Priceline Hotel: Universal 3* or 4 * Advice

We are a family of 7 coming to Orlando Sat Feb 26 through Thursday March 3, 2011. I have been torn between getting a larger suite for us all or booking 2 regular size rooms. I DO NOT want a kitchen- not looking to cook any of our own meals. A plus would be a free hot breakfast buffet and/or evening reception.... My question for the experts is: is there a place that you would recommend. We wouldn't even mind splitting the trip- 3 nights near Disney, 3 nights near Universal as we plan on going to both. Must have a nice heated pool for our little guy... 2nd question: I love the looks of Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Is there a successful bid on priceline or hotwire that got anyone in here? Thanks for your help!

Welcome to BetterBidding!

The Loews has not been reported to the board either thru PRICELINE or HOTWIRE.

What is your expected budget (per nite per room) for this stay?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

We don't have a set "budget" per night. We have paid $150 per night to stay at Nickelodeon Suites for the experience for our kids. Personally, I think the rooms are yuck, but my kids enjoyed all the activities. We will easily spend 2 grand in the parks, but what can you do about it? We have 5 kids ranging in age from 5 to 23. I want the nicest place possible, at the best price possible.... but I think that's what anyone posting here wants. We'll pay $25 per person for a nice character meal or experience that we don't get alot of here in Binghamton, NY. I love a deal as much as the next guy, but also don't want to stay in a yucky place to save money. I want clean place, a nice heated pool and possibly some fun kids activities, possibly included breakfast (it's a major expense to take 7 into a restaurant for every meal), but I am very capable to carry my own luggage and turn down my own bed at night...

If you search HOTWIRE for 2rooms/3adults/4children (assuming that is the correct number of adults/kids) does anything appear interesting from a star rating and cost aspect?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Our trip to Orlando 2/26/11 - 3/3/11 with 6 people. I don't care if I get a large 2 bedroom suite or 2 rooms (We'll need 2 bathrooms any way) , but looking for hot breakfast included each morning. Place must be CLEAN! Kitchen in room would be overkill-I AM NOT COOKING. I have been looking at lastminutetravel rooms and I like the looks of Hilton Garden Inn Sea World at $58 per night. Last minute travel lists "FREE BREAKFAST BUFFET" but when I check into the Hilton Garden INN Seaworld directly, it looks like you can buy a buffet for $12.95 per person? Could the hotel ID be wrong or do you think a free breakfast is really part of last minute hotel deal? Hotel ID 8033

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.

It might be something that LMT has contracted with the hotel for guests who book thru their service, but if you'd like an answer i would call the hotel and ask if reservations booked thru LMT include breakfast (if the hotel doesn't know then i would call LMT and ask... or send an email so you have a paper trail)

As you didn't reply to my last post above :) i assume there was nothing of interest??

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

thereuare is the man to help you.

However I wanted to point out a few things based upon my experiences traveling, especially since I frequent Orlando for fun ( i live only 2 hours away). The Lowes resort even at a HOTWIRE / PRICELINE rate is still going to be expensive per night compared to other hotels that offer the same quality. This is because its in the park and theres plenty of people who love to blow money at theme parks and only stay at their hotels. I believe the rated I saw the other day for Lowes or the Portofino was $249 or $299 a room a night. Definitely not worth it under most circumstances.

As well the nicer 4* and up properties and most of the 3* and up properties will not feature complimentary breakfast. These are the hotels that are absent of the kitchen that you would not like to see. Im not sure why (maybe you just cook a lot at home and hate it lol) you dont want the kitchen as I too never cook on vacation (or hardly at all for that matter lol) I do appreciate the refrigerator etc to keep wine, water, snacks etc cold. Most of the standard rooms at nice hotels do not have these though so youre ok there.

Most of the hotels that serve the free breakfast arent going to be anything like the Lowes property but seem more in line with what you dont mind like carrying your own bags etc. I will say a lot of them might have the kitchen in them though.

In Orlando ratings i believe a lot of the hotel classes are very inflated. That is what might be a 3* elsewhere is a 4* in Orlando.

Hope this helps!

Hotels like Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard, that do not have complimetary breakfasts, will frequently offer a slightly higher room rate which will include the breakfast. If you plan on eating the breakfast, it is usually better to pay the higher room rate with breakfast included rather than paying for the breakfast separately. Since the LMT travel rate is likely substancially below HGI's rate if booked directly, I would check with LMT to see exactly what is included with the breakfast - how many guests per room are included, if children under a certain age are free, etc.

didn't book with HOTWIRE or PRICELINE because I needed to be sure we had enough beds

Thank you for closing this thread.

Please remember to follow-up your threads with whatever you end up doing for the stay, even if you choose to book direct, cancel your trip, etc.