Suggestions for stay near port the night before cruise

[Carol36]

I am trying to figure out the best place to stay the night before our 4-day Wonder cruise the last of May 2004. We are a family of 6(children 15,13,11,8), so it is a little more difficult because of this. We would like a good value, nice place. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[kcashner]

My preference is to get a room thru Priceline. 3* hotels go for $28-35 per night per room in the airport area. That includes a free shuttle, and some include breakfast. Officially, they hold only 2 people, but most will handle 4. Of course, that would mean 2 rooms for your crew. Still, it beats a suite, which is what you would otherwise need.

3* hotels used include Hyatt, Sheraton, Renaissance, etc. There is a complete list at www.biddingfortravel.com
Do not go to a 2.5* level as there is a NASTY La Quinta at that level. Also, the lower level hotels do not include shuttles, so the cost of a cab more than makes up for the cost of the 3* hotel difference in price.

 

[inkkognito]

I'll echo kcashner. We use Priceline at lot, and when we bid the higest star level, we usually end up at the Marriott although we've been at the Holiday Inn Select and the Renaissance too. We're got it as cheap as $25, but $28 to $33 seems to be the norm.
We used to bid one level lower, but that horrible LaQuinta scared us off after two miserable experiences. It's a shame because there is another nice LaQuinta and several other good hotels at that level, but I won't take the chance. For the one-lower level hotels, we've always gotten one that includes a shuttle. And oddly enough, none of the three top-level ones we stay at include breakfast, but most of the lower level ones do. Of course, we didn't get to eat at that evil LaQuinta because when we got to the lobby, the workers were carrying all the breakfast food out to their cars!
Hotwire usually has good deals at suite hotels in the $34 range. You can tell the suites by their amenities, and they have shuttles and include food too.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Casatway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Carol36]

I'm Carol Lyles. I have never tried Priceline before and was very reluctant. I did type in all of my info and then backed out. Have you ever tried Hotwire yourself? Thanks a bunch!

 

[inkkognito]

Yes, I've used Hotwire many times. They are the same as Priceline in the fact that you cannot back out once you make the purchase, and you don't know the hotel until you've booked it. But I've always been safe when sticking with a hotel with suite amenities. It's usually the Amerisuites, and even if you end up at the LaQuinta Suites, that's NOT the same as the bad LaQuinta...totally different hotel.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Are these hotels near the airport? What about hotels near the port. Do you use 3 stars? What price should we try? We don't need a shuttle.

thanks,
Diane

 

[kcashner]

The site I like for info on Priceline is www.biddingfortravel.com. For hotels near the airport, use Orlando, MCO area. For hotels near the port, use Cocoa Beach. Yes, in the airport area do not go below 3* or you risk getting that NASTY LaQuinta. As Barb said, there are nice hotels at 2.5*, but there is that really icky one too.

The biddingfortravel site lists all the hotels in an area and star level, so you can see before you bid where you might end up. Start bidding at about $28, and move up $2-3 if you are rejected. You can do "free re-bids" by adding areas that don't have 3* hotels. For instance, you want a 3* near the airport. You bid $28 and are rejected. Now, you have to either wait 3 days to bid again OR change something about your bid. SO, you add the Kissemmee area because they don't have any 3* hotels in that area, and bid $30 or $31. You won't get a hotel in Kissemmee because there are no 3* priceline hotels there. If you have a long time before your trip, there is no need for this logic. Another way to do it is to create 2 accounts on 2 different credit cards.....

The only reason I can see NOT to use Priceline is that you want to stay at a particular hotel. For us, I really don't care where I stay the night before the cruise. I want to be in the Orlando area early just for safety sake (don't want to miss the cruise), but don't want to spend a lot of money doing it. If it's clean and has decent beds, I'm happy. If it has a pool, workout room, whatever, that's a bonus.
Kathryn

 

[mmouse37]

Just last week I posted that I was able to get the Doubletree in Cocoa Beach for $39.00 plus tax thru Priceline. Tax is extra and I was able to book 2 rooms.

I put in 3 Star hotels in the Cocoa Beach area and was happy to get the Doubletree as the Doubletree website was showing rooms starting at $98.00 for the night we are staying. It also includes cocktails in the evening and breakfast in the morning.

