Priceline Hotel: 4* Orlando (SeaWorld - International Drive - Convention Center) Rosen Shingle Creek

[shayde]

Heading to Orlando this weekend to visit the Universal parks with my parents, who are visiting from Pennsylvania. (We live in Tampa, so it's an easy drive - and no problem to leave our hotel booking for the last minute.)

I checked this forum for past wins, and scoped out the free rebid zones. Based on past wins, I initially started with a bid in the Universal area, but figured I could get a better price by adding the SeaWorld/International Drive area, which isn't far from Universal, since so many people have been getting the Rosen Shingle Creek there.

1st bid: $45 for 4-star in Zone 12 (Universal); rejected (I got a warning saying there was a low chance of my bid being accepted, but proceeded anyway)

2nd bid: $50 for 4-star in Zones 12 (Universal) and 11 (SeaWorld/Int'l Drive); accepted

I booked two rooms for one night; total with taxes and fees came to $121.16.

I've stayed at the Rosen Shingle Creek before; it's a nice hotel. (My husband's company had a conference here; their special conference rate was over $100/night, so the Priceline win is really a great deal.) The rooms are large and include a mini refrigerator, and there's a Publix grocery store across the road from the hotel's entrance - so we can pick up drinks and snacks there instead of at the overpriced convenience store at the hotel. The only downsides are $16/night parking (which seems way overpriced, as the hotel sits on a huge property with a golf course - $16/night is what you'd expect to pay for parking at a downtown hotel rather than someplace that has plenty of land and is located off the beaten path); it's a bit of a hike from the parking lot to the hotel entrance (the lot abuts the nearby convention center rather than the hotel itself); and as a short person (5'1"), I can't stand their sinks - the countertop seems a bit high, the bowl is huge, the faucet is way at the back, and the counter bumps out in front, so I have to stand on tiptoes to brush my teeth. But those are minor complaints considering the price I paid and the overall quality of the hotel.

Thanks for providing this great forum, which is a huge help with bidding strategies. And yes, I made sure to use the PRICELINE link on this site to book our hotel! :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Nice to see you received a great deal for this property and, for the price, are pleased with the results. Sounds like the 'inconveniences' are somewhat minor and not a deal breaker considering the rate paid.

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

Enjoy your stay.