Calling RyGuy and Motherfletcher - Platinum upgrades at PBH

[goofy!]

Ok - spill the beans. How do you do it? How do you get the villa suite as a platinum upgrade?

PBH made a big mistake whetting my appetite for that gorgeous suite when they upgraded us to it last summer. And to the one by the elevators in the west wing of all things. Talk about spoiled!

We are going again at Thanksgiving. I wrote the gentleman you mentioned before, politely asking if we could be upgraded. His very nice assistant wrote back and apologized, but stood firm on the Portofino suite.

We have 8 people going again and loved that room. We deserve that room. It is their fault that they let us stay there before. Besides, we have a HUGE family reunion staying at the BC. Is it too much to ask that I want the nani-nani-boo-boo rights of being able to say "look what Universal does for us?" "You Disney frequent fliers are still stuck in a stinkin' room. But not us - we get platinum AND look what we get" Isn't that what family reunions are all about - one upmanship? (only kidding - I love my relatives....sort of).

All kidding aside, I know an upgrade during a holiday period is akin to asking for the moon. But do you have any other suggestions to perhaps increase our chances of getting the Villa instead of the Portofino? I know we will love the Portofino suite, but still....if there is a chance for the Villa, I would like to optimize that chance.

Thanks!

 

[Motherfletcher]

Did you tell Brian the same way as us? He might appreciate the one upmanship and showing off his hotel. As Plat you could book the Portofino Suite and the Villa would be the guaranteed upgrade.

 

[goofy!]

I do believe I mentioned that we were coming down as part of a family reunion and that the rest of the party was staying at Disney. I think I mentioned that I would love the space in case we did dinner at there and they came up for a night cap in our room.

We have two rooms booked - one for each side of the parlor. I didn't book the Portofino suite, but I did ask if it would make a difference if I booked the deluxe rooms. Then could I get the Villa Parlor? They said no. No matter if I booked the deluxe rooms, I would still get the Portofino suite. Even though the rooms on either side of the Portofino Parlor are standard rooms. I did inquire - what if I wanted the bigger bathrooms. Portofino (not Brian) told me that the only upgrade I could get was the Portofino suite, no matter what rooms I booked.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I'm glad that I out lived those relatives and the ones left seem to be more proud that their kids are uglier and dumber than their dogs.
I think I would start over with an email to BJ in a week or so. Remind him of how many stays you have and how far they date back. Ask for a hospitality suite and "settle" for the Villa. Ask how much for the Governatore with the whirlpool tub.
RyGuy might have some ideas. He always gets the best deals on the best rooms. He must have incriminating photos of John Tisch and a maid?

 

[goofy!]

I'm glad that I out lived those relatives and the ones left seem to be more proud that their kids are uglier and dumber than their dogs.
I think I would start over with an email to BJ in a week or so. Remind him of how many stays you have and how far they date back. Ask for a hospitality suite and "settle" for the Villa. Ask how much for the Governatore with the whirlpool tub.
RyGuy might have some ideas. He always gets the best deals on the best rooms. He must have incriminating photos of John Tisch and a maid?

Thanks Motherfletcher. I might just drop him another e-mail. I am getting such conflicting info from Reservations that I may just want to confirm with him. I did go ahead and call and ask if I book the Portofino suite, if I could be upgraded to the Villa as my Platinum upgrade, and they said nope.

I have never actually asked for an upgrade, so this is new and rather uncomfortable for me I hate asking for freebies!

I am sure the Portofino suite will be fine, although I would love the Villa.

But, since you and RyGuy know the suites better than apparently PBH - can you really attach a king and double queen on both sides of the Portofino Parlour? Just want to make sure, as I don't want my elderly mother and two nieces down the hall somewhere. PBH assured me you could. And are there the 2 bedroom Portofino suites in the West Wing?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[RyGuy]

Every suite consists of a parlor and a connecting bedroom on each side. One will always have two queens and the other will have a king. That said, there are several Portofino suites in the west wing. Some with beach pool views and some with bay views. The one I was assigned before being upgraded to a Hospitality suite was on the ground floor with a patio. Not a very good view of the bay because it was far down the hallway. None have balconies. I would take Motherfletcher's advice and try Brian again. Put all the things he suggested in the email such as number of stays and fond memories you have of the resort along with your special family gathering. Brian is a really nice guy and is always very helpful giving me suites to accommodate family visits when I am in town. Explain that the Portofino suites are nice but you were hoping for a little more space to entertain. We love the large dining table in the larger suites as well as the kitchenette. Hopefully that will work. If not you could always inquire again at check-in by asking for him or a MOD. Good luck!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

So, RyGuy, you are saying that if a Villa is unavailable we may as well go for it and ask for the hospitality suite?! Where are these located? I am thinking if I could pull this off, I would not care about the view. We will have about 10-12 of us at the hotel for a birthday celebration and we will need the space so we all have a place to congregate. Not to mention it would be nice to have that type of room for everyone to hang out and escape the heat!

