Help! Hotel Overbooked...no place to stay

[Choirmom]

I booked the Royal Pacific over 2 months ago for our upcoming stay Dec 1 - 5. Tickets purchased, flights booked. I get a call today from Expedia saying the hotel is overbooked and they need to find an alternate property. I don't want to stay off property and at this late date, I'm not sure what they will come up with. I'm waiting to hear back.

If they can't find an alternative Universal property, what would you do? Stay further away and find transportation, rebook for next year (assuming we can change our dated tickets), see if they can find something at Disney, or do something else?

Any suggestions will help. I'm extremely frustrated that we are just finding this out now.

 

[damo]

There are rooms available for part of your stay. Perhaps stay at the premium hotel for Wed night and Thursday night and then check into a non-premium hotel for the other nights. You can do RPR for Wednesday and Thursday and Cabana Bay for the rest. You can get Portofino for $232/night with an AP for Wed-Fri and then Cabana Bay at $119/night. That is straight through the Universal AP website. You can completely cancel with Expedia...... https://res.windsurfercrs.com/ibe/default.aspx?hgID=641&langID=1&checkin=12/1/2021&nights=2&rooms=1&adults=2&children=0&promo=aph&iata=&group=&hotels=&ada=0&currid=1&vouchercode=&attendeeCode=

I don't know how Expedia can do that either, but I guess it is an Expedia thing.

We are staying at the RPR for Dec. 1-4. We booked through Universal.

 

[Pooh's World]

Shouldn't be too bad. The worst days are 11/25- sat 11/27. I'm sure someone will cancel for your days

 

[CBMom01]

We’ve never stayed at RP but we loved Cabana Bay

 

[Lewisc]

Ask Expedia to bump a different guest
Split stay may be your best option. Expedia may have sold out of their block of discounted rooms. Be prepared to escalate.

 

[SCSabresfan]

Has anyone ever been bumped when booking through Universal? That might be key information for future visits?
Why is RPR overbooked?

 

[CBMom01]

I have a vague memory of this happening to me and the third party site refunding 100% of my deposit. Can’t remember the circumstances. I would just book direct at Universal and ask them nicely if they will honor the rate at another deluxe resort

 

[macraven]

I only book thru the hotel Loews and never had an issue for the room

Quit using Expedia years ago

 

[Lewisc]

I only book thru the hotel Loews and never had an issue for the room

Quit using Expedia years ago

Occasionally third party sites will have inventory or rates not available on a hotels site. Universal AP rates are usually lower but not everyone uses AP rates

 

[SCSabresfan]

I am guessing the reason they are full is because those dates include a weekend that also has the OI meetup

 

[Choirmom]

OP here. The agent at Expedia explained that Universal updated their info late, so the rooms that were alotted to Expedia originally were not actually available. This seems strange and dishonest on somebody's part (not sure who). Anyway, was able to book at Cabana Bay with a refund for the difference in price. I guess we'll use the price difference to purchase express pass.

Really not happy about this. Not sure who to blame, Universal or Expedia.

 

[georgina]

Wow, we'll be at RPR Dec 2 - 5 for the OI meetup. Sounds like it will be a full house!

 

[Lewisc]

I'd ask Expedia for compensation, maybe one night free.

 

[Mabel67]

OP here. The agent at Expedia explained that Universal updated their info late, so the rooms that were alotted to Expedia originally were not actually available. This seems strange and dishonest on somebody's part (not sure who). Anyway, was able to book at Cabana Bay with a refund for the difference in price. I guess we'll use the price difference to purchase express pass.

Really not happy about this. Not sure who to blame, Universal or Expedia.

How long ago did you book? This is making me nervous for our January trip!

 

[TommyJK]

I would tell Expedia to refund you the amount it would cost to purchase Express Passes. Tell them you specifically picked this hotel for the Express Pass inclusion. Since THEY messed up (they being either Expedia or Universal, but since you booked through Expedia they "owe" you what you booked and then they can go recoup from Universal) you should be "made whole" so to speak. So in my estimation Expedia essentially owes you an on-property room with Express Passes since that is what you originally booked and paid for.

 

[bchbetha]

Expedia messed up. I wouldn't accept Cabana Bay. I did check and the unlimited, 2 park (park to park) EPs are well priced while you are there ($119-129) . They will go up though so you'll have to make some choices soon.

 

[damo]

There's no reason why you can't have RPH for your first two nights. I wouldn't settle for Cabana Bay.

I would also contact the hotel and see what they have to say.

 

[Choirmom]

How long ago did you book? This is making me nervous for our January trip!

I booked on August 21. I don't know why I'm finding out about an overbooking now.

I'm going to send Expedia and Universal an email explaining my dissatisfaction over this whole mess. This should not happen this close to the trip. If there is no remedy, this will be my last time using Expedia and my first and last visit to Universal.

 

[damo]

I booked on August 21. I don't know why I'm finding out about an overbooking now.

I'm going to send Expedia and Universal an email explaining my dissatisfaction over this whole mess. This should not happen this close to the trip. If there is no remedy, this will be my last time using Expedia and my first and last visit to Universal.

Can I ask you how much you were paying for your room at the RPR? How much are you paying for you new room at Cabana Bay?

 

[fsjking]

I had this happen with Priceline and a doubletree once, except in my case, I was at the hotel when I found out. Priceline and doubletree's booking agents both said I had a room, but the hotel manager said they were overbooked and no rooms were available. Pretty much got a "too bad" and we'd be happy to refund your stay. The hotels are happy to have these third party discount sites book rooms until they can book them on their own site at full price. Then they start kicking out the cheap bookings. It sucks, but its the way the business works.

That being said, I have a stay at Hard Rock coming up booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I hadn't given it a second thought, but their booking is the same as Expedia.....