Hotwire Hotel: Request for assistance--South Beach

[gmurphyjc]

I'll be spending three nights in South Beach in November. I want to be on the beach. On Hotwire, there are currently two options in my price range in the "oceanfront Collins area." One is listed as three stars, oceanfront with a pool at $151. The other is 2.5 stars, oceanfront, pool, boutique, fitness center, business center, restaurant, golf nearby, high-speed internet access, laundry facility for $144. Any assistance in identifying these hotels, or other relevant advice, would be appreciated. (I have previously stayed at the Marseilles and the Richmond in this area and would happily return to either.)

[thereuare]

I want to be on the beach.

One is listed as three stars, oceanfront with a pool at $151. The other is 2.5 stars, oceanfront...

Is the icon actually Oceanfront (as opposed to Beachfront)... as oceanfront and beachfront are two different things accordingly to HOTWIRE, and Oceanfront does ensure that you'll have a beach in front of the hotel. If it's Beachfront that you're specifically seeking, are these properties still an option?

What are the actual dates of your stay?

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

Thanks.

[gmurphyjc]

I'll be staying from 11/10 to 11/13. Both the listings have an icon that says Beachfront--the property is located on the beach. Being familiar with the area, I read this as being hotels such as the Richmond where you walk directly from the hotel, past the pool to the beach without having to cross the street. Would that not be a fair assumption to make? Is there a place where I can read Hotwire's definitions of "Beachfront" and "Oceanfront." Thanks for the assistance.

[thereuare]

Those are both BEACHFRONT icons in which the hotel should be located on the beach (as you describe above)... HOTWIRE uses two other icons, "Near Beach" (same icon as you're seeing but with an arrow next to the beach umbrella) which is where the beach is an 'easy walk' from the hotel (ie- may need to cross a street or walk down the block) and an "Oceanfront" icon where the hotel is on the water but perhaps not sandy beach (could be rocky, a bluff, etc)

For the 2.5* hotel above, if you go back to HOTWIRE and click the CONTINUE button next to this offering and then click the "See all " link on top of the icons, do you see more amenities than what you've listed above?

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

[gmurphyjc]

When I click on "see all" as you suggest, two additional amenities are listed: "spa services" and "tennis nearby." Thanks again for the assistance.

[thereuare]

Neither of the these properties have been reported 'as-in'...

I don't have a guess for the 3* property as the amenities are too common for the area to gain much insight into this one. For the 2.5* i think the Marseilles Hotel is a possibility, downgraded from the previously reported 3* rating and with more amenities then it has used in the past... that would be my guess for this one.

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

Let us know what you decide to do for this stay or if we can be of further help.

[gmurphyjc]

Let us know what you decide to do for this stay or if we can be of further help.

I noticed that Priceline now has an equivalent "Collins Avenue Oceanfromt" zone. It states that "All priceline hotels in this zone are oceanfront." I had been shying away from Priceline for this trip because I really wanted to make sure I was in that specific area. Last time I checked (maybe two years ago) they did not have such a specific zone. I think I will switch over to the priceline forum to ask for bidding advice.