lissycakes Posted January 30, 2014 Report Posted January 30, 2014 Hello,We will be in Miami Beach Sunday Feb. 9th-Monday Feb 10th. I've been doing my research, and I'd like to try for a 5* Hotel in either Miami Beach (Fountainbleau?) North Miami Beach (Acqualina Resort & Spa?) or South Beach Ocean Drive(King&Gore Tides?).I figure since we are checking in on a sunday, that might help us out a little in getting a deal. I know the fountainbleau is huge, so they might have some extra rooms open that we could get at a very good price. Of course I would rather start with the South Beach Drive 5*, asI think it would be more fun to stay in South Beach, but I am thinking we are less likely to get a great deal there.Do you think that is is crazy for us to try to get something at one of these hotels for about $150? Do you have any suggestions or advice you could give? I figured I have 7 rebids fort each hotel, and if they don't work, I would be willing then to try to get a 4.5* hotelin south beach or miami beach. Any suggestions or advice you could give would be much appreciated. I am new to priceline, and have been doing my research, and am very excited to try to score a great deal on a hotel! :-)Thank you for your help-Lissy
AaronJB Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 Welcome to Betterbidding.Unfortunately, a 5* for $150 or less is unrealistic for these date/s - you are likely looking at possibly more towards the $225-250 range. A 4.5* is also likely going to take higher than $150 - Florida is busy this time of year and with how ridiculously cold it is in the North, Florida is probably even busier than usual.Additionally, in terms of bidding, you have to be willing to stay at any of the hotels in the zone/s chosen at the rating chosen.Would you be interested in going for a 4*, or would you want to raise your budget for a 4.5/5?Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.... and please click each of the links above before replying.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
lissycakes Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Posted January 31, 2014 I was afraid you were going to say that! ha.. Ok, well I think we will raise our budget and still try for a 5* or 4.5* hotel.first we will start with the 5* option- I think I will keep that bidding confined to Miami Beach, then try South Beach Ocean Drive area. If we don't get a decent bid accepted on those ($250 or less) Then we will move on to trying the 4.5 hotels in Miami Beach and South Miami Beach.Could you give me a starting bid recommendation and bid increment recommendation for both these plans of action? And any other advice you might have. I would greatly appreciate your help! We will definitely use your links to priceline. We plan on start bidding tomorrow, Sat. Feb 1st and see what happens. :-)thanks again,Lissy
thereuare Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 first we will start with the 5* option- I think I will keep that bidding confined to Miami Beach, then try South Beach Ocean Drive area.Why not include all zones acceptable at the 5* level and let the one with the least expensive rate accept your bid? (assuming there is one within your budget... as it seems like, from your previous post, South Beach Ocean Drive is preferable anyway)If you want to go this route, is North Miami Beach still acceptable OR do you only want to bid Miami Beach and South Beach Ocean Drive?Please confirm and we will suggest a strategy for you to follow.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
lissycakes Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Posted January 31, 2014 A friend who lives in Miami beach recommended we exclude North Miami Beach from our searches, citing that North Miami Beach is just too far away from it all. I think we will probably confine our 5* search to Miami Beach and South Beach Ocean Drive.for 5* hotel, our budget is maximum $250If we are unsuccessful with our 5* bidding, we will move down to the 4.5* Level, I would include Miami Beach, South Beach Ocean Drive, and South Beach Collins Avenue Oceanfront. I would add Miami South Beach Central to this as well, because it looks like they only have one 4.5* in this area, hopefully its the Mondrian.for 4.5*, I'm thinking our max would be $210If we are still unsuccessful with our bidding at 4.5*, we will move down to 4*level, including Miami Beach, South beach ocean drive, and South Beach Collins Avenue Oceanfront.for 4*, I'm thinking our max would be $150DO you think those target budgets are reasonable?Also, please give me bidding strategies if you can. If you think my target budgets are too low, please substitute what you think the budget target would be in the strategies you recommend. But our maximum budget for 5* is $250.again thank your for your help!! :-)
thereuare Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 Let's start with the 5* bidding and if rejected we'll take it from there.When bidding 5* in Miami you have TWELVE re-bid zones. 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 5* Miami Beach...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $210, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 5* South Beach Ocean Drive...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $210, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 5* Miami Beach and South Beach Ocean Drive...Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $220, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $228, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $233, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $238, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $240, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $243, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $248, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $250Any questions feel free to ask (especially confirming your re-bid zones if you're unsure or new to the topic)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us nkow how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
lissycakes Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Posted January 31, 2014 Thank you so much! we are going to try these bids out either tonight or tomorrow. I will definitely post here after and let you know how it goes, and if we aren't successful, hopefully you can help with the 4.5* strategy. :-)I will also use your PRICELINE link for sure. :-)
AaronJB Posted January 31, 2014 Report Posted January 31, 2014 Good luck with your bids and thank you for keeping us updated. Please let us know if you have additional questions.Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
lissycakes Posted February 1, 2014 Author Report Posted February 1, 2014 Hello, here are our results:we used your strategy for 5* hotel, max bid $250--nothingI then used a simliar strategy for 4.5* hotel, max bid $250- nothingI then used similar stategy for 4* hotel, starting bid $160, using $10 increments, and we got Dream South Beach for $210saving 17%one thing to note, priceline includes tax+fees cost, this was an addistional $38, so our grand total is $248, just under our top budget of $250I did look this hotel up on the travel websites, and see rooms are going for $330-$350, with a $56 additional tax and fees cost. So I think we got a great deal! I am very excited and looking forward to our stay.thank you soo much to the guys who run this forum who gave me great advice and strategies to get this room. I will probably try to get another room in florida during our trip there, and will use this website again to do so. I will post my results here if I get any more winning bids.here is the WINNING BID RESULTS:Dream South Beach $210 per night1111 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139Bar/LoungeBeachPets AllowedRestaurantRoom ServiceSuitesSwimming PoolWheelchair accessnext to the Versace Mansioncheck in time 3pmArt Deco style meets French Moroccan chic at our South Beach luxury hotel, boasting 108 guestrooms and suites designed by Michael Czysz with modern amenities such as large flat screen TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, fully-stocked minibars, Etro bath amenities and much more. Thanks again to the better bidding forum!! couldn't have done this without you!!xo-Lissy
AaronJB Posted February 1, 2014 Report Posted February 1, 2014 Congrats on your success. :)Awesome deal for this property during a very busy time in Florida (even busier at this time of year than usual given how lousy the weather is in the North.) Thank you for your compliments on Betterbidding and we look forward to helping with future stays.Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay.
Recommended Posts
Register now, we have a huge community of travel enthusiasts to answer any questions you might have.
Sign In Now