SJK

Help with 4* North Ft. Lauderdale This is a hotwire 4* for North Fort Lauderdale, FL. Dates are December 26, 2009 for 1 night. Hotwire amenities - Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Pools, Restaurants, Business Center, High Speed Internet Access. They say tripadvisor gives it 3.5 out of 5. Hotel is 8.4 miles from FLL. Price is $56/night + tax.

This is for a 3.5* Las Olas - Downtown - Port Everglades for 2 rooms Sat Dec 26, 2009 for 1 night; Amenities include: Smoke Free Rooms, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Laundry Facilities, High Speed Internet Access. Price is $89+taxes per night per room. Tripadvisor 4.0 out of 5. 3.3 miles to FLL; 24.4 miles to MIA.

Tried booking a 4* for ATL airport starting at $50 bid. It denied me and said to increase by $14, which I did and won the Airport Hilton. Date is for July 28 (1 night).

Ended up trying Priceline and got the Hilton :) for $64/night plus taxes. I found that the airport park n fly, which is just a mile away, is having a sale on off airport parking and got it for $39 for 7 days, so that saved me about $50 off the airport prices. Hilton want $10/night so I passed on that. Only bad thing I am learning about Priceline is that there was no where to put in that we were a party of 4 (2 ads, 2 kids). Thus they booked us in a King. I called the hotel (as Priceline says to) to get 2 DBLs but the Hilton won't guarantee anything. We'll work through it one way or another. Overall I'm still happy with getting the room for $64 as it will allow us to relax and not deal with the 60 mile rush hour commute in Atlanta morning traffic :) . I did book this using the PRICELINE link. I will post there as well.

According to Hotwire, their 4* hotels would be: "InterContinental, Hyatt, Omni, and other prestigious hotel brands". And under their 3.5* they list "Hilton, Millennium, Crowne Plaza, and other respected hotel brands" Will this always hold true (i.e. - They won't include a Hilton under the 4* category)??? If so then I'm wondering if that would rule out the Hilton Airport. What I am unsure about is if this can vary by location - e.g. if you get a nice hilton in one area that is considered 4* for that area, will Hotwire include it in the 4* category or stick to their online ratings that a Hilton will be 3.5*. I guess thinking now they would probably have to keep their own ratings as this is documented on their site and they have to be consistent in hotel brand ratings. What do you think? I am a loyal Hilton member but this property at the airport is not a nice one and even for a night before a flight I wouldn't want to stay at it.

Can you help identify this for me? I would like either Westin or Renaissance. Hilton is OK but run down and they stick it to you with $10/night parking as a guest. This is for a 4* for $69/night (for 1 night only, July 28th, 2009) with following amenities: Airport Shuttle, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurants(s), Business Center, High Speed Internet Access. TripAdvisor gives it a 4 out of 5, with 100+ reviews. Says it is 2.1 miles from airport (which unfortunately seems far if it was to be the Renaissance).

WON Grand Cayman Beach Suites - 6 nights from July 29, 2009 to August 4, 2009. $ 133/night with $24.30 in taxes/resort fees. Total for 6 nights = $ 943.76 !!! Their summer special was for $ 225/night + taxes, so alone that would be > $300/night. This rate is 50% of their normal room rates. So over the summer rate I saved more than $1000 for the 6 nights, and more than $2000 vs. their standard rate! I did book through the HOTWIRE link on your response. Thanks for all your help !!! We are all ready to go !!

Thanks again. One more question. We really would like this to be the Grand Cayman Beach Suites. When I did compare amenities at the other potential hotels (Westin, Ritz, Marriott) there was considerable overlap. What amenity would have you estimate it would be the Beach Suites? Was it the "Non Smoking"? I think Marriotts are all smoke free now, but did not think Westin or Ritz were. I don't think Marriott has a "Spa" though. I have stayed at the Marriott in GC before, and while it is a nice hotel, there is construction around there and it can be loud. Also the beach is a bit narrow that far up. The Ritz looked like the Titanic spilled out onto the beach when we walked past it on several day's walks, so want to avoid the masses if possible. I would be happy with either Westin or Beach Suites...but hoping Beach Suites. Will probably book tomorrow. Do you have a probability estimate it will be Beach Suites? :) Will let you know what I get. I had to arrange the flights first (FF miles harder and harder to use !!).

Thanks for the reply. Just out of curiousity, why would they not include an "S" in the amenities to indicate an all-suite hotel? It appears looking at the web site that it is an all-suite hotel.

Need help with this hotel. Wondering if it is Westin, Marriott or Ritz Carlton. Dates are 7/27-7/31 - 4*, amenities are Resort, Beachfront, Oceanfront, Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High Speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Spa Services, Childrens Programs. They are asking $133/night. Say that Tripadvisor gives it 4.5 out of 5.