Port Canaveral hotel/parking discounts

[disneyfab]

Are you still eligible parking discounts if you book through a third party site?

 

[openwater]

I have asked this of several hotel employees and even made a call to the Port. My understanding is that the hotels are not supposed to charge you more than their "best available" rates for a specific room category when you opt to use the 40% discount voucher. In other words, they cannot try and profit from the offer.

On the other hand, the hotels require an overnight stay based on their advertised rates, you cannot combine the 40% discount voucher with other discounts, and you cannot pre-book your parking online (not a big deal anyway). At least one hotel told me they offer the discount only if told at booking time. Others did not seem to care.

So it appears to me your mileage will vary. To be safe most folks will tell the hotel at time of booking/check in that they will claim the 40% voucher at checkout. Others just walk up the checkout counter on departure day, hand over their room cards and ask for the voucher - the clerk does not care how much the customer paid for the room!

Let's hope others chime in! It is a good question!

 

[mmouse37]

I don't understand. How would the hotel "profit" off of the 40% parking voucher? I had never heard that you have to let the hotel know at time of booking or check in that you plan on using the parking vouchers. Why would the hotel care? The discount is off the parking, not the hotel.

I booked the new Hampton Inn in PC which is supposed to offer the 40% parking voucher for a stay there.

MJ

 

[openwater]

Maybe "profit" is the wrong word, I do not know. I was told for example - if person A paid $100 for a room then the hotel cannot charge person B $110 just because person B requested the discount voucher.

 

[disneyfab]

I don't understand. How would the hotel "profit" off of the 40% parking voucher? I had never heard that you have to let the hotel know at time of booking or check in that you plan on using the parking vouchers. Why would the hotel care? The discount is off the parking, not the hotel.

I booked the new Hampton Inn in PC which is supposed to offer the 40% parking voucher for a stay there.

MJ

According to this http://www.portcanaveral.com/PortCanaveral/media/Cruise-Assets/Parking-Voucher-Program_7.pdf you have to let the hotel know when making a reservation. I was wondering if I could call after booking third party if it needed to be noted on the reservation.

 

[openwater]

I think the expectation is that guests will book direct (online or phone) with the local hotel in order to benefit from the voucher. I have asked that same question several times and the answers are inconsistent between hotels and even within a certain hotel - it seemingly depends on who you talk to in the reservation offices - that has been my experience.

If you saw a rate elsewhere that's lower than the best-available rate on the hotel website, I would call the local hotel direct and ask if they will price-match. If they say yes, then book and ask them to add the voucher request.
If they do not price-match then you have no choice but to tell them you will book elsewhere but will need the voucher. Then you will know for sure.

But please do not think of me as an authority on this! I have asked but I am still unsure!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Their online sites don't seem to have anywhere to add the voucher or extra info (like late arrival).

 

[disneyfab]

I think the expectation is that guests will book direct (online or phone) with the local hotel in order to benefit from the voucher. I have asked that same question several times and the answers are inconsistent between hotels and even within a certain hotel - it seemingly depends on who you talk to in the reservation offices - that has been my experience.

If you saw a rate elsewhere that's lower than the best-available rate on the hotel website, I would call the local hotel direct and ask if they will price-match. If they say yes, then book and ask them to add the voucher request.
If they do not price-match then you have no choice but to tell them you will book elsewhere but will need the voucher. Then you will know for sure.

But please do not think of me as an authority on this! I have asked but I am still unsure!

No worries, but thanks for your info. It has been very helpful . I was wondering how strict the "when booking" language was. I usually book with third party sites because of cashback rewards or additional discounts from my cc. Most times the rate is the same but an additional 5-10% off makes it a better deal. I wasn't sure if it would be considered stacking and void the offer. And, in this instance the cashback/coupons would be less than the parking savings.

Since it's a YMMV type of thing, I think I will err on the side of caution and just book by phone if we decide to go with the 40% off.

Their online sites don't seem to have anywhere to add the voucher or extra info (like late arrival).

I noticed this too & wondered if booking by phone was preferred.