The "Oasis" Factor

[Trip]

Last year, when the Oasis, was getting ready to cruise into Lauderdale, one of my thoughts was, oh boy, all the resources, in the city will be strained to the max, and the prices will reflect the supply and demand.

I was able to book a 4 star hotel, in Lauderdale,last yr. for $59.00, per night, and rent a midsize car, for $18.00 a day. Whoa mama, this year, for late Oct, for the Epic cruise, I got sticker shock. Imagine my surprise to find Hyatt Place, with an on site price of of $259.00... I remember this hotel ranging between 99-120.00...I am up to $80.00 on Priceline with several Fll area options, and no go....I am thinking I may try Boca, or just bite the bullet, and edge my way upward slowly for Fll...

The car I got for $22.00 a day, but, for a compact....SO, not much more money, but, a much smaller car....

I know Mike told me that he got an $80.00 rate for Miami... so reasonable for sure, compared to what I am finding.

So, thinking ahead to December, when Oasis's jumbo twin, comes sailing in...things might get crazier...OY!

[Donna]

Wow Trip,
Thanks for the heads up, in about 6 months I too will be looking for something in Lauderdale for the Oct. Allure cruise, lets hope its not like this???

Keep us posted as to what you end up booking, got my fingers crossed that you find something to your liking, but more reasonable....I will be asking for your expert advice as to where to stay down there, never stayed in Lauderdale....

[Mike M]

Trip:

I don't think this is "The Oasis Factor". If you plug in some other dates for hotels you will see they are more "reasonable". I just plugged in October 15 and 16 and the Hyatt Place is $140 and the Embassy Suites is $150.

These look like the "normal" rates.

There are a number of places like "Ramada Airport" for $49. I wouldn't let Kramer stay there but it's cheap.

I would bet that there is a convention, boat show, tidily winks tournament or other event going on the weekend of the 30th.

Take care,
Mike

[Trip]

Mike, I did a search, and, indeed the boat show is in town! Everything will be bonkers that week, for sure.....

That said, I firmly believe the 2 big ships will impact all resources, in my favorite city. Hotels and restaurants will make out big time.. The Hyatt at $149..is still high compared to the last time, I stayed there. I tried a new site, I had not heard of before..they state a price, and you say, go ahead, and they try to get you the price stated, within 48 hrs...I highly doubt, this will go through, now, knowing the boat show is in town. As an aside, any hotel offering free parking, for cruisers, will pull that option, for this weekend.

I think I am going to head north a bit, if this option I just tried fails

[robertjones56]

I will be sailing on Allure in Sept. 2011, so I have been checking rates frequently for hotels, even though I can't book yet. They seem to flucuate as much as air fare does! My preferred choice is Embassy Suites and I've seen a range of $119.00 to $299.00 for the same room...just different dates.

[Donna]

Hey Trip,
What is that "new" site....the one thing I get leary about with PL is not knowing the exact hotel, would love to book a hotel I want at a discount price...Keep us posted when you get a reply within 48 hours..

[Trip]

Donna, none of these sites, including this new one referred to me, lastminutetravel.com, will tell you what the hotel is..you book by stars, and area. Over the years, I have *sort of" figured many of them out.

When you are ready to go, I have some fave restaurants I will give you, and, oh, some places to shop.... of course, if that is up your alley

[Mike M]

I have a hard time comprehending the worry about not knowing what hotel you will get by using Priceline.

If you book 3.5* or higher in the right zone you will not end up in a dump or too far away from where you want to be.

Will you get the view of the harbor, shuttle service to the airport and the port, free parking for a week, or the presidential suite? Who knows. That's the gamble.

What you will end up with is a decent room, in the area you want to be, for less than you would pay on any other site. That is if you do a bit of research and bid intelligently.

I have used Priceline well over 30 times. It's probably a lot more but I've lost count and the only time I was disappointed was the VERY FIRST time I used it. I had no idea how to do research and basically got the room for the hotel's Internet rate. I didn't pay through the nose but I learned I could have done much better.

I don't want this to be a Priceline commercial but I have used it so many times with positive results that I feel it's a benefit to all cruisers and the fear of "not knowing" requires people to pay more than they need to.

Take care,
Mike

[Trip]

I agree Mike, the stars is the key, then the area for me.....In Fll, I know that a 4 star would make me happy...I know all the applicable hotels and, 3 or 3 plus, would be ok too....

[AF1]

Thank goodness I am using hotel points next year; the shock won't hit me as hard.

[CruzNut]

FLL always has the largest boat show in America the last weekend in October.

Plus, I came back in April on the Crown Princess on a Saturday as did the Oasis and 6 other ships. Have never seen FLL airport so crowded and I always check in at curb side ... took 45 minutes. From now on I won't return on a Saturday - plus I prefer 10 day cruises.

One of the taxi drivers I had said they really hate the Oasis for travel for them.

Trip - I sent you a private message.

Jane

[skymaster]

Last time I sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale, we had a difficult time finding a spot in the parking garage assigned the Carnival ship I was sailing! Yes, I know, the Oasis folks are supposed to have their own garage, but isn't it strange that since that ship's been in town, ALL the parking spots at Port Everglades are full? Apparently the garage built, or assigned Oasis, isn't large enough for all the folks who sail that ship!

"SKY"

[katlady]

Well shoot I'm not going anywhere for a while. So why not look at your guys trips. FLL tourism buenu lists the events for the area. Trip not only is there the 51st annual international boat show, but the 3rd annual dragon boat race and craft festival is around that same time. Actually the dragon boat race sounds like fun. Teams of 8 to 15 participants paddle colorful boats that resemble stylized Chinese dragons and are more than 30 feet long. But I could totally see you hiting the craft festival. Here is a link to the events calendar for FLL.

Fort Lauderdale Events Calendar - Fort Lauderdale CVB

[katlady]

I'm not sure if this will help. But it's a list of hotels in FLL. This is the LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE website.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea - Hotel Accommodations