We are staying 4 nights. How long do you usually stay? I am thinking that fols just staying a night or two are at the top of the upgrade list. That is what happened with my mom at HRH. Booked standard for one night. Upgraded to King Suite. No one had even asked to upgrade them! Front desk said they were low on standard rooms and that since my mom was only staying the night they got the upgrade.

 

[Motherfletcher]

.

I have never actually asked for an upgrade, so this is new and rather uncomfortable for me I hate asking for freebies!

Tell Brian that! Tell him you have always been happy with what you have been given and since you were upgraded to the Villa on the last visit that you were spoiled and made plans for this special occasion Thanksgiving thing.

 

[Motherfletcher]

The hospitality suites are over behind the check in area and are kind of intended for the convention type business.

 

[Maria395712]

 

[Maria395712]

what do you have to book to get an upgrade to a villa suite

 

[goofy!]

what do you have to book to get an upgrade to a villa suite

You have to be a Loews Platinum to be automatically upgraded to a suite. And at the Portofino, that is the Portofino suite.

To be upgraded to a Villa Suite is like icing on the cake. It is never guaranteed, but occasionally PBH will upgrade you to it if it is available.

 

[Maria395712]

I am a PLAT member but what type of room do I book? a deluxe? I have never stayed at the PBR only RPR and HRH. so what does the portofino suite have? what do the hospitality suites have which are better and when you check in you ask if there is and upgrade to a villa? what do they have
maria

 

[goofy!]

I am a PLAT member but what type of room do I book? a deluxe? I have never stayed at the PBR only RPR and HRH. so what does the portofino suite have? what do the hospitality suites have which are better and when you check in you ask if there is and upgrade to a villa? what do they have
maria

I have asked the same question of the powers to be at PBH. Since the villa suite is not an upgrade, they say that you can't really book a room to get it.

The one time I was upgraded to the villa suite, we were booked with the deluxe room.

The villa suite is a deluxe room attached to a large parlor. The parlor is approximately the size of two rooms and has a living area, a large dining/conference table, a kitchenette with a microwave, small fridge, sink and a few cabinets, a double door entry with a large foyer, a small desk in the hallway off the foyer and a 3/4 bath.

I have never stayed in a Portofino suite, but from what I gather, it is a regular room attached to a parlor that is also about the size of a regular room. It has a living area and a full bath.

Right now we are booked for Thanksgiving with garden view rooms upgraded to a Portofino suite for our Platinum status. I did ask if I booked deluxe, would that give me a better chance at a Villa Suite because the deluxe rooms are what are attached to the Villa. I was told no - I would be upgraded to a Portofino suite automatically and perhaps upgraded to the Villa if there is one available. But no guarantees.

Hope this helps.

 

[macraven]

goofy, i'm still waiting to see how it is going for you in your quest of out ranking the aunt............


what's the scoop so far?

did you book the suite?




give us a heads up.........

 

[goofy!]

goofy, i'm still waiting to see how it is going for you in your quest of out ranking the aunt............


what's the scoop so far?

did you book the suite?


give us a heads up.........

Still waiting to hear. Right now we are in a Portofino suite. Brian did get back to me and tell me that he will watch our reservation. Since it is Thanksgiving, he can't guarantee anything. But if all the suites are not booked, there is a chance. We are keeping our fingers crossed!

The staff there really has been wonderful. I completely understand that they can't guarantee anything over a holiday week. But they did say they would try. That is all I can ask for.

 

[goofy!]

I am a PLAT member but what type of room do I book? a deluxe? I have never stayed at the PBR only RPR and HRH. so what does the portofino suite have? what do the hospitality suites have which are better and when you check in you ask if there is and upgrade to a villa? what do they have
maria

Maria,
Forgot to add:

On Universal's website, there are pictures and floorplans of all the different suites; the Portofino, the Villa, the Hospitality, the Governator and the Presidente.

http://www.universalorlando.com/ht_pbh_accomodations.html

 

[Maria395712]

thanks
maria

 

[Maria395712]

what is the lowest type of room you can book to be upgraded to a suite
maria

 

[goofy!]

what is the lowest type of room you can book to be upgraded to a suite
maria

You can book a garden view. This will automatically upgrade you to the Portofino suite at reservation time.