Hotwire - for on-site Universal hotel?

[disneyfam31]

Has anyone ever booked an on-site Universal hotel through Hotwire "hot deals" where you don't know the hotel name when you book?

I found a "Hot Rate" deal on a hotel room through Hotwire. The location and amenities appear to be the same as the Lowes Portofino, but I'm nervous to book it as it is not refundable. It the most expensive of the (4) hotels available in the Universal area on Hotwire but I don't want to book it unless it's truly onsite and inclusive of the benefits.

 

[Grumpy92]

I am curious about this as well.

 

[chmurf]

Mousesavers has a few tips on how to maximize the chances of scoring an onsite hotel
http://www.mousesavers.com/universal-orlando-discounts-and-deals/#hotel
scroll down to the hotwire section

but you will never know until you book.
the only way to be (almost) sure would be to have someone book the same deal, same dates, and tell you which hotel they got ...

 

[disneyfam31]

Mousesavers has a few tips on how to maximize the chances of scoring an onsite hotel
http://www.mousesavers.com/universal-orlando-discounts-and-deals/#hotel
scroll down to the hotwire section

but you will never know until you book.
the only way to be (almost) sure would be to have someone book the same deal, same dates, and tell you which hotel they got ...

Thanks. I read that and also found a few other sites with additional tips, too. I am pretty confident that the hotel I am seeing is an onsite hotel, but not confident enough to feel good about booking yet.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would look at a site like betterbidding to see how much more you can narrow that down.

 

[damo]

People here have gotten it on Priceline but not on hotwire. What are the amenities on the property you are viewing? The Hyatt (formerly the Peabody) is often mistaken for an onsite hotel.

One way of comparing is to look at hotwire packages. They will often include the onsite hotels. Compare the amenities and ratings there with the ones in the hotel only listings.

 

[keishashadow]

OP

4* on hotwire could be arnold palmer or crown resort

last i looked @ betterbidding, RP is 4*, PBH is 4.5* not a 4.

In addiiton to matching up the amenties, check out their list of recent winning bids to see if any coincide with your general date's time frame.

 

[damo]

I could never hotwire something that is over $150. If it isn't what you want, that's a lot of money.

 

[disneyfam31]

After today, I am even more confident that it's Lowes PBH. Based on comparisons the last few days between Hotwire Hot Deals, the Hotwire hotels listings (named) and travelocity. More details below...That said, I am still not confident enough to book!

Hotwire does not differentiate between 4 and 4.5 starts - only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - so maybe PBH is marked as a "4".

Earlier today, a despicable me suite at PBH opened up for over $600 for non APH rates (Loews website directly). Hotwire changed the "regular price" from approx 485 to 675 and then still had the discounted amount for the "hot deal" at $330. Arnold Palmer is listed at a much, much lower rate as both a regular price and current price of the hotel for the nights in question (The Hyatt - formerly Peabody - even much more so).

 

[damo]

What are the dates you are looking at?

 

[disneyfam31]

5/18

 

[damo]

Since there are no available rooms booking directly through Loews or anywhere else for that date, it would seem weird if hotwire had some.

However, ratings and stuff look the same between package vs. non-package.

That's just a lot of money for a chance....even if it is a good chance.

For that price I'd stay at Cabana Bay and purchase express.

 

[disneyfam31]

Since there are no available rooms booking directly through Loews or anywhere else for that date, it would seem weird if hotwire had some.

However, ratings and stuff look the same between package vs. non-package.

That's just a lot of money for a chance....even if it is a good chance.

For that price I'd stay at Cabana Bay and purchase express.

I've decided not to book it. Too risky at this point.

Unfortunately the cost of the express pass would be approx $820 for (4) people across the two days we will be at Universal. That is just ridiculous (99.99 for 5/18 and 104.99 for 5/19). I was able to get APH rate on the 19th at PBH for $189, plus tax will be $213. So we can use the express pass benefit for at least one day which comes out to $53 for an express pass vs. the $104.99 currently advertised.

 

[damo]

I've decided not to book it. Too risky at this point.

