Priceline Hotel: 3* Ft Lauderdale (Downtown) Riverside Hotel

[solosf]

New Priceline Hotel in Ft Lauderdale - Riverside Hotel (2.5 Star, or 3 Star "upgrade")

I was a little surprised to get this hotel, and after reading some of the bad reviews I'm not exactly happy I got it. I was bidding for a 2.5 star in either the downtown zone or beach zone. From that, based on the hotel lists here and 'the other site' it would likely be either the Marriott Courtyard or Hyatt Place. My $60 bid for 2.5 was rejected. I was offered a bid again if I upped to $77. I declined, added the beach zone and bid $65.

Priceline "upgraded" me to a 3* and gave me the Riverside Hotel, which may be new to priceline since it doesn't appear in the lists on this site or elsewhere.

I'm fearful because from reading the few bad web reviews, there's apparently a renovated part of the hotel and an unrenovated section. The bad ones seem to be the result of the latter, and I think I know which ones priceline customers will get. These rooms feature "dial-up" internet (perhaps via the rotary dial phone) for a fee versus complimentary high speed internet in the other room types. One reviewer probably gave me a perfect picture of the room I may get when he said that there was a "bottle opener" affixed to the door. I can only hope the other bad reviews were exaggerated (fleas and ancient mattresses).

I'm prepared to walk, take the loss and get another hotel if it proves horrible at check-in. Lesson learned here: only bid for one day and then extend it if the hotel is acceptable.

[thereuare]

Thank you for sharing your results with the board and for helping us add this property to the Priceline Hotel List.

Lesson learned here: only bid for one day and then extend it if the hotel is acceptable.

I dont' necessarily agree with this strategy since you can only extend you stay for the number of nites (or fewer) as your original bid, so for a three nite stay you can't purchase one nite and then extend the other two nites if you're happy with the results. As well, the vast majority of hotels won are 'good', so by splitting, if you do get a hotel that you're happy with, the property may not be available for the additional nite(s) needed and you will be forced to change hotels.

Why not hope for the best and ask for a room with Hi-Speed interent at check-in? (or specifically ask for a renovated room)

It would be appreciated if you would use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Hope the stay goes well.

[rtwo]

I stayed there last week on a Priceline win for $75 and was very happy with the hotel for the rate I paid, even though the self-parking in their garage was higher than I was hoping for. Plus, I got a room in the old part and it was very comfortable! I am pretty sure it is the oldest hotel in the area, but it has had the same ownership since the beginning (the same family that developed much of the Las Olas area); I would happily stay there again for what I paid, but I'd probably try to find some alternative parking if I brought a car.

Also, I am pretty sure the older room I was in had wired high speed access. From my room locaiton, I could also tap into the Broward County provided free wifi!

[solosf]

Thanks for the posts, rtwo. I'm definitely feeling much better about this now.