Well, best case scenario would be to take it just before each meal. Creatine increases protein synthesis. This makes sense when you think about it. It attracts water to the muscle cells. So taking creatine just before bringing in large amounts of carbs would net a greater amount being partitioned to muscles instead of fat.
Loading is important for weight gain but 5g daily is enough to benefit from its performance benefits, especially pre-workout.
Creatine phosphate is used to restore ADP (Adenosine Di-Phosphates) to ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphates). However, the phosphate version of creatine is not very bioavailable after digestion so monohydrate is necessary for oral effectiveness. Any other type is a waste of time and money.