Priceline Hotel: Need help Miami Downtown 5/2/08-5/3/08??

[Chrissy]

We are a family of 4 in need of a one night hotel stay before our cruise leaving Miami. We would like to be close (walking distance) to Bayside Market, as we have an 8 and 10 year old traveling with us. We stayed at the HolidayInn Bayside before but even their site wants 153 for one night. We liked that we could walk out of the hotel and go right across the street to eat and get entertainment. (No taxi costs) Plus it was nice to walk in the am and see the ships in port. Help please. I am ready to book now for a one night stay on May 2, 2008. I need a strategy for Priceline.

Thanks

Chrissy

[Chrissy]

Here is my attempt and fail.

First Try:

Downtown Miami

4*

5/2/08-5/3/08

60.00

Second Try;

Downtown Miami

4*, 3*

5/2/08-5/3/08

75.00

Denied both times

Now what?? I did not realize to try again you haveto change your options. I don't reallyhave any to change now. Will it let me try again a different day???

[thereuare]

For starters, you do realize, and are comfortable, that priceline only guarantees double occupancy and you could receive a room with only one bed? If you're not comfortable with the above HOTWIRE will allow you to search for up to quad occupancy.

As well, it's not recommended to lower your star quality and raise your bid simultaneously, as you have done above.

What is the minimum star level you're willing to accept? What is your maximum bid for this stay?

[Chrissy]

Is it uncommon to get 2 double beds when winning. I would say my minimum star would be a 3 (as we have stayed at the Holiday Inn there and it was ok for one night). My max dollar would be 125.00.

[thereuare]

Is it uncommon to get 2 double beds when winning

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

[Chrissy]

I checked Hotwire and they only have 1 downtown hotel available. Its a 3 star for 174.95 with taxes. I checked out the hotel list on the hotwire side of this site and I bam guessing that the hotel I am seeing is the Radisson????? I also read reviews and I want to be able to walk to the bayside market. The Radisson seems a little far. I am wondering with my situation, needing a room for 4, and the only selcetion on hotwire being that one.......should I just book direct with Holiday Inn?????? There rates are abiout 153 right now. If I had to pay that I would...................or can I do better in that area for less???? Thats what i am here to find out.

[thereuare]

It's up to you...

Some people take the risk of quad occupancy and it works out fine... others sometimes have a problem, it's a risk only you and your family can decide if you're willing to take.

Besides the Holiday Inn you may also be interested in the Marriott Biscayne Bay for $132/nite.

You can also check out our sister site, Hotels By The Pier for other hotels that are near the port.

If you do decide to book the Holiday Inn, please use OUR LINK.

Let us know your thoughts.

[Chrissy]

Your link for Hotels by the pier is not working. I get a blank screen. I am interested in the 132.oo deal for Marriott. The name did not come up I assume you know that by the amenties etc. Is that a limited time thing or do I need to act NOW to get that????? I have been advised to stay away from the people mover at night there. Since we don't arrive till 430 we will be out in the evening hours. Any idea about cab fare to local eatting places or bayside market???

[thereuare]

I had a typo above and have fixed the link to Hotels By The Pier.

Yes, i know from experience that this is the Marriott Biscayne Bay. Last Minute Travel gets a limited number of rooms at their contracted price (which is why this is so much less than a conventionally booked room at this property) and once they sell their allotment it's gone (you'll see the status go from "available" to "on request" at which point they'll contact the hotel to see if they can get additional inventory at their pre-negotiated rate... occaissionally they can (in low demand periods) but during high demand dates they usually can not (so much so that when i see 'on request' i just assume it's not available and don't consider it to be an option)).

Last Minute Travel and EasyClickTravel (same company) used to be fully refundable up until a few days before arrival, but have recently set in place a $25 cancellation fee (we're trying to get them to reconsider, as this was a major selling point of their services, but haven't heard anything from them recently).

I'm not sure how much cab fare is, but if you go to the Hotels By The Pier you can probably figure out driving distance (in miles) and figure out the taxi rate or give the hotel a call (links to each hotel website is within the information 'bubbles' at Hotels by the Pier)

[Chrissy]

OK here is the deal. I talked to myhusband about all of this and he is ok with me trying to bid on a hotel using priceline for downtown. (we will take our chances with the bed situation) The cabs seem reasonable enough to try out a better hotel for less. If all else fails adn I can't get a priceline hotel for say 100?? then I will try the link you gave me for the Marriott.

