pinkflamingo

I probably will not bid because the Best Western's rate is $76.50 (internet special) from the website. It would be tempting to get the double the difference but not worth the hassle and I really don't want to stay there. I would like to find something slightly nicer.

Airport Shuttle Complimentary breakfast Pool Restaurants Business center High Speed Internet Access I did a board search and someone thought it was a Best Western maybe but I thought Best Westerns were 2 stars. thanks for your help. I would like to get something in that price range.

Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center It was also listed as a customer favorite! :)

pretty darn pleased with the price. Anyone know if this is a nice hotel and how they treat PL or HW customers? thanks!

good call. Also, I just realized that if I had booked through them at the government rate (I am a public HS teacher) I would be paying less that I would for $111 plus a $30 upgrade. And I could have used my wbr card. grrrrr

So my new question is this: Upgrade now or later? I spoke to the reservations manager at the hotel and he told me he was not "allowed" to upgrade my room to a balcony, as I had requested because it is a HW booking. He did give my request of Non smoking double room, which was very gracious. He did give me the option of upgrading for $30/night... he promised he would give me a nice room if I did that ($150 for 5 nights). Here is what I am wondering... should I fork over the $150 now, and possibly end up with a great room now, especially because they will have more rooms available now versus the day of my arrival? OR Should I go and see if I can nicely request a balcony when I get there. If I end up with a bad room, I can always go downstairs and ask for a nicer room politely again and if that does not work, I can whip out the plastic and give them the $150. In other words, should I do the upgrade now or upgrade later thanks! EDITED TO ADD: I do not expect the hotel to be full because we are arriving on a SUnday and leaving on Friday off season in Key West...

Wow! How did you get such low airfare? Edited: I found it. Dh's family lives across the state border in MA- $49/each way is AWESOME! anyway, i think you should try priceline or HW by the beach. Treasure island is nice but the beaches/ sand is st pete beach is way better.

Oh and about the $20 trick... well, I hope it works! I don't have any more to spend- I'm a teacher!! LOL. actually, more than half the rooms have balconies so I don't think it is too much of a request... especially if we can get one of the "non ocean views"

It's a long story, but I am much happier with the Casa Marina. I originally bid before I discovered this forum and I was very disappointed with La Concha/crowne plaza. I know it is a lovely place but it is totally inappropriate for a family vacation... I am much happier staying at the CM away from all the bars and drunks. I am hoping it will be somewhat like the Don Cesar in st pete beach, we stayed there with relatives in March this year. Loved it to bits! (And, no I didn't get the reservation on PL or HW- it was paid for by my dad as a gift.) But back to the original subject, I think CM actually does rate a 3.5-4 star hotel. La Concha is firmly a 3 star hotel which was my problem with it. JMHO, but I will update after we get back!

Thank you! Good advice. I really appreciate it. I will let you know how it goes.

of course! I would love a suite with a balcony. Otherwise a regular double room with a balcony would be fine. The balcony is important. I was reading the $20 trick last night... so scared to look like a jack*ss to pull it off... but it is worth a try, LOL!

LOL. I feel the same way. All I really want is a room with a balcony because we are bringing our 4 year old son who goes to sleep at 8 pm... so either DH and I A. sit in the dark and try to fall asleep at 8 B. make cocktails in the bathroom- woo hoo! or C. sit on our nice breezy "parking lot overlooking" balcony. That's all I really want. Maybe I will try faxing the concierge.

Has anyone received any benefits of Wyndham By request while staying on a priceline/hotwire vacation? Just joined but then read in faqs that these benefits do not extend to hotwire/ priceline customers... :)

just did!

I was able to get this for the $121/night, minus the giftcard06 which made it $111 a night. Amenitites listed were : Beachfront, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Tennis

They will not remove the $25 charge. They call it a service fee for cancellations. I am in the process of disputing... never filed a dispute before... any tips?

I was wondering about that. OK. I will call back.

Hey there- got my money back and upgraded our hotel to the Casa Marina. :) THis is where we really wanted to stay so I am happy. They did charge a $25 fee for the transaction of crediting my credit card back for La Concha- a rip off, but that's okay overall. I am so excited, and must give some kudos to the CS at hotwire. I did get to use the giftcard06 code. twice! (I booked it under my name this time instead of my husband's name.

thank you! i just talked to them and they said we can either get a refund/ rebook or get a $25 credit. i am trying to decide what the best option is. Alda :)

hmmm... on hotwire, if you go to packages and enter destination as key west July 10-15 from tampa it will work.

I did this in the FL section- under hotwire... was this the correct place to put this?

I think so. It used to be listed as a customer favorite, that is why we chose it.

I haven't heard back from them yet... Has this ever happened before here? I tried a search but I couldn't find anything.

Also... Should I call them? Is hotwire better at resolutions through email or phone? I don't even know if they are open, being a holiday weekend and all...

Hi there! It still lists my reservation at La Concha as 4 stars. On the trip packages page, it lists my hotel as 3.5 stars. I am leaving next Sunday for 5 days. I don't know if it worth fighting about because it seems like hotwire is ... ahem... lacking in the CS department from everything I have read here.