Upgrade now or at Check-in? (PBH)

[gibbersome]

I'll be staying at the Portofino Bay for 3 nights next week and wanted to know about the chances for an upgrade. We're booked in a quad occupancy room, two queens, standard room. I have a Loews YouFirst membership, but have no stays on it as yet.

The problem is that I'll be staying with three other girls, and I'd rather have an extra bed to avoid an awkward situation if possible. I was thinking about a rollaway bed, but I read that there might not be enough space.

I called in to Portofino to ask about upgrades and they transferred me to Universal Orlando Resorts Reservation desk who promptly told me that upgrades can only be made at check-in.

What are my best options?

 

[damo]

There is lots of room in the PBH rooms for a rollaway.

What kind of upgrade are you looking into? A suite?

 

[macraven]

since you are not at member status yet with the loews youfirst, you don't qualify for the free upgrade to the next room up from what you booked.

if the hotel has low occupancy, there is always a very slight chance to receive a free upgrade. i have read that a few posters were able to receive that based on situations.

if you are interested in an upgrade to club level, you can inquire of the availability and costs per night for that.

or if you are looking to upgrade to a parlor or villa there, it would depend on the occupancy and availability of those rooms, which are larger.
not sure what the upgrade charge would be for them.

the rollaway beds are $25 a night.
the rooms are largest at PBH.
you should not have any problems with space if you rent the rollaway bed.

 

[gibbersome]

There is lots of room in the PBH rooms for a rollaway.

What kind of upgrade are you looking into? A suite?

Thank you so much for the quick responses!

I was basically looking for a deluxe room upgrade, I've read that they're a little bigger.

since you are not at member status yet with the loews youfirst, you don't qualify for the free upgrade to the next room up from what you booked.

if the hotel has low occupancy, there is always a very slight chance to receive a free upgrade. i have read that a few posters were able to receive that based on situations.

if you are interested in an upgrade to club level, you can inquire of the availability and costs per night for that.

the rollaway beds are $25 a night.
the rooms are largest at PBH.
you should not have any problems with space if you rent the rollaway bed.

Thank you, that was my main concern. I may get the club upgrade with the free breakfast and snacks. It would save money for the 4 of us, plus also get the larger room.

 

[RyGuy]

I wouldn't count on them offering an upgrade if you havent yet reached blue status. I would still inquire about a deluxe room upgrade and see what they say. All standard and deluxe rooms with two queen beds also have a pullout sofa so that should solve your problem. The size difference between the deluxe rooms and standard rooms is the larger bathroom in the deluxe room. The actual livinig area isnt much bigger and the layout is the same.

 

[gibbersome]

I wouldn't count on them offering an upgrade if you havent yet reached blue status. I would still inquire about a deluxe room upgrade and see what they say. All standard and deluxe rooms with two queen beds also have a pullout sofa so that should solve your problem. The size difference between the deluxe rooms and standard rooms is the larger bathroom in the deluxe room. The actual livinig area isnt much bigger and the layout is the same.

Thanks for the info, the pull out sofa would work great! And the extra bathroom space would work better for the ladies I suppose.

I wouldn't mind paying the extra $50-75 for an upgrade to club, as long as they don't charge me $100+/night.

 

[damo]

Not all have a sofa. Make sure you tell them at check-in (or fax the request before). There are people on this forum who have reported not having the pullout.

The major difference that I find between the standard and the deluxe is that the deluxe has a separate shower stall where the standard has the shower in the bathtub. Also, in the deluxe, the crown moulding is real.

Here's a picture of the pullout. It is small.

 

[gibbersome]

Not all have a sofa. Make sure you tell them at check-in (or fax the request before). There are people on this forum who have reported not having the pullout.

Thank you for the pic. The sofa should be fine for one of us.

The other option I was looking at was using their "Taking care of Business" promotion and getting upgraded to Gold Status. I'm traveling this week and would be fine staying at a Loews instead of my regular Hyatt. Then I'd be able to use the Gold Status in Orlando.

Any thoughts?

 

[damo]

Thank you for the pic. The sofa should be fine for one of us.

The other option I was looking at was using their "Taking care of Business" promotion and getting upgraded to Gold Status. I'm traveling this week and would be fine staying at a Loews instead of my regular Hyatt. Then I'd be able to use the Gold Status in Orlando.

Any thoughts?

That's a good idea. Check and see if there are deluxe rooms available before you go out of your way to spend extra money.

 

[gibbersome]

That's a good idea. Check and see if there are deluxe rooms available before you go out of your way to spend extra money.

The availability looks okay for our stay (17-21), but I'll wait till tomorrow before I go ahead with the additional booking.

Will the upgrade to club be cheaper from a deluxe room than a standard room, or would it cost the same?

 

[damo]

The availability looks okay for our stay (17-21), but I'll wait till tomorrow before I go ahead with the additional booking.

Will the upgrade to club be cheaper from a deluxe room than a standard room, or would it cost the same?

Not sure but I think it is a pretty standard upgrade price.

 

[gibbersome]

Not sure but I think it is a pretty standard upgrade price.

damo, you're absolutely incredible! Thank you for all the info, it has really helped me figure out my options!

 

[rpbert1]

damo

Just a note , when we where there end of July , they where charging $75 for club upgrade

 

[RyGuy]

I inquired about club on 8/8. I got a $50/night "discounted" offer which I took.

 

[gibbersome]

damo

Just a note , when we where there end of July , they where charging $75 for club upgrade

I would take it at that price. The convenience and free food would more than make up for it! Thanks for the info, I hope I get offered that rate.

I inquired about club on 8/8. I got a $50/night "discounted" offer which I took.

Wow! Was this in person or over the phone?

If the latter, what number did you call, I haven't had much luck over the phone.

 

[RyGuy]

I inquired about it at check-in. They made a call and came back with the $50 offer. Realize that I am a frequent guest and did some name dropping. That probably helped lol.

 

[gibbersome]

I inquired about it at check-in. They made a call and came back with the $50 offer. Realize that I am a frequent guest and did some name dropping. That probably helped lol.

Lol, thanks. It's worth a shot I suppose. I'll be very happy with a $75/night rate.

 

[goofy!]

Thank you so much for the quick responses!

I was basically looking for a deluxe room upgrade, I've read that they're a little bigger.

Thank you, that was my main concern. I may get the club upgrade with the free breakfast and snacks. It would save money for the 4 of us, plus also get the larger room.

Lol, thanks. It's worth a shot I suppose. I'll be very happy with a $75/night rate.

Be advised though, that adding the club privileges to your room does not get you an upgraded room. So, that $75.00 per day is only for entrance to the club lounge and does not come with an upgrade to a deluxe room.

If you are in a garden view room, your club privileges would be added to that room.

The club lounge at the PBH is not on a separate floor, in fact, it is just off the lobby. So, when you add club privileges to your room, they just give you an extra key card that gets you into the lounge.

So, it is not an upgrade to club, it is adding club privileges to your currently booked room.

 

[goofy!]

Not all have a sofa. Make sure you tell them at check-in (or fax the request before). There are people on this forum who have reported not having the pullout.

Last Portofino Suite we were in, the couch was not a pull-out in the 2 Queen bedroom part.

 

[RyGuy]

goofy!,

Thanks for the info. Good to know.