Why are summer room rates so high?

[jiminy14]

I just tried to book four nights at a Universal resort for early August and I could not believe the room rates that I was quoted. I do have an AP so I was inquiring as to the cost with the discount. I was quoted $211 plus tax for a Standard view at the RP. Last year, I stayed in a club room at the PB with a pool view for $250/night with tax. That same room is now going for $350 plus tax! The woman I spoke to did say that the rates have gone up this year but over $120/night for the PB room?
Does anyone have any info or advice on what to do? I asked about AAA but she said that those rates were even higher and that she did not expect the rates to come down for the summer.
Any help would be appreciated since as of right now I am not going to be able to stay at Universal with these rates.

 

[Sherrilatte]

Go to the Loews website. They post special offers.

 

[damo]

Room rates are so high because they are not having any trouble filling the hotel during peak times. They are now charging similar rates to the rest of the Loews hotels across the country and the Disney deluxe hotels.

 

[markey]

I have read on these boards where people are now getting lower rates for April and May, a few months ago that did not seem possible. I think, and this is only my opinion, that there will be lower rates for August. Two years ago we were not going to Universal, and ended up there because of the cheap rates which only came out in late May, $159 PBH and I think RPH was $139 but chose PBH because that was the only one we had not stayed at. So keep your fingers crossed and keep checking, thats what I'm waiting for. One thing more, not everyone is like us on these boards. Some people make a reservation months before and never check the rates again, just assume those are the rates and that's it,these are the people they want booking the higher prices and keeping them. Years ago that was me also, boy has that changed!

 

[jiminy14]

Thanks Markey for the advice. Last year I booked in March for August and got a great deal on a deluxe PV room at PB ($202 plus tax). That room is now over $300 plus tax. I also checked the Loews website as suggested but the rates were even higher and they were not offering any specials for the Universal hotels. The woman I spoke to at Universal told me that rates have been going up recently and she did not think that they would be coming down. Hopefully, she is wrong and I will find something in my price range in late May.

 

[robvia]

You have to understand when the peak times at the parks are.
The worst time to visit is July and the first two weeks of August.

The last two weeks of August, and September will have much lower rates. September is your best bet, the parks are a ghost town because kids are back in school.

Go on their site and look at park hours. When you see the park closing at 7pm or 6pm, that's when rates are the lowest. Look at how the hours decrease as the month goes on.
http://themeparks.universalstudios....o_park_hours.html&year=2005&month=8&year=2005

Companies are also to blame, they're booking rooms for their conventions, and filling the place. If the hotel is always full, they can charge more. At the HRH, they even "mysteriously" cancel reservations of people using discount codes. Happened to me last year at the HRH, and I'll be shocked if my RPR ressie for July 6th is still there.