KreinKrunker

So I can get this right, when you guys bid for the Crowne, the amount you put in was 65.00 correct? Then the fees were added after your bid was accepted?

Yes, this is correct. Taxes and fees will be added after acceptance of your bid. This is all you will have to pay, unless your hotel has a 'resort fee', which will be billed at the hotel.

Since you are an Okie, and not a buckeye, I will give you a little help. The best advice I can give you is to go to http://www.biddingfortravel.com and study the website, both forwards and backwards. Next some quick advice for bidding tomorrow. Bid for a 3* hotel in San Pedro. If this is refused, Priceline will ask you to change something. When this is asked, add "Long Beach Airport Area", and bid again, with a higher dollar value. At present that area has no 3* or above hotels, since Priceline won't downgrade a certain star bid, you are safe by doing this. In effect it is a free rebid. But, this should be checked every time you bid, as hotels are always being added. This can be done in "Step 2", in the bidding process, by individually checking each available area for what star ratings are available there.

Good Luck! Remember that you may also get the DoubleTree in San Pedro, which is also a 3* that has been won on Priceline.

Just got Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor on Priceline for $65 per night. This is for 2/19 and 2/20/2008 precruise. That's two rooms for two nights for a grand total of $306.18. The internet rate for this hotel was $153.

You said there was a shuttle service. Any charge?

No, the shuttle is free, but we usually give the driver a buck or two each. More than that if he is taking us to the port, and handling our too numerous, and too heavy bags.:D

Just wanted to report that we stayed at the Downtown Residence Inn on Feb 17 and 18. Taxi fare was a flat rate of $22 from the airport to downtown, also the same from pier to airport. Got to the hotel about 7:00 pm. No bellmen, but did have luggage carts. We were met with very friendly and helpful people at the desk. Had clean one bed studio suites on floor five. We paid $65/night through Priceline. (There was also a single pullout.) The desk directed us to a bar(The Hub), with takeout spirits and beer, about two blocks away. Went there and had a couple, and brought some back. Ordered from Domino's across the the street, and they were at the door in less than 30 minutes. There was a breakfast bar in the morning with hot and cold servings. That evening the hotel shuttled us to the Columbia in Ybor City, and then picked us up when we were done with a great dinner. They also shuttled us to the pier on the 19th. Be sure to sign up at check-in.

I believe this area was once not too desiralbe, but looks like it is on the comeback trail. It has a lot of construction of high rise apartments going on. It is also across from the performing arts center.

Thank you all who have contributed to making this the best hotel/city information center on Cruise Critic.:D

KK

Is it possible to check in my luggage for my cruise (Inspiration) and wander around Channelside for a bit before checking-in and boarding the ship?

Yes you can.

Or, can I check-in and leave the ship for a while to visit Channelside?

Yes you can.

Also, we are catching a performance on that night at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. How far away are we from that? Good neigbhorhood? Any help, suggestions or thoughts would be most appreciated.

There is a Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn a couple of blocks away from the Performing Arts Center. That is where we are staying pre-cruise in February. Got the Residence for $65/night through Priceline. http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/TPATD They have a local shuttle within three miles, which includes the cruise pier and Ybor City. It will cost about $20-25 for a taxi to the hotel, then about the same from the pier to the airport.

2 Nights--Feb 17 & 18, 2007--2 Rooms

2.5* Tampa Downtown Residence Inn

$65

Needed a third room for the 18th, got that for $65 also.

If we fly into Detroit, we always stop at the Ford Rd White Castle for a couple of their "gut bombs". If we fly into our local airport, we stop at our favorite place for a greasy "bar burger".