orangevacations.com

[mcefalo]

Thinking of switching my reservations over to ORANGEVACATIONS.COM - has anyone actually used them and already checked in to one of the hotels with a reservation from them? It will save me $60.00 if I switch over but am concerned since they show occupancy rates and I have 2 adults and one child of 12 (turning 13 on trip). Does that mean I use the triple occupancy rate?

Any info would be appreciated - thanks.

 

[Stimpy]

I was just coming here to ask some questions about them too! I'm glad you asked. I was wondering about others experiences with them too.

I just wanted to know about their cancellation policy? It states you need to cancel 30 days before but if ou read further down it says they can charge you $50 for a cancellation. Is that right?

 

[pumba526]

I also got a better room rate from orangevacations.com but didn't book through them until I checked on rates directly from the hotel. When I talked to the booking agent and mentioned the lower rate I had found, she told me she would match the rate if she could get the same rate to come up on her computer and it did. Can't hurt to call the hotel back and mention you found the rate lower elsewhere...then you won't have to change the reservation.

 

[Stimpy]

I also got a better room rate from orangevacations.com but didn't book through them until I checked on rates directly from the hotel. When I talked to the booking agent and mentioned the lower rate I had found, she told me she would match the rate if she could get the same rate to come up on her computer and it did. Can't hurt to call the hotel back and mention you found the rate lower elsewhere...then you won't have to change the reservation.

Pumba, did you call the Loews 1-800 # or the hotel directly? Thanks for the advice!

 

[mcefalo]

I had read about calling and mentioning the lower rate and having my current reservation changed. However, one of my issues is that I booked under AAA rate and don't have that renewed yet. I had actually hoped for an ENT rate and purchase the darn book. So if I can save a few bucks and also maybe not sign up again with AAA I might do that. But would like to hear more info from anyone that used orangevacations.com

So I am still hoping to hear from anyone that used it and already stayed using their reservation. How did it work out? Did you pay up front for the entire reservation? How did extra costs you charge to the room work out? Stuff like that.

 

[pumba526]

Stimpy--

I used the 1-800-BEASTAR phone number. Hopefully you'll get a nice agent like I did!!! As a matter of fact, she let me book 3 rooms at that rate as I was making ressies for myself and other family members.

 

[mcefalo]

Well I think I am sticking with my AAA rates - may try to call and see if they will give me the orangevacations.com price. However, orangevacations.com has a steep cancelation fee. That worries me. Plus they didn't have any good rates for HRH for my dates unless I did a package with tickets and meals and I already purchased my tickets.

Below is part of an e-mail I got in reply to some questions I had for them. They have been great about inquires I must say. I think someone else might have posted this already

-----------------------
Cancellation & No Show Policy:
Cancellations, Refunds and no-show policies:
Cancel at least seven (7) days prior to day of arrival.
If Cancellation Occurs Within seven (7)days, A One-Night Charge and tax Will Be Assessed.
Any guest that does not check-in on the scheduled arrival date
"No-Show" will be charged an amount equal to one night room and tax.
Refund request should be in writing to Orange Vacations,Inc.


Check-In/Check-Out Times:
Check in time is not sooner than 3:00P.M. Check out time is not later than 11:00 A.M. on the scheduled date of departure. Early Check in and late Check out are based upon avaliability on a case by case basis. A late check-out fee may apply.


Booking Procedures:
In order to confirm your reservation you have 2 options :

Option 1 Make the full payment

Option 2 Pay 30% now and the balance not less than 30 days prior to your arrival.

Bookings Are Subject To A $50 USD Fee For Any Cancellation/change.
No refunds for early departures



Information about booking a package:
Upon Booking and Before Departure for Orlando:

Upon booking your hotel or package you will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail with the services you have purchased. Full payment is required to book a reservation. We currently accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We use a Secure Socket Layer to protect the personal information that is requested. Note that the address you enter must be the billing address of the credit card.
When we charge your credit card you will immediately receive an e-mail with a receipt for your confirmed purchase.

