Priceline Hotel: 2.5 * results for Mimai Area

[crxcte]

Noticed the calendar shows no results for 2.5* rating in Miami area. Anyone have any idea of the pricing and hotel type for over Xmas time frame (12/25 through 1/5)?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Do you need the full 11 nites of this timeframe or just a sub-set of these dates? Which zone(s) are you looking to stay in? What is your maximum budget (per nite) for this trip? Are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel OR is your goal the least expensive 2.5* or better for this stay? Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

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

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

[crxcte]

My actual dates are 12/26 to 1/3. I prefer near the beach but more sensitive to the dollar amount. I've used Priceline the last 2 years in the Miami area (from Pompano to Homestead) around this time of year. My experience with the 4 star was additional costs related to breakfast,internet, parking, and fitness ammenities. Hyatt at Fort Lauderdale had $20/day parking expense we got stuck with 2 years ago. Most 2.5 star hotels include these ammenities. Would a person get a better deal by splitting the dates up? Any location is fine, I would start at S. Beach first. I didn't see many 2.5 calendar wins.

[thereuare]

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

2x

[crxcte]

Is it possible to bid on a 2 star only? I don't want Priceline giving me a 2.5 or higher automatically when I select a 2 star.

[thereuare]

I assumed that your most recent post was for this same trip, if not, let us know and we'll separate this post. (and if that is the case please follow-up whatever you decided to do for this previous stay)

To answer your question, "no", you can't prevent an upgrade, the star rating you select is the minimum you are willing to select, not an absolute number.

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

[crxcte]

I'm wanting to get an Extended Stay hotel, so I guess that is not possible using Priceline bidding?

[Romelle]

I'm wanting to get an Extended Stay hotel, so I guess that is not possible using Priceline bidding?

Right, it is not possible to make sure you get a certain hotel when bidding via PRICELINE. With HOTWIRE, the list of amenities enables one to take a fairly sure guess, but it is still not 100%.

Romelle

[AaronJB]

In terms of an Extended Stay hotel, you could look on HOTWIRE to find a listing with suite, breakfast and kitchenette or some combination of the three to try and not necessarily get an Extended Stay property, but a property with similar amenities that an Extended Stay would offer. It isn't possible to get a particular hotel or particular chain when using PRICELINE. If an Extended Stay has been previously reported to the board on HOTWIRE in a particular area, you could try to see if it's showing for your dates.

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

[crxcte]

I have never used Hotwire. You can't bid on rooms on Hotwire. Is that right?

[Romelle]

I have never used Hotwire. You can't bid on rooms on Hotwire. Is that right?

You don't bid on Hotwire, but it is an "opaque" site. It just tells a price for various star levels and various areas in a city. If you accept a particular offering, then you learn what hotel you get.

Take a look at it with the links in the upper left corner here. Plug your dates in and see what comes up. You can see the "amenities" a particular offering has. Several of them include free breakfast.

HOTWIRE is actually easier to use than PRICELINE.

Also, you might want to try different splits on the dates, working around New Year's Eve - maybe 12/26 - 12/31 and 1/1 - 1/3, just to see if different things come up.

If you do see something that would work, don't waste too much time thinking about it. HOTWIRE deals come and go, sometimes surprisingly fast.

Romelle