Portofino on Hotwire

[DianeV]

FYI: Just saw on biddingfor travel that someone got Portofino HOtel at Universal on Hotwire for around $135. It is considered a 5* so if anyone is interested or sees them offering a 5* in that area there is a good chance its this hotel. That is a pretty good price too.

 

[maggiew]

Wow! We are planning on being at WDW for those dates! I checked hotwire and that $136 rate is still there. I am SOOO tempted to bid and change our plans.

Maggie

 

[DisOrBust]

I can't find this info on bidding for travel. It seems to good to be true. Couldn't you also be getting the Renaissance instead of PFB?

 

[Tink10]

Hotwire has 2 zones...Sea World & Wet & Wild. The Renaissance is in the Sea World Zone. The Universal resorts are in the Wet & Wild zone.

The only other hotel that could be considered a 5 star would be the Peabody, which, doesn't have a childrens activities. (That was one of the listed amenities.)

 

[TreeOfLife]

Any idea of what turns up as a 3 1/2* in the USF/W&W area?

 

[Tink10]

It's really hard to say what the 3.5* in that zone would be. There are quite a few hotels that could fall under that star rating. My first guess would be the Wyndham Orlando, but with all the possibilities in that area, it could be almost anything.

 

[hilltopfamily]

and was reading about "front of the line" pass at Universal Studios and IOA. Not sure I am "getting it" though. Do I understand right that you only get these if you are staying "on property" as in the hotel listed in this thread? If so, then the price on Hotwire is great considering what it gets you, right?! Anyone know if my family of 5 can stay comfortably in one of these rooms? We had considered All Stars Movies @ WDW but understand we can only have 4 in the room, would need 2 rooms for me, DH, and 3 kids. This would only be for 1 night as we're on the DCL cruise and plan on 1 fun day @ an Orlando park after the cruise & before coming home. How sure can I be that this is in fact the Portofino? thanks for any response/answers.

 

[Tink10]

Hi Hilltopfamily,

To get "Front of the line" all day, you must be a Universal resort guest (Stay at a Universal Resort).

When I called to confirm my Hotwire ressie at the Portifino, the CSR verified that I would still be recieving "front of the line" benefits. She also let me know that my reservation was for a Garden View Room w/2 Queen beds.

The room description from the Universal website states

"The standards for a standard room have just been raised. Equipped with either a king bed and a pullout double sofa or two queen beds and optional rollaway bed, our basic room is capable of sleeping up to five -"

I thought I had read somewhere that there was a $25 charge for a roll-a-way bed, but I'm not sure about that. Mabye someone else reading this thread can help with that. When you purchase a room on Hotwire or Priceline, they will only guarantee that it will sleep 2 people. What room you receive all depends on availability when you check in.

As far as being sure that you'll recieve the Portifino, with Hotwire, you can NEVER be sure of what you'll get. When you search on Hotwire, it's all about checking the amenities of the hotels that Hotwire offers you with hotels that are available on travelocity or expedia.

There really arent too many 5* hotels in that area anyway, so the likelihood that you'll get something else is slim. But, when you bid for travel, surprises can and do happen. In my case, I was prepared to receive a hotel other than the Portifino.

Bidding for travel can be both risky & rewarding. I won a 3* hotel in Orlando on Priceline and when I checked in, they refused to give me a room with 2 beds and wouldn't give me a roll-a-way and told us one of us would have to sleep on the floor. So, If you have your heart set on one specific hotel, or a room that will accomodate a large party, I'd stick with booking through the traditional avenues.

I hope this helps!

 

[hilltopfamily]

Tink10:

thanks so much for the thorough reply! You answered all of my questions wonderfully, now my only problem is whether I feel like taking the "gamble" and booking w/hotwire.

I am a bit afraid to give it a try as having 5 people in our group and ending up with a room with only 1 king would not work! that said, your description of Portafino sounds like if in fact I got Portafino, I'd be okay as I would have a couch that makes into a double and likely be able to get a rollaway. Anyway----------just have to decide which to do.

thanks again!

 

[kilee]

Tink---

How did you end up resolving the priceline situation you had? I am curious as to how it worked out. Which hotel was this? I can't believe they wouldn't at least let you pay the extra for the rollaway.

 

[Tink10]

Hi Kilee,

The hotel was the Grosvenor. We checked in and they were just terrible. They gave us a tower room that was absolutely filthy (smelly, mold in the bath, dirty carpet, stained linens) and we ended up leaving after the 2nd night.

I complained at the hotel several times and nothing was done, I even wrote a letter after our stay and never received a response.

In My opinion, the Grosvenor is a shabby hotel that should have NEVER been rated as a 3* by Priceline. The restaurant was pretty bad too.

 

[DisOrBust]

Did you complain to priceline at all ? Was the hotel booked when you were there?

 

[Tink10]

I did complain to Priceline and was told that the website states that you can only be guaranteed a room for 2 people and the 3* rating is based on the hotel's amenities and not the condition of the rooms.

I was there last October.........