How do YOU book your trip ?? Expedia? Travelocity? Other?

[RCMommy]

Hello,

Our last number of trips have been to Disney which I book directly with them. So now that we would love to go to US and IOA and Seaworld and Legoland I am a little overwhelmed with how to book, or who with I should say.

I have been looking at packages through sites like Expedia, Traveolcity, Book-it.com and there are great deals but if you do a review for each they are less than favourable. Is there a trusted company that I can use? Am I better off booking a package through the airline directly?

Can anyone share how they book there non Disney Orlando trips or with who? I would really appreciate some suggestions.

Thank you!

 

[cyctorres]

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/

 

[RCMommy]

Thank you. Do they typically offer reasonable deals compared to others? Would YOU book with them, or have you in the past?

 

[canadiankim]

We are just down the road from you in Guelph, Ontario and when we travelled last year we booked with Travelocity.com. We flew out of Detroit (much cheaper) and stayed at the Royal Carribe Hotel which was very, very nice. We also booked a rental car in the same booking. We didn't book our park tickets as there are better sites to go with. From the threads here, undercover tourists seems to be one of the better ones.

We didn't stay on-site as we couldn't justify the cost plus we wanted to do other parks - SW, BG & me and DD had a girlie day at MK whilst the boys had a day on a segway tour.

I recommend that you check the trip advisor reports for reviews on the hotel. Don't worry too much about the good reports - check out the bad ones and then you can make a judgement call. For us the hotel we stayed at was 4* and the reports were really good. Only drawback, depending on what time of year you are going, it could be busy. We travelled Oct 2010 and it was quiet, large suite rooms, good size pool, etc. You had no breakfast included but there was a restuarant.

Hope this helps - happy shopping!!

 

[DisneyNDecember]

1. I purchase my Hard Rock Hotel & Tickets package directly online thru Universal Studios Orlando website.

2. I booked my departure flight thru American Airlines directly.

3. I booked my return flight thru Expedia for an American Airlines flight.

When we take our Disneyworld vacations, I also book my DisneyWorld Hotel & tickets package directly thru the Disneyworld website.

I have not had any problems with either for either vacations.

 

[Lynne G]

Sometimes I find very good deals with airline packages and sometimes I do myself. For the end of the summer 14 day trip I did with my kids this summer, I booked the airfare separate. Hotel and Seaworld/Aquadica package with SeaWorld website. We stayed at the Fairfield Hotel at SeaWorld. Very nice, basic hotel - free parking, free breakfast, quick ques free to SeaWorld, free shuttle to SeaWorld, no resort fee. Tickets were print out yourself. No issue at all. Best rate I could get for hotel separately was $30 more a night then I paid with the package. For US/IoA I bought tickets thru undercover tourist website with link from mousesavers newsletter. Cheapest I found and free shipping, tax included. I don't have AAA or Costco, so for me it was the best. Stayed at the Portofino and booked on Loewe's website. I drove the rental car from the Fairfield to Busch Gardens Tampa two times. Not a bad drive, and passed the exit for Legoland Florida around 40 or so minutes on the way to Tampa. Last year, I went to Disneyland and drove to down to Legoland from the Disneyland Hotel. Booked the Hotel, airfare and DL tickets through SouthWest website. Very good deal, as got a great fireworks view room at the DL Hotel. And, since my package papers that I presented at checkin said rate included all taxes and fees, the hotel did not charge me a resort fee even though they thought my package did not include it.

Some legwork is the best. Keep your eye out for specials from the airlines and hotels. Seaworld's website tends to have good discounts too. I don't know where to stay near Legoland. Since the hours it is open are not very late, I would suggest staying near Universal or SeaWorld, and driving to Legoland. I also suggest staying at a Universal resort when going to IOA/US. The room key is an unlimited fast pass and was definitely worth it to me.

 

[RCMommy]

Hi, we will be staying nearer to US and just driving to Legoland for the day.

I am finding great deals (or so I think) through airline websites and sites such as Travelocity. For example, 4* hotel, with flights, and rental car for 2 adults and 2 kids in January 7-14 from anywhere between $1800 - 2200. (no park tickets included in this price)

I was very close to paying for a package on Book-it.com but thought I would read some reviews/experiences online. They terrified me ! I take all reviews with a grain of salt, because everyplace will have the good and bad, but these were way more bad than good.

I have been bouncing around checking deals with just about everybody, but I wanted to hear some good reviews from people on who they had successfully used in the past.

