Priceline - Name your own price

[CheetoGuido]

I am trying to book one of the onsite Universal Properties and I noticed they are listed on Priceline for less than booking directly with Universal's website. I also noticed that it "seems" that you can bid/name your price for them too. When I select the Universal Orlando Resort Area, I can check the 4 1/2 star deluxe and 4 star deluxe categories. The Universal's Portofino is the only 4 1/2 star hotel in that area and HRH/RPR are the only 4 star hotels in the area as well. Has anyone else been able to bid/name your own price for an onsite Universal Property? I am tempted to put a bid in. This would be our first trip and we would like to stay onsite. We are planning for September. Thanks!

 

[macraven]

september onsite hotel rates at the darkside are decent.


not sure i can answer your question about priceline and the bidding.
if you are satisfied with which hotel if chosen for you and you get it at a cheap price, all would be good then.



i do know that some of those sites elevate the hotels to a higher star than they really are.


if you are willing to take a chance it is up to you.


not sure what other hotels do have the 4.5 star rating by priceline.


the floridian rate and ap rate for rph in september is about $149 standard room, hrh is $169 and pbh is $184 w/discount.
if you can get a room cheaper than that, you'll be happy!

 

[CheetoGuido]

Thank you macraven.. we do not have a pass so i don't think we get a discount. We are only staying 2 or 3 nights, priceline has RPR $224, HRH $244 and PBH for $279 per night. I would love the rates you mention, I wouldn't have to try to "bid" ... Actually, I have not committed to that route just yet.

 

[macraven]

if you have AAA, you can get a decent discount.
if you stay 3 nights or more, you can use the public code SMSM for a discount.

(stay more, save more)



call the UO ressie number and ask the TM what discounts can you get on the dates you need.

they willingly will tell you what is available for different discounts.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you macraven.. we do not have a pass so i don't think we get a discount. We are only staying 2 or 3 nights, priceline has RPR $224, HRH $244 and PBH for $279 per night. I would love the rates you mention, I wouldn't have to try to "bid" ... Actually, I have not committed to that route just yet.

FWIW, if your dates were that low, vs the rates you're seeing on priceline, upgrading one of you to an AP (preferred or premium) could end up being worth it.


Remember that with priceline it's their OWN rating system. There could be other hotels in the area that they rate like that, even if we might never give them those stars. Be sure to check on sites like betterbidding.com to read read read, to see if priceline itself has other hotels with those stars.


Calling the Universal onsite people is absolutely painless; they are very very nice and good at what they do. But if you wanted to look online, you can check here. Check the normal rates that come up (if there's something like a seasonal rate or staymoresavemore those will come up), then use the code APH to see if there's an AP rate that might make an upgrade worth it.

Be careful though...it's that process that got us to love-love-love Universal, and now all of us have Universal APs that we have renewed and will continue to renew!

 

[CheetoGuido]

i am working my woman's math and it seems to me that I could purchase the ap (preferred level to get resort discounts) and 2 ap's (lowest level) for my DH & DD and still save money if I can get the RPR for $150 a night in September for 3 nights. Should i purchase the ap's directly from universal or is there a lower price else where?

 

[damo]

i am working my woman's math and it seems to me that I could purchase the ap (preferred level to get resort discounts) and 2 ap's (lowest level) for my DH & DD and still save money if I can get the RPR for $150 a night in September for 3 nights. Should i purchase the ap's directly from universal or is there a lower price else where?

The only place to buy APs are through the site.

I would book your hotel first to make sure you've secured the AP rate before you order your APs. You don't need the AP in hand to book.