Romelle

Crowne Plaza Hotel Helsinki Mannerheimintie 50 Helsinki, FI 00260 Finland 011358925210000 Free Internet, Pet friendly, Indoor pool(s), Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Self-service laundry, Internet access, Spa services Rooms Price $82.00 Taxes and fees $16.85 Total (USD) $98.85 I was reasonably sure this was the Crowne Plaza as there was a good match on amenities. But also was OK with whatever showed up. I tried for a while with Priceline bidding on 3* places, but when I got up to within $10 of this one I decided the extra for a nicer hotel was well worth it. I think there is a bit of construction going on with the hotel parking area, as there is a warning to that effect on their web site. Not a problem for me as I won't have a car anyway. It looks really nice on the web site and I'm very happy with the deal. I also have this hotel for May 11-13, 2017 (posted separately)

Crowne Plaza Hotel Helsinki Mannerheimintie 50 Helsinki, FI 00260 Finland 011358925210000 Free Internet, Pet friendly, Indoor pool(s), Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Self-service laundry, Internet access, Spa services Rooms Price $164.00 ($82.00 per night) Taxes and fees $33.52 Total (USD) $197.52 I was reasonably sure this was the Crowne Plaza as there was a good match on amenities. But also was OK with whatever showed up. I tried for a while with Priceline bidding on 3* places, but when I got up to within $10 of this one I decided the extra for a nicer hotel was well worth it. I think there is a bit of construction going on with the hotel parking area, as there is a warning to that effect on their web site. Not a problem for me as I won't have a car anyway. It looks really nice on the web site and I'm very happy with the deal.

Which one got away from you? You've got quite a bit of time yet. PRICELINE EXPRESS and HOTWIRE deals change very frequently. The one you wanted may very well come back. Or you might see something else just right for you. Nail it ASAP.

I'm a member, not anybody official from the board. But if I had your budget and your wishes (not Warwick), I think the first thing I'd try would be bidding 4.5* in the Downtown area up to the $230. It probably wouldn't work, but stranger things have happened. Romelle

www.tripadvisor.com is always a good general place to look for hotel reviews. You can search this site for "renwick" to see if other members have gotten via either Hotwire or Priceline. Sometimes they are kind enough to also offer some added info on the hotel. Also, on this site clear at the end is Hotel Reviews posted by members. Sometime there is a different perspective from people who got a place at a bargain rate.

You'll want to study those PL and HW maps yourself, but a quick www.rome2rio.com check of distances suggests the middle of downtown Richmond is about a $9 Uber ride from the middle of the PL West End area. And the Airport zone looks to be a similar distance the other way. You might consider those zones. I don't know Richmond either. You might look at the hotel lists and see what other bidders have received for those zones. Alternatively, you might consider just PL bidding the downtown area. And if it doesn't work within the $65, maybe add in the Uber cost of the rides from the more distant areas (+~$20?). Sometimes one can do a little better via bidding than PRICELINE EXPRESS or HW. You mentioned "all week", yet your date range is only for 3 nights? Romelle

HOTWIRE can be a little more generous with stars than PRICELINE. Maybe a 1/2 star. So the HW 4* could be a Priceline 3.5*. Lots of variance. There are examples of exactly the same rating, examples of a full star difference, but there is definitely the tendency for a higher star rating on HW. I try to make a rough adjustment for that. And beyond this, when comparing things between HW and PL, the number to compare is the bottom line after fees and taxes. Not the bid amount. You don't need to post in HOTWIRE. All posts for the same stay are kept together, and then moved to the appropriate place when someone is done.

If you check what is available via PRICELINE EXPRESS for same dates and area, that is a good ceiling for your bidding. Possibly a little less, since with PE you have the added advantage of knowing the amenities and an "educated guess" as to what hotel you might receive. Make the comparison on the total numbers though, where all taxes and fees are included. Romelle

While HOTWIRE doesn't have a specific "cleanliness" indicator, that 55% guest rating is your best clue in this situation. Not a positive clue. And thereuare's added note that the rating came from people who got the hotel on a discounted rate makes it an even stronger indication that this isn't a good choice. Bargain hunters tend to be less picky that folks that paid full rate. You can take it one step further and read TripAdvisor reviews for the best guess. When you are searching, picking your desired zones and then sort by "Recommended". Seriously consider the best rated one within your budget. I see a 2* with an 80% rating I'd take over a 2.5* with a 55% rating.

