Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Other online booking for hotel/condo/timeshare

I have not had any success in booking a place for the winter with Skyauction,etc.This would be for several weeks.I have not seen availability for Jan/10 onwards.Perhaps it is a tad early.Any other ideas for me?Do not want to pay more than1300$ a month.Any comments welcome!Fort Lauderdale area.

I've had good luck with www.vrbo.com. Had one in Flagler Beach, and another on Sanibel Island a different year. Both were way nicer than I had expected. Generous, with some cooking staples, use of washer and dryer, kid beach toys, etc. Every dish and pot and pan we might want, comfortable beds, snazzy linens, etc.

Vacation Rental By Owner = vrbo

Have to add that I also did one in Florence, Italy that wasn't that fine. Worked well, but smaller than pictures made it look, sort of shabby, and we had some mechanical problems with utilities.

It seems the places in Florida tend to be high rise condos on the beach that people bought partly for themselves and partly to use for rental. Also a smattering of little cottages and a few houses. Very competitive market in some areas (overbuilt and weak housing market), whereas in others like Key West there is a shortage of units so prices tend to be high.

I'm not sure on Fort Lauderdale specifically, but if you don't like what you are seeing, wander up or down the coast a few cities and you might find a very different pricing structure.

Thanks ...I appreciate your help.

If you start getting serious about a VRBO, be sure to notice the "cleaning fee", or lack thereof.

It can change the equation a little when you are figuring costs.

Romelle

I just did some looking and the rates seem to be quite high for a time of recession?!But I did send a few emails.WE have some time until I start to panic.We need a place for Dec.31.We can always priceline hotels and move around.

you can also try www.redweek.com but has a membership fee. To rent timeshares you can go directly to www.tug2.net there is no fee to see the classifieds.

Hotwire lists condos in many areas. It's an opaque subset of Expedia and often the condos are the best feature. The costs are on a per day basis and the location and amenities are quite specific. I've been happy with their selections.

Can you give me the specifics?I looked at expedia and hotwire....no condos? A web site would be great.Thank you