Hotwire Hotel: Help Identify a 3.5* in Ft. Lauderdale Beach

[TrevMan22]

Amenities include: Resort, near beach, restaurants, pool, fitness center, high speed internet, tennis, business center, laundry.

the price is $99 per night: Jan 14th- Jan 16th

Is this a good deal?

[TrevMan22]

This matches the Sheraton Yankee Trader, except for the resort amenity. That is what is confusing me about it.

[thereuare]

The Hi-Speed Internet icon has also not been reported to be associated with the Sheraton Trader, so without further confirmation i wouldn't necessarily think that this is the property you're seeing.

As well, i think you can likely do better with Priceline, but then you'll have a little less control over the actual hotel you receive.

How particular about where you ultimately stay?

[TrevMan22]

Not too particular, just want a nice hotel with beach access.

[TrevMan22]

Its not on the list yet but could this hotel be Bahia Mar? The resort amenity is what kinda makes me think this. any feedback?

[thereuare]

I would say that the Bahimia would be a good guess among the possible properties... but i also think that you could likely get a better deal for these dates thru Priceline if you're flexible.

If you want to try that route let us know and we'll suggest a bidding strategy.

[TrevMan22]

If you could supply a bidding strategy for me that would be great! Basically I want a 3 star or nicer prefferably on or near the beach, or the Embassy Suites downtown.

[thereuare]

Is the Priceline "Beach" zone too large for you (ie- 'on or near the beach')

For example, the Hyatt Pier 66 is a 4* in this zone, but it is not on or walkable to the beach, but you can get to the beach via the Inter-Coastal Waterway.

[TrevMan22]

The waterway thing will work, i dont need anything really within walking distance because it will be january anyways. also i am interested in the embassy suites, which is in the downtown category. thanks for any help you can give.

[thereuare]

The Embassy Suites has not come up thru the opaque providers in about a year, so that is a very low probability outcome.

Would you want to spend close to $100 (the price of the hotel you mentioned above) for something like the Hyatt Pier 66 (a 4* hotel) or would you want to spend less for a 3* property?

[TrevMan22]

100 for the hyatt would be ideal to me, do you have a strategy that would help me get that?

[thereuare]

You can't bid for a specfic property, but if you wanted a 4* in the Beach zone this what i would do...

You have four re-bid zones avaialble in this area, if you're not familiar with re-bidding read RE-BIDDING EXPLAINED and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Select 4* Beach...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $92, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[TrevMan22]

Followed this strategy except went 100 on the last bid. All bids were rejected. Guess I'll try in a couple of days.

[spimby]

See my post at Hotwire Bahia Mar

Just got the Bahia Mar on Hotwire:

Amenities listed were:

Resort

Near Beach

Restaurant(s)

Pool(s)

Fitness Center

High-Speed Internet Access

Tennis Nearby

Business Center

Laundry Facilities (self-service)

[Tania]

Thank you so much for posting this! Which dates did you book?

[spimby]

Just one day, 9/1/2005.

[TrevMan22]

There is no longer a four star option for fort lauderdale beach (at least for the dates I am looking for) does this mean that they are no longer an option for priceline, or could it be just a temporary thing?

[thereuare]

No telling if the hotel has stopped participating with Priceline or if merely downgraded to a lesser star quality (or upgraded to Resort).... other changes have also taken place simultaneously as this (no 2.5* in Downtown anymore).

See this BOUNDARY and STAR RATING CHANGES thread from Aug 27 2005, 01:06 AM to Aug 27 2005, 04:10 PM for similar threads and updates (times are EST)

[jvander]

I got a 4* option for both the beach and the downtown zone (Ft Lauderdale) when checking today. However, it was not present over the weekend.

Hope this helps!

Janet