Priceline Help... Birmingham UAB area

[RobinFabulous]

I'm going to have a procedure at UAB in July, because of the distance, I will need to stay July 21 & 22 in a hotel. I know there is a hotel attached to the hospital. The info packet says the rate is $139 per night


How does priceline work? I've never used it before. SHould I wait until a little closer to the travel dates for a better deal or do it now?


Does anyone have any advice about hotels in the Birmingham area? We'll have a bit of free time after the dr's apt on the 21st and the procedure on the 23rd. Is it a better idea to stay closer or further away? I've been to UAB before, but it was as a child.

Any info is appreciated
Thanks

 

[lisabarr]

visit www.betterbidding.com
they can help with advice and bidding strategy.

 

[CarolA]

Here's my concern. I have stayed in that area. Make very sure you FULLY understand the "area" priceline is giving you. Sometimes if there are very few hotels in an area they "spread" out so you could actually wind up pretty far from UAB.

There just weren't a lot of options as I recall. I was at the Courtyard for several weeks and I bet it's the hotel they recommend. It's a nice hotel.

 

[BabyFu18]

The UAB healthcare website has a listing of hotels which offer UAB medical discounts, so check that out. My mom had surgery at UAB Highlands a couple months ago and we stayed at the Tutwiler Hotel which was close to the Highlands.

 

[RobinFabulous]

Here's my concern. I have stayed in that area. Make very sure you FULLY understand the "area" priceline is giving you. Sometimes if there are very few hotels in an area they "spread" out so you could actually wind up pretty far from UAB.

There just weren't a lot of options as I recall. I was at the Courtyard for several weeks and I bet it's the hotel they recommend. It's a nice hotel.

Yup. That's the one attached to the hospital. We will have a car, but DH is injured right now and contemplating back surgery himself, so we'll probably just pick that one. I can't walk far in the heat, so really even a mile is too much for me.

 

[RobinFabulous]

The UAB healthcare website has a listing of hotels which offer UAB medical discounts, so check that out. My mom had surgery at UAB Highlands a couple months ago and we stayed at the Tutwiler Hotel which was close to the Highlands.

Was it far to drive? The packet has several that offer a UAB discount, but I really know nothing about the area and wouldn't want to end up in a "bad" area. All I know is I was tolf it's in the main building. The hotel you mention is listed as "in the area" then they have a seperate list "10 minute dirve"

 

[CarolA]

I drove to an office building one block from the Tutwiler the whole time I stayed in Birmingham.... and it's about a 10 minute drive to the main UAB hospital.

I really didn't like the Tut which is why I moved, but I hear they have redone it.

 

[rcraw45425]

Stayed at the Double Tree last year while DH was at a 2 day course. IT used to be a Radisson, not bad, business class hotel, right across from Harrison Tower and I think the VA on 8th Ave South. Not that cheap through the website. The Courtyard is a few blocks over more around Cooper Green and Childrens Hospital. Avoid pretty much all the others unless you have a car. It's not a very nice neighborhood at night, and most restaurants are too far to safely walk. We lived there for three years while DH was doing his residency at University Hospital. PM me and I'll be glad to go over the hotels with you.

 

[leagirl12]

Robin....hey girl I sent you a message on Facebook but wanted to post here too....I asked DH about it and he agrees...DoubleTree or the Courtyard are really your best choices for clean/safe places if you want to stay close to the hospital.

If you are ok with a 10-15 min drive up the interstate I can recommend some other options. I saw on Hotwire they listed a 4-star for $79...better bidding thinks it is the Wynfrey which is connected to the mall in Hoover...about 15-20 min down the interstate. That would give you tons of choices for food.

Shannon

 

[rcraw45425]

Robin....hey girl I sent you a message on Facebook but wanted to post here too....I asked DH about it and he agrees...DoubleTree or the Courtyard are really your best choices for clean/safe places if you want to stay close to the hospital.

If you are ok with a 10-15 min drive up the interstate I can recommend some other options. I saw on Hotwire they listed a 4-star for $79...better bidding thinks it is the Wynfrey which is connected to the mall in Hoover...about 15-20 min down the interstate. That would give you tons of choices for food.

Shannon

Ooo, the Wynfrey. That was my choice when we were up there last year but the person in charge of the course reminded me that with traffic, even though mileage it's close, you could be looking at 45 minutes to one houreach way during busy times.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

Ooo, the Wynfrey. That was my choice when we were up there last year but the person in charge of the course reminded me that with traffic, even though mileage it's close, you could be looking at 45 minutes to one houreach way during busy times.

DH & I used to live close to the Galleria (and therefore, the Wynfrey). He was in optometry school at UAB. That 15-20 minutes driving time between would be if you're the only one on the interstate. It could easily take an hour if traffic is bad. I would stay in the hotel attached to UAB. You can get in some really bad areas close-by, so I couldn't venture far.

Best of luck with your stay, surgery, and recovery!

 

[leagirl12]

You guys are right....I didn't think about the traffic that would add to the commute....of course this is only an issue if you are coming in during the morning or afternoon commute for workers...otherwise it is only about 15 minutes. I go to the mall at lunch sometimes and can easily get there in 15-20 min and I work downtown not far from UAB.

 

[rcraw45425]

WHen DH was in residency we were in Vestavia Hills off Hwy 31 the first year then moved out to Chelsea in Shelby Co the next year. I was blessed to work on Hwy 119 right there by Graystone, he had that drive every morning in a pickup with a stick shift. It easily took him 45 minutes to an hour. Hard to believe that traffic can make that much difference. When we were up there last June I would take him to the little building back by 5 Pts south for his ACLS class. It would take me just a few minutes to get there and back to the hotel (Dbl Tree), but I could see the traffic over by I-65. We left town on Friday evening around 6pm and ittook us well over 1 hour to get over the mountain and out to around Alabaster, the traffic was that bad. In contrast, we were up there weekend before last on a Sunday and that whole UAB area was deserted (had to have Dreamland ribs, lol).