hoosierdog

Thanks, jluff, but the Newport Beach's reviews (TripAdvisor) weren't that appealing to a non-smoker (me, along with my family) who will be spending a lot of time with our guests there. Ick! :)

Butting in here again... Jenna, the sentence I quoted shows that you should not bid for a 3* hotel on Priceline. There's an equal chance on any given day you can get ANY of PL's 3* properties in that zone OR some additional hotel no one has ever gotten before. If you can't accept that, don't bid that star level in that zone! I'm shocked that the Bonaventure is now a 3* -- didn't realize that it's rating had gone downhill since I won it twice on PL. Why not bid for a 4* in that zone and hopefully get the Renaissance? It's very new, maybe 2003-2004, and always got good reviews as I recall, but no clue if it's come up lately. Right next to I-595, <10 minutes from Sawgrass Mall, 15 min. to FLL airport.

LOL, yeah, that says it all. Just booked the Doubletree and used the Better Bidding link. Thanks for your help! :)

Smart move, and great luck, Randi! Shows how important it is to know your rights and the old motto "It never hurts to ask." Speaking of that, I spoke to the Doubletree Ocean Point last night and we're going to book that hotel. Their rep told me that EVERY 1BR there has a balcony and EVERY 1BR has at least a partial ocean view. All 2BR are ocean front, but there are no suites on the street side of the hotel (just a few "executive view" studios). The rep told me to put a note in for the room assigner begging for the best ocean view when I make my ressie, which of course I will do. (And probably follow up with a cheery, short fax as well, adding that I can't wait to post online at every popular travel site how fantastic their hotel is.) :) Hope everyone looking for Ft. Laud-area rooms gets what they're hoping for!

I live about 5 minutes from this hotel. Just called them, and the restaurant is open ('til 9 pm, tonight!). I'm always interested in this hotel as I stayed there before I moved here (the week of 9/11/2001, no less) and had less than a joyous experience. My parents have stayed there (almost 2 yrs ago), but for $40-something on a PL bid. I would not suggest paying $111 to stay there when you can stay at the Amerisuites for $85/night (just booked my in-laws there today!). Once the hotel is completely renovated (a year from now, I believe) it may be worth paying for, but now...no way. Mod, if this is an inappropriate post, feel free to edit/remove. I just find it sadly comical that HW brands this as a "customer favorite." Check out www.tripadvisor.com's reviews, whatever you do, just4jenna.

Thanks for your assistance. Tried to post earlier this week, now know it was the server upgrade stopping me. The issue is really about getting a beachfront ROOM, not just a beachfront hotel. Even worse, the visitors would like a balcony if we're picking out a hotel (non-PL or HW bid), and the Clipper has NO balconies in any rooms (per the hotel via phone call). I also don't feel comfortable dealing with a website that doesn't have business info (phone/address/etc.) listed on their site (EasyClickTravel). (If I missed it, apologies.) There were no beachfront properties that came up on HW, but I saw them when I looked at other areas. Was ready to try for the Marriott Harbor Beach up to $130 today on PL. Then I realized my visitors are smokers and don't feel like taking a risk of ending up with a non-smoking room via a PL bid (or HW) -- would be a disaster. So now, totally OT, we're looking at the Doubletree Ocean Point (www.oceanpointresort.com) down in Sunny Isles. We can get it for $161 per night for a 900 sq. foot 1BR suite WITH balcony, and hoping it will be at least partial ocean view. (I'm good at begging and they're celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and most importantly, this is a Sunday and Monday night stay!) Nice reviews since it turned into a Doubletree this year, huge rooms. It's so much easier to bid for yourself. Lesson learned! :) Thanks again!

Hi, everyone. New registrant, but not a newbie to the bidding process. I'm trying to book a room for in-laws on Ft. Lauderdale beach, 11/27-11/29/05. Biggest qualification is that it needs to be oceanfront, so I know that PL and HW are out (maybe - see below). Hotel room must be ON BEACH, not requiring a walk across A1A to get to it. Looking at highest-end properties with price limit around $150/night. See that Sheraton Yankee Trader and Clipper appear to be on EasyClickTravel. Called Trader and they require the walk across A1A, but Clipper rooms are actually on beach. So, Clipper on EasyClickTravel is what I'm looking at. Questions: 1) Any other options to get a reduced rate on beach, on ocean room besides EasyClickTravel? Looking for a decent hotel - renovations in last few years, no bugs, no major complaints. Have always said I'd stay in a brand new Red Roof Inn over an old dilapidated Hyatt/Marriott/Hilton any day. :) 2) Have done some searching here and concerned that these oceanfront and oceanview are all "On Request" rooms. I'll still definitely try, but worried that in 48 hours, I may be back where I started and without further options. 3) Why does the Clipper rate show as $132.35 for a "Full Ocean View" room on it's initial page, then when you click "Book It" it turns into $146.91, before taxes? 4) Dream scenario: Bid on PL for resort in FLL. Get Marriott Harbor Beach for $100. Pay $50 a night when they check-in to upgrade to a decent ocean view. Too risky to hope for that upgrade at *ANY* PL/HW hotel? (Mother-in-law must be able to look out her window and see the ocean!) Thanks so much for your assistance!