Randi66

3/3/04-3/7/04 Paid 68 per night on HOTWIRE. This was a great hotel for the price. Not sure how much I would have liked it had I paid 249$ as someone I had met there did. I called starwood 2 months ahead requesting a kingsize bed and informing them that it was our honeymoon( we actually got married last June, but never took a honeymoon until now) We arrived around 2pm. The room wasnt ready. The manager took us upstairs to view two different rooms. He upgraded us to a full ocean view room. Room was nice, albiet a tad old, and we were in the new building. The pools are small, but clean. I requested a fridge for my medication and it was brought up immediatly. The manager even let us change into our swim suites in the room before it was ready for us to check into. The workout room was terrible. I commented on that to the manager and they gave us a 25$ credit so we could go work out at a gym a few blocks away. Parking is 7 per day, Valet is 10. The valet parking was well worth it as the parking lot is across the street and you need to cross busy US1. Id definately stay again.

Stayed two nights 3/2/04 for 25$ on Priceline 3/9/04 for 24$ on Priceline. Basically you get what you pay for. This is a 2 star right off I-595. Checked in at 1am on the first night. No manager on duty, you pick up a phone and they instructed me that my keys were in a mail box next to the phone. The room was generic. Queen size bed, with 1 nightstand. TV, No remote( it was missing) Kitchen with full size fridge, stove and basic dishes, cookwear. Local calls were free. The airconditioner worked well. The bed was horrible with threadbare sheets. Given room on second floor, no elevator. No POOL. Keep that in mind. Id only recommend it for someone who just needs a place to sleep. We left around 9am in the morning. The next stay, checked in around 5pm, asked for a room on the first floor. Same type room, left at 9am again. It was definately worth the price, but I wouldnt stay there for longer than one night.

I've never bid on a car before, but this rate was lower than all others I checked directly. Avis 19$ a day 7 days 133$ plus 48.39 taxes and fees. Total 181.39 I was given the option of upgrading to ANY car class, except convertible for 6$ extra per day. I couldnt get ahold of my husband or else I might have taken them up on that offer. I wonder If I will still have the option at a later date.

Paid 32 bucks for one night, Saturday January 25th. Check in is at 1pm. The room was large, with a mini bar fridge, sofa bed and large dining room table and one club chair. Separate bedroom, with french doors. Large bathroom. Parking was 10 bucks, but we got free parking because of a mistake on the website. We paid 30 bucks for our dogs, but they advised me the price increased to 50. I still prefer the Hilton for Customer service and decor/furnishings. However, for our purpose the room was nice. We barely left the room so we with the two dogs it was nice to have the extra room. We ordered in Indian food which was just ok. Went to Little Italy for lunch today. The hotel heavily salts their outside area and my poor little dogs were in pain. That part wasnt fun, but overall it was a great deal.

Im going to have to try this area. When we go to TO, we usually bid on the airport and end up at the Hilton or the Raddison. Last time we got the marriott which I liked a lot. But, not paying for parking is a nice bonus.

Have you thought about Long Beach? Its about 45 min away from Santa Monica( thats with light traffic) but I find the hotels there more reasonable. You can ask me anything about Long Beach if you want, I just moved to Canada from Long Beach( Yeah, I know, Im crazy) Crazy in Love. Thats the only thing that made me move.

Dont know if you all know this, but I bid on and won some fast food coupons on ebay. They are national coupons from a coupon book called Smart Shoppers Club of America. People buy the books and resell the coupons. I recently bought 14 Taco Bell coupons for 3 dollars, I also bought some Arby's for 80 cents and a few other different ones. Most sellers combine shipping if you buy more than one auction. If you have kids and they eat a lot of fast food, these are a great deal. For me, I prefer Taco Bell. Two (lowfat) chicken soft taco's cost me 1.69.

Hi, Btw, I got the date wrong, its actually Jan 24th, Saturday night. The manager of the hotel called me back. I wont be charged for parking, and I'll only be charged the 30 dollar pet fee. I did print out the information from the website though, just in case. I guess Im better at this lawyering stuff that I thought :)

If you win a one night stay is it possible to leave your car there for a week? Does anyone know? Thanks

Jan 25th for one night. I specifically bid 2.5 star because I knew this hotel would come up. I normally bid 3 and stay at Hilton or Radisson but I wanted my dogs to come so I couldnt risk getting the radison. Anyway, the website said free parking and pets allowed. 30$ fee. I call the hotel directly and she said its 10 bucks to park and 50 for a pet. She can kiss my arse. I called Priceline and they were NO help. I called Quality Inn guest relations and she said and I quote " Complimentary doesnt mean free". Well, honey the last time I looked Complimentary toilitries in the hotel doesnt mean you are billed for them. Im waiting for the hotel manager to call me back.

I stayed at the ARC in the summer of 2002. I got it for 40 bucks. It was the nicest hotel I've ever stayed at using Priceline. I couldnt not believe I only paid 40.

