Booking hotel only -- best way - universal, Loews or travel website?

[kniquy]

I am just curious if there is any better way to book a hotel room at universal. Are there any pro's/con's to either booking on the actual universal website vs on the Loews website or through on of the travel sites (expedia, travelocity etc).

I was hoping to book our room for our April 2018 trip because the rates that are currently offered are pretty good compared to what i was seeing for April 2017 rates.

If you book through universal or Loews -- do you have to pay in full? It looks like on the travel websites you can pay your first nights deposit to hold the room, but has anyone had any issues using those sites?

 

[TommyJK]

Booking through Universal or Loews is essentially one and the same. It goes through Loews booking engine. And with this you need to pay what looks like one night's portion up front and the rest later.

Other sites tend of have their own/different policies on what you have to pay up front vs. later.

With booking through Loews/Universal though if you happen to see a better rate on them in the future you can call them up to adjust your rate to the newer/lower rate you find on their site.

 

[macraven]

I check the website for prices for my dates and include codes

But I always book by phone once I have decided

That way I can have my upgrades with YouFirst on my reservation in advance and locked in

 

[wookiebeck]

I have done both ways. Never had a problem. I used a travel site and got their rewards (free day to use later) on top of the same SMSM pricing as the loews site.