Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Miami (Airport MIA) Marriott Miami Airport

[westcan]

This may be Spring break for some people and this does tend to be a busier time of year in the area. Possibly a convention or other event. Rates can vary significantly from day-to-day.

Please start a new thread with the details of your trip if you would like assistance with your stay.

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

Thanks Aaron for the advice, I think I am travelling at the tail end of spring break, or even during for some of the schools. March 12....

I checked my old wins, I think they were usually higher, more like $70. bit by bit I just increase my bid. Today was $70, didn't get a room yet, but there is lots of time still. Happy I didn't wait too long to start looking though.

[Romelle]

What star level are you bidding? Hotwire has a MIA 2 1/2* at $82 for your date.

Romelle

[westcan]

I am bidding on 3.5* and up.

I went back and searched old wins of mine, found these 2:

1) Sept 22 3011, $50 + tax for Sheraton Miami Intl, 3.5*

2) April 19 2011, 2nd try offer from Priceline of $75 + tax for Doubletree and Miami Airport Convention Centre, 3.5*

Prior to that, I recall another for about $65-75 at the Miami Airport Hilton, a 4* (pretty sure that was the price, but the search feature no longer goes back far enough. It was in Jan 1011 or perhaps some time late 2010.

Anyway it was just an observation, winning bids seem to be higher now. Spring break is probably a factor though.

[thereuare]

Generally speaking, as the economy has improved hotel rates have climbed higher, this is true for both 'retail' rates and thru the 'opaque' suppliers.

What is the best rate you're able to find at an acceptable hotel thru traditional booking channels?

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

[westcan]

I don't go through those anymore, I use this forum and go to PRICELINE :-) but the Priceline quotes for 3.5 - 4* on that date are Sheraton: $188, Doubletree: 159, Miami Hilton Airport $164. Priceline tells you to get "up to 60% off" on the name your own price feature, so I guess I should be expecting to pay somewhere around $95-100 + tax by bidding. Yes that is an increase over what I had paid in the past, so perhaps either it is because of seasonality (spring break) or the economy picking up as you say.

[thereuare]

Are those rates you saw on PRICELINE's "retail" side or the data they provide you when bidding "You would normally expect to pay $xx for a 4* hotel..."

While it may not be necessary to book thru traditional booking channels, it is important to know what 'regular' rates are offered on a given set of dates to get a sense of whether demand for your specific dates are high, low, or normal. This helps ensure that your bid expectations are realistic, and by knowing what is available thru conventional booking channels ensures that you don't overbid.

Use our new Bidding Helper tool to quickly get an overview of 'regular' rates and know your best option(s) outside of the opaque suppliers so that you can set an appropriate bidding limit.

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

[westcan]

Yes they are. I checked through your Bidding Helper, and come up with the same range of prices. That is actually a good tool! Thanks.

[thereuare]

If Airport is the only zone you're currently bidding, based upon current rates i'd guess you'll likely need to bid $80-$90 for a 3.5/4* property.

Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if we an be of further help along the way.

Good luck.

[westcan]

Started bidding quite a while ago at $50 for 4* room. Didn't get it, then over the next while (quite a while) was increasing bids by $5, then started bidding on 3.5*'s as well. Finally won a bid, for the 3.5* Mariott Miami Airport hotel for one night March 11, at $100. $121.59 including taxes. The Name Your Own Price section said this was a savings of 25%. Went and looked at the normal hotel search section of Priceline, that section had the room listed at $219 for that date.

Used the Pricline.com link from this site.

[westcan]

So I have been increasing my bids by $5 every day, sometimes on 4* then going back and adding 3.5*.

Finally won a bid, for the 3.5* Mariott Miami Airport hotel for one night March 11, at $100. $121.59 including taxes. The Name Your Own Price section said this was a savings of 25%. Went and looked at the "retail" section of Priceline, that section had the room listed at $219 for that date.

And of course, used the PRICELINE.com link from this forum. I have also listed this win as another thread as well.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you were ultimately successful and this looks to be a very nice deal vs. a conventionally booked room for this nite. Hope you're pleased with the hotel and rate and are looking forward to your trip.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.