How can I accomplish this upgrade?

[IMGONNABE40!]

So, maybe I am spoiled because last July I was upgraded from a deluxe queen at PBH to a Villa Suite (in the West Wing with the balconies no less). I am trying to do the same for this July when we make the trip for my sister's 40th birthday. Since it is my dime for the most part, I am trying to get the most bang for my buck.

So far, I have reserved a gardenview and have been given an upgrade to a Portofino Suite with Loews Plat. I called the hotel directly to see if an upgrade to a Villa Suite is available and was told they would note it on my reservation. I called today and was given a pretty decent rate on a deluxe at PBH. I know that when I had the deluxe last year, I had to call the hotel directly to get the upgrade to Villa Suite. So, now I am wondering, should I go ahead and book the deluxe and hope for the best with the upgrade? I would of course keep the Portofino Suite booked until I heard about the upgrade to the Villa Suite. But, will I even be permitted to keep two reservations for the same date? Will one of the reservations get booted out of the system? I know that the best place to get this info would be the front desk, however, not sure I want to tip my hand at this point either.

What is the advice?

 

[macraven]

i don't know if i can help you with this one but can share what i do.


when i double book, i book the first one with my full name.
the second one i book, i use my initials of my first and middle name and my last name. i do this so the computer system won't kick out my 2 ressies.

it appears to be 2 different people by booking that way. i use only one cc to pay the first night and that doesn't effect the 2 bookings for the same time period.

about the upgrade, that's a hard one to call. whenever i have had an upgrade, its mainly because the room is open and available.

i find that the hotel does not have a problem upgrading for free to the higher more costly room for you. this then frees up them booking the lower cost room you have been upgraded from.
the hotel would rather have rooms filled at the highest occupancy level they can get.
it is much easier renting out the lower cost room than the high end one.

so, if the room you want to be upgraded to is available, you have a greater chance of getting your wish come true on it.
and, since it is noted on your ressie that helps. i was told to call 5 days before check in to request again the upgrade. at that point, the front desk would know more on availability. if the upgraded room is not available for you the day you arrive , see if it is open the 2nd day you are there.
it could be one guest will be checking out at that point and all you have to do is ask to get relocated.

if i remember correctly you have 48 hours to cancel a room ressie before you have the penalty and do not get a refund. i always have to put one nights stay down on my cc when i book.
i have loews gold but with the platinum you have the priveledge of getting a ressie 24 hours in advance.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks for your replies. I know whichever suite we get will be fine.

 

[RyGuy]

Not sure if you are aware of this or not but if you book online they do not take the credit card deposit. The system says they will take one night plus tax but they never do. I always book my stays using the online reservations system because of this. I'm pretty sure the system won't boot you out for having two ressies either. I have done this several times but you could always take macraven's advice and use your initials and then last name. Brian Johnson is the Director of Rooms at PBH and a very nice guy. You could try shooting him an email once you book you deluxe room. His email is brian.djohnson@loewshotels.com. Hope that helps.

 

[etink67]

Hi, We just became Loews members (so we are still the bottom rung). We booked a club level deluxe room for June. I know an upgrade at the bottom level is 35 dollars a night but I am curious what they would upgrade us to for that and if we would still have concierge priviledeges? Anyone know?

Also-- off topic-- anyone know what the options for character dining are at Universal?

 

[RyGuy]

I don't think LoewsFirst Blue members can upgrade to a suite for any price. I think their only upgrade is to a premium room at the time of check-in if one is available. At PBH the upgrade is a deluxe room which you already have because you are staying club.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I just landed a Villa Suite for April 28-30 which is peak season (because of Grad Bash?) for PBH. I booked a bay view from the website for $209 APH. I used RyGuy's advice and they let me know that I could have a Villa Suite.
I couldn't have done this without RyGuy's inside information. It's nice to know someone that lives at the Universal Resorts!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Which advice did you follow--the e-mail to brian or the booking on line.
I e-mailed Brian and have not gotten a response. I called the front desk and they said they could not upgrade my deluxe room, but could offer me the parlor for the same price I am paying for the room--basically pay double in order to be upgraded. BTW--my room rate is higher than $209. Not sure why I can't accomplish this.

 

[RyGuy]

Motherfletcher,

How are ya? Glad I could be of assistance. Make sure to request one of the two on the top floor of the west wing. See if they can block one ahead of time for you since you are a frequent PBH guest.

 

[thedisneymom]

Hi all,
Sorry I haven't been around for awile. Way to go Motherfletcher!!(Ryguy too!)
I am also in a villa suite this year because we had 2 platinum members and called a year in advance and no Portofino suites were available. I called Loews and said this was ridiculous and they got back to me and said if I book 2 deuxes instead odf standard we could have a villa suite so I bit.
Nice chatting with everyone again!

 

[Motherfletcher]

I emailed Brian, I'mgonnabe... I got the confirmation today and its a little different than I thought but similar to yours. I rec'd 2 confirmations the first was for the villa suite (parlor only) and the second was for a club room with 2 queens. $209 for each. In essence I'm getting upgraded to club and paying $209 for the parlor or $418 for the Villa Suite. I'm getting a deal pretty close to the Disneymom's. What do you think RyGuy?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

So you are paying $418 total per night? And that is with club privileges? I was hoping to upgrade the deluxe $263 (AAA) per night to a Villa Suite for no additional $$. I too have been offered the parlor for an extra $263 per night. Last year I had a deluxe booked at the rate of $283 per night and was upgraded to the Villa Suite for no additional $$. That is what I am hoping to so again. I am not really interested in club.

