paly1

Sorry didn't end up going to Boston that time!?...thanks for all the help:)

Hi there!

Long time no better bidding:) Haven't been at any hotels for a while so good to be back!

I initially bid $61 for 3 1/2 star for the downtown area and was unsuccessful - Added the Urbandale free bid area and bid $71, still unsuccessful - Finally Bid $81 and added the Airport area as free bid and was successful and for the hotel we wanted!!

Result:

Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel

Room Subtotal: $81.00 (USD)

Taxes and Fees: $18.22 (USD)

Total Room Cost: $99.22 (USD)

So happy as the AAA price direct was $135 plus tax for the same night so saved over $50:))...That and we can park in the valet ($18 charge we know) and walk to the USCIS office for our meeting:))

Thanks better bidding - couldn't do it without your site!

Yes I know but I know the Brookline/Brighton area well and don't know of any other hotel that exists there that could be 3 or more stars...not many hotels at all there...So I would like to go with this attempt first:)...Would like much less than $100 but that is the limit for that one....Seems rates are crazy in Boston around October time???

Sorry let me clarify...

1st choice - Brighton/Brookline area - there is only 1 3* in that area and that is identified as the Courtyard Marriot...So if I got the 3* in that area I'd be happy - have to go down to 2 1/2* or 2* and would get a choice of 2 others which I know are not great so not going to go there!!

2nd Choice - 4* Downtown Boston Copley Square/Theatre District or Quincy Market - Faneuil Hall - Financial

I would have liked to have got the Brookline hotel for under $100 and the other choices under 120....

Hi All...

Planning to head into Boston on 10/3/09 for 5 nights...

1st choice of stay would be Brookline/Brighton 3* Courtyard....

2nd - downtown Boston/Copley/Waterfront Financial....

Any ideas on what to bid for 3* brookline or 4* the other areas - need 2 rooms

Thanks V much!

Paly:)

Hi!

Just bidded for a 3 1/2 star West Des Moines Area for 1 night - 09/11/09 - 09/12/09

Tried $51 but was rejected....Went up to $54 and added 3* (Had to go up and lower the star as we need the hotel in W. Des Moines for that night for an exam the next morning!)...

Successful!

Courtyard By Marriott Des Moines West Clive

West Des Moines

1520 Nw 114th Street

Clive, Iowa 50325

Absolutely fine for the purpose....

Thanks Better bidding - linked this bid through the PRICELINE link on your website...

Paly:)

Just an update...stay was great at the US Grant - upon check-in though lady was not so bothered about what room she gave us - seems like she noted Hotwire...that was the jist I gathered...anyway even with 2 small children they gave us a small room - it was immaculate but v cramped for us and I would say they are not 2 double beds but 2 full size beds - I didn't have a tape measure:P...

In the morning when my hubby headed off for his conference I took my girls to the front desk to ask for an upgrade or bigger room (my motto at the moment is you don't ask you don't get!)..I asked for a room with a tub in the bath - for the girls and the manager (didn't know it was the Front desk manager) was very sorry they didn't have any tubs but said they would provide a baby tub no problem (nice offer) - then I asked for a bigger room as that one was cramped (the hotel was so deserted I don't know why they didn't upgrade us upon check-in)....anyway he obliged and was so nice about it said it would be ready that afternoon if I wanted to pack-up they would move everything - The suite they gave us had 2 KING beds - a living room - 2 TV's - Large Foyer - huge!!...So much space - so nice of him - I think the rates were about $900 for that room off the rack!...what a deal...

We spent 6 happy nights we had left in that room - one night the sinks seemed to have a plumbing problem but they fixed that while we were out at dinner and gave us free b/fast the next day for the trouble!

Great service - the down economy was so marked there - even their posh restaurant didn't bat an eyelid at our 2 children late at night...

What can I say - Great choice...thank u better bidding as always for all the help...

Paly:)

Made I my mind to go ahead (we get reimbursed by hubby's job for bfast and all expenses whichever way we do it:))...

I booked today through your link of HOTWIRE and got:

U.S. Grant Hotel

326 Broadway,

San Diego, CA, 92101

(619) 232-3121

Check-in

Sat, Mar 7, 2009

Check-out

Sat, Mar 14, 2009

Amenities See description

Hotel

Hotel rate per night - Hotwire hot Rate: $169.00

Nights:7

Rooms:1

Subtotal:$1,183.00

Tax recovery charges and fees:$149.00

Total price:$1,332.00

Many thanks for your help once again!

Will let you know how they do with us being Starwood preferred plus hotwire booking guests!:)

Thanks a million as always for that....the $80 - It's about 30 for valet parking per night but we are planning on not having a car and just renting one for a day or so if we want to take a trip out...so ok maybe pay 1 days worth...not 7!...Bfast they say is 25 per head and they are giving us 2 bfasts in the package - but really even if we splash out on a couple of bfasts it'll be 100 bucks and the other days go out...don't think it'll add up to 350:P...

I think it's a great deal so I think i'm going to go with the HOTWIRE - we are getting reimbursed for this hotel stay through hubbys work but I think it's awful to waste if we don't need too!!..

Will have to take the chance on the treatment levels hehe...

I will let u know what we decided in a day or 2...have to consult with the man:)

Thanks again M - you're a star!

We are going to San Diego for a week on a conference/pleasure.

I have back-up booked the US Grant for $249 - inc. bfast for 2, valet parking and probably upgrade to suite...

Just got off HOTWIRE who have a 4.5* with Fitness Centre, Restaurant and High speed Internet Access for $169 plus tax- Is this the US Grant Hotel?? If so, am I likely to get a nice room with the Hotwire and the Starwood Preferred even though I am not booking direct - anybody have any experience with this hotel (if it is the US Grant) and how they treat hotwires!

