Priceline Hotel: Strategy question

[crsshiplover]

I'm planning a trip to the Ft Myers area in May. We get in late Wednesday night, so thought maybe to save some $, we could just stay near the airport, hoping to get a hotel with a shuttle and not have to rent a car until the next morning. I'm wondering, though, if we are better off trying to get 4 nights at the same hotel instead of 3 nights. We'd have 1 night at an airport location, and 3 at either Ft Myers Beach, Sanibel, or Captiva. Any thoughts? Does it make a difference on what kind of a deal we get? Thanks in advance.

[thereuare]

What are the actual dates of your stay?

Changing hotels is one of personal preference... some will do it to save $10, others won't do it to save $100. Ultimately it will depend upon the dates of your stay and if the first nite is extraordinary expensive/cheap at in either zone.

[crsshiplover]

Our stay begins May 17, for 4 nights.

[thereuare]

The highest reated hotel in the Priceline airport zone is 2*... does that affect your decision at all?

[crsshiplover]

No, not at all. We would like something better for the 3 nights, though, or at least know that it is on the beach, or very close.

[thereuare]

Which zone(s) of Ft. Myers are you considering?

[crsshiplover]

We would prefer Sanibel/Captiva or Ft Myers Beach. Never having been there, those are our choices. I'm most interested in the shelling. I might be able to be sold on another area, though.

[thereuare]

...know that it is on the beach, or very close...

I had asked about the zones because the above is not something that can be assured when using Priceline... it can with Hotwire though based upon their Beachfront and Beach Access icons. With priceline it would be reasonable to expect this at the Resort level, but one of your zones above has a highest rating of 3* and the other a highest rating of 2*... no resorts in either area.

Are you able accept a hotel anywhere within the priceline zone boundary?

[crsshiplover]

Yes, we would accept anything within the zone, even if it weren't beach. I prefer Priceline, but you think the difference between Priceline and Hotwire is only $20 or so and we'd be guaranteed on the beach w/Hotwire, then we'd opt for Hotwire.

[thereuare]

Do a Hotwire search for your dates... does anything Beachfront/Beach Access come up for your dates? If so, what is the star rating and price? We can then use that information to set a maximum bid for your Priceline bidding.

[crsshiplover]

Ft Myers Beach has a 1*(beach, pool, laundry) for $73; 2*(pool; restaurant, beach, laundry) for $180; 2.5*(beach access, pool) for $64; Sanibel/Captiva has a 3*(beach, pool, golf, tennis, restaurant) for $152 (which I think is the HI at $179 on Orbitz). Any clue what the ones at Ft Myers Beach are?

[crsshiplover]

After further discussion, it seems staying at the beach is a requirement. Hotwire prices seem high, and I'm not comfortable chancing it on Priceline for this trip. I think we'll probably change locations, and maybe head to Tampa/Clearwater or try another location all together (San Diego). We are looking for something fairly inexpensive, and Ft. Myers doesn't appear to offer that. Thanks for the help. I'll be back...