Priceline Hotel: Need Help Bidding Miami Downtown 07/11/08-07/13/08

[DLK]

I've searched previous wins but there aren't many in July. I realize this is high season. What is the lowest price I could reasonably expect for downtown and the airport area on 07/11-07/13?

I've bid as high as $95 for a 3* downtown for 2 nights but all were rejected.

Since downtown is so high I'm considering:

One night in a hotel close to the airport on Friday 07/11.

Rent a car Saturday morning (07/12) and explore Miami all day.

Return the car late Saturday night at the airport and take a taxi downtown.

One night in a hotel close to the cruise pier on Saturday 07/12.

If I can't find anything reasonable, I'll just stay by the airport and take a taxi to the pier on Sunday morning. Anyone know what the average taxi fare might be from the airport area?

[thereuare]

How high are you willing to pay for a Downtown hotel for both nites? (is 3* your minimum star rating?)

Two nites is enough time, imo, to get out of the Airport and/or Downtown area and stay in South Beach or Miami Beach... have you considered those options?

I believe taxi fare from the Miami Airport to the cruise port is ~$25.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know your thoughts and budget above and we'll take it from there.

[DLK]

I had hoped to pay less than $80, but that doesn't look likely in July. I don't mind going as low as a 2* but there is only one 2 listed for downtown Miami (Continental Hotel Miami Bayside) and it has been getting horrible reviews. My biggest concerns are a clean, safe, quiet room, and a pool. The number of *'s isn't a big deal.

I think my best bet is closer to the airport and just take a taxi downtown on cruise day, but I don't have a clue how low to start bidding for a 2-3*. I'll have a 13 year-old male hormone machine with me so I'm trying to avoid the beaches :) .

Am I trying too early? In the past, I've gotten pretty good deals 2-3 weeks out, but this time I'm trying to start planning (budgeting :) ) a little earlier.

[thereuare]

My biggest concerns are a clean, safe, quiet room, and a pool. The number of *'s isn't a big deal.

While star ratings are subjective, there often is still a correlation between number of stars and the level of cleanliness, safety, etc so if those are your concerns i would stick with the higher star ratings if possible.

You may be able to get a 4* hotel in the Airport area for your $80 maximum bid and a 3* hotel would be very likely... but not sure if you'd prefer to spend a little more for the higher star rated hotel, or if you'd even prefer to just go for a 2.5* (i'd stay away from a 2* property).

One more thing to add is that PRICELINE doesn't guarantee a pool. While most hotels in this area would likely have a pool, it's not guaranteed, and if this is a requirement then you may want to choose to go with HOTWIRE (which will ensure a pool by the icon shown before your purchase)

One more option, if you're renting a car, is to stay in the Coral Gables area where you may be able to get a 4* property, have it be a bit more 'resort-y' than staying by the airport, for a similar price to a 4* in the airport area.

Let us know your thoughts above and we'll advise accordingly.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.