Unfortunately the cost of the express pass would be approx $820 for (4) people across the two days we will be at Universal. That is just ridiculous (99.99 for 5/18 and 104.99 for 5/19). I was able to get APH rate on the 19th at PBH for $189, plus tax will be $213. So we can use the express pass benefit for at least one day which comes out to $53 for an express pass vs. the $104.99 currently advertised.

You get express for two days with one night's stay. The entire day you check in and the entire day you check out.

I see you have an AP but the ticket/express combo is MUCH cheaper than buying separately. For example for May 18 plus one more day, the two day park to park ticket with unlimited express included is $344.99. To buy it separately would be $204.98 for express plus $219.99 for the tickets. So you save about $100 doing it as the combo ticket.

I wonder what is going on at Universal on May 18th that has everything booked up?

 

[disneyfam31]

You get express for two days with one night's stay. The entire day you check in and the entire day you check out.

I see you have an AP but the ticket/express combo is MUCH cheaper than buying separately.

I wonder what is going on at Universal on May 18th that has everything booked up?

We have plans on the 20th at another park (WDW) and that cannot change based on other people who are joining us. Therefore, we won't be able to take advantage of the express pass benefits on check out day.

I'm thinking we will focus on Harry Potter worlds on the 18th along with any rides that are excluded from express pass, then we can enjoy express pass on the 19th.

Of course, I will probably keep watching to see if a hotel room pops up for the 18th, then we could truly take advantage of the express pass for both days.

 

[disneyfam31]

There was a special ticket offer (pay for 2 days, get 3) that requires the first use of the ticket to be on or before May 18th, 2016. I wonder if that is driving some of the popularity for the parks that day.

 

[keishashadow]

I've decided not to book it. Too risky at this point.

Unfortunately the cost of the express pass would be approx $820 for (4) people across the two days we will be at Universal. That is just ridiculous (99.99 for 5/18 and 104.99 for 5/19). I was able to get APH rate on the 19th at PBH for $189, plus tax will be $213. So we can use the express pass benefit for at least one day which comes out to $53 for an express pass vs. the $104.99 currently advertised.

not sure what rates you've been finding, but imo that is a crazy low rate for PBH, a true deluxe hotel that more than stacks up to any of WDW's offerings...you should be dancing lol

 

[disneyfam31]

not sure what rates you've been finding, but imo that is a crazy low rate for PBH, a true deluxe hotel that more than stacks up to any of WDW's offerings...you should be dancing lol

I am definitely happy about that rate! And if didn't have other plans for the check out day and could take advantage of the express passes on that day, too, it would make that night stay even better of a deal!

I just found and booked the APH rate for the Despicable Me Suite @ PBH for the 18th! I am happy it became available again. I've seen it on and off the past week. It's $475 before tax, but that works out to be about $67 per person per day for the express pass - so still cheaper than buying express pass separately or in a combo ticket package.

Now I just need to decide if we should keep the hotel on the 18th and have express passes for both days or just keep the hotel on the 19th and use 1 day of express passes!

 

[bumbershoot]

I just found and booked the APH rate for the Despicable Me Suite @ PBH for the 18th! I am happy it became available again. I've seen it on and off the past week. It's $475 before tax, but that works out to be about $67 per person per day for the express pass - so still cheaper than buying express pass separately or in a combo ticket package.

Now I just need to decide if we should keep the hotel on the 18th and have express passes for both days or just keep the hotel on the 19th and use 1 day of express passes!

I would 100% cancel the PBH room and go with the suite for the 18th. Gives you unlimited EP for two whole days, plus early entry for one or both wizarding worlds? You're saying it works out financially to cover just the EPs with just ONE day of EPs, but you get a room to sleep in, plus EE and EPs for TWO days?

DO IT.

 

[disneyfam31]

Wohoo!!! Staying on top of checking the rates at the hotels has paid off!!! Somehow, RPR opened up rooms / maybe there were cancellations...in any case, they had both the standard 2 queen room or the club level 2 queen rooms available now for the night of the 18th! The club level room was even cheaper than the suite at PBH and includes continental breakfast plus other goodies! I made the switch and couldn't be happier. Can't wait to enjoy the one night stay and 2 days worth of express passes! So glad I didn't book the Hotwire "hot deal" - who knows what hotel it really was!!!

Thank you all!