Internet auctions for the very 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, various hotels and resorts have mandatory resort fees of up to $20 per day which are collected at check-out.
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, May 8 at 10:00 p.m. EST:
A three-night stay at the Don Cesar Beach Resort, a luxury St. Petersburg Beach hotel retails for $1405. The Buy Direct Special Offer at Florida Vacation Auction is $787. The current Auction Bid is only $400, a savings of 72 percent. The winning bidder will also receive a $100 resort credit. Stays are valid from May 22-Aug. 30 (blackouts: May 27-31; July 1-5). This auction does not include a per night resort fee of $22 which includes WiFi, self parking, 24 hour access to Fitness Center, 24 hour shoe shine service, and housekeeping gratuity. Check out the details at this link:
www.floridavacationauction.com/index.cfm/event-ViewAuction/auctionId-7662
A four-night stay at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables retails for about $1250. But budget travelers can save up to 78 percent by bidding from $275 for the package which includes Junior Suite accommodations. Winning bidders can redeem this package on stays from May 22-Aug. 29 (blackouts: May 27-31; July 1-4). For more, visit www.floridavacationauction.com/index.cfm/event-ViewAuction/auctionId-7619.
Coste d' Este Beach Resort, Gloria and Emilio Estefan's newest Personal Luxury Resort, was just named a top 10 celebrity owned hotel in the world and is located ocean-side in Vero Beach, Florida. A two-night stay is available through the auction from just $150, or a savings of 76 percent. The Buy Direct Special Offer is $496 (retail value is $619). Stays are redeemable on May 22-Aug. 29 stays (blackouts: May 27-31; July 1-4), however, not on Fridays or Saturdays. Get to the auction at www.floridavacationauction.com/index.cfm/event-ViewAuction/auctionId-7624.
Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.
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