Universal hotels / Expedia

[Hilary]

Apologies in advance if I go into rambling mode - I've spent the last two days looking at hotel websites and I'm in danger of losing the plot completely!

Anyway, for one night (Good Friday) of our trip next Easter we want to stay in a Universal hotel to have the FOL access to IOA as the parks will be busy. First choice would be HRH, second choice RPR. End result of phone calls / website visits is:

HRH - direct booking, no availability
HRH - Expedia £166
RPR - direct booking $244 + tax
RPR - Expedia £144

If I book with the hotel direct I could get a discount nearer the date, if I go with Expedia I have to pay upfront, no changes. I have Universal Fan Club, AAA and Loews Hotel cards which could yield discounts if there are any released for Easter.

What would you do?

 

[KayleeUK]

Hilary

Is it typical that discounts will be available at Easter next year or possible that this may be a blackout date for discount's.

Knowing me I would book with Expedia just to be happy I got the room

 

[UKDEB]

Well, Easter is a <i>very</i> busy time. I think I would probably just book HRH at £166 as it is your first choice. In your position, I would then be able to relax, knowing that my plans were in place.

It's tricky because I am going through exactly the same dilemma for January. The only difference is that January, in theory, should be a quieter time and may be more likely to yield discounts nearer the time. At Easter, I think I'd be more concerned about getting what I want than the price I was paying. Even if I leave it until the last minute, I imagine I will still be able to get a room. At Easter I would worry that the longer I left it, the greater the chance of not getting a room at all.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for the advice - just what I wanted to hear!

I'd pretty much decided that I would go ahead and book HRH on Expedia (I thought it seemed a fairly reasonable rate for Easter anyway), but I'll feel so much better doing it now that I know you'd do the same!

I'm thinking that if the hotel is already full (apart from rooms taken by consolidators like Expedia) then there are unlikely to be any / many discounts anyway, although I believe there may be some, such as AAA which don't rely so much on seasonal trends.

Good luck with your planning, Deb!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

I'd book it. That's not a bad price for Easter.

Peace of mind, that's the name of the game, Hilary