I really need help planning an Orlando holiday

[littleangel38]

Im planning to take my boyfriend away in September for 14 nights, but I cant decide what hotel to stay in, these are the ones ive narrowed it down too

Hilton Grand Vacation Club - International Drive
Hilton Grand Vacation Club - Seaworld
Doubletree Orlando Resort
Doubletree Universals

I have picked these because of location and price but Im so confused because I dont know which one to pick!

Since im booking it on my own I really need all of your assistance! Can anybody recommend these or maybe another one.

Any problem Im having is booking it, I dont know who to book through or where to get the best prices.

All of your help will be much apperciated!

 

[wayneg]

Are you doing Disney?
Have you considerd a Disney hotel?
The hotels you list I guess will cost you £60-70/night + your food (possibly less)
For about £110/night you can stay at OKW or SSR for about £108/night incl your food if you buy Disney passes.

If you do decide to go with one of these(or any other) choose which one then tell me the dates and cheapest price you can find, I will then tell you if its cheaper anywhere.
Not stayed at any of them myself, we like to be around LBV area.

 

[littleangel38]

Are you doing Disney?
Have you considerd a Disney hotel?
The hotels you list I guess will cost you £60-70/night + your food (possibly less)
For about £110/night you can stay at OKW or SSR for about £108/night incl your food if you buy Disney passes.

If you do decide to go with one of these(or any other) choose which one then tell me the dates and cheapest price you can find, I will then tell you if its cheaper anywhere.
Not stayed at any of them myself, we like to be around LBV area.

We are not visiting Disney and if we do it will only be for one day. We stayed in LBV before and we didnt visit Disney, it was too far from the other parks and we ended up paying for taxis everyday to get to the theme parks which was a nightmare!

I am looking to book around 24th September for 14nights. Im stuck!

 

[wayneg]

We always have a car so I have no idea about transport from any of these hotels but heres a few choices and prices I just found.

Hotelopia look to be cheapest for Hilton GVC Seaworld at £59.86/night less 6% via quidco.

This Hotel is popular at £33/nt with Travelrepublic http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...eraton_Studio_City_Hotel-Orlando_Florida.html

Doubletree Universal gets hit & miss reviews http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...nce_to_Universal_Orlando-Orlando_Florida.html
Hotelopia £46/nt less 6% quidco

This is supposed to be a very nice hotel but I don't know exact location http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...sen_Shingle_Creek_Resort-Orlando_Florida.html
£67/nt with Octopus travel less 6% quidco.

 

[littleangel38]

Ahh thats great help!

What would you say about flights? Would you say it would be better to book hotel and flights seprately or as a package?

I have just been speaking with some other people and I have decided to take Doubletree universals off my list...hoorah! now I have three to choose from!

We wouldnt have a car only because we are both under 25 and ive heard the insurance is expensive under that age

 

[rpbert1]

I would agree with taking Doubletree off the list, not that it is a bad hotel, as i know people who have stayed as recently as October, and they are more than happy with it, but it is really only close to Universal and having no car might be a prob.
I am sure wayne will get you sorted.
Saw good prices on Rosen Shingle for TripleA rates, if you are a member of AA here

 

[wayneg]

Ahh thats great help!

What would you say about flights? Would you say it would be better to book hotel and flights seprately or as a package?

I have just been speaking with some other people and I have decided to take Doubletree universals off my list...hoorah! now I have three to choose from!

We wouldnt have a car only because we are both under 25 and ive heard the insurance is expensive under that age

All you can do is get the price from TA and compare with doing it yourself. I did a dummy booking this morning for OKW Virgin Holidays £3,800, exactly same flights and same hotel booked seperate £2,800, £1,000 just for Virgin to package them together.

For car it depends what you call expensive, USrentacar do a Young driver policy for 21-25 year olds, 2 weeks Alamo rental would cost £274 + £124 YDP, includes tank of petrol. £398 not cheap but knock off £70-80 taxis to and from airport & all other taxis you take, to me worth every penny but I wouldn't enjoy using taxis or buses.

 

[littleangel38]

wow that is a difference! Ive got a book and everything where im writing down all the sites and different prices. I think im going to take both doubletrees off and stick with the HGVC so I now need to compare the prices for both of them.

I never thought it would work out cheaper booking seperatly. Im not fussed about having a rep as we never use them so its a waste of time.

When thomas cook emailed me today she asked me what I thought of the prices but I full well know that she can get money off that so im going to try and push them as much as possible before I decide.

Just one more question.... when you book through TA you can get extras like free transport to parks, free newspapers etc does this still apply if you book without a TA?

 

[wayneg]

w
I never thought it would work out cheaper booking seperatly. Im not fussed about having a rep as we never use them so its a waste of time.

When thomas cook emailed me today she asked me what I thought of the prices but I full well know that she can get money off that so im going to try and push them as much as possible before I decide.

Just one more question.... when you book through TA you can get extras like free transport to parks, free newspapers etc does this still apply if you book without a TA?

The best I did was August 2009, I paid £6,000 DIY, Virgin wanted £12,000 for similar holiday.
TA's are like car sales, they can always come down

All depends on hotel, read the hotels own website and see what is included, thru a TA some include a UK newspaper, you won't get that if booking DIY, we just stayed at Holiday Inn LBV, that included USA today each weekday.

 

[littleangel38]

That is true! they are like salesmen haha

So I think I have decided on the hotel...Hilton Vacation Club IDrive but I cant gurantee it will be the same choice tomorrow. One thing that has annoyed/shocked me is I checked expedias prices for this hotel this afternoon and ive just checked them again and its gone up £150! But your one of £6000 is better than mine!

The only extras I really want is the free transport to the theme parks.

 

[wayneg]

This one? http://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/content/ORLINGV/media/pdf/Hotel_Fact_Sheet-ORLIN.pdf

It says shuttle service to theme parks but doesn't say free. Send them an email and ask.
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hot...uites-on-International-Drive-Florida/index.do

 

[littleangel38]

Yes thats the one!

The leaflet you found is fantastic.

The cheapest I have found it for is £884 on a site called tripsta. Just a little worried because ive never heard of that site before.

I have just emailed thomas cook and complete orlando to get their prices but I will email them direct and find out about shuttles

 

[wayneg]

Yes thats the one!

The leaflet you found is fantastic.

The cheapest I have found it for is £884 on a site called tripsta. Just a little worried because ive never heard of that site before.

I have just emailed thomas cook and complete orlando to get their prices but I will email them direct and find out about shuttles

Just had a look at that site for room only its coming up at £837.30 room only but I don't like the site at all, click on "about us" and it goes to a blank page.
Hotelopia have it at the same price plus you get 6% cashback with quidco, they are part of Thomsons(Tui group)

 

[Alex's Mummy]

Im planning to take my boyfriend away in September for 14 nights, but I cant decide what hotel to stay in, these are the ones ive narrowed it down too

Hilton Grand Vacation Club - International Drive
Hilton Grand Vacation Club - Seaworld
Doubletree Orlando Resort
Doubletree Universals

I have picked these because of location and price but Im so confused because I dont know which one to pick!

Since im booking it on my own I really need all of your assistance! Can anybody recommend these or maybe another one.

Any problem Im having is booking it, I dont know who to book through or where to get the best prices.

All of your help will be much apperciated!

I've stayed at the HGV club at Seaworld twice- its a very nice resort. They do offer shuttles to the park but you have to pay for a return ticket per person. Can't remember how much it was?? sorry.

You can get the I-ride trolley from right outside the resort too- handy if you don't have a car.