MJ

 

[tpseller]

I also got the Doubletree at Cocoa Beach for $39 from Priceline by putting in a 3* hotel. We got three rooms.

On the dates we are going, the lowest rate on the website is $130.

Thanks for the tip Mmouse37!

 

[mmouse37]

tpseller....you are so welcome!!!

MJ

 

[DVCcruise]

Is there anyway to use Priceline or the other "bidding" sites to stay at the Radison? We thought that would be a good place to stay because of the parking deal. I'm not so sure that's a great deal.

 

[Carol36]

I put in a bid on priceline a little while ago and it was rejected.($35.00 for 3* in Cocoa Beach for May 22) I did not see where I had to wait, but it would not accept another bid and I did not change anything else. Is the wait 3 days? Thanks for all of the advice.


Carol

 

[debm]

I'm curious because we are thinking about flying in rather than driving to our next cruise. I've always liked the freedom of being on my own time---but a 16 hour drive is not something I'm looking forward to. How do you get from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the ship? I would guess the hotels would have airport shuttles but I'm really worried about getting to the boat in the morning. Thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

debm

do you mean how to get from the hotel to the ship from an airport area hotel or from a port area hotel?

If you are asking about airport area hotel you would have to either rent a car or hire a limo/car service. If you are staying at the Hyatt at the airport you can purchase DCL transfers from that hotel to the ship.

If you are asking about port area...some hotels in the area offer a shuttle to the ship. The closest being the Radisson.

Check out Dave's site for a wealth of info at

www.dcltribute.com


DVCruise....there is no way at all on Priceline or Hotwire to select a specific hotel...that's the nature of Priceline....it will give you a hotel in the area with the star rating you request, but it does not tell you what hotel you have until you are booked. You must do research and make sure you are happy with any of the hotels Priceline might give you.

MJ

 

[samnick]

If we stay at the Hyatt at the airport the night before, do we still use the Disney luggage tags for baggage handling? We purchased Disney transfers but were not sure if we have to take our bags with us.

 

[NJ Cruisers]

Thanks kcashner and mmouse37 - that was great information. The best thing about this forum is getting the scoop from people who have actually done it.

I have some questions for anyone experienced with Priceline (or similar sites) - we are cruising in November and need a hotel near the port.
1. Do we use 3 stars? Looks that way, but just wanted to be sure.
2. Do we getter a better deal doing it now or waiting until closer to November?

Thanks,
Diane

 

[kcashner]

You can't predict when you will get the best deal on Priceline. It just depends on how full the hotel is and how much inventory it has turned over to Priceline. Just remember that Priceline rooms are non-refundable. If your travel plans change, you pay for the room anyhow.

Yes, you want a 3* at the port. This will get you a Holiday Inn, Hilton, or DOubletree. The hotels are actually in Cocoa Beach, a short drive from the port. The shuttle is $3 per person, or you can take a cab. Before I start questions, the Radisson at the port has a free shuttle, but Radisson is not a hotel available on Priceline.

Most of the time, you can't get Priceline until 6 months or less before your travel date. You get the best deal when they have a lot of inventory that they don't expect to be able to fill. Thus, holiday weekends, you will pay more than slow season. 3 days before a trip, IF they have a lot of open rooms, it will be cheap...but they might not have open rooms.

A suggestion--make a cancellable (is that a word?) reservation somewhere. Then bid Priceline. You know that you want to keep your bid below what the reserved room will cost. Farther out, stick to your guns and don't bid too high. You can always go higher as your date approaches if need be.

We usually bid 1 week to 3 months ahead. I haven't noticed a lot of price variation (like maybe $8-10 difference per night) as things progressed. The best "deals" are the right near the date ones, but you can't count on those.

For this cruise...I'm paying $34 for a holiday inn that lists an internet rate starting at $98 plus tax. My total, including tax and Priceline service charge is $44.31. SO...I get a nicer place for the cost of a cheapie or less.

 

[firsttimemom]

If I get anything on hotwire/priceline I'll let you know.

Liz

 

[Carol36]

Firsttimemom: Thanks. I will do the same for you.




Thanks to all of you for your help. Should I stick to my $35 bid for May 22 for a 3* on Priceline? I guess I will have to try every 3 days. Carol

 

[tpseller]

Carol36 - Since both mmouse37 and myself both got the Doubletree for $39 - I would try that price next time.

Keep us posted!!!