AAA Discounts

[bobkim2340]

Thanks for the info

 

[macraven]

correct, Loews do not match third party's prices.

 

[pixeegrl]

Many people who use cheaptickets simply book a 2 Queen room with 2 adults and later call the Universal hotel directly and add the kids...no charge that way. There is a charge of $25 per adult if more than two are staying in one room though.

 

[chepar]

Cheaptickets is very open about their codes/specials - they usually list them right on the home page. This week it's "FESTIVE". Just plug that into the "I have a promo code" box when you do a search, and Bob's your uncle!

Thanks so much for this info, I just saved myself $133 over a 3 night stay next month vs. the "Stay more, save more" rate I had booked directly through Loewe's. I've been also calling to see if any AAA rates had released for my dates, but no luck.

I'm thrilled with the savings!

 

[Plutofan]

Many people who use cheaptickets simply book a 2 Queen room with 2 adults and later call the Universal hotel directly and add the kids...no charge that way. There is a charge of $25 per adult if more than two are staying in one room though.

Be careful doing this. When I talked to Loews directly she warned me some people have tried this and were upset because they were later billed the extra charge. She warned me upfront on this issue.

 

[DPCummerbund]

correct, Loews do not match third party's prices.

They told me they do not match third party websites.

I think it's interesting that Loew's wouldn't price match from Cheaptickets. They have a "Best Price Guarantee" on their website, which states the following:

"We think there's no one better to guide you through the booking experience and give you the most accurate preview of the Loews Hotels experience than us. But of course we'd say that. What you may not know is that we understand the need to shop around. You want the best deal on your hotel room and we want to make sure you get it. That's why we offer what we call our Best Rate Guarantee - our promise to you that we'll honor an online rate for one of our hotels that is lower than what we offer on our own loewshotels.com website.

If you find a lower rate on another website other than loewshotels.com within 24 hours of making your reservation, we will be happy to adjust your rate to the lower rate you found.* Simply call us at 1-800-235-6397 and we'll make things right by honoring the lower rate on the spot."

EDIT: They have a list of exclusions below that, which include AAA (a rate not offered to the general public) and Hotwire/Priceline (where you don't even know the name of the hotel until you bid). Those exclusions make sense. However, in the fine print they also state that they don't match third parties that require "prepayment" or a significantly different deposit than they require, which I assume is how they rule out Cheaptickets.

As for adding in your children, others have experienced the same difficulties. Mousesavers has this to say about Loew's & Cheaptickets (I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link to Mousesavers so I won't try, but it's on their page for Universal hotel discounts, which is worth checking out anyway):

"CheapTickets/Orbitz has a glitch in their programming that overcharges if you list more than two guests, even if the additional guests are children under 18. Universal’s policy is that kids under 18 stay free, but there is a $25/night charge for each adult after the first two per room. Orbitz calculates the extra charge as though everyone in the room is an adult, which is incorrect.

To avoid incurring an extra charge, list no more than two guests on the booking, and add the children when you check into the hotel. You can call CheapTickets/Orbitz customer service and ask them to contact Loews to add the children to the booking, but it’s not essential. We have personally done this and there was no problem at all. Just make sure you book a room that can handle the entire party and remember to tell them when you check in, so you will get Express Passes for every person staying in the room."

 

[pixeegrl]

Be careful doing this. When I talked to Loews directly she warned me some people have tried this and were upset because they were later billed the extra charge. She warned me upfront on this issue.

Why would they incur an extra charge? Loews doesn't charge for anyone under 18 in the room. They should only do it if you try to add extra adults.

 

[Plutofan]

Why would they incur an extra charge? Loews doesn't charge for anyone under 18 in the room. They should only do it if you try to add extra adults.

Cheaptickets has a problem in their system where they charge the kids like adults. After spending about an hour on phone between Loews and Cheaptickets they told me to book two adults in a room that holds 5 and have Cheaptickets but a note on the reservation traveling with kids. Thanks to everyone in the posts in helping us to get the discount.

 

[pigletto]

I just checked in with 2 adults on the reservation (booked through Cheaptickets) about 7 hours ago. We added the kids as we checked in and there was no extra charge. They didn't bat an eye. The kids that you are adding need to be under 18 to avoid the extra charge as per hotel policy. It was painless.

 

[kiwicake]

Do any of you know if you book Loews Royal Pacific using Cheaptickets, Will you still qualify for the Loews loyalty program? Or do you have to book with Loews?

With Cheaptickets' current promo code I'd save about $78. which would really be great! But I'd love to get my Loews perks...

 

[macraven]

Do any of you know if you book Loews Royal Pacific using Cheaptickets, Will you still qualify for the Loews loyalty program? Or do you have to book with Loews?

With Cheaptickets' current promo code I'd save about $78. which would really be great! But I'd love to get my Loews perks...

if you book with a 3rd party, that stay does not qualify for the Loews YouFirst program.

i could save money with a 3rd party but i need my stays counted so i book thru Loews to keep my platinum status.

 

[kiwicake]

if you book with a 3rd party, that stay does not qualify for the Loews YouFirst program.

i could save money with a 3rd party but i need my stays counted so i book thru Loews to keep my platinum status.

I had a feeling it would be too good to be true.. Thanks so much for your help!!

 

[Dashzap]

Are the discounts worth the cost of the AAA membership?

I joined AAA in June with a basic membership at $72.

We went on a last minute trip to Universal in July. We more than made the $72 back in discounts on:
- food at Cabana Bay food court
- merchandise at Cabana Bay shop
- merchandise in the parks

Carry your AAA card and flash it everywhere there, just in case. We got discounts on a bunch of HP stuff (t-shirts, robes, wands, keychains, etc.) plus food. We didn't get discount on Lucius's wand in cane, I think because it was considered memorabilia?


We didn't get a room discount because we booked last minute and it wasn't available.

We didn't get a ticket discount because I didn't buy tickets until we were ready to go to the parks.