where to get best rate for Universal hotels?

[Debs Hill]

We're going to book a couple of nights at one of the Universal hotels for our trip in Nov 2003. Where am I likely to get the best deals in your experience? How far in advance should I book? Will I get any sort of discounted rate by booking direct with Universal? Please help!

 

[lenny l]

deleted

 

[pauldents]

Hi Debs,

There are currently a few ways of getting discounts at Universal (loews) hotels.

1. Usually the best discounts come from buying the entertainment book at http://www.entertainment.com

2. Fan Club Card - but you can only get this though an American citizen, whose employers participate in the Fan Club Program.

3. If you plan to got to the Hard Rock Hotel, buy an "All Access Card at http://www.hardrock.com. You can use this card to get room discounts at the Hard Rock. I recently got a $142.00 per night rate with the All Access card for my sister.

4. http://expedia.com publish discounted rates for Universal hotels now and again. Someone on these boards recently got a $126.00 per night rate at the Portofino Bay Hotel.

If you check on the Universal board, the third thread down is "whats your date and rate? 2002?" This will give you more of an idea on the various rates available and how far in advance you have to book.

Hope this helps

Paul

 

[elisebutt]

Actually if you email Universal, explaining you're in the UK then they'll post you a fanclub card - i got one like that.

 

[pauldents]

Elise, I applied for the Fan Club Card in Feb '02 and this was their reply :-

"Fan Club is a company based program meaning only the Human Resources from a company with at least 100 employees is eligible to join. Unfortunately, due to budgetary issues, we are unable to accommodate requests to enroll in the Fan Club program to companies which are not located in the United States or Canada."

I would be interested to know if you made an application for the card on the behalf of a company or as a personal application ?

Regards

Paul

 

[UKDEB]

One more way you can get a discount is to become a Universal Annual Passholder. The rates are generally not quite as good as the Entertainment rate, but there are other benefits of being an AP holder and there are usually some good prices for the passes themselves.

 

[Debs Hill]

OK, I think the best thing for me to do is get the Entertainment Book for Orlando. Are they OK about sending these to the UK? how long does it take and do you know what they charge for postage? Many thanks

 

[cheryl.UK]

can't you just use your disney club card? It has an Entertainment logo on it?

 

[Astrid]

I've been searching on the Universal site today Universal Tickets

and see they've an offer on two annual passes for $239.90 plus tax which would enable you to get 30% off on-site hotels. I'm just trying to work out whether that's going to be worthwhile for me as I'd like to do a couple of nights at the Hard Rock in December.

HTH

Astrid

 

[vernon]

I found a couple of specials offered here, by the Loews hotel group, who I believe own/manage the Portifino and HRH
http://www.loewshotels.com/specialoffers.asp