UGH! Reservations help!

[pixeegrl]

We are booked with SMSM for August 20-24 at HRH. A friend just booked today but they got the 19-25 for less. I am wanting to change ours but the rate won't even show up for me? Anyone want to take a guess why???

 

[damo]

We are booked with SMSM for August 20-26 at HRH. A friend just booked today but they got the 19-25 for less. I am wanting to change ours but the rate won't even show up for me? Anyone want to take a guess why???

Probably because of the weekend rates. Looks like you have one extra weekend night on your reservation.

 

[pixeegrl]

Probably because of the weekend rates. Looks like you have one extra weekend night on your reservation.

I meant to say we are booked the 20-24th sorry. The SMSM rate won't show up for any dates I put in, even in September but they show up for my friend!

 

[blackjack68]

Maybe try calling the hotel directly?

Might be able to clear it up for you.

 

[mischief32]

I just checked the website and I see what you mean. The only way I get the SMSM rate to come up is with a 7 night stay. Not sure what is up with that. I understand that the may be offering less deals this year.

 

[damo]

I meant to say we are booked the 20-24th sorry. The SMSM rate won't show up for any dates I put in, even in September but they show up for my friend!

They are not showing up for me either for those dates or for your friend's dates. Rates change around quite a bit when things start getting booked. If any one of those days during your stay is at high occupancy, the smsm rate may not be available.

 

[wilma-bride]

I feel your pain. We have been waiting to book until we had the money for the deposit and was going to book today. Last time I checked (Saturday) the SMSM rates were showing for all 3 hotels but now I can only get it at Portofino Bay at $224 per night before tax. That is far too much for us to consider paying with the current exchange rate ($ to £) so looks like our Universal stay is out this year now

 

[pixeegrl]

I feel your pain. We have been waiting to book until we had the money for the deposit and was going to book today. Last time I checked (Saturday) the SMSM rates were showing for all 3 hotels but now I can only get it at Portofino Bay at $224 per night before tax. That is far too much for us to consider paying with the current exchange rate ($ to £) so looks like our Universal stay is out this year now

I would call and ask...I have tried any number of date combinations, not just in August and it's just not showing the SMSM rate at all. We have decided to stick with our original dates. Give the hotel a call directly though...not the reservation number. Generally they are more helpful. Don't give up just yet!

 

[damo]

I certainly wouldn't give up hope. Things change all the time. Conventions book blocks of rooms and then release them and the rates change again.

 

[hanly2]

It looks like the smsm is only working for 7 night stays now. It was available for shorter stays as recently as last week.

 

[AlexandNessa]

I am having the same issue. As of 3am on Sunday, the SMSM rate was available at the HRH for Oct for 5 nights. While we were deciding if we wanted Thurs-Tues or Wed-Mon, the rate disappeared. I have a hard time believing the rates are gone, however. I mean hardly anyone goes in the middle of September, and the SMSM rate is gone then. I have a feeling it will be back, as Universal is still advertising it:


http://www.universalorlando.com/Hotels/Onsite-Hotel-Rates-and-Offers/Stay-More-Save-More.aspx
Vacation like a VIP at one of the on-site hotels and enjoy these great savings.

The longer you stay, the more you save – discounts start at 3 nights.

Select Nights January 1 - February 16, 2012
Stay 3 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 4 nights – save up to 20%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 30%

Select Nights February 17 - March 31, 2012
Stay 4 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 25%

Select Nights April 1 - 14, 2012
Stay 4 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 25%

Select Nights April 15 - June 7, 2012
Stay 3 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 4 nights – save up to 20%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 30%

Select Nights June 8 - August 11, 2012
Stay 4 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 25%

Select Nights August 12 - October 4, 2012
Stay 3 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 4 nights – save up to 20%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 30%

Select Nights October 5 - November 20, 2012
Stay 3 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 4 nights – save up to 20%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 30%

Select Nights November 21 - November 24, 2012
Stay 4 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 25%

Select Nights November 25 - December 20, 2012
Stay 3 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 4 nights – save up to 20%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 30%

Select Nights December 21 - December 31, 2012
Stay 4 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 15%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 25%

Select Nights January 1- 5, 2013
Stay 3 nights – save up to 10%
Stay 4 nights – save up to 20%
Stay 5 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 6 nights – save up to 25%
Stay 7 nights – save up to 30%

 

[pixeegrl]

I am having the same issue. As of 3am on Sunday, the SMSM rate was available at the HRH for Oct for 5 nights. While we were deciding if we wanted Thurs-Tues or Wed-Mon, the rate disappeared. I have a hard time believing the rates are gone, however. I mean hardly anyone goes in the middle of September, and the SMSM rate is gone then. I have a feeling it will be back, as Universal is still advertising it:

I agree....I guess it's a sit and wait game now

 

[MMA524]

I'm in the same boat. I'm planning a trip first week of June. I was eyeballing the SMSM rates as recently as Saturday morning, and then poof - they were gone this morning!

