Priceline Hotel: 3* Ft Lauderdale (Beach) Sheraton Yankee Trader

[CarleeC]

I am trying to decide if I should bid priceline on a Ft. Lauderdale hotel for March, 2008; two nights pre-cruise. Considering 3 or 4*, but am concerned about two hotels on the map that are extremely far from the beach, airport and cruiseport area and we were not planning on renting a car, primarily due to the stress involved. I am willing to bid up to 160.00 per night due to the regular pricing of the hotels this time of year, but don't want to go too high or there is no point in taking the chance of not choosing our hotel. We also have three people and understand we have no guarantee that the room would sleep three. We currently have a reservation at the Gallery One Doubletree for 250.00 per night through the hotel web site, which is really a stretch for us.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

What are the actual dates of your stay? What are the hotel(s) you are willing to accept... what are the hotel(s) you are not willing to accept?

[CarleeC]

My stay dates are March 13-15 2008. I don't want the Westin or the Marriott North on the priceline list, although I am going by the map of hotels as indicated on the priceline section where the rates are listed as opposed to the bidding page. I was unaware when I made this post that when making a bid, FLL is divided into areas but see that now. Otherwise, I'm pretty flexible with regard to the hotel since I can't be too terribly picky because of the time of year we are traveling equaling very high hotel rates. My preferences would be hotels on 17th street or the beach area. I hope I'm making myself clear as am not familiar with the "lingo" of this board yet.

[thereuare]

I am going by the map of hotels as indicated on the priceline section where the rates are listed as opposed to the bidding page.

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ regarding using the 'retail' version of priceline to determine 'name your own price' availability. Since the zones are named differently and have different boundaries, do you know if the hotels you're trying to avoid are in the zones you're willing to bid? Also use our Priceline Hotel List as a reference.

Have you also searched HOTWIRE? Is there anything in the Downtown or Beach zone within your budget for your dates?

[CarleeC]

Well, I bid priceline for beach zone at 125.00 per night, which was rejected and added downtown for a re-bid. Being in a hurry, I made two mistakes, however, and may have over bid at 170.00 which was accepted by the Sheraton Yankee Trader. First mistake: I intended to bid 25.00 more per night, but typed in 170.00, because I thought my original rejected bid was 150.00 (my own memory problem). Second mistake: misinterpreted what the priceline agreement said, thinking it stated my bid should include taxes. Although I still received about a 130.00 overall discount of the Hotels.com and Trader site listed prices (after taxes), I suspect I bid too high.

I am "okay" with the hotel, but am curious as to what the hotel would have been in the beach zone on hotwire that was advertised for 169.00 per night. I really wanted the Gallery One Doubletree, and wonder if this is what hotwire is offering for the published 169.00 per night rate, but will have to get over it. I called the Trader and was allowed to change the room to a double rather than king, so am trying to be happy with what I've got. The Trader has pluses, such as near the beach, water taxi stop nearby, and some decent reviews on various travel sites, so I guess this is the name of the game, but still think I over bid. Live and learn.

Am not sure how to post on the "win' board, and don't know if I should since I didn't try a bid between 125.00 and 170.00 per night, and don't want to mislead others. Thank you for your help.