Claire from Oz

Hi Thereuare Yes totally agree - I did note the Planters Inn on Hotwire. However it's supposed to be haunted! I'm a pretty brave person - have travelled most of the world by myself - but ghosts just freak me out! I wouldn't sleep! ha ha. I think I'll just book AVIA online and be done with it. I have enough good deals in other cities to be very happy! Cheers Claire

Hi there I'm just checking in to make sure I'm not doing something wrong! I am keen to get AVIA or Mansion on Forsyth. Looks like previous travellers have recently got about $99 and $125 for each respectively. When you tick the Historic District it says 4* is the best deal out of the different star levels. So to be honest I was surprised when I started at $95, then $100 and $10 increments up to $140 and didn't get anything! AVIA definitely has double rooms for $169 on these nights. I'd rather stay there as the location is better near restaurants etc. At this rate I'm better off booking directly. Am I missing anything? and now i just have to wait 24 hours to try again? I don't want to stay in any other district. Have been using the links above. Thank you!! Claire

Hi everyone Got the 4* Charleston (Downtown) French Quarter Inn for $170 for these dates. Not as good a deal as others have seemed to get in the past few months (about $150) but I'm happy - I have already spent sooooo many hours researching this trip and didn't want to spend any more time. I am wondering if it's slightly higher rate because it's a weekend. My strategy was aiming at Downtown - started offering between $65-$85 for 3* and 3.5* properties. Then I decided to upgrade to the French Quarter (#1 on TripAdvisor) so I started at $140pn and just added $10 and areas that don't have 4 star properties (all but Mt Pleasant as far as I could see) each time until I got it. have been using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links :) Cheers Claire

Hi there I had success with this hotel on South Beach - looks fantastic. Seemed to be on HOTWIRE for $196 and prices for similar hotels for these date for highly rated hotels seemed to be $250+. My bidding history was: $120 (just South Beach Central) $145 (adding Miami West as no 4*'s in this area) then 'encouraged' to go up to $180 and I went up to $165 - which was declined and then went up to $180. I'm not sure this was quite the right bidding process - first time I've used PRICELINE. Will go back and read your instructions properly again next time. Cheers Claire

Yes thanks a lot Yankeefan and Thereuare for your quick responses and help. Even though the Cassa looks very stylish I was more concerned about room size as I'm travelling with my Mother. So decided to go with the 4* Times Sq and had determined that it would very likely be Crowne Plaza given that it said it had 200+ hotwire reviews. I thought that since the Intercontinental Times Sq only has 90+ tripadvisor reviews it couldn't have had that many hotwire patrons already... Turns out I was wrong - so Intercontinental Times Square it is - lucky me! Saved me over $300 for my trip... I will definitely log on and make a contribution to this site once I've finished making my other bookings. Miami next! Happy travels. Claire

Hi Everyone I'd really appreciate your help... I got great help from you guys five years ago on my last trip to the US - had a fab trip! Coming back again :) I'm looking at these dates above for Times Square, Mid Town Central or Mid Town East. A hotel that's not on the list yet is as follows: 4.5* MTC - $254 - no smoking and internet are the only amentities listed. Do you have some insight as to what hotel this might be? I'm intrigued. And 4* Times Square $249 - fitness, restaurant, business and internet. I understand this is probably the Crowne Plaza or the new Intercontinental. I'm really keen on the Intercontinental. There are no wins for either of these hotels on my dates - have either of these hotels been coming up more than the others in your experience? Thanks for your help! And I've been using the link. Cheers Claire - Adelaide, South Australia