One of my best mental pictures of Las Vegas is the Dale Chihuly glass ceilings in Bellagio. Worth just wandering in to see. I was going to add a candy factory tour, but just checked and they are temporarily closed for remodeling. But the M&M store is great fun.

I'm a member, not a board official, but a couple comments while you are awaiting your official welcome here: You'll probably find this the most flame-free, politest, most helpful board you've yet encountered. Just polite gentle nudges if you've misplaced, misunderstood or misstated anything. A good start might be to try that QuickQuote Bidding Helper up in the left hand corner. Enter your destination and dates. The next screen takes you to where you could start bidding via Priceline. You aren't quite ready for that yet, but do click into the Hotwire and Priceline Express columns to get an idea as to what you might get via those methods. Actual Priceline bidding can be a little bit less expensive, but HW and PE have the advantage of showing you the amenities and a pretty good guess from the officials here as to what hotel you might get. It is a matter of whether saving the last few dollars in more important to you, or knowing the hotel you get will offer some specific amenity (Free Parking, Free Breakfast, ....??). There is also the Winning Bids icon where you can see if other bidders had successes for your area and dates. And lots of other really good things. Romelle

An easy way to see what weekends might be better is to just plug the 4 or 5 sets of dates into the QuickQuote BiddingHelper on the top left of the page here. And then look at the Priceline express 4* offers for the zones you like. Romelle

Have you worked with MAPS and HOTELS.com yet? It was mentioned several posts back. An amazing tool. It lets you see the rates of hotels over a specific area, and then refine by star level and other things. If you broke your stay into two parts, you might find more reasonable rates for the earlier portion of your trip - 8/7 to 8/12 or 13. You'd have to experiment a little as the rates can start climbing a day or two before big conventions since people can choose an extra day or so just to enjoy the area. For this part you might find a hotel you liked in the very central area at a rate OK for you. Then look to the further out areas for the second portion of your trip, since you are thinking of driving to various outlying places anyway. Just to get your thinking started, there is a lovely 5* resort out in the Summerlin area. Maybe, if you can find the right specific hotel for the 1st portion of your trip, your daughter can get that separate TV. But tell her "tough luck" on the second portion since you'll be out and about so much she won't have time to watch TV anyway? Actually, while staying on the strip, there is so much to see and do that she might not want to spend time in the room anyway. And if you walk her little feet off during the day, she will just fall asleep at night. Have you been to Las Vegas before? While there is absolute magic there, there also are some less desirable areas and things. I hope you research a lot ahead of time. With your very specific room type requirements, you probably will have to book directly anyway, but the MAPS and HOTELS.com tool will make it a lot easier. I find that the opaque bidding works best when I'm traveling by myself and willing to just cast my fate to the winds and see what happens. The minute I have even one grandkid or son or friend with me, often I'm forced to book directly just to take care of everybody's requirements. A second additional person almost guarantees needing to do direct booking.

Oops, I didn't post a review, but realized too late to edit the above. I did bid via Priceline and was happy with the result. The one issue I found was the hotel automatically added a charge from the mini-fridge every day. We never used anything from the fridge, just kept some cold drinks in it. They were good about taking the charges off the bill though. No argument. Do check your bill though.

I stayed there several years ago. And did post a review in the Hotel Reviews area. A really nice hotel, and the metro transport very close and convenient. Enjoy.

I don't think the deals are as wonderful as they were when things first started, but I figure I saved over $200 on the 10-day Prague deal I just reported.

Hotel Beseda Prague Vladislavova 1477/20 Prague, 110 00 Czech Republic Amenities: Business Center Free Internet No Smoking 8/10 guest rating A Bed Choice was available. I took the default of Double Bed-Nonsmoking Room. While it wasn't listed as an amenity, in the fine print of the actual deal is listed Free Breakfast. It seems to be common in Prague hotels, even at the 4* level. For the 10 nights, $550.00 plus $114.90 taxes and fees. But I had an extra 15% off from a previous issue with PRICELINE EXPRESS saving $82.50. So the total for the 10 nights is only $582.40. There hadn't been any reported PRICELINE hotels for this zone so I was slightly nervous. Text from PRICELINE EXPRESS described the New Town North zone as: "The heart of this area is vibrant Wenceslas Square, Prague's main boulevard lined with shops, nightclubs, restaurants and much more. This commercial district also offers a number of theaters and cultural hotspots, including the National Museum. Visitors can easily get around this area, thanks to the multitude of public transportation options, particularly those around Wenceslas Square." Rates were about $20 lower than the more popular Old Town Square - Astronomical Clock Area so I decided to just go for it. I'm delighted now. The hotel is well rated on Tripadvisor. Romelle