Before your departure for Orlando, you will receive a voucher by e-mail with a list of the services that you have purchased. It will also state all of the confirmation numbers for your package.

Upon Arrival in Orlando:
If Roundtrip transportation from airport/ bus terminal to hotel in package:

AIR: If you are arriving by bus from Miami, one of our representatives will greet you at the bus terminal in Orlando. We will provide transportation to your hotel and will deliver the tickets you have purchased at that time.

If No Roundtrip transportation to hotel in package:
If you arrange for your own transportation to your hotel upon arrival to Orlando and have purchased tickets from us, please notify our office of your arrival (Toll free number 1-866-343-5051) as soon as possible. We will send one of our representatives as soon as possible to your hotel to deliver tickets. Theme Park Tickets Included in your package.

All tickets included in our packages are per person.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this package. We would be glad to assist you in any way possible. Hotel availability may vary daily.

Thank you and Best Regards,

Orange Vacations Inc.
Phone: (407) 240-3215
Fax: (407) 240-5692

info@orangevacations.com
www.orangevacations.com

 

[mcefalo]

This discussion forum is such a great thing. I called the 1-800-be-a-star number and mentioned the orangevacations.com price. They were able to pull the value up and it going to save me approx. $70.00 for my 3 night stay at HRH in April. So instead of the AAA rate of $237.60 a night I got $217.00 a night for a standard garden view room. I believe I will still have to go out and get AAA but I'll try to remember to use it for other savings mentioned through out this forum on shopping and restaurants.

Thanks everyone you guys are so helpful.

 

[murrayhaven]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I had had RPR booked for 3/21/05-3/23/05 at $264 per night. Ouch! I just found the same time on orangevacations.com for $206 per night. I then called 1800BEASTAR, option #2 for on-site reservations and told the lady the above. She put me on hold to look up what I told her on her computer. She came back on line and said that she, too, had found that rate and immediately changed my $264 to $206 per night using my same confirmation #. I just love these boards! Barbara

 

[E&B's Mom]

I had read here that Orange Vacations requires a credit card # before they will even give you a rate. Did they stop doing that, or are people just OK with giving a # and trusting it won't be used?

 

[Stimpy]

I didn't get asked for a cc until after getting a rate quote.

 

[dizplanner]

I had read here that Orange Vacations requires a credit card # before they will even give you a rate. Did they stop doing that, or are people just OK with giving a # and trusting it won't be used?

I was just playing on the orangevacations.com website and you don't need to give a credit card to see rates.

To find rates at Universal, click on Universal Studios Resorts, in the left hand column. Then click on Royal Pacific Resort on the map. Then click on Check Availibility in the middle of the page. I put in March 11-13, 2005 and it found a standard room for $187/night. (I think they have a two night minimum looking at the availibility chart.) Pressing the Book button, I entered two adults and two juniors and the price did not go up. So for a 12 year old, you can just use the double occupancy rate, not the triple. With tax, the total would be $417.01.

Now, I would rather reserve directly with Lowes with better cancellation policities, but using orangevacations.com to get a better rate with Lowes is a good plan.

On the Lowes site, I can't book Mar 11-13 (Fri-Sun), but I can book Mar 11-14 (Fri-Mon) or Mar 12-14 (Sat-Mon) and can get AAA rate of $210.60.

Now, I'm not going this year - I'm watching in anticipation of a March 2006 trip. Not as good as the $165 FAN rate I got in March 2004, but hope that a rate under $200 is possible.

 

[d4est]

I had read here that Orange Vacations requires a credit card # before they will even give you a rate. Did they stop doing that, or are people just OK with giving a # and trusting it won't be used?

Here's what happened to me...
I put in2/21-2/26 for RPR. This is what the following page said:
For your requested dates of Mon 21 February 2005 to Sat 26 February 2005, Universal's Royal Pacific Resort A Loews Hotel is currently NOT able to confirm accommodation instantly over the Internet. Please complete our request form if you would like any of the following accommodation. Availability will be confirmed to you as soon as possible
So I clicked on standard and then request. AND THAT IS WHEN THEY ASK FOR THE CREDIT CARD...JUST FOR COMPLETING A "REQUEST FORM!"
This is the form...sorry if it didn't copy and paste correctly.

