How to book Hard Rock Hotel

[rizzy135]

Hi Dibbers

I need a bit of advice please,

We are staying for one night at the HRH in October but i wasn't quite sure who to book it with & which is the best option :confused2.

I've looked via Quidco with Hotels.com which are currently giving 8% cash back & the price is £194 for a Garden view room.

I also looked via the Universal website & the price via that is $284 for a Garden view & $269 for a Standard room.

Now i know that if your staying for one night that you have to pay the balance in full at the time of booking but if i book via Hotels.com, could i still ring the HRH & enquire about the AAA rate ?.

If so how does that work if i've already paid in full for the night or doesn't the money actually get taken from CC untill we've checkin/out ?

Help please i'm not sure which is the best way to book to get the cheapest & best deal.

Thanks
Penny :wavey:

[geoffa]

Some third party sites don't take the money right away. Some do. If you book direct with Loewes (Universal) hotels you would negotiate any discount rates there and then. You can't do it retrospectively through a third party (hotels.com) You'd have to do at time of booking with hotels.com

[MandyJ72]

If you phone and ask what specials are available for your dates the hotel will give you the best one - do you really need the garden view? We went for an obstructed view room which wasn't showing online and got it cheaper so not all rooms may show online.

M
xx

[rizzy135]

Some third party sites don't take the money right away. Some do. If you book direct with Loewes (Universal) hotels you would negotiate any discount rates there and then. You can't do it retrospectively through a third party (hotels.com) You'd have to do at time of booking with hotels.com

Thanks, i've looked on the Loews website & the price is the same as the Univessal website even when i put in AAA rate.
Would i have to ring HRH to see if the AAA rate is available for my dates ?.

Penny :wavey:

[geoffa]

We've found with Loewes that they don't seem to do many "cash" discounts. Occassionally they do 5 nights for the price of 3 or free breakfasts.
Right now, if you buy Universal park tickets online they are giving a coupon for a discount booklet which you can only pick up when you enter the park. It gives discount off meals and merchandise mostly but it also said discount at Loewes hotels. When we investigated further the discount is off restaurant meals not rooms.

Suggest you call them direct and see what you can negotiate:

http://www.hardrockhotelorlando.com/

These are their current special offers;

Vacation like a VIP and enjoy these great savings when you book by April 30, 2009! Stay 5 nights for the seasonal rates price of 3 nights, stay 7 nights for the seasonal rates price of 4 nights- or choose a savings offer that best fits your needs!

Offer extended- Now available for summer travel!

* AAA 4-Diamond accommodations at Hard Rock Hotel® at Universal Orlando
* FREE UNIVERSAL EXPRESS ride access^ to SKIP THE REGULAR LINES at both theme parks
* Buy your theme park tickets online in advance and save even more!
* Travel Now- Oct 8, 2009 (Blackout dates: 4/3- 4/11/09)

PLUS, stays of 4 nights or longer that TRAVEL by 3/31/09 receive a Universal Orlando Savings Guide^^ worth over $150 savings on food and merchandise throughout the resort!
Stay 3 nights - save up to 15%
Stay 4 nights - save up to 30%
Stay 5 nights - save up to 40% (Stay 5 nights for the price of 3!*)
Stay 6 nights - save up to 41%
Stay 7 nights - save up to 42% (Stay 7 nights for the price of 4!*)

Special Savings also available Apr 3 – Apr 11, 2009 - Stay 4 nights or longer and save up to 20%.
Extra Value Weeks from 4/19 – 6/10, 8/16 – 9/30 and 11/29 -12/17/09:
Kid's Eat FREE at lunch & dinner‡ at the on-site hotels with stays of 3 nights or longer!

[rizzy135]

If you phone and ask what specials are available for your dates the hotel will give you the best one - do you really need the garden view? We went for an obstructed view room which wasn't showing online and got it cheaper so not all rooms may show online.

M
xx

Thanks, no i don't really need a garden view as we won't be in the hotel that much (only booking to make use of the fast passes) so might look into the obstructed view room.


We've found with Loewes that they don't seem to do many "cash" discounts. Occassionally they do 5 nights for the price of 3 or free breakfasts.
Right now, if you buy Universal park tickets online they are giving a coupon for a discount booklet which you can only pick up when you enter the park. It gives discount off meals and merchandise mostly but it also said discount at Loewes hotels. When we investigated further the discount is off restaurant meals not rooms.

Thanks, i'll work out what the 8% cash back will be booking via hotels.com & ring the HRH to see what discounts they offer & see which works out best.

Thanks for the replies.

Penny :wavey:

[MandyJ72]

Definately phone and ask them about their specials as they didn'y show online when I was looking and the AAA rate was only available by phone. At least that way you can work out how much it will be compared to via Quidco and see what's the better rate.

M