, 2003

• Oct 5, 2015

• #5

Loews doesn't own hard rock hotel

 

bumbershoot

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 5, 2007

• Oct 6, 2015

• #6

http://uo.loewshotels.com/en/booking/uo?hotel=UEPBH,UEHRH,UERPR

I book through that site. You can see all 4 (so far) hotels at once there. I check for an AP rate by putting "APH" into the code field. If there is an AP rate for my trip at the time I'm checking, it will come up. If it doesn't come up, I check again later. And again and again. If I can live with the rate I get, I book it. Then I check and check again and if a lower rate shows up I call and change it.

I buy tickets wherever I want to (OK so we've had APs for some years now so we don't buy tickets anymore).

The only time I ever considered a pacakge was when they had Harry Potter stuff where you would get something unique with the package. Otherwise they are generally more expensive and less flexible than room-only.

RMulieri said:

We book thru Loews hotels.com

Click to expand...

You mean loewshotels.com.

 

R

RMulieri

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jul 5, 2001

• Oct 6, 2015

• #7

macraven said:

Loews doesn't own hard rock hotel

Click to expand...

I know.I said the hotels are operated by Loews

 

kbelle8995

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 28, 2009

• Oct 7, 2015

• #8

I have an AP. I get discounts at restaurants and gift shops as well.

 

Grumpy92

DIS Veteran

Joined

Nov 14, 2001

• Oct 7, 2015

• #9

I have booked it several ways. I can get the specials on the US website and have booked that way.
https://www.universalorlando.com/Hotels/Onsite-Hotel-Rates-and-Offers.aspx
Mousesavers.com is a good resource for discounts.

I have called the Universal reservation line and I have booked through Dreams Unlimited Travel. Most recently I used Dreams for a future trip. They were able to get me a discounted rate. Later I received a 40% off email, sent that to them and they were able to get an even lower rate (pretty much got a free upgrade). The best thing about them is they will watch for discounts for you and then edit the rez for the lower rate when it becomes available. I don't normally use a TA but these guys are knowledgeable and they own the DIS.

I have to say for the same price I would have paid for a Disney value resort we have gotten a suite a CBBR which is a much nicer resort then Pop or AS. I feel like I get more bang for my buck at US.

APs are a real bargain with great benefits compared to WDW. When I went to renew my AP this year US gave me an additional discount to renew early and online. The final price was less then half the price of my Disney seasonal. US really appreciates their APs and treats them that way.