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UMF 2012: Pre Planning (pg. 5)
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| ViciousPanda |
| quote: | Originally posted by ucforange
I know it's super early but I wanted to get a good deal on a hotel.
I put a bid on Priceline for $95 a night and it gave me Courtyard Marriott in downtown Miami. It's closer to Bayfront than Bicentennial but it's not that far, maybe a mile and a half or so.
For four nights, it came out to like $440 when you include taxes and fees. Not bad for Ultra weekend. Just something to think about before you guys book at the listed rates. |
Thank you for this man. I used priceline and while they rejected my $95 offer they accepted $100 and I got the same hotel. Total came out to be $450 for four nights. It's like a 20 minute walk from Bicentennial according to google maps.
All I need to know now is the Ultra line up :D |
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| Zeppan |
Hey everyone =) me n my friends are going for the first time from sweden and we will be staying in Miami for a total of 11 nights i believe! Very stoke bout this :D
Im trying to figure out this priceline thing. It seems to me that if i put a bid out and they find something i kind of have to pay even if i didnt get the perfect hotel?
Besides going to UMF We are looking to stay at SoBe to relax on the beach and go to pool parties. Anyone know a nice hotel?
or which ones to avoid?
Currently we've been recommended south seas by a friend and the shelborne however both seem a bit out of our pricerange.
our total hotel budget for 4 people for 11 nights atm is around 3100$ ofcourse we could extend that a little maybe up to 3500ish for the right hotel!
So my question is basically what do u recommend and where do i stake-out for offers? Should i try priceline? |
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| PatMcGroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zeppan
Hey everyone =) me n my friends are going for the first time from sweden and we will be staying in Miami for a total of 11 nights i believe! Very stoke bout this :D
Im trying to figure out this priceline thing. It seems to me that if i put a bid out and they find something i kind of have to pay even if i didnt get the perfect hotel?
Besides going to UMF We are looking to stay at SoBe to relax on the beach and go to pool parties. Anyone know a nice hotel?
or which ones to avoid?
Currently we've been recommended south seas by a friend and the shelborne however both seem a bit out of our pricerange.
our total hotel budget for 4 people for 11 nights atm is around 3100$ ofcourse we could extend that a little maybe up to 3500ish for the right hotel!
So my question is basically what do u recommend and where do i stake-out for offers? Should i try priceline? |
i actually have the same question about priceline. every time i go on the website i end up just closing it out because i dont wanna get caught having to do something just because i was researching.
if you're staying in a group, try looking for a condo to rent. usually works out much better just be on the lookout for scams. plenty of people have done the condo thing here so maybe they'll post some advice. |
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| ucforange |
Priceline.com has a load of options you can check off when bidding for a hotel. You are correct though, if it matches you to a hotel, your credit card is charged and there's no refunds. However, if you wish to stay in South Beach, all you have to do is only check South Beach. You can set the hotel rating by selecting the appropriate number of stars (i.e. 3 stars, 4 stars, etc).
If you bid and it does not match you to a hotel, you must either wait 24 hours to try again, or broaden your search (including another area, price, etc). Really if you don't need to stay at a specific hotel and are comfortable in knowing you cannot cancel, use the Priceline bidding tool. You will save a lot of money. It has to be noted that any successful bid on Priceline means you cannot change any part of the reservation, including the name, dates, and you can't cancel. |
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| ucforange |
| quote: | Originally posted by PatMcGroin
i actually have the same question about priceline. every time i go on the website i end up just closing it out because i dont wanna get caught having to do something just because i was researching.
if you're staying in a group, try looking for a condo to rent. usually works out much better just be on the lookout for scams. plenty of people have done the condo thing here so maybe they'll post some advice. |
Basically only put bids out there that you're serious about purchasing. Once you bid and it accepts, that's it. Like I said, I scored the downtown Courtyard Marriott for $95 a night. The thing works, it's a great deal. You just lose a little control over the whole process but I don't give a what hotel I stay at as long as it's a known good name (like Courtyard is) and it's in the area that I want. It's not like my Miami Music Week is ruined because I didn't get to stay in the Sheraton or some . |
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| PatMcGroin |
im the type of traveler who always books based on reviews. i'll sit on tripadvisor and read through 200 of them and look at each of the 400 user uploaded pictures if i need to. i like to know exactly what im going to get for the money im spending. plus often times i like to have a specific amenity like a balcony or an lcd tv.
it seems like with priceline i would have to chance all of that kinda stuff and for that reason i cant bring myself to do it. id rather pay a little more and know exactly what im gonna get.
but thanks for the info.. good to finally know how priceline works without having to go through it myself. |
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| lost in forests |
| quote: | Originally posted by PatMcGroin
it seems like with priceline i would have to chance all of that kinda stuff and for that reason i cant bring myself to do it. id rather pay a little more and know exactly what im gonna get.
but thanks for the info.. good to finally know how priceline works without having to go through it myself. |
Pat, I would suggest checking this website:
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=78&
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=67&
they eliminate the anonymity of the hotels for hotwire and limit them for priceline. |
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| drEamer |
| quote: | Originally posted by PatMcGroin
im the type of traveler who always books based on reviews. i'll sit on tripadvisor and read through 200 of them and look at each of the 400 user uploaded pictures if i need to. i like to know exactly what im going to get for the money im spending. plus often times i like to have a specific amenity like a balcony or an lcd tv.
it seems like with priceline i would have to chance all of that kinda stuff and for that reason i cant bring myself to do it. id rather pay a little more and know exactly what im gonna get.
but thanks for the info.. good to finally know how priceline works without having to go through it myself. |
often times, priceline will be up to half off what u would normally pay, like some of these guys saying they got the marriot downtown, they are currently selling those rooms for 249 a night, and they got it for about a 100....HUGE difference......
$3100 for 11 nights hotel in South Beach isnt going to cut it....much better off finding a condo, start looking here, www.homeaway.com although alot of people have booked super early this year |
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| Zeppan |
Some of those condos kind of look amazing :P
are there any bigger downsides compared to hotels i mean the condo's seem much cheaper somehow and much larger in living area?
and how do i avoid scams and alike? |
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| drEamer |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zeppan
Some of those condos kind of look amazing :P
are there any bigger downsides compared to hotels i mean the condo's seem much cheaper somehow and much larger in living area?
and how do i avoid scams and alike? |
u shouldnt have a problem with condos on homeaway, they do have a protection plan u can buy, something like $49 bucks...the upside is, its usually alot less than hotels, there is a kitchen that u can cook in, instead of eating out 2-3 times a day and u arent cramped into a 400 sq ft room |
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| ucforange |
| quote: | Originally posted by drEamer
u shouldnt have a problem with condos on homeaway, they do have a protection plan u can buy, something like $49 bucks...the upside is, its usually alot less than hotels, there is a kitchen that u can cook in, instead of eating out 2-3 times a day and u arent cramped into a 400 sq ft room |
Yeah but why the hell would you keep going back to the hotel to make something to eat?
Maybe I'm doing it wrong but when I do that weekend I'm never at the damn hotel save for 4 hours a night! (or to change into club attire) |
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| ViciousPanda |
| quote: | Originally posted by ucforange
Yeah but why the hell would you keep going back to the hotel to make something to eat?
Maybe I'm doing it wrong but when I do that weekend I'm never at the damn hotel save for 4 hours a night! (or to change into club attire) |
Dude, when you get tired at Ultra you take a slow, romantic walk back to your hotel, cook yourself an exquisite meal, rest, light some candles and enjoy the view from your window while indulging in that awesome meal you just cooked, then take a nap and go back for the final act.. I thought everybody does that. /sarcasm |
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