Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Miami (South Beach-Collins Avenue Oceanfront) Royal Palm

Hey guys I just found this forum. All members seem to be very friendly so I decided to became a member.

I am planning my vacation in Florida in May this year. I am from Germany so excuse my poor language skills.

I read much about priceline and hotwire. Especially for Miami I decided to use priceline. I also read about the "trick" of re-bidding.

Let's say I am searching for a 4 star hotel in Miami in Are 14 - south Beach Ocean drive. What would be a first bid? I dont want to pay more than 100$ per night. Is this realistic?

If my first bid is rejected I will just change to an area which doesnt provide 4 star hotels an raise my bid a bit for example to 110$?! I keep this as long as they accept my bid? Is there any fee to pay if they reject my bid and I dont re-bid because its getting too expensive for me?

Of course I am going to use the forum links to bid.

Hoping for some replies.

Christian

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Please provide your date/s of travel (so that we can research availability/options) and your desired budget per night (as well as which zones/star ratings you would primarily be interested in bidding for) and we would be happy to offer suggestions on how to proceed.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

I am searching for a 4 star hotel in Miami in Area 14 - south Beach Ocean drive - Miami Beach at all would be fine as well. My budget is about 125$ per Night if possible with breakfast. The dates would be from the 09.05.2011 - 13.05.2011.

Thank you very much in advance.

Chris

It doesn't cost anything to bid, other then if your bid is accepted your credit card is charged immediately and you have a non-refundable reservation.

To confirm the zones you're willing to accept, PRICELINE has the following zones in this area:

South Beach - Central

South Beach - Collins Avenue Oceanfront

South Beach - Ocean Drive

Miami Beach (which is quite a bit different then South Beach itself, but not sure what you're looking for or your needs for this trip)

To determine your re-bid zones see this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained. If you read this thread and are confused, then try the following:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter Miami and your dates, and click "GO".

2) List each zone that is offered in this region.

3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest tar rating offered n the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

4) post your findings and we'll take it from there

If you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.

Please confirm your acceptable zones and your re-bid zones (HINT: there are SIX re-bid zones at the 4* level) and we'll take it from there.

Thanks in advance for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding and purchases.

Thank you very much for the reply. My favourite zones are No.13 & No.14 : South Beach - Collins Avenue Oceanfront & South Beach - Ocean Drive.

Correct me if I am wrong: If i make a bid lets say for South Beach - Ocean Drive for a 4 star hotel and this bid will be rejected . I place a new (higher) bid for this area I also bid for and was rejected and lets say for the Area Aventura where are no 4 star hotels and hope to get accepted this time?!

thank you in advance

Chris

So do you only want to bid the (South Beach - Collins Avenue Oceanfront) and the (South Beach - Ocean Drive) zones?

If you bid one of these zones at the 4* level and your bid is rejected, then yes, you can add a zone which does not contain 4* or higher rated hotels and bid again.

Were you able to identify all SIX re-bid zones using the techniques above?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

I quess the six rebid zones in this case are: Aventura, Dadeland, Miami Lakes, Miami west, Nort Miami, Southwest Miami.

Is this correct?

Yes I would like to bid on those 2 zones. What would you recommend as a starting bid? I think there are no holidays, not in Germany as well as in the U.S.

Furthermore is it better to bid as early as you plan the trip or close as possible to the starting day?

Thx again!

Chris

Yes, you have your re-bid zones correct, but also check just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked.

As far as when to bid, see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ. However, i'll add that anyhting 4* you're able to win in the two zones you're bidding at $125 or less would likely be considered a very good deal for this time of year, so i don't see much benefit in waiting.

Using your SIX re-bid zones i would bid as follows:

Select 4* SB-Ocean Drive...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* SB-Oceanfront...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* SB-Ocean Drive and SB-Oceanfront...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125

Any questions feel free to ask.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Yes I will tell you how it goes. One last question: Do I know before I bid if there is breakfast included or is there a chance to find this out?

Kind regards and thx again.

Chris

chris1405

Do I know before I bid if there is breakfast included or is there a chance to find this out?

No, you don't know if there is breakfast included before you bid and there is no way to find out if you will get a hotel with breakfast or not.

Please use the site's PRICELINE link, and let us know how it goes or if you need any additional help with your stay.

Yellowdog.

Free breakfast is very uncommon at 4* hotels in the US. You should plan on not getting it.

Okay thank you for your answers.

I will use priceline for Orlando as well. Is the "free-bidding- trick" the same with resorts? If i bid on a resort and get denied if I pick another zone which has no reorts I can re-bid?

Thx in advance!

Chris

When re-bidding you should think of Resorts as a 4.5* level hotel... therefore you're looking for zones which only contain 4* and lower properties. Remember the star rating you select is the minimum you're willing to accept, so you're not just looking for zones which don't have the star rating you've chosen, but also nothing higher.

Feel free to confirm your re-bid zones with the board.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

For Orlando Lake Buena Vista - Downtown Disney rebid-zones for Resort would be:

Downtown Orlando

Kissimmee

Maitland - Altamonte Springs

Ocoee - Orlando West

Orlando Airport West - FL Mall Area

Orlando East

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Sea World - Intl. Drive - Convention Center

Universal Orlando Resort Area - Intl. Drive North

West Disney Area

Winter Park

Is this correct? At what price would you start (01.05 - 03.05)

Thx again!

I'm not a moderator, but I looked at the last year of bidding results and the lowest LBV resort was won with a $62 bid. So just to be on the safe side I'd probably start at $60. With all those free-rebids available, even if you only increase by $1 with each bid, you can get up to $70 in just one day. Then the next day you can work on up. Or you can use large increases and get to your maximum faster.

You probably know this, but just to be sure - the resorts usually add on a "resort fee" that is payable at check-out. Just keep that in mind for your budget.

And yes, you do have the rebids right. But always a good idea to double check before a bidding session, just in case something has changed.

Romelle

Please use a separate thread for your Orlando stay and continue this thread for the Miami leg of your trip.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Thanks.

Hello again,

sorry that I mixes two destinations. I dindt know the thing with the resort fee. Thx for this! Is this a fix fee or how can I find out how much this would be?

Thank you very much!!

Any resort fees would be a fixed fee per nite (there are a few hotels in San Juan where the resort fee is a percentage of the room rate but at most properties it's a fixed amount per nite) and is payable directly to the hotel. The amount, if any, the hotel you receive will charge is unknown since you won't know the hotel until after your purchase.

If your budget is tight that the resort fee could break your budget, HOTWIRE may be an option as they will show you any resort fee associated with each offering in the 'know before you go' section of the details page (ie- do a HOTWIRE search and click the CONTINUE button next to any offering... then scroll to the bottom of the subsequent page and you'll see the "know before you go" section where any resort fee is typically discolosed)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Sorry for not following up this time:

Priceline:

10.05-11.05 Royal Palm 70$

11.05.-13.05. The Palms Hotel And Spa 135$

Kind regards

Chris

Thanks for the follow-up.

We've used this thread to reflect your purchase of the Royal Palms, can you please start a NEW TOPIC for your purchase of The Palms so that others will be aware of that win when searching the topic titles on the board and in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins.

In your NEW TOPIC please also include the current star rating and zone, which should all be visible in the MY PROFILE >> MY TRIPS link at the top right of PRICELINE's home page.

Please remember to follow-up your threads with your wins/decision as you receive them so that the information can best help others in a timely manner.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Thanks.