Thats not true. I've bid on a 3 star in Windsor at least 8 times, never paying more than 30 and have always gotten the Hilton( Im an honors member so I got upgraded too) or the Radisson. I dont want to risk not getting the Hilton because the Radisson doesnt accept dogs, thus I am bidding on the 2.5. I hope they dont upgrade me to a 3 star. I'll try again after the 72hr limit is up. Thats still plenty of time. Randi p.s. I am finally figuring out my way around AA. That m14 was really screwing me up. I plan to eat at Zingermans on Sunday. Thereuare, I'll let you know how it was.

Ok, let me try to explain this the best I can. I have made number accounts so I can try to get free offers and rebid before the 72hr time limit. One time I used the same credit card, made a request and they said " you've already made this request". This morning I created another account, used a different credit card and I got the same message. How do they know Im the same person? Im trying for Windsor, Ontario( meeting my husband there for one night) while Im in Ann Arbor. I was trying for the 2.5 star because they take dogs and because I wont have to pay for parking. We usually get the hilton or radisson when we bid for 3 stars. Radison doesnt accept dogs and Hilton does. I was denied at 28, but was given a 7 dollar counter offer. I wanted to split the difference, but I couldnt because it said I had to raise my bid by 7 dollars. Is there a way I could have done this? Randi

Congrats!! As you all know Ive been trying for a few weeks for Ft. Laud Beach. I dont think I ever went up to 79$ though and I probably never picked a 4*, although I would have been thrilled with it. Im happy with what I got and I'm relieved its over and done with( the obsessing over it)

I was already a blue memeber :) , but after seeing this post I filled out the form yesterday for a Gold membership :) I went to the member services menu and combined my accounts. Ill check back in a few days. Im happy because I have an upcoming stay in March at the Marco Island Hilton. I hope they have room to upgrade me.

Thereuare, I thought the Hiton was no longer?? Isnt it the Wyndam now. I thought the same thing about trying on Priceline for what I saw in the airport zone on Hotwire. I went up to 70 on Priceline when Hotwire was showing 86 and I was still denied. I dont think priceline is getting a lot of rooms yet.

I arranged for my friend to pick me up at the airport and then another friend to take me back the next day to get the rental car. So, I knew I could get this hotel so I went for it. I bid 24$ this time. I should have tried 20, but Oh well. This 2 week experience of bidding, checking, reading, etc is finally over with. Im just going to keep my 2 night stay in Marco at the Hilton and get my Hilton points. I doubt Id find beachfront for cheaper than 152. ( which is what I booked Hilton for). I also saw a post on this board about getting upgraded to a gold HHonors so I did that today too. Now I can get upgraded when I go to the Hilton. Whooo Hooo Thanks for everyone's help( especially Michigan Man) Randi

Well they must have opened up some more because its availble again.

The airport is close to the port( but not as close as the beach). I think the sheraton has a free shuttle to the port as well( dont quote me on that though). If not, a taxi is around 10 bucks. I grew up in that area, so I am familar with it.

It is the crowne plaza, one of the moderators told me they were pretty sure that was the hotel. Thanks for letting us know. What did you pay for it? I didnt want to be so far out west. I actually ended up booking on Hotwire. I got the Sheraton Yankee Clipper for $68 March 3-7th as seen in THIS POST. I have one night in Plantation for 25(priceline). Homestead suites. I need one more night at the airport, but Im thinking about seeing if my friend can pick us up at the airport and bring us back to get the rental car the next day and Ill try Plantation again( Homestead).

Is your mind set on the downtown zone? Hotwire has a 3* at the Airport for 68. I think it might be the sheraton.

As an aside, I checked Hotwire again this afternoon and the hotel I chose is not availble now, Now there is no availibility for those dates in Ft. Laud Beach. Could I have taken the last room? :)

Hi everyone. The 9th of March is taken care of. I bid 25 for that 2 star in Plantation. Got the homestead suites. Not crazy about it, but its only a place to sleep as we're coming back from Marco that afternoon and we'll be leaving Plantation around 9am. However, I need one last night for March 2nd. I want the airport. I dont want to spend more than 50. I'll take 2 or 3 star. What do you suggest for bidding? Thanks Randi :)

Thanks, Oh and btw, the parking here is $7.42. I called to confirm before I booked this. Just curious though, do you think I could have done better? What is your advice for March 2nd for an airport hotel? :)

Ok, I had to do it too. I was so stressed out over this that I couldnt sleep. I went back to Hotwire today and the rate dropped by 2 dollars. Last night I looked around and found a motel for 50, that was 1 mile away( No thanks). I went to the sheraton website and looked at all the specials. They had some kind of "up to 50% off the rack rate" with AAA. That rate ended up at 145 a night. I was trying my hardest to find a rate that was cheaper or equal to the 68. Equal being so I could get starwood points. I had no such luck so my husband told me to just book it so we can stop worrying.( really so I can stop worrying). I still need one more night( our first night) at the airport, but Im not going to stress on that now. So here are the details:Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-5551 Check-in: Wed, Mar 3, 2004 at 3:00 PM Check-out: Sun, Mar 7, 2004 at 11:00 AM Guest Name(s): Randi Billing Details No. of Rooms: 1 No. of Nights: 4 Price Per Night: $68.00 Subtotal: $272.00 Taxes / Booking Fees: $36.95 Total Price: $308.95