So I used your link and tried priceline and got declined. Here is what I did:

Downtown only

3 or 4*

75.00

1 night May 2-3rd

DECLINED

Now what??????

[thereuare]

Are you willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3* or are you looking for the least expensive 3 star or better hotel for this nite?

[Chrissy]

Since the marriott and HI are ok with me Iwould say the lowest 3* or higher

[thereuare]

NOTE: you could receive a 3* hotel other than the Marriott or Holiday Inn.

At the 3* level you have two 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 3* Downtown...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone1... (<-- this bid already made earlier today, so start with the next line, unless it's been 24 hours since your previous bid)

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 3* Downtown and re-bid zone2...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $90.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Chrissy]

Priceline lists the cities with check boxes next to them so what is zone1

Also are there anyother 3* hotels I shouldbeware of I might get that are not listed on your hotel list???

[thereuare]

Priceline lists the cities with check boxes next to them so what is zone1

Did you read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained?

Also are there anyother 3* hotels I shouldbeware of I might get that are not listed on your hotel list???

See the comments at the top of the hotel list.

[Chrissy]

I STILL don't get it. I opened a new browser and I amlooking atthe ratings and Ihave NO CLUE what zone 1 is. Ido not see any Miami areas tha tDON"T offer at least a 3* rating and I don't want to get stuck in another are. Please help me!!!

[thereuare]

First, take a deep breath... we'll 'teach you to fish' rather than just 'give you a fish'. :)

Second, list each priceline zone in Miami and the highest star rating available in each zone, using the following technique from Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:

The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time. (NOTE: for most users Priceline has updated their interface making the above process easier... simply check a zone and note the highest star rating available within each zone, UNcheck that zone and checkmark the next zone, repeating the process)

If you can't get past the steps above just let us know and we'll break it down further.

[Chrissy]

OK this is what I see on that page. It gives me the area, apprx pricing per star rating. I put the star ratings offered in each area next to the prices. The 1st column of numbers represents a 1/2*combo price range. Second column 3* and third column # represents 4*.

Miami, FL CHECK-IN

[thereuare]

You're looking at the "retail" version of price, you want the "Name Your Own Price" product.

On that same 'grid' you're seeing, look on the top left corner and click the "Name Your Own Price" link. You will then be taken to a list of Miami zones which will be slightly different than the ones above. The technique quoted above should then make more sense. See if you can get to this 'name your own price' list of zones and we'll take it from there.

[Chrissy]

Ok I did that but it is still not working for me. Once I saw that retail listI clicked the left upper name your own price. Its still not "zones" but towns to select. So if Ipick downtown and put in my name for guest info and select 3* etc the next page doesn't tell me star rating for thezone its a confirm and sign understanding page. Idon't want to initial and select and get stuck with a room I don't want. What am I doing wrong???

[thereuare]

Zones is just another name for areas of the city, so you are looking in the right place.

Once you select the first zone, look below on that page and see which zones are you greyed-out and wich are selecable (ie- you can choose the 'bullet' next to the star level).

Note the highest star rating in that zone, UNCHECK that zone, and repeat the process for the next zone in the list and so-on and so-on, noting the highest star level available in each zone as you go.

Report your findings (the highest star level in each zone) here or ask questions if the above isn't making sense.

You're making progress and almost there... so don't get discouraged! :)

[Chrissy]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I got it now!!!

Here is what I found:

I will only report ones that werebelow Downtown which goes all teh way to 4*

Dadeland up to a 3*

Miami Lakes up to a 3*

North Miami only has 1 2 *

SW Miami only has 1, 2, 21/2 *

What next???? Will this avail change quickly I have to go to sons BB game now!!

[thereuare]

So just to "bring it home" and confirm, do you know which two zones are your re-bid zones when bidding 3* in Miami?

The star ratings offered in each zone do change, but not that frequently... they only change if priceline upgrades/downgrades a hotel and/or if a hotel is added/removed in a given zone. Since they do change, you should double check your re-bid zones before starting each bidding session, to make sure nothing has changed since your last attempt.

[Chrissy]

North Miami and SW Miami?? I'll try and get back 2 u!!

[Chrissy]

I tried all suggestions above and every one got denied. Should I wait till its gets closer in date???