 

[RyGuy]

Motherfletcher,

Although that is a great bargain, I am surprised he charged you for the parlor. If he didn't make it clear that he was going to do that I would contact him again. I usually don't get my upgrades ahead of time so there is no confirmation. Brian sets everything up the day of my arrival so when I check-in, the upgrade is in the system. I have never paid for a parlor before.

 

[zalansky]

Wow I feel like you guys are speaking another language...I have never stayed at Loews but my husband has a business trip to the Hard Rock Hotel next week for 5 nights, all paid for by his company!
We have a 3 year old and a 5 month old baby and I want to go and reap the benefits of this room since we live only an hour away. Dh is concerned we need a larger room because of th kids. I signed up for the Loews card but it doesn't look like that will do much good. Can we pay for a larger room, and have the hotel charge the regular rate to his employer? Does anyone have suggestions how to get a bigger room?
THANK YOU, if you do....

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

The regular sized rooms--pool or garden view are pretty big and will probably do just fine. Still, if the company is willing to pay, you may want to try for a deluxe, which is a bit bigger, or even a King Suite, which would offer a separate bedroom. They say max 3 in a King Suite, but I would hope that since your kids are little they would be a bit more relaxed on that.

If it were me, I would try for the King Suite. Or even a Kids Suite. You can see the layout of these room on the Universal Website (universalorlando.com). Just click on hotels and then go to HRH and looks for rooms. There should be a click to view layouts of the various suites.

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

are you sure they won't charge your credit card if you book on line? just curious.

Kimberly

 

[Motherfletcher]

Wow I feel like you guys are speaking another language...

We are! And most of the time our only interpretter is RyGuy
Don't worry though this language is only needed when you become Loew's Platinum! When you stay there often they say they will take better care of you

I started this particular trip planning for just my son and myself so he could go to the Grad Bash. I was considering taking one of his friends so he wouldn't be lonely and wouldn't have to have his dad hang with him for company. I booked a king bayview for $209 because it was actually cheaper than anything available at HRH or RPR. After reading this thread I thought I'd give it a try and emailed Brian and told him what I booked and asked for a Hospitality Suite. Why not go for the gold? Like I expected the gold wasn't available but he offered silver, the Villa Suite. When I read some threads and looked at the floor plan online I got amped and told my wife about this wonderful "deal" I was getting. When I mentioned the kitchenette and dining area she thought that she should go which means DD12 would go too. I reminded DW how she doesn't like to go to the parks and when the rest of us go she plays the "you're going to leave me here all alone?" card. She assured me she wouldn't complain (should have gotten that in writing) and even offered to cook us breakfast in the kitchette. Is this doable?
She kept bugging me about how much it would cost and when I told her $209 she acted as if we would be standing in soup lines the following week. I should have told her that it was $259 a room for 'Bed and Breakfast' when we got 2 adjioning deluxes and flew her mother from Texas to join us but decided keep her in the dark and instead I told her that a seasonal rate kid's suite was $569!
I'm wheither to cancel the parlor and take the club upgrade or to deceive DW and not tell her that the parlor will cost as much as the room.
Not to be a thread thief, but I need your help guys!

 

[RyGuy]

Kimberlyfamilyfv,

I always book through the online reservation system and have never been charged the one nights deposit. I have stayed on-site quite a few times.

Motherfletcher,

There are no stoves or ovens in the suites. I guess its a fire hazard because RPR doesn't have them in their big suites either. The kitchenette has a mini fridge, ice maker, sink, microwave, and coffee pot along with dishes and cups if memory serves me correctly. At least the hospitality suites have all this. I haven't stayed in a villa in quite some time but I think the kitchenettes are about the same except for the size. As for your other dilemma, I personally would keep the parlor and question Brian about the charge. If he didn't make it clear to you then he is the one who is deceiving. I've never heard of offering an upgrade and then charging for it after the fact. If you can secure one of the two on the top floor of the west wing, I think your wife will be thrilled. Full sized balconies with table and chairs run the length of the parlor and there are covered balconies (my favorite) for both of the two queen connectors. Regular full sized balconies come with the king connectors. It's basically like having three balconies when most people can't even get a stepout not to mention the view of the bay is fantastic. You can see the covered balconies and the other spreads if you find a picture of the west wing online. On the top floor (5th), one is a pinkish color and the other is red. All six villa suites have views of the bay. Three have floor to ceiling windows and are located in the villa wing, the two I mentioned are in the west wing and I have not yet discovered the location of the sixth. It may or may not have a balcony? Good luck!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Motherfletcher--

I would do as RyGuy advised and contact Brian to see if the confirmation e-mail was incorrect. If one day he tells you that you have the upgrade complimentary then the e-mail should confirm this. If not, I would go the honesty route with the wife.

DH and I were lucky enough to get one of the Villa Suites in the West Wing with the great balconies that RyGuy spoke about. It was an awesome room. Though, no cooking except for in the microwave. The fridge is the smallest one I have ever seen, but big enough to keep our bottles of water and milk for my coffee.

If you do end up going, I suggest you do what we did. We knew we would want to escape the heat of the day so I rented some Italian themed movies from blockbuster before we went. We watched Under the Tuscan Sun and BIg Night while we were there. We had also brough along Moonstruck and the Godfather movies but did not have time to watch all of them. I had purchased a CD of Italian music and had that to play in our suite as well. To run with the theme, I brought along some Peruginia Baci candy and biscotti. We bought bottled Pelegrino water on our grocery stop. I think you can make this a great trip for your wife, even if she never leaves the resort. A trip to the spa may be on the schedule while you guys are out at the parks.

I hope it all works out for you.

 

[thedisneymom]

Motherfletcher-
Yes, RyGUY is correct about the mocrowave etc. in the villa suite. Mine had exactly what he mentioned this past June.