Priceline Hotel: 2 or 3 Star Fort Lauderdale

[onebzemom]

Hi, I am new to bidding. I have done a lot of reading and see most people bid for 4 Star hotels. I look up the possible hotels and see what their Amenities are and most 4 Stars have very little compared to 2 and 3 star hotels. I would rather have free parking, breakfast and internet than stay at a very fancy hotel. Not only that, but the most of the hotels are next to each other or down the road from each other. I am looking at Fort Lauderdale for two nights and two rooms for Jan 5, 2013 pre cruise. Checking out on Jan 7th. I am hoping I could get some pointers like, when should I start bidding? Would $40.00 be too low? Is it harder to get two rooms?

thank you very much, denise

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding.

Please confirm which zone/s would be acceptable.

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

[onebzemom]

We will be arriving FLL ariport and cruising out of Miami. We have reservations right now for 2 nights at La Quinta on 2620 N 26th ave in Hollywood. This is the two nights I would like to try for on Priceline. We will have a rental car. After Miami cruise, we will come back to La Quinta one night before our second cruise from Port Everglades.

As far as Zones, I am open to suggestions. We'd much rather have a hotel with parking, breakfast and internet. Rather than a 4 Star Boutique Hotel.

thank, denise

[thereuare]

We'd much rather have a hotel with parking, breakfast and internet.

With PRICELINE these are all 'unknown' and you can't target a hotel with these amenities... HOTWIRE on the other hand will show you amenities before your purchase and you can look for a property that offers these specific amenities. The trade-of is that PRICELINE is usually a little cheaper than HOTWIRE, but HOTWIRE could be cheaper 'all-in' vs. if you were to win a hotel that didn't offer these things for free.

You may want to start by searching HOTWIRE for your dates and seeing if there are any properties that offer all (or most) of these features at no charge, then determine if the price is sufficient OR if you would rather hope for some amenities included and bid on PRICELINE. From there we can try to identify the HOTWIRE hotel OR offer a suggested bidding strategy.

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

[onebzemom]

Hi, I'd liked to try for Priceline, but not sure how low to start. I looked at Priceline's hotel options and most, not all 2 1/2 Star hotels have the amenities that I want. I will start with zone 4, Airport. I do realize, I may not get one of the hotels listed.

Is buying the insurance for $5 per night a good idea? One of the two rooms is for my elderly parents.

Will trying to get two rooms for two nights lessen my chances?

We will need the rooms for Jan. 5-7, 2013. Is it too early to start bidding?

thank you,denise

[thereuare]

Hi, I'd liked to try for Priceline, but not sure how low to start.

What is your maximum bid for these nites?

I looked at Priceline's hotel options and most, not all 2 1/2 Star hotels have the amenities that I want.

Keep in mind that the star rating you choose is the minimum that you're willing to accept... your 2.5* bid could be upgraded to a higher rated hotel.

I will start with zone 4, Airport.

Is the Downtown-Las Olas zone also acceptable? This one is popular for many pre-cruise hotel stays (also check out our sister site: Pre Cruise Hotels)

Is buying the insurance for $5 per night a good idea? One of the two rooms is for my elderly parents.

Depends upon how likely you think it is that you may need to cancel. Did you buy insurance for the cruise? If so, would your hotel purchase be covered as well?

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

Let us know the above and we'll advise accordingly.

[onebzemom]

What is your maximum bid for these nites?

Max. $60.00.

Keep in mind that the star rating you choose is the minimum that you're willing to accept... your 2.5* bid could be upgraded to a higher rated hotel.

I understand. If I end up with a higer Star, I'll live with it. :)

Is the Downtown-Las Olas zone also acceptable? This one is popular for many pre-cruise hotel stays (also check out our sister site: Pre Cruise Hotels)

Yes, Downtown would be okay.

Depends upon how likely you think it is that you may need to cancel. Did you buy insurance for the cruise? If so, would your hotel purchase be covered as well?

I'm not sure if hotel is covered. But if we cancel the cruise, we get refunded only towards credit. Which is okay for us.

[thereuare]

1 re0bid zone

At the moment it does not appear that $60 will likely be enough for a 2.5* property, but to give it a try:

When bidding 2.5* in the Fort Lauderdale area you have ONE re-bid zone. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Select 2.5* Airport...

Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Downtown...

Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Airport and Downtown...

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60

Any questions feel free to ask.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.