Has anyone booked through Universal or Loews and paid in full?

[lynnfitz]

Hi- I know this is probably an unusual question, but for budgeting purposes, I actually like to pay in full when the hotel gets booked. I did that through Cheaptickets, but now thinking of switching to a hospitality suite at RPR, so I have to book through Universal or Loews for that room. Does anyone know the procedure for that, would I call and ask the rep. to do it? I thought several years back I had to fill out a form, but I can't remember-
Thank you!

 

[macraven]

they will only accept a one nights deposit when you book.

you can set up paying it off before your trip.

when you call and book, ask for the info and number of the department that will accept payments or the total amount.
i've used it some years back and can't find the direct number.

you can call the hotel or loews for the accounting department that does take payments or the remainder of what is due before your arrival.

 

[macraven]

yea, there is a form to be completed for prepaying process.

i just can't find the number i used when i set up the pre payment after making the booking and paying the one night first...

 

[lynnfitz]

Thank you!

 

[damo]

Another way people have paid in full, without paying in full, is to purchase a prepaid credit card for the amount or to purchase Universal gift cards for the amount. Then it is paid for but you don't need to go through the trouble of going through Loews accounting to do it.

 

[macraven]

what damo posted is the way i have been doing it the past few years.

i buy the gift cards on line and get the points on my cc.
i use the gc when i check in to pay on my account at check in.

that way, it is a "pre paid" trip for me in my budget.

 

[dbramer]

So, just for clarification...if I wanted to book a vacation at UO and pay for it when I booked, I would have to fill out a separate form or call a special accounting number to do so? Why is that? Any other hotel or vacation, I can pull out my cc and pay for the entire balance when I book. Just curious.

 

[macraven]

standard Loews policy for room only booking.

if you book a package from UO, it must be prepaid completely in advance.

 

[nkereina]

Not sure if it was a unique circumstance or due to the time of year, but just last week I booked a 3 nights stay at RPR in October (during Halloween for HHN). The Universal web site prompted me to pay the full balance. I was only expecting one night deposit. Had the same thing happen on the Loews web site as well. I ended up booking through Expedia so I could do a deposit.

 

[macraven]

that must be something new for the site.
i think it would work fine for some people.
i wouldn't mind to pay in full for my trips in advance that way.

it's all about the same for me since i buy gc and put all of them down on my room account when i check in.
even put additional money on the account so i can charge back to the room without having to deal with gc in the parks and city walk.

i know for hhn on the weekend bookings, some bookings are done differently than the rest of the year.
at some point this year, they won't allow a one night booking for the fri/sat weekend nights.
don't remember what dates they used last few years for the cut off on that.

i'm starting my stay on a saturday during hhn and wasn't required to include the friday night on my booking.

 

[AkaGrace]

Not sure if it was a unique circumstance or due to the time of year, but just last week I booked a 3 nights stay at RPR in October (during Halloween for HHN). The Universal web site prompted me to pay the full balance. I was only expecting one night deposit. Had the same thing happen on the Loews web site as well. I ended up booking through Expedia so I could do a deposit.

The same thing happened to me. I booked a weeks stay in a CL room at RPR. I booked in October and we will be there soon. I paid for the full amount when I booked using the Universal website. There was an option to do a deposit and pay the balance at a later date, and an option to pay the full balance.

 

[macraven]

it sure does sound like that their system has changed and allows full payment in advance, which i feel is a great thing.

i based my answers above on my experience.
but, i booked last november 1, 2014 for this coming october 2015 stay.
did my booking by phone and not over the website as i had requests to be listed.

i was giving advice out on prior info, so i need to scratch that since others have posted that is no longer the case.

looks like for a quick trip this summer i need to make, i can do it all by the booking site and pay it in full then.

 

[mthds]

I am paying our vacation off now before we go. I have a small limit credit card I use. It is a disney card I use that I pay off each month just to get disney rewards. Anyway, Each month I have sent the Royal Pacific a fax giving permission for X amount to be applied to credit card. I pay that off then do it again the next month. You could do the whole amount I am just putting the amount I am taking out of my paycheck each month to pay for it. Two more months and our 7 night stay December trip will be paid in full! it is a great feeling to enjoy the trip knowing it is paid for.

 

[lynnfitz]

sounds like I definitely have my options! We have the $ set aside for the hotel, so I just like to pay for it, and be done with it. I like it for budgeting reasons-sounds like I'll be able to do it, thanks for the replies!