Priceline Hotel: Need 2 rooms for a precruise stay in FLL

[Chrissy]

I need 2 rooms on 3/4/11- 3/5/11. I wont be arriving till about 7pm 3/4 so I am not concerned wiht beach/malls etc. I will have 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) in my room and 2 in the other room. A clean hotel with nearby food and a store for last minute items as well as shuttles from airport and to port in the am with breakfast would be great. Suggestions and how should I bid?

Thanks,

Chrissy

[Romelle]

Chrissy,

I'm just a member, but thought I'd give you a hand up to get you started. You might try checking your dates in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins (straight up, center of page). Put in your dates (or maybe a week before and after to get more results). Scroll down to Florida - Priceline and see if others have reported their results. And maybe take a peak at Florida-Hotwire.

Then punch "fort lauderdale" in the Quick Search box up at the top to see a whole bunch of bidding results.

PRICELINE only guarantees beds for two people, so you likely will want to go with HOTWIRE which lets you specify number of people. HOTWIRE also lets you look at the amenities before accepting a deal so you can pick a place that has at least most of the features you want.

When you think you've identified a likely Hotwire candidate, you can post back here with the list of amenities and somebody will make an educated guess as to which hotel you will get. Not 100%, but really good odds.

There are lots of transport options in the area, including very reasonable ones like buses and I think even light rail? (A more knowledgeable member will set me straight quite quickly if I'm wrong on the rail). I think airport hotels and some other areas work, but you will have to research that out a bit.

You can also look at the reviews under the Hotel Reviews tab for a little more information.

Romelle

[Romelle]

Are you wanting two nights, or just one?

[Chrissy]

Just one night but more then one room. AT least 2 rooms, but possibly 3. (waiting to see if a 3rd couple want a room too). HOTWIRE doesnt have any great deals right now for my dates:( So should I try PRICELINE or wait?

[Romelle]

It never hurts to try PRICELINE at lower rates. But I'm hoping you noted my first note comment about PL promising only bed space for two people. At worst case, that can be one double bed.

Those hotels know perfectly well what the cruise line schedule is. Barring some unseen problem event, I'd guess there won't be "great deals".

If you are successful getting the two rooms right now, of course there is no guarantee the third room will be at the same hotel. You stand a better chance of keeping everybody in one place when using HOTWIRE (via the amenities), but it isn't 100% either.

[thereuare]

HOTWIRE doesnt have any great deals right now for my dates

What do you consider to be a 'great deal' and what is your budget for this stay?

So should I try PRICELINE or wait?

I would at least wait until you know how many rooms you need... unless you're ok with the 3rd couple receiving a different hotel once they decide if they want to come or not. Also, are you ok with the risk that you receive a room with only one bed?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Chrissy]

I would like a clean hotel in a close distance to the port and airport. Preferrably near a store in walking distance to grab last minute items. If the hotel had a shuttle from the airport and then to the port the next day that would be great too, as well as an included breakfastin the morning. A PLUS would be a view of the ship when I wake with my coffee, but not mandatory. I would like to stay under 100.00 but would be fine up to 125.00 or so.

As far as the beds yes I would be ok. I read you can "request" doubles, so I would do that and hopefully between the 2 rooms one would be a double. IMO it seems kings sell out faster anyway so I am not too worried about it.

[Romelle]

Chrissy,

Right at the top of this page - center - is a link called "Cruise Pier Hotels". If you click it and then click Fort Lauderdale, you will get a really nice map of the area with all the hotels pinpointed.

Also, a site called "Cruise Critic"? Lots of good information there, including descriptions of hotels that fit your needs.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=42 should take you right to the Fort Lauderdale discussion area.

http://cruises.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Transpo...e_Ship_Terminal lists some hotels with free shuttles to the cruise piers.

A taxi from the airport to the cruise terminal is about $20, so an airport hotel could work.

Romelle

[thereuare]

While some hotels in the downtown zone offer shuttle service, you're more likely to see this amenity offered in the Airport zone (and more hotels will offer shuttle service to/from the Airport... less to/from the Cruise Port)

HOTWIRE has what appears to be the Riverside Hotel (no breakfast included and shuttle service is $21 for up to 3 people or $7/pp for four or more) available for your dates for $116/nite so my guess is that you're budget should be fine... but it comes down to whether you want the hotel with the lowest price which may or may not have all the amenities and location that you want from this stay vs. choosing your hotel and paying full retail price.

There is also a 3* in the Airport zone for $119 which shows a suite, shuttle, smoke free, breakfast, fitness, internet icons which i'm guessing is the Springhill Suites. You can research the location and if the airport shuttle is complimentary and if they offer shuttle to the pier, but you would at least know that the breakfast was included.

Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Chrissy]

Great thank you.

I tried bidding over the weekend up to 100.00 and didnt win. We will need a total of 3 rooms. I think Ill wait and check in on this again soon. In the meantime I need to reserach the airport area more.

[Romelle]

Chrissy,

What PRICELINE areas and star levels you are bidding? If you post the details, it is possible people here might have some useful hints or suggestions.

It is very early for bidding. You can always go higher later.

Romelle