 

[RCMommy]

I should clarify that some of the bad reviews I am reading from past customers of sites like Expedia, Travelocity etc, are in regards to problems with reservations, flight issues, cancellation problems, hidden fees, etc.

This makes me wonder if booking a package directly with the airline is best or a company like DreamsUnlimited?

 

[Blueharts]

I have heard too many horror stories about people booking through a third party site(not talking about a travel agency site) like expedia, travelocity, etc... and not getting their room. Then the hotel won't do anything because it was booked through a third party site and not with a travel agency or through the hotel site. We always go through the Universal site(or whichever hotel we are going to be staying in). Thats just my two cents...hope it helps some.

 

[Seeker615]

I booked my recent trip to Universal via their web-site. It was easy to compare the different hotels and packages. You put a down payment on the trip and then can pay it off about a month before your trip. It was very easy.

I made my flight reservation through the airlines website. Again very easy.

 

[damo]

I only book my Universal hotel stays through their own website.

www.loewshotels.com

 

[ky07]

I have used Orbitz and Expedia.com and some few years ago hotels.com and never had any trouble with any of them but have found over the years its cheaper to book everything seperate cause most of the time I could never find the hotel we wanted or it was way out of my budget

 

[cuddlykp]

I booked my air with a travel agency but booked my hotels directly. I never buy packages, they are never cheaper as they lead you to believe.

 

[alidor]

With a local travel agent. Travel agents can have insight into packages that others can't access. And they have your back if something goes wrong like late flights, illness, etc. Too many horror stories about the large online sites like Orbitz, Expedia, etc.

 

[zack123]

I booked airfare, rental car, and my St. Petersburg hotel though Expedia - I took the confirmation numbers they sent and used them to check with the actual providers to be sure all of the information was correct, before I left. It would be nice to visit an actual travel agent, but I don't have one within 20 miles of my house.

I booked my Universal (off-site) hotel and ticket through the Universal website, because I wanted early entry. Will probably do this again next time, but would pick a different hotel (the one I stayed at was under construction)

Be sure to go to tripadvisor.com to check out their reviews of hotels, they have a lot of good information there. You can also check out kayak, they will compare prices at a bunch of different travel websites.

 

[mikkiwikki]

I too have heard of non-flexibility with expedia - but have not personally experienced that. I have never had any trouble with travelocity.
However that said for my upcoming vacation....

Condo at WindsorHills @ VacationCentralFlorida.com
- 300 bucks a week! cant beat it so far very pleased Dave is great!

Tickets through UndercoverTourist.com
- ordered UO (3 park unlimited 14 day tics), Arabian Nights, Gatorland, and Kennedy Space center...All came in mail in 5 days!
- We actually bought our disney tickets through them at a discount for the last two trips and have been very pleased, both with their service, & money we have saved consistently!

Car through ? not sure yet.


Ill report back!

 

[macraven]

i book thru universal resorts directly.
i always ask for them to figure out the AAA rates and the APH rates for my dates, also ask if there are any promotions that are not on the UO website.

I go with the room rate that is best for me.
meaning the cheapest.

i have the AP so i don't need tickets.

I book my own flight out about 10 months out to get the cheapest rates.

for transportation from MCO to the motherland and then to the darkside hotels and return to MCO, i book with a car service.

i book everything separate and come out ahead than with a package.

 

[cyctorres]

Thank you. Do they typically offer reasonable deals compared to others? Would YOU book with them, or have you in the past?

yes, they offer reasonable deals. Yes, i have booked with them, also I have booked direct with universal for the benefits such as earlier entry to IOA

 

[AJA]

I book everything myself and everything separately. That way if a cheaper rate comes out it's easier to call up and have them switch it over, even if it means canceling the original and booking new. -In my experience you can't do that with packages, they usually have a fee.

Even Disney I've started booking room only, rarely are their package savings "free dining, etc" that much more savings over a room only percentage off and I can cancel or adjust my plans up to a week before my travel dates without a penalty.

 

[canadiankim]

I have used travelocity.com to book many trips to Orlando and other places. You get your e-ticket number straight away and can then check on the airlines website to make sure you have your booking. I also check the tripadvisor website for hotel reviews and again found them to be accurate. you will always get people who will moan about everything and then those who think everything is wonderful.

I have never had a problem with reservations missing, flights not booked or cars not being available.

Good luck!