Priceline Hotel: 4* Ft Lauderdale (West Fort Lauderdale-Plantation) Renaissance

[sk8mom]

Hello!

We are traveling to Miami for a cruise leaving 1-4-10 and wanted to get a hotel on a beach in the Miami area. We will need two rooms as we are traveling with another family. We each have a 9 year old child so I am unsure if some of the Miami areas would be conducive to them. :)

We would like a 4* but can also go for a 3.5* or 3* at minimum. We are willing to spend up to $100 per room but obviously, the cheaper we can do this the better. I am a new PRICELINE bidder and will probably need bidding advice as well. Thanks so much for your help!

[yellowdog]

Welcome to BetterBidding :)

The Miami beach is divided in several zones. So you need to look at the PRICELINE map to determ which zone(s) you're willing to stay in. We need to know this so we can help you.

You should also know that PRICELINE only guarantee a room for 2 adults. That could mean 1 bed.

Yellowdog.

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

[sk8mom]

OK.

I am thinking:

Miami(Beach)

Miami (North Miami Beach)

Miami (Coral Gables - Coconut Grove)

I am concerned about South Beach for the kids and getting sleep. Unfortunately I have no idea really as I have never been to Miami.

I am also wondering if Ft. Lauderdale is better for the kids as far as the beach thing. Any ideas?

Fort Lauderdale (Beach)

Fort Lauderdale (Hollywood)

Fort Lauderdale (Downtown)

Thanks for your help. I thought that this trip would be easy but it seems to be more complicated!

[yellowdog]

I thought that this trip would be easy but it seems to be more complicated!

What is your concern regarding the kids? No need to worry with the zones you mention. Fort Lauderdale got the better beach and is more "family" oriented if you ask me. Hollywood and Miami (Coral Gables - Coconut Grove) is the best value.

How do you want to play this?

Yellowdog.

[sk8mom]

What is your concern regarding the kids? No need to worry with the zones you mention.

No problems with the kids. We just want them to enjoy the ocean as it is the first time to see the ocean.

Fort Lauderdale got the better beach and is more "family" oriented if you ask me. Hollywood and Miami (Coral Gables - Coconut Grove) is the best value.

How do you want to play this?

We will have a car so transport would not be an issue to drive out to see the Miami areas. So, I guess for the beach quality we should go with Ft Lauderdale as above. I am a little more laid back so Ft. Lauderdale may be more our speed.

Thanks again for your help. It's like I am stepping into a whole new world here! :)

[thereuare]

You should also know that PRICELINE only guarantee a room for 2 adults. That could mean 1 bed.

Are you ok with this aspect of PRICELINE? If not, HOTWIRE may be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy.

Also, as this is a one nite stay pre-cruise, i question just how much time you're going to have to enjoy the beach and whatever other things you have planned. Which airport do you fly into and what time do you arrive? Where are you dropping off the rental?

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

[sk8mom]

Do the hotels ever have a problem with a roll away bed? If needed, we will have a set of blankets and a pillow already from the car ride and he can "camp out".

We are flying into Orlando on 1-1-10 and then driving down at 7 AM ish on 1-3-10 to be able to see some things and go to the beach. I grew up on Lake Huron so big water is not a bid deal for me per say but it is cool to swim in the Ocean.

I am going to drop everyone off at the Port on the morning of the 4th and then drive the minivan to Miami airport. I will then be taking a cab back to the Port. We have a relative that works for Enterprise and got the nice discount. Unfortunately, we can't drop the van off at the Port per their policy.

Whew! I have been going through the planning and coordination of this trip for a few months and this is one of my last tasks to complete. Thanks again for all of your help!

[AaronJB]

Hotels would not have a problem offering a rollaway if available. Otherwise, "camping in" would be needed if a room with one bed is all that is available due to it being a PRICELINE rental. The hotel may be willing to work with you on two beds (Florida hotels generally seem a little better about that than some areas), but again, that would not be guaranteed.

[mplsben]

Miami (Coral Gables - Coconut Grove) does not have a beach. It's about 20 minutes to Key Biscayne or a bit further to Miami Beach for a real beach. I'd recommend you find a hotel in Miami Beach since you will only have 1 night and probably will be tired of driving.

[sk8mom]

Ok fellow travelers......what is the consensus? Miami or Ft. Lauderdale? I have not traveled as an adult to either of these fine cities so I am at a loss. We will have 4 adults and two 9 year olds (on boy one girl) in our two room party.

I listed my three choices of areas for each city to allow for more room in the bidding process.

Thanks again. I think we are getting closer. Once the decision is made between the two cities, then I am sure I will need a bidding process as this is my first time bidding. :)

[sk8mom]

Here are Hotwire's ammenities:

3.5-star hotel in Pompano Beach

This hotel features the following amenities:

Resort

Suite

Beachfront

Property is located on the beach.

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

Laundry Facilities

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Spa Services

Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

I am thinking that it may be Wyndham Sea Gardens?

[AaronJB]

Is this for the same trip as discussed in this thread?

[sk8mom]

Yes. I was just goofing around at Hotwire to see what the prices were. We had originally thought about booking a 2BR room at Wyndham Sea Gardens but missed the opportunity and can't find any rooms there any more. Wishing that this would be one of the Wyndham resorts in pompano Beach.

Should I have put it in the same thread? I am soooo very new to this.

[AaronJB]

Unfortunately, this listing has not yet been reported to the board/ID'd - unfortunately, not sure of the ID, but the Wyndham Sea Gardens has a different tripadvisor rating, so this would not be a match for that.

[sk8mom]

OK..... I think that we have made our decision to go for a Ft. Lauderdale hotel.

We would like a 4* but will settle for a 3* if needed. I will need two rooms. I will need a bidding strategy if someone could help. Baby steps here!

Thanks for all of your help and lightning quick replies!

[sk8mom]

Well my ADD was on overload and I was playing around with Priceline per the prescribed maneuvers on this site. I booked 2 rooms at the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Plantation. It is a 4* hotel and I hope the price of $77 was good for this date and hotel. Per the hotel the rate was $180 per night and that was using my government employee discount. So, meh, I saved at least 50% then. It is not on or by the beach but we will have a minivan and can drive to the beach.

Thanks so much for everyone's help. I had to get this done before Christmas as the other family needed the info and I will have other things I will need to shift focus on.

I did book the hotel via your PRICELINE link!

[yellowdog]

Congratulations on your success!

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding :)

Enjoy your stay and the cruise.

Yellowdog.