FLL area Hotel needed in 3 weeks!

[cawhite]

Hi everyone,

 

OK... our family of 4 just booked Empress of the Seas in 3 weeks (we were originally going to cruise next April, but moved up the date!). Where should we stay?

 

Marriott Hollywood Beach ($159 grand opening rate)

Pelican Beach ($221 - AAA rate)

Hardrock Seminole ($299)

 

My kids love great pools (Hard Rock) and lazy rivers (Pelican Beach), but the Marriott has a great rate through August (and DH has Platinum Marriott Rewards status so he always gets great upgrades, etc.).

 

We don't care for casinos or smoking (Hard Rock), but would stay there for the pool. Also, I hear they have great shopping right around the hotel (DD would like that). But since we're coming all the way from California, it would be nice for the kids to stay right on the beach as well (we see the Pacific Ocean every day... the kids have never seen the Atlantic).

 

Have done a lot of reading and posting on this subject previously... but now I have to make a decision... fast!

 

Oh, also... we're probably not interested in PL this time around since we have specific hotels we're interested in.

 

Thanks, in advance, for the advice!!

 

Carole

[serene56]

Use http://www.biddingfortravel.com for cheaper hotel rooms. This site tells you what hotels are available using priceline. ANd what hotels are going for.

 

If you decide against priceline-please use http://www.tripadvisor.com to get reviews on your favorite hotel.

[cawhite]

Thanks serene56. I always use tripadvisor too. There's a poor review or two of the Hard Rock there, hence my asking questions on this property. It sounds like despite the pool, it's not really a great place for kids... those are only opinions / single data points, I realize.

 

Although we use PL quite often, we probably won't use it this time. I have done lots of research on biddingfortravel.com, betterbidding.com, and biddingforfun.com - so I know great deals are out there!! If any of the above 3 hotels were in PL's known inventory, I might try to however!

[TrentS]

None of those hotels are available on Priceline so forget that if you're interested in only those three.

 

Seminole Hard Rock is a very cool place, AWESOME pool, many shops & restaurants in the surrounding Seminole Paradise... http://www.seminoleparadise.com/

 

Pelican Beach is an beautiful hotel BUT make sure you get the NEW tower and not the old building. The old building is just that, old, and not very nice! The new tower is the pretty one you see in the pictures, it's well worth the difference in price. If you don't have a car be aware that there's nothing within walking distance, but there are many shops and restaurants within a 5-7 minute cab ride

 

Hollywood Beach Marriott is new, there is more about it in this thread... http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=206503

 

If you do want a nice beachfront resort though, and would like to use Priceline try bidding Fort Lauderdale BEACH 4-Star RESORT, that would be the Harbor Beach Marriott, wonderful hotel on the nicest part of Fort Lauderdale Beach, less than 10 minutes from Port Everglades... http://www.marriottharborbeach.com/

[cawhite]

:) Thanks TrentS.... I was hoping you'd see my post and respond!!

 

I'd love to stay at the Harbor Beach Marriott as well. I guess that's the only "resort" in the PL inventory these days for FL Beach area? Do you know what the winning bids have been recently off hand (I can research it... just thought you might know off the top of your head).

 

Also, how does the beach at the Harbor Beach compare with the Hollywood Beach Marriott? Do they both have places to walk to close by? I guess from the Harbor Beach we could walk to the water taxi as well... hmmm... the Harbor Beach is sounding good.

 

So, I guess, the choice would be between trying to get the Harbor Beach on PL, and paying big bucks for the Hard Rock. Which do you think would be better for kids (14 and 10 y.o.)?

 

Thank you!!

[serene56]

The above places that you chose-- how far away is the pier.. and do any of them offer free rides from the airport/ pier?

 

I, too am looking for hotels in FLL.- seems something is up on our weekend as the prices are outrageous...over 200 a night.. ANd its too far out for priceline. I want other stuff to look at.

[cawhite]

OK... I just tried to get the Harbor Beach Marriott on PL.

 

I started bidding at $97 since there were 7 free re-bid zones (that did not have "resort" category hotels, so I knew I was safe). I did not reduce the star level. The ony zone I did not select was the Hollywood zone, since I was trying for the Harbor Beach Marriott, not the Westin Diplomat.

 

Well, I was rejected all around up to $164.... ugh!

 

I do notice Lago Mar has a 1 BR suite for $175...

 

So what should I do... stay w/ the Hollywood Marriott ($159), or change to the Lago Mar ($175)? Which has better near-by places to go?

 

I'll try PL again in 72 hours.

 

Thx.

[petlover]

Just my 2 cents worth.....I think I'd stick with a Marriott property because of your husband's status with them knowing you'll be upgraded. Even if you go through Priceline, you can bid downtown (4 star) and get a Marriott property: Renaissance or Mariott Marina. You could always keep trying for the Marriot Beach Resort too with a "Beach Resort" bid. Go ahead and make a definite reservation at the Marriott Hollywood Beach that you can cancel in the event you get lucky with priceline. You really don't have anything to lose.

 

BTW, we've won Starwood properties on priceline before and still got upgraded due to DH's platinum status....priceline or not. Good Luck!

