Beergirl

Hi Dahammer,

We've heard about Aplachaian Brewing - we'll be checking it out for sure! Maybe drown our sorrows about our room!

I called to confirm our room as a non-smoking room (which it was), but was told by a very pleasant young man that we were, indeed in the dreaded "Tower I" with 2 full beds, and that he was very sorry, but there was nothing he could do. He looked at several different options for me, but came back with the same answer - they're completely booked Saturday night, and he can't move us. He freely admitted that the rooms in Tower I need renovated badly.

He also mentioned (by mistake), that we were booked at "the $86" rate. When I corrected him, and told him I paid $116 for the room (plus taxes and fees), he was very apologetic, but explained that the $86 was what THEY were getting from Hotwire. So Hotwire is making $30 / room per night or 1/3!

He also said that had I called the hotel directly, I could have gotten this $86 rate myself on the phone. So, it seems that Hotwire didn't do me ANY favors, for sure.

Oh, well. This was the first time I'd ever booked through Hotwire, and in hindsight I'm disappointed in both the price and the result. I doubt I'll use Hotwire again after this. :)

Beergirl

Hi thereuare,

I saw the ammenities didn't match the Wyndham, but didn't have a clue which hotel they did. So, I took the leap of faith, and booked it.

After receiving the Eisenhower on Hotwire, I did some more checking (which, obviously I should have done BEFORE jumping the gun). :)

It seems I paid pretty close to rack rate for the hotel, so now I'm more disappointed. There are also apparently two "towers" to the Eisenhower. Tower II is either much newer or more recently renovated and gets much better reviews than Tower I. The property itself seems to be about 5 miles out of town, which is also disappointing.

I'm going to call them to confirm my reservation as non-smoking, so I'll ask which "tower" I'm in, if they'll tell me. I'll post a review when we get home with more information.

Brenda

I've been trying to book directly or bid PRICELINE for a hotel in Gettysburg for a couple of weeks, and nothing has been available. There's apparently a sharpshooters convention there this weekend.

This morning, Hotwire showed availability for a 3* hotel for $116, so I jumped on it. I assumed it would be the Wyndham, but got the

Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center

2634 Emmitsburg Road

Gettysburg, PA

717-334-8121

Ammenities: Fitness Center, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, Laundry, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby

Hotel rate per night:$116.00

No Of Nights:2

Rooms:1

Subtotal:$232.00

Tax recovery charges and fees:$24.42

Total price:$256.42

We really wanted to stay close to Gettysburg for a couple of nights, so this will work out fine for us. Gets OK reviews on Tripadvisor.

Of course, I used the HOTWIRE link from here! :)

Brenda

I've been trying 4* White House/Downtown hotels with no luck up to $105 for my dates. So, this morning, I added in 3*, dropped my bid to $90 and got the Doubletree Washington on the first try.

I also tried Convention Center/Capitol Hill, and Dupont Circle/Woodley Park area 4* and 3* up to $95 this week with no luck.

Details:

Doubletree Washington

1515 Rhode Island Avenue NW

Washington, District Of Columbia 20005

202-232-7000

Your Offer Price: $90.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 3

Subtotal: $270.00

Taxes and Service Fees: $48.57

Total Charges*: $318.57

It seems to get good reviews on TripAdvisor, so I'm pleased with this. The savings will pay for half the $30 parking charges, since we'll have our car. We've never been to DC before, so wanted to stay downtown close. Looks like a good deal to me! We may look into parking out-of-downtown area.

This site is great, and of course I used your PRICELINE link. :)

Beergirl

Hi Hippygal,

I'm sorry to hear about the Clarion rooms. We toured the place last October, and they showed us a couple of the rooms. They looked OK (that was when it was still the Holiday Inn). We need the large convention center that the Clarion has.

I know they're doing a bunch of renovations. I hope the rooms turn out OK, since I'm not in charge of the convention.

Thanks for the heads up - I'll let you know how it is in September.

Beergirl

First I bid 2-1/2* for these dates - 4 rooms needed for 2 nights. I bid $35, and got a rejection, asking me to include lower levels or add in areas. Since I knew I wanted to stay in West Des Moines, I added in 2* level, but reduced my bid to $30, and got accepted for all 4 rooms almost immediately.

Extended Stay America - Urbandale

3940 114 Street

Urbandale, IA

515-276-1929

Offer Price: 30.00 per room (4) 2 nights = 8 total

Taxes & Feees $40.24

Total Charges: $280.24

This makes each room $35.03 per night including fees & taxes. Whoopie!!! I'm thrilled. :)

Beergirl

For your info -

The Davenport Holiday Inn property has changed ownership from Holiday Inn to a Clarion around the first of 2006. I don't know whether they're accepting Priceline bids or not, but we have a convention book there in September 06.

There is still a Holiday Inn in Bettendorf.

Yes, a 2* only.

Apparently Priceline has combined their 2* and 2-1/2* levels in this area. This is too bad, because it throws the Comfort Inn into the same level as the Sheraton and the Hampton Inns. There is NO comparison, in my opinion.

Beergirl

I won this property again on the first Priceline bid.

Bid: Airport area

Bid: $29.00

Taxes & Fees: $10.74

Total: $39.74

Four Points by Sheraton Des Moines Airport

1810 Army Post Road

Des Moines, IA 50315

515-287-6464

We have bid and won this property several times. It's a very nice hotel, very clean, with indoor pool and business center. No continental breakfast.

I regularly bid and receive the Four Points Sheraton, Des Moines IA Airport area for $29 plus Priceline fees, making the total #39.74. This is a very nice hotel, clean, with indoor pool. There is no continental breakfast, though.

Last bid dated 2/15/06, I bid for 3 rooms, got them at the Four Points Sheraton for $29. Then I tried to bid for a 4th room. I got the Comfort Inn Airport instead for $35. This property should not be in the same Pricline level as the Sheraton or the Hampton Inn. It's very noisy (from rooms above), very cheaply built, and a much older property. It is also right across the street from the airport, and the planes are very loud.

Beergirl