Please post back to this thread if/when you are able to find the SMSM rates for 4 or 5 day stays.

Thanks!

 

[macraven]

it could be the hotels are accessing their room availability for the different dates/seasons.

if they are booking up now for certain periods of 2012, there would be no need to increase the discounted rooms at this point.
if the rooms aren't booking up, just the opposite can happen.

if they have periods that will be low occupancy levels at the hotel, more discounts will become available then.

i find that fridays are when the changes happen on that website for room discounts/rates.

i was watching it so i booked last month to get the better discount for smsm.
for my time period, i had to have 5 nights booked to get the top discount of 30% off.
looking at the chart jodie posted above, it now lists 7 nights booked to get that 30% discount.

either way i would have had it.
i booked for 9 nights.

i check the rates frequently.
i see changes happening a lot.

if the hotels forsee lower occupancies, rates will be adjusted on the promos, aaa, aph on certain dates.

weekends though, always have a higher rate.

the time period i go has been the same for the past 7 years.
all the hotels are booked fully by mid september usually.

if a travel agency releases the blocks of rooms they have reserved back to the hotel, then you can find last minute discounts on the rooms.

travel companies will hold blocks of rooms that they try to sell in packages.
they do release them back to the hotel in advance so they are not stuck covering the costs of those unsold rooms.

 

[pixeegrl]

Thanks for the explanation Mac I know they change quite often....I just don't remember them changing this early in the year in 2008 when we went last. Of course that was before HP took over. Doesn't matter though, we are booked in and with my OCD planning I will continue to check for lower rates on almost a daily basis 'cause I am a dork like that! $263 is not bad for a Deluxe Queen in Summer when I look at past rates!

 

[macraven]

Thanks for the explanation Mac I know they change quite often....I just don't remember them changing this early in the year in 2008 when we went last. Of course that was before HP took over. Doesn't matter though, we are booked in and with my OCD planning I will continue to check for lower rates on almost a daily basis 'cause I am a dork like that! $263 is not bad for a Deluxe Queen in Summer when I look at past rates!

if you got the smsm promo rate for the nights already, you did good!

today it is showing you need more nights for the discount than what you got for 4 nights.

keep checking and if you see a rate change, call right away.
modify your room rate with whatever promo is going on for the cheaper rate.

the only way i can see the rate dropping is if occupancy levels are down.


remember, when travel agencies don't sell out their packages for universal, they release those rooms back to the hotel.

sometimes they wait until the last minute to do so.
that is the time you will see rate changes in order to fill those hotel rooms.

i know for the private individual it is 6 days out to cancel your room without penalty and receive your deposit refunded.

for travel companies, i do not know of their time limit to release the block of rooms back to the hotel w/o penalty.

i would assume a couple of weeks out, but that is only a guess.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Wow - based on what I just read I'm glad I booked for October last Friday. I called the hotel directly and got four nights HRH, got the 20% off SMSM rate.

This weekend I was in the website fooling around and I noticed things seemed funky - like a four night stay was coming up for more than I paid. They must be adjusting rates right now.

 

[macraven]

i was told a few years back that the peeps involved in the hotels and rates, meet on fridays to review situations.

after decisions are made, prices, promos can be adjusted if need be.

i have no idea if this continues today....

but, that is why i book on fridays if i like the price.

i check it for a couple of months prior, for changes.

if i can live with the room price, i book.
if the rate changes with the promo i have, i call to modify or switch promos.


i have been out on a few deals a couple of times.
4 years ago i used the smsm type of promo(PlayMore,StayMore) and was satisfied with it.

3 weeks out from my arrival date, the AP (rate for the room i booked w/smsm) was priced at $129 weeknight.

i was out of luck when i called on that one.
only a certain % of rooms are set aside for promos, ap, aaa, etc.
i couldn not switch rates.
the rooms allotted were already filled.

those that had originally booked at the AP rate, and called to modify, were changed to that cheap rate.


it's like buying a plane ticket.
you watch the sales, check other airlines and finally make a decision to buy.
you like the dates, times of the flight, so you are happy.

you take a gamble if the rates are going to drop for your flights.
only a couple of airlines credit you the difference if that happens.

same w/ the hotel room rates.
go with the promo or stick with the "what if the price changes" AP/AAA.

 

[AlexandNessa]

I'm still going with the STSM will make a return. I plugged in several dates during low season, and none of the hotels are offering are offering it for 4/5 nights. Even during the first year of HP, low season offered discounts at the hotels.


I'm just going to check everyday, and hope for the best.

 

[AlexandNessa]

P.S. Just checked Orbitz, and the SMSM rate is available there for stays < 7 nights.