Reservation Request Details
Property Name: Universal's Royal Pacific Resort A Loews Hotel
Arrival Date: Mon 21 February 2005
Departure Date: Sat 26 February 2005
Preferred Room: Standard
Number Rooms: 1 2 3 4 5
Room Occupancy: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Adult 0 1 2 3 4 5 Child 0 1 2 Junior
Extra Bed: Yes No
Transfer Required: Yes No
Arrive By: Air Bus Sea Car Train Other Arrival Details:
Bedding Pref.: No Preference One Bed Two Beds
Smoking Options: No Preference Smoking Non Smoking
Comments or Requests:

Personal Details * Fields in Bold are Required
Title: Please Select Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. Address:
First Name:
Last Name: City:
Email: State/Prov:
Telephone: Postal Code:
Fax: Country:
Confirmation online by credit card
Credit Card Type: Please Select Master Card Visa American Express Discover (only listed credit cards are accepted)
Name as on Card: (as shown on credit card)
Card Number: (do not enter dashes or spaces)
Expiry Date: - - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 / - - 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 (as shown on credit card)
I acknowledge reading the Cancellation Policy and I understand my credit card will be charged according to the terms stated.
I have no idea how to request further info for these dates without a credit card. I guess it must have something to do with my specific dates....

Edited to add: Just played around more and found a button that gives a "detailed monthly chart of available accomodation" at RPR. It says that from the 17th-24th "reservation by email request only," hence the request form. But I still don't see why they need the credit card...

 

[Stimpy]

Is that President's Week? Maybe they are all booked for that week and that's why you need to email a request? Maybe they figure if you give them a credit card # you are more serious about booking for that week and they will try harder to find you a room?

 

[nymomof3]

will loews also change the rate if you call and say orange vacations rates are cheaper. I booked directly with loews. thanks.

 

[SylviaL]

On orangevacations.com I found a standard room at RPR for 1 night (5/7 Saturday) at $187. However, when I called the Loews number (1-800-BEA STAR), the only room she had available was a king suite for $264. I told her about the standard room at orangevacations.com and she said that I should book it with orangevacations.com b/c she did not have any rooms available and it looked like orangevacations.com bought a large block of rooms.

My other concern was that we are arriving at 11am and planning to check in right away and go to the parks to use our FOTL. I know if I booked with Loews, they would give me a room key but since orangevacations.com clearly states that check-in is no earlier than 3pm--I would be worried that I wouldn't have the FOTL advantage. Also, I don't think the orangevacations.com stay would count as a "qualified stay" for Loews First members. We'll be staying at the PBH for $210 (AAA rate).

 

[SplashMom]

Thank you!! I just called Loews and they changed the room rate for me! I had a reservation for March 24-27 at HRH for $264/night. I found another rate on orangevacations.com for $235/night. When I called Loews and told them I had found a lower rate, they were able to give me the lower rate!! I was so excited because that is blackout dates for most specials--not even AAA rates were available. It makes my day!! These boards are such a help!

 

[disneycrazzzy]

I was able to change my $234 rate at RPR for 4/7-9 to $187 by mentioning the orangevacations price to the Loews agent. It made me so happy, I booked another night. We are now staying 4/7 thru 4/10. Yippee!

 

[d4est]

Ok, I guess it is time for me to give them a call and see if they will change rates for me! Can I ask if you called the loews # or the hotel directly?

never mind, I see you called be-a-star...

 

[Bedknobs/Broomsticks]

I just called 1/800/BEASTAR to see if they would match orangevacations.com's price ($239) for the $294 reservation that I currently have for 3/31-4/3/05. However, Dwight, the reservationist, told me that orangevacations.com is on a blackout list. He said they show prices on their website for rooms that they don't have. He also said that Loews will honor prices from Expedia and Travelocity but not from "opaque" sites like Hotwire and Priceline. Guess I'll try Expedia and Travelocity.