I was only charged for the return on the shuttle. Apparently it is free to the hotel. So a total of 5 Euro. Details in the hotel review. Yes, grand trip. This was the last night before returning. Romelle

While I admit I'd been hoping for one of the hotels right at the airport, this Priceline Express deal turned out well for me. After wandering the MUC airport for a bit, I had sense enough to ask the Information desk. For shuttle service to the Sheraton I was directed (and pointed) in English "outside to area 6". Right out the door I spotted a big number "6" easily. Several different shuttles stopped there, but there was posted information that the Sheraton would be served by a shuttle also serving an NH and a Holiday Inn. Every 1/2 hour. The shuttle arriving was also clearly marked to this effect. I'd been told the shuttle fee was 5 Euro. I could see a public bus #512 about 100 feet away, but was curious as to just how the shuttle worked so waited for that. The driver had me sign my name and check which hotel on a clipboard. I offered the 5 Euro, but he didn't accept it. The smooth ride was about 20 minutes, but through a pretty spring green countryside dotted with yellows, whites, pinks and lavenders of blooming trees, flowers, shrubs and crops. The hotel check-in process was friendly, smooth and quick. In comfortable English. Just a comment that I was prepaid. I did forget to ask about internet, but a quick trip back later got me the necessary access code and password. Internet worked well. The room was spacious, spotlessly clean and nicely furnished. Additional table and two easy chairs as well as a desk and big dresser. A bathtub and very nice toiletries. The queen bed was soft (my preference) with 4 big pillows. The room very quiet. Attractive warm gold, brown and similar color scheme. A view from the 3rd floor window over clay roof tops to green fields and blooming apple trees. Outside the hotel was a nice seating area called a beer garden. Next morning at checkout, I asked about the shuttle. I was told it would cost the 5 Euro. I paid up and was given a little plastic card to give to the driver. I was never actually charged for the ride to the hotel. The every 1/2 hour (on the hour and the half) shuttle showed up exactly on time. The public bus #512 was, according to www.rome2rio.com, 79' away but I was weary after a busy 3 week trip and didn't opt to check it out. I didn't explore around the area. It looked like it might be in a small village, and there may have been some shops and restaurants. This was a lovely hotel and I spend a comfortable and pleasant evening and night.

I'm posting a review in the Hotel Reviews area. I was happy with this hotel.

With my look at the Priceline Express deals, I just used the zones of the very 1st post. I should have read the later posts more carefully and used the zones that were ultimately decided upon. Sorry. Romelle

If you use BiddingHelper.com (top left) and look at 4* PRICELINE EXPRESS offers for your dates (3 rooms), MSG is $159, MTW is $161 and TS is $ 165. I'm surprised your bidding wasn't successful. But maybe you'd consider just taking one of the PE offers? Romelle

If you post back here just what you think the rebid zones are for your situation, somebody will double check them for you. Then, just when you are about to bid, re-check them yourself. And if you are still leery, you can do what I do when I'm working on a longer complicated set of bids and concerned that rebid zones might change while I'm working. I open a second screen on my computer and check them yet again a couple times during the bidding process. Romelle

While working on a Hotel in Rome, Priceline gave me these three PRICELINE EXPRESS Deals Revealed: 3* Corot $55 Coliseum - Termini Station Area $55 Pets allowed Airport Shuttle Free Internet 4* Antico Palazzo Rospigliosi $75 Coliseum - Termini Station Area Pets allowed Restaurant Free Internet Bed Choice 4* Hotel Metropolis $86 (no bed choice) Vatican City Area 7.3/10 Restaurant Free Internet They might be useful additions to the Hotel Lists.

3* Locanda Poste Vecie San Polo 1612 Venice, IT 30125 FULL AMENITIES: Free Internet, Smoke-free rooms, Internet access $99 90% recommended $99.00 per night x 3 nights x 1 room 2 twin beds $297.00 Tax recovery charges + fees $56.21 Hotwire total due today (USD) $353.21 Thank you for your help! It was one of your 4 possibilities. I'd checked each, and they also say they have air conditioning and free breakfast. I went with the smoke-free one. Venice hotels always remind me of the phrase "faded glory". They are delightful and unique. Now - on to Rome. Romelle