Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Wellesley Inn & Suites-SouthPark $25

[jkloni]

We are driving to Orlando Monday 7/7 because we have a Universal Orlando package for 7/8 - 7/12 staying at the Royal Pacific Resort. We need a room for 1 night so that we can get to Universal the morning of the 8th all rested and ready to hit the parks- and not using one of our package days driving.

The room doesn't have to be anything special. I have already done my Priceline prep - checking each zone and writing down which zones have which star hotels so that I will know any free bid zones if needed. I think we would probably want to stay in the Universal/Wet Wild zone. Just not sure where to start my bidding. Need help with that.

I looked at Hotwire, but not familiar enough with it to know what hotels are listed.

I want very inexpensive. Cheap. Any suggestions? Priceline or Hotwire? Used Priceline a couple of weeks ago for Miami and was very pleased. What is the cheapest price anyone got a Priceline hotel for in Orlando? Of course, like all of us, I want the best hotel for the cheapest price.

Thanks for any and all help.

[thereuare]

Just how far outside of the Disney/Universal area are you willing to stay?

Is Downtown Orlando an option?

Take a look at the Priceline/Hotwire zones and let me know if all of them are an option or which ones should be excluded.

Once i know what zones to include/exclude, i'll be able to give you a Priceline strategy, which will have you bid up to your lowest available price via Hotwire.

Thanks.

[jkloni]

Downtown, Florida Mall and Airport zones are options in addition to the Universal zone.

We just want to stay somewhere in the area. I used the Universal zone because it had International Drive in it and was closest to where we will be staying.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks for your help!

[jkloni]

Sorry, I only told you the Priceline zones. On Hotwire, Universal, Airport West, Airport and Downtown are OK.

Hotwire has a 2 star hotel for $29 right now in the Universal zone with pool and continental breakfast icons that I almost bought today, but decided to wait until I heard from you. The taxes and fees would have been $10.95 for a total of $39.95. That's 30%. Is Hotwire normally that much in fees and taxes?

Do you think I could get one cheaper with Priceline?

Talk to you soon! Thanks.

[thereuare]

I saw a 3* hotel in the Downtown Orlando area for $29 (restaurant, pool, fitness, hi-speed internet, business)... although it doesn't have the free breakfast, i think that might be a 'safer' bet. Either way, i think you can do better on Priceline, and whether you decide the 2* or 3* on Hotwire is better for you, $29 is the price we'd be trying to 'beat'.

With Priceline i would stick with bidding for 2.5* and higher, and you'll have 3 re-bid zones (if you don't understand re-bidding, see THIS THREAD). If you bid for less than 2.5*, you DON"T have 3 re-bid zones!! (so don't lower your bid quality from what i've recommended below, or if you do, report back so i can make adjustments accordingly).

Select 2.5 and all the zones you're willing to accept (Downtown, Florida Mall, Airport, Universal)....

bid $22, if rejected, add re-bid zone

bid $25, if rejected, add re-bid zone

bid $27, if rejected, add re-bid zone

bid $29, if rejected... buy one of the above on Hotwire.

As for the taxes and fees.... both Priceline and Hotwire now use a variable fee, but if you assume about $6 for a fee and 10% for tax (~$3), you're looking at about $9 total, so although $10.88 is a bit more, it's not too far off the mark. The ~$6 is a fee per room, so it would appear as smaller percentage as the number of nites and/or price of the hotel increase.

Whether you go with Priceline or Hotwire, it would be appreciated if you started your bid or purchase at SavingsBarn.com

Any questions regarding the above, feel free to ask, and of course, let us know how it goes.

[jkloni]

Initially bid earlier today 3* Universal-Sea World at $25, $29, $33 & $35 adding rebid zones each time and was rejected each time.

Thereuare gave me the following advice and my bid was successful!

2.5* and selected zones for Universal-Seaworld and Florida Mall.

Bid $22 - Rejected, But Priceline came back with ....if you bid $6 higher....

I went all the way out and back in (using SavingsBarn.com) and added a rebid zone and bid $25 ( half of what Priceline asked for) and it was accepted!

1 night 7/7

Room - $25.00

Fees - 8.50

Total $33.50

The hotel is only 4 miles or so from Universal.

I am very happy. I also checked tripadvisor.com and there were a couple of excellent reviews from people who stayed there.

Thanks again, thereuare. :) I think I understand the bidding, I just don't know what bid amount to start with and the increments for rebidding.

I never would have dreamed you could get a hotel for $25!

Priceline is addicting! It will be very hard to pay actual prices ever again!

Couldn't have done it without you!

[thereuare]

It's been our pleasure to help!

Even after you become an 'expert', feel free to post and ask questions just to confirm your strategy. There are times when users local to the area your bidding can add specific tips or hints that otherwise wouldn't be known... and we encourage anything that leads our users to BetterBidding (pun intended).

Feel free to add your own review to our Hotel Review section when you return.

Enjoy your trip!

PS- looks like this hotel also offers a complimentary breakfast, which i think was a perk you were looking for in your Hotwire search

[jkloni]

I will post a report on this hotel from our trip to Orlando in July and also the Sheraton Biscayne Bay in Miami in October.

And I saw the complimentary breakfast too. I think this hotel will do nicely for us.

Although while reading the hotel's website I saw that children 12 and under stayed free in the room. Our son is 13. So I guess he and his dad will be busy doing something else when I check in....