Got the hotel I wanted for our Explorer pre-cruise Miami stay on Priceline

Hi all,

I just wanted to thank everyone for their great advice on this board. This was the first time I had used Priceline & I got the hotel that I wanted.

We are staying one night in Miami pre-cruise (Explorer)and I really wanted the Fountainblue Hilton (I stayed there when I was a little kid years ago & I never forgot that hotel). I really did not want the two other resort categories priceline uses Eden Roc & Beach House, I would not have minded the Sheraton Bal Harbor though. So I took a chance.

I had a feeling that if I tried late in the evening & bid over 65.00 that I would get the Fountainblue, so I went to priceline at 11:30 PM & bid 75.00. I held my breath while it was processing & was overjoyed to see the Fountainbleau listed.

My total price for the hotel (we will not be renting a car) was 91.81, not bad considering that Hilton.com's site cheapest room is listed at 143.00 when you pre-pay. Expedia's cheapest rate for a standard room was 159.00.

I just feel so lucky that I got the hotel that I wanted, even though it's only for one night. It will bring back so many memories to stay at the hotel that I stayed at as a child.

My mom still has a picture of me in my bikini when I was 8 at the Fountainblue. Well I am definately no longer in bikini shape ( ; but I am so thrilled to be going there again!

Just wanted to thank everyone again for the great advice.

~ Marina

Just interested in why you thought you would get that hotel by bidding late at night?
I'm going to try for a one night post-cruise stay in Miami for a friend and want to maximise my chances of getting a good hotel for her on Priceline - it's such a responsibility! I've used Priceline twice and got the hotels I hoped for each time (Embassy Suites and Marriott Harbour Beach in FLL) but I don't know anything about Miami so it's more of a gamble for me

I wanted to stay at the Fountainbleu for my last cruise...but they were completely booked...someone recently posted about their stay at this hotel...last week sometimes on this board...said it wasn't the grande hotel it used to be...not being kept up...be careful what you ask for...lol. But my parents stayed there in 62 for their honeymoon and back then it was a very luxurious hotel. Give us a review when you get back. Have fun.

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My first balcony on the Serenade - 4/16/05!!!

RCCL Majesty of the Seas - April 2004
Carnival Inspiration - June 2003
RCCL Monarch of the Seas - July 2002

We bid on on priceline and also got the Fountainbleu hotel for $75.00 a night. We read some of the reviews on this hotel and most were about how run down and rude the help was.

However, I am going to go with an open mind and have a good time regardless. Its only for one night and $75.00 is a good price for a hotel on the beach.

We also bidded on Priceline but we got the Marriott Biscayne Bay for $40 has anyone ever stayed there any reviews on this hotel?


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Until we're on the Explorer of the Seas !

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I love Priceline. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I have got the following through Priceline lately:

4* Hyatt Regency Dallas $42 a night.
4* Hyatt Regency Austin $45 a night.
4* Marriott Riverwalk San Antonio $60 a night.

It really pleases the wife when she finds herself in a four-star hotel everywhere. I am happy to get them at a motel price.

Dan

Proud father of future cruiser [url="http://www.geocities.com/danlu75023/"]Julianna Selene[/url]

Suecruise,

What did you bid to get the Mariott Harbor Beach in FLL?
I stayed there 7 years ago before it was renovated it & was gorgeous then, loved that hotel?
What did you pick for Fort Lauderdale - 4 star or resort?

Sorry, I meant Suekay

( :

Ocruise - I am also curious as to why the bid was placed late at night? Also, because Priceline winnerw are sometimes given the worse room in a hotel, why not blow that picture up of yourself in the bikini and show to the hotel. Perhaps they will upgrade you after you tell them how excited you are about staying there again.

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Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004

Ocruise
I have the most dreadful memory and can't remember what I bid, but know that the total including taxes and booking fee came to around $120. I checked [url="http://www.biddingfortravel.com"]www.biddingfortravel.com[/url] to see what others were bidding for the same time.
You need to request a resort hotel in the Fort Lauderdale Beach area - the Marriott Harbour Beach is the only one which comes up so it's a pretty safe bet
Priceline was never mentioned at check-in and our email request to the hotel for a non-smoking room with 2 beds was honoured
PS Just got the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza on South Beach for my friend in December for $114 - don't know if that's as great a bargain as others bids I've made, but I'm really pleased, and it's certainly a lot cheaper than any of the sites I've checked