Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Miami (Airport MIA) Crowne Plaza Miami International Airport

[bjd2]

Hello,

I'm planning to take a cruise out of Miami and need a hotel for one night on 3/16/12. I'm hoping for airport or downtown area but would be happy with anything that we can get a reasonable cab fare to the port the next morning. I would like the nicest hotel that I can get for hopefully around 125. Friends are booked at Red Roof Inn Airport for 135 and that one doesn't look like what I would like based on reviews. Can you please help me? I do have time, but would like to get something firmed up if I can. I am not confident with the zones and rebidding process.

Thanks,

Bobbie

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I suspect your best deal will likely be in the Airport zone area, but that would be a little bit further to the pier in the morning. What is your target budget for this nite and what is the minimum star rating you're willing to accept?

I'd also suggest you take a look at our latest site, Pre Cruise Hotels.com... select a mile radius, then select your minimum star level and sort by price... you'll instantly be able to see the least expensive hotels within the select milage of the pier, and if you click in the hotel name, be shown on the map where the hotel is lcoated ;)

Let us know the information above and we'll take it from there.

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

PS- please read your messages

[bjd2]

Thank you for the prompt reply! I would like to stay under 150 and would love a 4*. I would take a 3* but would want a great win of under 100 for it.

[thereuare]

If you go to Pre Cruise Hotels.com, select 10 miles from the pier and your dates. Once results are show, select 4* from the filter list and then under the star levels select price to sort by price. This shows you the least expensive 4* hotel within 10 miles of the pier is the Hilton Miami Airport at $164/nite. However, this is non-refundable, but they do have a refundable $179, which you may want to consider as a back-up before lowing your star rating to 3.5*/3* should your 4* bids fail.

To suggest a bidding strategy, both Downtown and Airport MIA are acceptable? What about Miami Airport West-Doral?

Please confirm the zone(s) 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.

[bjd2]

If cab fares are comparable in the Doral zone then that would be fine too. Thanks for your help!

[thereuare]

Cab fare from the Doral zone may cost you an extra $10-$15, i'm not certain the exact amount as it will be determined by how far west of the airport your hotel ends up being (as the pier is east of the airport). However, if this would be a deal breaker, assuming the hotel offers a shuttle to the airport, you could take the hotel shuttle to the airport, then take a taxi from the airport to the pier. Taxi from the airport to the pier is a fixed rate (i believe $24 although it may have changed since i last checked).

As well, assuming you ended up in the Doral zone, it may be because hotels there are ~$10 (or more) cheaper than the other zones, so it may ultimately be a 'wash' paying the extra cab fare.

Please confirm your zones you'd like to bid and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[bjd2]

I bid this morning and got this:

Miami Airport area

Crowne Plaza

$125 on 4th bid

3/16/12

Total charged 150.11

I'm happy with this rate for this hotel especially during spring break. This is 10 dollars cheaper than the room I had booked at the Red Roof Inn.

Thanks again for your help!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you did (substantially) better than your back-up reservation at the Red Roof Inn... perhaps your friends are interested in trying to get the same deal??

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay... and upcoming cruise!