Priceline Hotel: ID Help - 3* Disney Main Gate - Celebration area hotel

[Shannon88]

Hello all,

I'm new here, and posting for the first time as I see you have some great advice to offer. I've read through several websites on using name-your-price on priceline and have familiarized myself with the process. I usually only book my travel through sites like Priceline, Expedia, etc, but I've never used a bidding service (too nervous as to what I'd get!) Anyways, here is what I'm looking for:

3/16/11 - 3/22/11

Orlando (not too picky about the neighborhood, okay with LBV, I-drive, Winter Park, WDW area)

2 people

A nice, CLEAN hotel (3.5-4 stars)

Would ideally like to stay around $50 a night

I've been noticing people scoring some great deals on the Rosen Shingle Creek, but I read that it's a non-smoking property and the person I'm traveling with is a smoker.

Is $50 possible? Any help, advice, strategies are appreciated! :)

[yellowdog]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I've been noticing people scoring some great deals on the Rosen Shingle Creek, but I read that it's a non-smoking property and the person I'm traveling with is a smoker.

If you're looking for hotel that allows smoking isn't PRICELINE the way to go.

Please start with reading this link: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained

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

Yellowdog.

[Shannon88]

We do NOT want a smoking room - I know that cannot be guaranteed on priceline. I've been doing research online about which hotels are completely non-smoking properties, I guess I was just looking for tips on how to avoid getting these, but I suppose I'll just have to narrow it down by zones.

[AaronJB]

I think the issue with Orlando is that there's a massive amount of properties, especially in the popular resort areas (Lake Buena Vista, Seaworld/I-Drive,etc.) and one has to research the properties and get an idea of what areas and star ratings that they are okay with, because there is no way to avoid a particular property (for example, if you bid for a 4* in a particular zone, you have to be okay with any of the 4*'s in that zone.)

There is no way to avoid a no-smoking property using PRICELINE, although with HOTWIRE you can avoid properties with the "smoke-free" icon, although there may be other properties that are smoke-free w/no smoke-free icon on that service. In terms of a hotel that offers both smoking and no-smoking rooms, it probably shouldn't be an issue to request a smoking room.

I think you can probably get a 3.5*-4* at around $50 or slightly under for these dates based upon the HOTWIRE rates I'm seeing, but in terms of a nice/clean property, some of the properties in Orlando don't get great reviews (overall) and the smoking issue is difficult to guarantee 100% via either service.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Shannon88]

Comes up as $34/night for 3/16/11 - 3/22/11

When on booking page, it says reserve 2 doubles for $37/night, or a king for $39/night.

This hotel features the following amenities:

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

Laundry Facilities (self-service)

High-Speed Internet Access

This hotel typically charges all guests a resort fee

regardless of how the room is booked. The hotel

collects this fee of about US$ 10 per room per night.

70% of Hotwire reviews recommend

500+ total reviews

Customer rating on TripAdvisor

3.5 out of 5.0

[yellowdog]

Shannon88

Please keep all posts in the same thread since posts are for the same stay. We will edit and move your thread in the end.

Best guess would be Best Western Lakeside.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE link, and let us know how it goes or if you need any additional help with your stay.

Yellowdog.

[Shannon88]

Oops, sorry! I figured since I was switching over to Hotwire, I should put it in the hotwire thread. I'm still hunting around to try to find the best deal I can. Right now, I'm leaning toward a different listing on Hotwire. I'm just wondering, it lists the property as a 3* with a 95% approval rating, but the only listed hotel I can find on Hotwire with a 95% rating is a 3.5*. Do they ever lower the star property on the unpublished rates? Or are they fudging the percentage approval rating?

Here' some more information - same dates 3/16 - 3/22

Universal Orlando - I-drive North area hotel - $65/night

Amenities:

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-Speed Internet Access

Recommended in 95% of customer reviews.

The closest the 3* properties come is 87% of customer reviews.. could it be one of those?

The 3.5* with the 95% rating is the Point Orlando Resort on Universal Blvd. What do you think?

[yellowdog]

Four Points Studio City has been seen with this amenitie combo. But i'm unsure if this is the Four Points.

If this seems like a good deal you may want to consider seeing if this property is avaialble for the first, or last, nite of your stay, and then again for the balance. If so, you could purchase the solo nite in order to "look behind the curtain" and confirm the hotel's identity... if you're happy with the results go ahead and purchase the balance of your stay.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE link, and let us know how it goes or if you need any additional help with your stay.

Yellowdog.

[Shannon88]

We ended up going through Bookit.com. We got the Rosen Shingle Creek and airfare from Boston for $910, which is probably close to what we would have paid between bidding and booking airfare separately. We are happy with it, the hotel looks beautiful!

[AaronJB]

Thank you for closing the thread and glad you are pleased with the result.

Enjoy your stay.