Priceline Hotel: Miami Priceline Help Please!!

[mdogg6]

Hi. I'm new to priceline, have read the bidding strategy pages but I'm still a little overwhelmed with all the areas. I was hoping to get some advice on how to approach bidding.

Need a hotel in Miami for 1 night only, March 12th.

Ideally a South beach 3.5* or more, and would be willing to pay up to $150.

Second choice would be downtown or somewhere closeby, still 3.5* or above. I'd like to pay a little less for downtown, and less still (<$100) for Coral Gables or Miami Airport Area.

How would you suggest bidding - start with South Beach only then if unsuccessful the other areas at lower bids?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

How would you suggest bidding - start with South Beach only then if unsuccessful the other areas at lower bids?

Based upon your goal for this stay this seems like the right approach.

If you enter 'Miami' and your dates into the search box on the top right corner of this page, you'll see the zones for this area... are all three South Beach zones acceptable?

Let us know and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (please click this PRICELINE link before replying)

[mdogg6]

Yep, any of the 3 South Beach areas would be acceptable but our first choice would probably be South Beach-Ocean Drive.

How would you recommend I start?!

[thereuare]

Are you willing to pay more to stay in the South Beach-Ocean Drive zone vs. the other South Beach zones... or is the least expensive out of any of the three South Beach zones your first objective?

[mdogg6]

I'd say price is more important than location in south beach, so the least expensive of any of the south beach zones would be preferable.

Second choice would be downtown miami, third choice would be coral gables or airport.

I realize i said 3.5* or above, but doesn't look like there's much out there, so 3* would be ok in south beach or downtown Miami.

The further we go away from SB, hoping we can get higher * rating for less $ (maybe $125 for downtown, $100 for Coral gables or airport?)

Perhaps my $150 goal is unreasonable?

Hope this makes sense.

[thereuare]

Just had a look at prices for this nite and they're very high... Spring Break effect?

Not sure how much you're going to find within your budget at the 3.5* level or better, but i'd suggest giving it a try before starting to weigh other options. Also, while 3* hotels can be 'hit or miss', the risk (imo) increases dramatically in South Beach as you have a LOT of small, independent properties of varying quality, and if/when things go wrong, there is little or no corporate structure to get things resolved.

Based upon the rates i'm seeing i'd suggest bidding 3.5* in all acceptable zones up to your limit, then if rejected lower to 3* but perhaps focus more on the Downtown area(s) and away from the Beach.

Will you have a car? Is this a one nite pre-cruise stay? What time does your flight get in? (assuming you're flying)

[mdogg6]

Well...i've been playing around on priceline for the last couple of days and here's what i've tried...

South Beach, all areas, 3*s, started around 125 went up to 160 without a successful bid.

Then tried downtown Miami 3*, started around 95 and went up to about 125, no successful bids.

Finally I tried west/southern areas..coral gables and miami airport, 3*s. Start around 65 and went up as far as 95, wasn't succesful.

I plan on keeping an eye on hotwire and priceline but in the meantime just reserved Holiday Inn Express Kendall with a corporate discount worked out to about $110. Am going to keep looking around but wanted to have at least something reasonable in case prices head up instead of down.

Doesn't seem like prices will be lower for any time between now and 3/12!

Thanks for your help, these forums have been an immense help to learn the system even if i wasn't able to secure anything this time around.

[thereuare]

Glad you at least found a suitable back-up reservation.

Keep us updated and let us know of any changes or if we can be of further help with this stay in the coming weeks.

Please check for and use the links in our support page for your future hotel direct purchases (where we have a link to the Holiday Inn as well as most other major hotel chains and online booking agencies)