Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

First time I have ever used Priceline, trouble booking a Miami Hotel

trilinearmipmap

By trilinearmipmap,
in Florida Departures

Recommended Posts

trilinearmipmap

trilinearmipmap

Posted
Posted

My wife and I are going on a cruise from Miami April 22nd.

 

I tried to book one night pre-cruise on Priceline for Saturday April 21st. I tried for a four-star downtown Miami hotel and made several bids up to $92.00 and I keep getting rejected. I see other people getting the same hotel in wintertime for around $85.00, and I figured it would be cheaper in April. Since I have never used Priceline before I have a few questions about how to do this the best.

 

1. Is it correct that the hotel ought to be cheaper in April than in December in Miami?

 

2. Should I wait until closer to the date of the cruise for Priceline prices to come down?

 

3. Is there something I don't know about, like a holiday, sports event or huge conference, on that weekend that is keeping prices up? (I am from Canada and I don't know the local American holidays or events).

 

Any help with this will be much appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jeanne B

Jeanne B

Posted
Posted

Mid to late April is spring break for a lot of schools and colleges, much busier time than say early December so prices are likely to be high. I've only used priceline a couple of times and both times was less than a month from check-in date.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bequia

Bequia

Posted
Posted

Have a traditional reservation in place with the hotel of your choice. Continue trying PL up until your travel date. If nothing comes thru on PL at least you have a regular reservation to fall back on. If PL comes thru for you cancel the regular reservation. Don't give up, good luck. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dmk

dmk

Posted
Posted

I am from Canada

 

Make sure you are registered on Priceline with an address that can be interpreted as being an American address. Also Priceline won't accept Canadian Visa cards. I have an American Express Card that I use for Priceline.

 

I mention these things because not complying can result in not having your bid accepted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
teaach

teaach

Posted
Posted

I also had trouble with Priceline. I wanted to book the IC in Miami for 4/21/07 precruise on the Valor. They did not accept my bids up to $125. for one night, so I used Hotwire. I booked the IC (customer favorite with a laundry center, 4 stars in Downtown Miami clues) and I got the IC for $179. Still alot cheaper than the hotel's site rate of $379. Hope this helps. I probably need some more Priceline education!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CanuckCruizer

CanuckCruizer

Posted
Posted

trilinearmipmap - We have used Priceline and we are from Canada. They DO take Canadian credit cards - we used our Mastercard. We got Hyatt Pier 66 in April of last year for $160 (I believe the hotel's price at that time was close to $400) - March and April are much higher than the winter months due to spring break/Easter time. We are going on two cruises next year - one in late March and one in early October and the hotel rates are like night and day! For example, we can get one hotel for $170/nite in October and the same hotel in March/April is $379/nite - just to give you an idea. If you bid up to $150 or so, you may have better luck. Someone mentioned expedia - every time I have checked a price on expedia - booking with the hotel directly has always been cheaper. Don't forget that the hotels accept Canadian automobile cards (like BCAA) as being equivalent to their American AAA - which can save you sometimes 30% off your room.

 

Good luck!

 

Canuck

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jaxon41

jaxon41

Posted
Posted

We tried Priceline over Thanksgiving, for March 4th pre-cruise night. Bidding 4 star downtown which is either IC or Hyatt. We went up to 100, I believe, so interesting to know you went to 115. We went to Hotwire and booked the Hyatt for 116, excluding taxes. After all our searching, and Pricelining, we felt this was a decent price, and we were tired of hasseling. Will be interested in the final resolution to your problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kathyh1313

Kathyh1313

Posted
Posted

It may be early to get a room on Priceline for late April. Hotels must release rooms to Priceline for them to be available.

 

Do not get discouraged. Book a room for the date you need via another source at a price you are ok with. Just make sure it is a cancellable reservation. Then continue to bid on Priceline.

 

I was getting frustrated by Priceline for a room in Fort Lauderdale in January. Started bidding in August. In early October my bid was accepted.

 

So November may be too early for a room the end of April. Doesn't matter how high you bid, if the hotel has not released rooms to Priceline.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...