megnsamsagrace

We normally stay on Treasure Island. But rates are pretty high at the place we love (179 a night). We can do the Tradewinds for a lot less than that or the Don Cesar for $146 a night but hubby felt that St Pete Beach was a lot busier. So since we have to drive to Naples to drop my dad off at a friends house, I thought about looking down that way. I played around with priceline with an old CC. It would have accepted $120 for Sanibel/Captiva Island, Marco Island, and Bonita Springs for a resort. Now, would any of these been a great deal? Or could it have gone cheaper? Just curious as I have until July 29 (2 week stay). I am still looking around. We want it pretty quiet as we plan to spend time with our 4 little kids. ~Steph

I guess my best bet then would be to stick with the $393 including taxes for 5 nights at the bilmar. I found it at www.alpharooms.com That is the TOTAL cost, $393... so I assume then that Hotwire or priceline cant beat it? The bilmar is a 3* whereas the Tradewinds is a 4* .. I can do the $113 (plus $15 a day resort fee) through the Entertainment Book discount (50% off)... The $393 for the Bilmar is like $79 a night.

Same trip... I did try priceline for St Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach and went up to $70 per night and rejected. (I can do the bilmar for $393 including taxes so thats why a max of $70) We decided we want to be on the beach because we found stuff there we want to do. I can try bidding again tomorrow (72 hours). But I found the above on hotwire and trying to figure out what hotel it is? And if I cant get priceline, is the Tradewinds Island grand a nice hotel for $113 a night?

Cant figure out this hotel?? Treasure Island - St. Pete Beach - See map Selected amenities include: Beachfront, Restaurant(s), Pool(s), Fitness Center, Tennis Nearby, Business Center, Restaurant What could it be?

Is the Tradewinds Island Grand a nice hotel? Can use the Entertainment Book for a rate of $113.50 a night

I paid $17 a day for this August, Avis (Chevy Malibu they say ) August 18-23.

Thanks! We decided not to worry about a hurricane coming next month. If it does, it does, nothing we can do! Now.. if we can just figure out a hotel plan we would be good! My dad has to decide if he is staying with his friends in Venice or staying near Tampa with us... then I can try PL hotels!

Hey, I would love to hear about this hotel when you get back!! I am considering using it as a cheapy for our stay! Booked airfare at $98 R/T and then used priceline for a $17 a day rental car (Avis, Chevy Malibu).

Southwest sale is good until 8/4!! AMAZING deal at $49 each way! I will play around with priceline since I still have a month left... I have come to realize that I *can* get an okay hotel cheaper and just drive to the beach! I saw the $28 deal someone got! I guess if parking isnt hard at any of the beaches, I dont mind driving from the hotel... if it saves me $... we will have a car regardless. So I will play with priceline and hotwire for hotels around there. Anyone familar with it, any areas to AVOID??

Sorry if I totally confused you.. this is without kids!!! Just me and my husband... my dad might come but he will probably go down and stay with his friends in Venice Beach. Okay... I just booked airfare on Soutwest for $226 for 2 tickets R/T from CT to FL. I dont have my heart really set on anything... thats the whooolllleee trouble! We are saving $150 on airfare over the original cost, so I do have a bit more money to play with. I have heard great things about Treasure Island (heard Clearwater Beach was a bit busier)... hubby and I are just going to relax... no real sightseeing at all... he isnt an amusement park guy so we arent doing Busch Gardens... we do plan on just relaxing around the beach/pool really. So I guess my best bet would be to just book a hotel on Treasure Island then? Do you know much if I go farther south??? Think I can pull a cheaper hotel with priceline on one of the beaches or are beach zones going to be more anyway??? I guess I also better look back at the bilmar beach resort if the best western isnt so highly recommended :) Oh well... back to square one I guess.. The only thing that I have set in stone is airfare, August 18-23 arriving in Tampa.

Thanks UFJoe, If I do stay in the Tampa Airport Zone, and get a nice hotel for a cheaper price, what am I looking at for a drive to one of the nice beaches? For $71 a night for the Best Western on Treasure Island, am I going to save that cost by going with Priceline and staying in Tampa? I dont know the area, have friends in Largo though. We are going to be spending most of the time around the beach, with 4 little kids, we cant do the ocean here, so we do plan on just relaxing while we are away. So, what I need to know, about how much of a drive is it from the Tampa Airport zone (approx, I know, depends on the hotel got) to Like Treasure Island, St. Pete beach etc??

Okay, we ARE flying into Tampa for cost wise ($100 more just to fly into FT. Myers)... Right now, I have 2 reservations on Treasure Island (my neighbor goes there every year... her company PAYS for her to stay at the Don Cesar)... she LOVES it... so thats what I am looking at for now unless someone comes up with something else? I had reservations at both the Bilmar ($110 a night) and the best Western Sea Castles ($71 a night). I have heard Clearwater beach is *busier* but since I have never been there, I am clueless. These reservations are cancellable, would love to do cheaper via priceline if I can. ~Steph

Okay, made some plans that CAN change... I booked the Bilmar Beach Resort on Treasure Island for $440 for our stay of 5 days/4 nights. Can I do better getting a hotel around there for less than that? I booked through www.quikbook.com so I dont have to pay until we get there and I can cancel within 2 days. so it is a backup plan if I cant find anything cheaper with hotwire or priceline.

I am not set on Tampa, I am just going by airfare rates, flying via Southwest, so we can fly into Fort Launderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach. If its not too far of a drive (less than 2 hours or so) I would consider flying into another airport. I did look at flying into Ft Myers but its $100 more. It could be an option if I have enough sales... but I wouldnt know that til a month before... so I would rather have a set plan and if I have to, when I am ready to make the airfare, if I have the $, change it and fly into Ft Myers and go to like Bonita Springs or something.. but right now, I am planning a low cost beach vacation. If one of the other airports is not a far drive to a western beach, then I am all for that!

Hubby and I are FINALLY getting time away with none of our 4 little kids. We were looking at August 18-22 but then I have a worry about a hurricane, our airfare is non refundable for their special rate. So we decided to go in October, I belive the 7th-11th is the date. I LOVE the easyclicktravel deal for the Bonita Springs Coconut resort at $98 a night, but I dont know how my sales will be (I own my own business/website)(we pay cash for everything) and right now I dont have $500 sitting here for that hotel. So we are back up to the Tampa area. We have been to Disney for the past 2 years and are doing it next year with the kids. We have seen the eastern coast beaches just not the western, so thats our destination. we will be flying into Tampa. We are looking for a hotel on the ocean. I dont mind driving 2 hours (we are renting a car) to get a cheap(er) hotel on the water... any tips where to look? This is going to be a very laid back trip for us, not doing Busch Gardens or other attractions, just want a nice hotel to relax on the ocean and maybe lounge around the hotel if its nice. Thanks if you guys can give me any tips! Steph