Internet auctions for the best deals on Florida travel simply cannot get any simpler, safer or more fun than at Florida Vacation Auction. The web site partners with Visit Florida, the State of Florida's Official Source for Travel Planning, and the auction site is a member of the Florida Lodging Association and the Florida Attractions Association. As active members of the Florida tourism community, consumers can bid with confidence and trust.
Travelers can bid weekly on auction lots which include golf, spa, attractions, hotels and top resorts. Auctions close at 10 p.m. each Sunday. Winning bidders save on an average of 50 percent and as much as 80 percent off of regular prices.
There is very little to do on the front side. Bidders must register their credit card (the number is purged once the auction lot closes) and the registration is simple and free.
Bids are placed in $5 increments. If you are outbid, an email alert with a link back to that auction gives the opportunity to place another bid.
Auction winners receive an email with a link to a travel voucher Adobe PDF worth the value of their bid, including any taxes. If the winning bid was $200, that's the final charge. There are no additional costs or handling fees. However, some resorts require a mandatory resort fee to be paid independent of the auction package. These fees average $20 per day and cover costs for Internet use, parking, use of special facilities such as fitness center or spa and housekeeping gratuities.
To give you a bit of incentive to visit the site and look around, here are three of the top Active Auction Deals this week. The bidding on these auction lots will close on Sunday, April 10 at 10:00 p.m. EST:
A three-night stay at the Don Cesar Beach Resort, a luxury St. Petersburg Beach hotel retails for $1,405. The Buy Direct Special Offer at Florida Vacation Auction is $787. The current Auction Bid is only $285, a savings of 80 percent. The winning bidder will also receive a $100 resort credit. Stays are valid from May 1-Aug. 30 (blackouts: May 27-31; July 1-5). Check out the details at this link: http://www.floridavacationauction.com/index.cfm/event-ViewAuction/auctionId-7404
A four-night stay at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables retails for about $1,250. But budget travelers can save up to 80 percent by bidding from $255 for the package which includes Junior Suite accommodations. Winning bidders can redeem this package on stays from May 1-Aug. 8 (blackouts: May 27-31; July 1-4). For more, visit http://www.floridavacationauction.com/index.cfm/event-ViewAuction/auctionId-7405.
Enjoy a two-night stay at the TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort, a 20-acre family-friendly playground on tropical St. Petersburg Beach. The Opening Auction Bid is only $200, or a savings of 71 percent. Normally a two-night stay would retail at $682. Winning bidders can redeem this package on stays from May 1-Aug. 8 (blackouts: May 27-31; July 1-4). Get in on the bidding at http://www.floridavacationauction.com/index.cfm/event-ViewAuction/auctionId-7453
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.
About the Author
