D2006

oops - Alamo

I checked HOTWIRE but the best price for this class was $22, so I went on PRICELINE using the link here and bid $14. Bid denied but I was offered $18 and accepted, for a one way BWI to DCA rental.

Your Offer Price

$36.00 (2 x $18.00)

Taxes and Fees

$27.80

Total Charges

$63.80

I also took the CDW - 2 says for $21.98 total.

Booked using HOTWIRE link here.

Car daily rate: $16.95

Rental days: 1

Tax recovery charges and fees: $10.91

Subtotal: $27.86

Insurance through Allianz - $18

Picking up at IAD with dropoff at DCA

Booked using HOTWIRE link.

Car daily rate: $35.95

Rental days: 1

Tax recovery charges and fees: $18.19

Total:$54.14

Booked the insurance through Allianz - $18.

The same car, booked through Hertz using my Gold membership and AAA discount, would have been $94.48 before fees.

Booked through the HOTWIRE link here.

Daily Rate: $18.95

Rental days: 3

Tax recovery charges and fees: $29.49

Subtotal: $86.34

Also booked the $9 daily rental car protection through Allianz.

Booked through the HOTWIRE link here.

Car daily rate - Hotwire hot Rate: $16.95

Rental days: 2

Tax recovery charges and fees: $28.53

Subtotal: $62.43

Also purchased the Allianz insurance coverage at $9 / day.

Booked through the HOTWIRE link here.

Car daily rate: $15.95

Rental days: 2

Tax recovery charges and fees: $20.01

Subtotal: $51.91

Also purchased the insurance protetction (through Allianz) for $9 daily.

Car daily rate: $26.95

Rental days: 1

Taxes and fees: $16.46

Subtotal: $43.41

Rental Car Protection: $18.00 ($9 / day)

Needless to say, I used the HOTWIRE link provided here.

Started bidding yesterday for 4* in Arlington, using the PRICELINE link provided here and $3 increments by adding regions, no dice up to $69. First bid today accepted. This is the former Hotel Palomar. I've stayed there before on business - nice property.

Room Subtotal: $72.00

Taxes & Fees: $17.57

Total: $89.57

Lowest rate through Starwood: $259.

Offer price through Hotwire was $39.95 / day for the same size car. I bid $25 through Priceline (booked through the PRICELINE link here) and was offered the $34 price.

Total Rental Days: 3 days

Subtotal: $102.00

Taxes and Fees: $48.33

Total Charges: $150.33

Lowest Published Price: $283.72

Total Savings:* $133.39 (You saved 47%)

Had to add a day to a rental I already booked through Alamo via Costco (mid-sized SUV for $144 total 8/27-8/29/11 with free second driver) but we're going early tomorrow because of the storm. Tried to add a day to the original rental but the price jumped to $344!

I booked one day in a larger car using the HOTWIRE link here - ended up at Alamo again.

Car daily rate - Hotwire hot Rate: $50.95

Rental days: 1

Taxes and fees: $19.88

Subtotal: $70.83

Additional features

Rental Car Protection: $18.00

Subtotal: $18.00

Rental Car Protection is listed as a charge by Access America. You will receive a separate confirmation email with insurance details, including policy number(s), in 4 to 6 hours.

Trip total: $88.83

Booked through HOTWIRE link here.

Was offered similar cars for $25 through PRICELINE when I booked my priceline hotel, but wanted to use a different credit card for the car rental. Rental car protection is less than what is offered through my Amex card ($25) but provides similar primary coverage.

Total cost for your trip

Car rental Car daily rate: $29.82

Rental days: 1

Estimated taxes and fees: $14.46

Estimated subtotal: CarBookingFee:$44.28

Rental car company will bill you when you return the car.

Additional features Rental Car Protection : $18.00

Subtotal: $18.00

Rental Car Protection will be charged by Access America.

Estimated trip total: CarTotalPrice:$62.28

Started bidding using PRICELINE link here @ $40 for 3.5*; added 3* @ same price; added Baltimore-Inner Harbor @ $42; added Glen Burnie @ $45; added Stadium @ $47 - accepted.

Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $47.00

Subtotal: $47.00

Taxes & Fees: $14.36

Total Charges*: $61.36

Lowest HOTWIRE offer in the BWI area for a 3* was $71.

Won this using the HOTWIRE link here on April 18, 2011 (belated post).

Car daily rate: $29.95

Rental days: 1

Taxes and fees: $17.39

Subtotal: $47.34

Rental Car Protection: $9.00

Same car through Hertz with a AAA discount would have been $85 without rental car protection.

Purchased using the HOTWIRE link here.

Car daily rate - Hotwire hot Rate: $16.95

Rental days: 3

Taxes and fees: $26.11

Subtotal: $76.96

I also purchased the Access Advantage rental protection ($40K primary collision and theft coverage)

Additional Features

Rental Car Protection: $36.00

Purchased on 1/31/11 using HOTWIRE link here.

Car rental

Car daily rate - Hotwire hot Rate: $27.95

Rental days: 2

Taxes and fees: $25.06

Subtotal: $80.96

I also purchased the Access Advantage protection ($40K primary coverage against collision or theft):

Additional Features

Rental Car Protection: $18.00

I started a week ago out bidding (through the PRICELINE link here) only for 3.5* in the Mystic area (the only on Priceline seemed to be this hotel) and went up to $156 with no luck. Decided to change strategy and bid for 3* (which includes 3.5* when you add the Groton zone). Bid starting at $70 over several days culminating in a $131 win for this hotel today. Retail price is $249, AAA rate is $224.

Details:

Offer price per room: $131.00

Subtotal: $262.00

Taxes and fees: $43.02

TOTAL: $305.02

Very pleased at 48% discount.

Score! Persistence pays off. :)

I stayed with the bidding strategy above on Priceline and today got 2 rooms at the Marriott Mystic Hotel and Spa for $131 each (AAA price $224 and retail $249). I'll post on the CT priceline board.

Same zones for 3* - up to $117... still no luck.

Bid the same 3* zones up to $106 today - no sale yet.

FWIW, I also bid (PRICELINE) 3* properties (2 rms, same dates) for New London, NL+Old Saybrook, NL+OS+Niantic, NL+OS+Ni+Groton, NL+OS+Ni+G+Mystic, NL+OS+Ni+G+M+N Stonington from $70 - $95 in $5 increments but no luck. Median retail for 3* listed for $169. I'll probably inch the 3* bidding up a bit tomorrow. We're leaving on the Long Island Ferry the next morning so the Radisson New London would be acceptable.

I'm actually looking for 2 rooms. Skipped a couple days and just bid from $135 up to $156 per room using a similar strategy. the only known 3.5* in the area is the Marriott Mystic in Groton (we've stayed there before). Retail is $249, AAA is $224. They've got inventory available because I can book 2 rooms through their website.

Springhill Suites in Waterbury is $180 AAA rate. I suppose my max bid would probably be around $170. If I'm paying that much I might as well book the Springhill and get the Marriott rewards points.

The HOTWIRE choices that come up aren't the quality we'd be looking for judging on what they appear to be based on amenities offered, unless I am misreading things.

I decided to switch over to PRICELINE to try to land the Marriot Mystic, using this strategy (the hotel is now classified as a 3.5*):

At the 4* level you have six re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)

Select 4* Groton...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone4...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone5...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Groton and re-bid zone6...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone4...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone5...

Bid $130

Any questions feel free to ask.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I tried this progressive bidding strategy and bid in $5 increments from $100 up to $130 (none accepted). Closed my browser and logged back in and tried to rebid starting at $135 but it gave me the "wait 24 hours" message.

Thanks - not a property I would be interested in after reading online reviews.

Getting a $95 per night price for one room 7/9/10.

Features listed: fitness center, pool, restaurant, business center, laundry, internet access.

It doesn't really match the hotels listed in the NL-G list.