[TrentS]

cawhite - Lago Mar is an older property, but VERY nice, just down the beach from the Harbor Beach Marriott. Personally *I* prefer that area over Hollywood Beach, but others on here love Hollywood. Lago Mar and the Harbor Beach Marriott are closer to Port Everglades and yes, you can easily walk to the water taxi from the Harbor Beach Marriott. I don't know what Harbor Beach Marriott has been going for lately, but check betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com, someone on there should know.

 

As far as Harbor Beach Marriott or Lago Mar vs. Seminole Hard Rock I guess it depends on how well your kids love the beach. The pool at the Hard Rock is extremely cool with a waterslide and waterfall, but other than that there's probably not too much else for kids. Harbor Beach Marriott and Lago Mar are on the nicest and widest part of Fort Lauderdale Beach with all the beach activites as well as great pools.

[TrentS]

The above places that you chose-- how far away is the pier.. and do any of them offer free rides from the airport/ pier?

 

I, too am looking for hotels in FLL.- seems something is up on our weekend as the prices are outrageous...over 200 a night.. ANd its too far out for priceline. I want other stuff to look at.

None of the hotels being discussed in this thread have shuttles, in fact very few do anymore. I wouldn't concern myself over shuttles if you stay in the SE 17th Street or the south end of Fort Lauderdale Beach as both are so close to both the airport and Port Everglades that the cost is minimal. Also, be aware of the few "hotels" that do push the fact that they have shuttles as some of them are dumps to put it mildly, and some are not in very nice areas.

 

The only hotel with a shuttle that I would recommend is the Holiday Inn Express on SE 17th Street. It's not of the calibur of the other hotels mentioned in this thread, but it's a nice, inexpensive, no frills hotel in a safe area with everything you could possibly want within walking distance... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/fllcc

[cawhite]

OK... I decided I don't have time to wait around bidding on PL day after day for the Harbor Beach Marriott... so I decided to try a bid for the Hyatt Pier 66 instead. I got it on the first attempt... $80.

 

So we're set! No turning back now.

 

Thanks everyone!!

[TrentS]

OK... I decided I don't have time to wait around bidding on PL day after day for the Harbor Beach Marriott... so I decided to try a bid for the Hyatt Pier 66 instead. I got it on the first attempt... $80.

 

So we're set! No turning back now.

 

Thanks everyone!!

You'll be happy there, it's a beautiful hotel, has a great pool, and if you want to go to the beach it's less than a 5 minute cab ride, or you can take the water taxi up a stop or two. Have a great stay and cruise! :)

[cawhite]

oops... I think I messed up.

 

Just checked the Hyatt's website and I could have booked an AAA Summer Rate w/ Breakfast for $103.50 ($23 more than PL). I'm sure our PL reservation will not include breakfast. And I would have received Hyatt points.

 

Oh well... live and learn!

 

Still, we'll have a nice stay I'm sure.

[cawhite]

Yes, TrentS... I decided it might be a good fit after seeing a picture of the pool!

[cruzobsessed]

just got back from florida literally minutes ago.......we stayed at the pelican beach and all i can say is THIS IS THE PLACE!!!!! we've stayed at the marriott harbor beach, intercontinental (miami), fountainbleau (miami) in the past and we were sooooo sorry to leave today. i am posting a review later and will review on trip advisor.

[cruzobsessed]

just got back from florida literally minutes ago.......we stayed at the pelican beach and all i can say is THIS IS THE PLACE!!!!! we've stayed at the marriott harbor beach, intercontinental (miami), fountainbleau (miami) in the past and we were sooooo sorry to leave today. i am posting a review later and will review on trip advisor.

[cawhite]

cruzobsessed:

 

Oh, maybe I should have waited another day to book our hotel... it sounds like the Pelican Beach is fabulous!! I can't cancel now w/ my Priceline reservation. Oh well.... maybe next time.

 

So the lazy river was great?!?

[doone]

Petlover, just to clear some confusion, the Marriott Hotel and Marina in Ft. Lauderdale is a 3* downtown property on priceline, not a 4*. OR did this change in the last few months????

[cawhite]

I believe the Renaissance is a 4*, the Marriott Marina is a 3*.

[TrentS]

I believe the Renaissance is a 4*, the Marriott Marina is a 3*.

Exactly

[petlover]

Petlover, just to clear some confusion, the Marriott Hotel and Marina in Ft. Lauderdale is a 3* downtown property on priceline, not a 4*. OR did this change in the last few months????

 

Right Doone. The Renaissance is a 4 star so if you want the Marina (3 star) you can't be sure that they won't actually give you the Renaissance. (we didn't want the Renaissance because it doesn't have balconies) since you get the category bid on OR BETTER.

[cawhite]

Hi Petlover,

 

I think Doone asked the question because you wrote:

 

"Even if you go through Priceline, you can bid downtown (4 star) and get a Marriott property: Renaissance or Mariott Marina."

 

I think you meant to say that you can bid "downtown (3 star)" and get the Marriott Marina or the Renaissance (as the result of a PL upgrade from a 3 star to a 4 star). :)

 

Doone was thinking that maybe you were saying that they are both 4 star properties now.

 

Carole

[doone]

Carol, you are correct, that's exactly what I was thinking. Just a bit confusing, thanks Carol.

[petlover]

You're both so right!! Sorry about the confusion....I need to proof read! :eek:

[doone]

No problem, Marcie.