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Today is the first day of the third week of five weeks of discounted travel packages sponsored by the US Travel Association and American Express called Daily Getaways.

Every weekday at 1 PM ET, a discounted travel package or packages will go on sale and will usually sell out in a few minutes. Some of the offers will be awesome; some will be duds. I imagine that today’s deal will be great for many families out there.

Today’s deal is discounted packages for visits to the Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Universal Orlando Resort

How can you get in on the deal?

All Daily Getaways packages are discounted. And you get an additional 10% off each sale price by paying with an American Express, so that’s a no-brainer, and I’ll always quote prices after the American Express discount.

Today’s prices range from $87.30 for a three-day admission ticket to the Universal Orlando Resort to $2,565 for a Universal Studios Hollywood vacation package that includes economy airfare, hotel accommodations, and park admission for four people.

Universal Studios Hollywood

There is also a vacation package and a VIP vacation package for the Universal Orlando Resort. All of the vacation packages have limited availability — three to ten of each — and there are 97 three-day admission tickets available.

Some of these deals say: “Upon purchase, you will be given the name of a Universal representative whom you will be responsible for contacting to coordinate your ticket pick up [or VIP tour]. Ticket(s) will be set up for guest pick up on buyer requested date. Please give at least 14 days prior notice.”

Others have messages along the lines of: “Within 2 weeks from purchase, you’ll receive a congratulatory package via FedEx from Universal Studios Hollywood, which will contain all the information necessary to claim your trip. Universal Studios Hollywood will help you arrange all travel details.”

All deals must be used by May 22, 2014. Blackout dates do apply.

Purchasing the Packages

To maximize your chances of getting in on the deal, I recommend using a site like whattimeisit.com to figure out the official time. This year’s sales have all started on time to the second. Keep refreshing for the best chance.

This is what happens if you try to purchase something where all quantities are already in someone’s cart.

This doesn’t mean the deal is sold out. If someone doesn’t complete his purchase, that quantity will immediately become available for someone else. Keep checking until the dreaded “Sold Out” appears.

I will be by my computer at 1 PM EST / 10 AM PST / 7 AM HST / (2 PM in Buenos Aires) to check out how these deals are selling. Do you plan to buy them? Post your successful or failed attempt in the comments, so we can gauge how quick you had to be to snag a deal.

Daily Getaways home page

Daily Getaways Help

Daily Getaways FAQ

Full Terms and Conditions for the Universal Studios Hollywood Vacation package:

  • If unable to fulfill package during time period, prize is forfeited.
  • Buyer must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, in order to check in to on-site hotel.
  • Hotel will be determined by Universal Studios Hollywood (USH) dependent on rate and availability. Hotel will be booked in the same caliber as the Universal Hilton or Universal Sheraton.
  • Hotel accommodations, room and tax only, for up to four (4) people in a maximum of one (1) standard room at an on-site hotel of USH’s choosing, for four (4) consecutive days and three (3) nights.
  • Hotel accommodations do not include meals, incidentals, tips, telephone calls, or any other personal expenses incurred during the trip, not specified here.
  • Round-trip, coach-class air transportation for the major airport closest to winner’s home to Los Angeles, California. Buyer will be responsible for ground transportation to/from the airport at point of origin. Airline will be determined by USH based on available fares and schedules. Per person, PFC’s and September 11th Security fees are included.
  • Ground transportation provided from airport in Los Angeles, California to hotel and ground transportation provided from hotel back to airport at end of trip. No ground transportation is provided during hotel stay.
  • Traveling companion(s) who are minors, if any, must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
  • Trips are non-transferable and have no cash value.
  • All unclaimed and/or unused package elements will remain the property of Universal Studios Hollywood and may not be used as sales or trade incentives.
  • Trips may not be sold, exchanged, or otherwise transferred by winner, nor used by Company, its agencies, or clients.
  • Buyer and guests must travel at the same time and must depart from the same city.
  • If, in the judgment of USH, air travel is not required due to buyer’s proximity to package location, the air portion of the package will become null and void. No substitutions will be provided.
  • All the theme park tickets are valid during normal operating hours only. Operating hours and availability of attractions and shows are subject to change without notice. Some special events may be separately ticketed. Universal reserves the right to change the name of all tickets. All tickets specifically exclude admission to special or separately ticketed “hard ticket” entertainment events at either of the theme parks or Universal CityWalk.
  • Travel arrangements must be made a minimum of sixty (60) days prior to departure and are subject to availability. All elements must be redeemed at the same time, and no changes will be permitted upon confirmation.
  • Travel must be completed no later than May 22, 2014. Blackout dates or other restrictions may apply as dictated by airline and/or hotel.
  • All sales are final.

 

 

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