2.5* Miami Downtown Hotels on Priceline

[miel0630]

Hi everyone...this is my very first post, as I have lurked here forever!

 

I'm thinking of using Priceline for our pre-cruise hotel, and I have thoroughly read over info on biddingfortravel.com. I've also looked at the hotel list that appears on this site.

 

My question...does anyone know if there are any other hotels in Downtown Miami are that are rated 2.5* other than the Marriott Courtyard?

 

Has anyone ever bid for a 2.5* in downtown and gotten the Holiday Inn Port of Miami, for example? TIA!

[TrentS]

Holiday Inn Port of Miami/Bayside does NOT participate in Priceline. It doesn't have to, it's the least expensive non-scary hotel in downtown Miami and is full every night.

 

The downtown Courtyard is the only Priceline 2.5 star I'm familiar with, and is the 2nd cheapest non-scary hotel downtown. You don't want to go any cheaper than either of those 2 or you'll be very sorry! :eek:

 

The other decent downtown hotels are all more expensive than those.

[miel0630]

Thanks, Trent! You are always so helpful!!!

[Froufie]

I am about to book at last minute cruise deal leaving on jan 29th (Carnival Victory) and while I have cruiesed from Fort Lauderdale this is my first time out of Miami.

 

We will be flying in day before and I am frantically researching properties in Miami.

 

I may be getting Carnival cruise air which provides shuttles to and from airport? So should I be staying near the airport? If so any suggestions?

 

If I do not take the transfers - which "area" is closest to the Port of Miami and any other names of 'non-scary' hotels (besides the Marriot and HI) in that area would be appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

Froufie

[Alexa_K]

I bid today on a 2 1/2 star hotel in Miami (no luck) and could not find the list of categories of hotels available in each area of Miami--in other words, I couldn't find the info I needed to make informed free rebids.

Can anyone tell me where to find that info on the priceline site?

[miel0630]

http://*****.com/8eovu

[miel0630]

FYI: my $49 PL bid for a 2.5* in downtown Miami for April 2006 was rejected today.

 

Hope that this helps someone else out!

[Cacky1]

Jen,

I bid Sunday with Priceline and got the Hyatt Miami for $59.00. We are flying in this Sunday and cruising on Mon.,returning on Friday the 28th. and are staying at the Hyatt again until Saturday. They accepted my offer the first time. I guess I was just lucky.

Cathy

[miel0630]

Hi Cathy,

 

$59 for a 3* in downtown?...that's awesome- congrats!! Thanks for sharing. I've got plenty of time to be patient :)

 

Jen

[TrentS]

I am about to book at last minute cruise deal leaving on jan 29th (Carnival Victory) and while I have cruiesed from Fort Lauderdale this is my first time out of Miami.

 

We will be flying in day before and I am frantically researching properties in Miami.

 

I may be getting Carnival cruise air which provides shuttles to and from airport? So should I be staying near the airport? If so any suggestions?

 

If I do not take the transfers - which "area" is closest to the Port of Miami and any other names of 'non-scary' hotels (besides the Marriot and HI) in that area would be appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

Froufie

Forget the transfers, they're far more trouble than they're worth. Even if they're "included", just don't bother. The last thing you want to do is get crammed onto a bus, sit there for an hour waiting for it to fill up, etc.

 

It's about 20 minutes from MIA to downtown Miami (where the port is), grab a taxi downtown (about $24), stay in one of the downtown hotels, and then just grab a taxi to the port in the morning (less than $10)... Money well spent!

 

Downtown Miami hotels, closest to the Port of Miami and Bayside Marketplace... http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

 

JW Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miajw

 

Hyatt Regency... http://miamiregency.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

 

Intercontinental... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hd/miaha?irs=null

 

Biscayne Bay Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miabb

 

Conrad International... http://conradhotels.hilton.com/en/ch/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIACICI

 

Four Seasons... http://www.fourseasons.com/miami/index.html

 

Mandarin Oriental... http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/526000001.asp

 

Marriott Courtyard (budget priced)... http://www.miamicourtyard.com/

 

Extended Stay America (a bit off the beaten path, but budget priced)... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/miami-brickell-port-of-miami.html

 

Holiday Inn Bayside/Port of Miami (only for the budget minded)... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/miabb

 

If you wanted to stay near the airport however, the "non-scary" hotels are on the south side of the airport property in the "Blue Lagoon" area...

 

Hilton... http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIAAHHH

 

Hampton Inn... http://www.hamptoninnmiamiairport.com/

 

Homewood Suites... http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIABLHW

 

Summerfield Suites... http://www.summerfieldsuites.com/location_details.php?code=MIASS

 

Sofitel... http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/0889/fiche_hotel.shtml

[HappyCruiser383]

Trent, We're wanting to stay closer to Key Largo for the two days before the cruise. I've tried priceline about 8 times (bid around $94 on 3* in Homestead and Key largo and florida city, etc etc). No luck. Some of the 2.5* hotels looks pretty cheesy. Are there any hotels in Key Largo area at the $100 mark? Is Homestead an ok place to stay?

[TrentS]

Parts of Homestead are okay. There are some motels along US1, but I'm not personally familiar with any of them. Whatever you do, read the Trip Advisor reviews before booking anything... http://www.tripadvisor.com/

 

For Key Largo, this time of year, you're going to have to up your budget considerably! The only hotels I'm familiar with in Key Largo are more like $300 per night.