mame2boyz Posted November 19, 2005 Report Posted November 19, 2005 I am new to using priceline and hotwire but need 2 rooms in a decent hotel for before our cruise on the night of February 11, 2006. Would love to have 3 or 4 star for $100 or less. Can you help me?? Tell me what I should do......Thanks so much!Kendra
thereuare Posted November 20, 2005 Report Posted November 20, 2005 Welcome to BetterBidding!What zone(s) do you want to bid? (most staying pre-cruise choose 'downtown')If you let us know your maximum bid we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. Also let us know ifa lower price or higher star rating is most important to you. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mame2boyz Posted November 20, 2005 Author Report Posted November 20, 2005 Well I am not sure what zone we want. We will be flying in around 5:30 p.m. into Ft. Lauderdale and would like to get something convenient to get to and be able to get on the cruise the next day as well. It doesn't have to be right on the port ...maybe somewhere between Ft Lauderdale and Miami??? I don't know. What would you do???well I guess the thing I am most concerned in is that it doesn't have to be a fancy 4 star hotel but a clean one is a MUST! :) I already called the Holiday Inn Port of Miami and they are already booked up. I would like to get a nice hotel for $125 or less.Thanks!Kendra
thereuare Posted November 20, 2005 Report Posted November 20, 2005 To be able to help you'll need to first figure out where you which areas you want to stay. You can look at HotelByThePier.com to see where the pier is located and hotels that are nearby (as well as our PRICELINE MAPS for the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami areas.Essentially you need to decide if you want to 1) be near the FLL airport for convenience on the day you arrive or 2) be closer to the port and stay in Miami.Personally i prefer to be closer to the pier, but it dpends upon how well you travel as it's about an hour from FLL to the Miami pier... some people don't want to travel an hour once they get off a plane. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mame2boyz Posted November 21, 2005 Author Report Posted November 21, 2005 I would rather be close to the pier.Our flight will be in about 5:00 p.m. so we'll be able to have plenty of time to get to the port area before it is too late and get settled into a hotel there.So tell me more....every hotel I looked at on the site you recommended that is close to the port said no rooms available for the night we need. Thanks!Kendra
thereuare Posted November 21, 2005 Report Posted November 21, 2005 What hotels are you showing sold-out? I do see somewhat high rates for these dates, but nothing that is showing completely sold-out.At the 4* level you have four re-bid zones available. 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 bidding.This is what i would try first...Select 4* Miami Downtown...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...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 $95.If the above fails we'll then talk about bidding higher, lower the star rating, or nearby alternate zones. (also let us know what hotels you're refering to which are sold-out) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mame2boyz Posted November 21, 2005 Author Report Posted November 21, 2005 Well I tried your strategy and went in $10 increments thought up to $120 and still nothing.What should be my plan now???Some of the hotels I called and they had no rooms were...Holiday Inn POM, Hampton Inn, Marriot and I think I tried the Clarion.Thanks so much for your help!KendraP.S. I am fine with going with a 3 star. I would rather get a 3 star for the amt I am wanting to spend versus going any higher in my bid amt.
mame2boyz Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Posted November 22, 2005 OK...I decided to try again with a 3 star. Went up to $115 and nothing with the strategy of the free rebid for 3 star which there were 3. On the last try I even tried a 2 1/2 star for $100 and still nothing.What am I doing wrong?? Are prices just outrageous on that particular weekend??Thanks!Kendra
thereuare Posted November 22, 2005 Report Posted November 22, 2005 How are you getting from Ft. Lauderdale to the Miami area.... taxi, shuttle, or renting a car? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
thereuare Posted November 23, 2005 Report Posted November 23, 2005 So with rates as high as they are, maybe staying in FLL is a good alternative... no cost to go from FLL-->Hotel-->FLL (assuming hotel has a shuttle) and then the next day take the shuttle directly from FLL-->Port.I would likely book a cancellable back-up at this point and continue to try Priceline for the Miami area. Eventually add other nearby areas besides Downtown (Beach?, South Beach?) and if all else fails consider the above regarding staying in the Ft. Lauderdale area.Also, since you're looking for 2 rooms, i assume you have 4 people? I would look into a taxi/minivan as that could be cheaper and more convenient than a shared shuttle to get from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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