girlofloyalty

I stayed 12/3/09 to 12/4/09.

I got this 2* thinking it was the Holiday Inn Express (which I guess is 2.5 stars). The amenities shown were shuttle, free breakfast, internet, and the gym.

I, sadly, did not book via the link because I was using those pay stations at the airport and I didn't want to put my credit card number in; I called hotwire instead to book the room. I'll catch you later, I swear.

The hotel itself wasn't bad. The AAA rate was $63 and the rack was $70. A decent place to stay, but there wasn't much for food options if you don't have a car. A Subway and a diner was within walking distance. Of course, in Omaha, if you don't have a car, get a hotel downtown.

I originally bid $58 for a 4-star, was offered to add $17 more ($75) but added the free rezone instead.

My second bid of $64 was taken, making it $79.09 with tax for 5/23-5/24.

I was given the option to add a second night, which I did for 5/25

I am kicking myself for not bidding on the cheaper night 5/25 first. Every hotel I've seen has Sunday night cheaper than Saturday! I could've saved myself some dough.

And I also am kicking myself for not using the PRICELINE link.

No rebid zones for 3*. I first bid $58 for 8/15. PL said I could counter with $17 more. I tried to counter for $64. It wouldn't let me. I was mad for a bit, since Embassy Suites (I believe) was offered on hotwire for $74.

I thought about it and decided, free breakfast notwithstanding, I didn't want Embassy Suites (because I've just spent a week at one in another city in the last two weeks. Good chain, just not excited about it right now.)

So I took their counteroffer and rebid for $75. Shockingly, they found a hotel to accept it. The Marriott Downtown. I was given the option to extend my stand for a night for this price.

I had planned to use points to stay at a hotel on Saturday night, but decided they were worth more than $75. So I bid for $64 for 8/16/08 and got the same hotel.

Of course, I could have played this better by (1) just waiting 72 hours to rebid (but I'm impatient, and that's quite close to my trip) or (2) deciding earlier not to use points and rebid by changing my dates.

Oh well. You live and learn, and it's still a substantial savings over anything else I could get on the web for those two nights.

Oh, the actual dates I won were 8/15 and 8/16, despite the title.

I got a counteroffer after trying to bid $58 for a 3* in Philly for this weekend. The wording was similiar, but said I had to increase my bid by $17. They gave me the box to re-enter my bid. I tried to rebid $62. PL said gave me a sentence in red up at the top of the screen that said my re-bid had to be at least $17. Not going to happen with a decent hotel on hotwire being $74.

(And, yes, I did go through the provided PRICELINE links.)

Oh, there's the lingo:

Try Again Right Now

We searched hundreds of options to find your hotel room, however we can't accept your offer of $58 per room, per night. Your credit card has not been charged.... If you are willing to raise your price by $17, you can try the same request again right now.

Normally you are required to change additional items (add zones, star level, or dates) in order to try your request again. However we are able to extend this one-time opportunity to you because of the zone, quality level and dates you requested.

I stayed at the one on River Parkway, I think. It was on the waterfront, on the streetcar line and within walking distance of the tram.

I just had one bid, $54, which was accepted. Looking at the board, I probably overbid, but I really wanted this hotel and there is just one 2.5 re-bid zone. Fortunately, I didn't get the Courtyard Marriott (though I did stay there the other night and it was good. Just no free breakfast like Residence Inn has. :) ).

But I'm still happy; the AAA rate is $98 for this night.

The area I bid in was, obviously, Downtown Portland.

Actually, I think it was a business center icon, now that I think about it. I'm not 100% sure. And, unfortunately, I can't check because I didn't sign up for a HOTWIRE account.

Just one night. It showed food and internet, nothing else. Looks like it was bumped up, star-wise, though.

I was hoping to get this hotel and was prepared to shell out $100 on the website.

:)

So this is a 3* hotel to add to Crystal City list.

Or, you know, maybe I could just learn to read.

:)

Oops! Forgot to mention that this was for today.

I bid $63, got an offer to rebid for $17 more, rejected that and added Springfield, bid $70 and got it.

So this is a 3* hotel to add to Crystal City list.

Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport

Crystal City

1489 Jefferson Davis Hwy

Arlington, Virginia 22202

703-416-1600

The amenities are the same as the list on this website says. This hotwire listing said that the Sofitel was the customer favorite.

Oh, it was for that night, August 31.

I bid in Crystal City for 3* for $46. They asked if I wanted to rebid with $13 higher. I declined, added Springfield (which doesn't have a 3* hotel) and bid $51. I got it.

Total with tax: $65.41.

I'm pretty happy with it.

:)

It took my first bid of $55 for a 3* in Fairfax, for Marriott at Fair Oaks. I guess I should have tried a little lower (though I was basing it on a post from here). Went through savingsbarn.com

Right. I tried to get the hotel on Wed. with those bids (45, 48, etc.). I couldn't. Went to Hotels.com to get a hotel for that day. Then used Priceline to get the hotel for Sat. at $62 on my first try.

I tried to get this hotel for Wed., Oct. 26 (or some other 3* hotel), but couldn't. * I got it on my first try for Sat. at $62, though.

My first bid was $45. Failed.

Added Coon town for $48. Nada.

Added Maplesomething for $50. No takers.

And added Burnwhatever for $55. Nyet.

Then I ran out of places without 3* hotels. So I booked Days Inn through Hotels.com for $59 (I forgot about Hotwire).

Good luck.

And Go Huskers.