Many thanks,

Paly:)

First time bid on this - 4 nights - 2 rooms - downtown toronto and 4* delux chosen

Bid $56 - Accepted first time!

Got Sheraton Centre Downtown

Very Happy - thank u better bidding - i used the PRICELINE link...and the other post of $56 spurred me to that level!

Paly:)

As usual thanks a million for the advice - i have never heard of that hotel - saying that i stayed in toronto 2 years ago so i haven't kept in touch!

I opted to try for Priceline and get a cheap deal and leave the hotwire as a back-up plan...it worked!

I will write a thread on PRICELINE Canada to say what I got - $56 for the Sheraton!!

Many thanks again,

Paly:)

Hi there,

I am heading to Toronto - 4/19 - 4/23 - 4 nights - 2 rooms needed

This is what Hotwire is offering

4-star hotel in Downtown Toronto East

Customer Favorite!

Smoke-free Rooms

Fitness Centre

Pool

Restaurant

BUs. centre

High-speed Internet

Tennis Nearby

SPA

$79per room

per night

Any idea which hotel this is?? I am also thinking if it's worth trying 4* downtown zone on Priceline for anything between 50-65$

What would be your stratergy??

Many thanks!

Paly:)

Ps...sorry administrator you can delete my duplicate post in the wrong hotwire list field!!

Sorry for the delay!! Boston was great - hotel room for 1st night not so great but they moved us easily on the 2nd night for the remainder of our trip - we wanted interconnecting rooms and then they gave us the upper floor for that..they are double the size of the lower floors!! so ask for a higher floor if you need more space and want to be further away from the highway!

Amenities on hotwire were:

Fitness Center

Pool

Restaurant

Business Center

Thanks again,

Paly:)

No, I fly in on Saturday....

Anyway best deal yesterday seemed $82 on hotwire for Brookline-Newton-Harvard 3*.....for the total 6 nights we are in boston 11/8-17/8.

I booked it and got Newton Sheraton....as expected with the 4 amenities listed on another post...

I am happy as long as the interstate isn't too loud!!:)

Booked through savingsbarn link...

Thanks again all!

Paly:)

Hi,

I have bid up to $81 for 4* and 3* in Downtown, Copley, Waterfront areas...

I then tried Brookline/Brighton 2 1/2* up to $71.

I am getting nowhere!!

Any help much appreciated - I also tried down to 3 nights and still no luck...

I can be flexible and book just 2 nights if u think sat/sun nights are going to have a better chance at a deal??

Ideally want something for under $80...each...

Many thanks always...

Paly:)

If that's the Hyatt Downtown it's absolutly great - a very 'real' 4* hotel - stayed in it last year but have heard it is still great upkeep...

Also, I got it on Priceline - 2 rooms and were given almost top floor rooms interconnecting as requested at the desk and they treated us v well even though we had done a priceline - no diff whatsoever!

Why don't you try priceline - 4* in downtown might get you Hyatt and you might get it for $70 plus - then again if the co. is paying you might not want to risk another 4*...

Good luck!

Need a hotel for a night - 07/13/06 - practically half a night as have an international flight at 8am in the morning....

Am getting a whopping $411 on hotwire for 4* - can I expect to get the hyatt or hilton for around $65 like the guy for the 07/14 night??

Any help will be much appreciated...

Paly

Just an update - I booked back-up rooms which I think are quite reasonable...

Used Accomline.com - really good prices (and good back up as only costs 15 euros to cancel) - got Sheraton Roma in EUR District...booked 2 rooms - double for 187 Euros per night incs. taxes and breakfast and 145 for single occupancy room

I am still unsure about our baby - i haven't inc. her as there was only an option for adults - do u think the sheraton will charge if we have her in our room (double) and have her own cot which we will bring with us??...

Considering the prices in rome during that period - this seems a good deal - the rates via the conference deals are about 20% more and direct with sheraton for a delux room is double the price! - I have filled in a pricematch form with the sheraton to see if they will match the price and take 10% off!! - you can but try....

Thanks for all the help..

Paly

Thanks for all the help guys - as always...

We ended up staying with friends in western mass:P...

Didn't get to the Icecream but had Sushi at Osaka - it is the BEST there is...

Paly:)

yup same amenities as above - now it is showing $73 though:(

Can anyone identify this hotel:

3-star hotel in Holyoke - Northampton

This midscale establishment offers more than just the basics in style, comfort and customer service. See hotel details

Area details: See area map

HotPrice0:$65per room

per night

On hotwire - for 6/17

Wondering whether the 65 is worth it or try priceline for cheaper?

Want a 3* in northampton preferably but cud do springfield or west springfield...

Thanks Paly!:)

I don't mind splitting my bid - i want a 4* - would be easier to be in one hotel though as we have a baby....we might also book 2 rooms and have mother on board!

i guess we would like to get something for as near to $120 - don't know if this is reasonable for rome for 4*...

location - we need to be near the EUR area - have a conference at the congress center there...do you have any idea which part of the city this is re. priceline/hotwire!?

Many thanks as always guys..

Paly:)

Hi,

We are due in Rome - 6th thru 13th Sep - 7 nights and want a nice hotel in the center - we are attending a conference...

Hotwire seems expensive for the dates for anything 4 star and above...

Whats the luck on lower prices for priceline?

many thanks,

paly...

Thanks newbie for the advice...

I did all of the above except my last bid...

Big 66$ instead of $65 and decided it was my last bid - 4* and all zones - copley - airport - downtown and the 2 free zones and success!

Got Hilton - Airport - would have preferred a downtown/copley but hey a great price for those dates! - I was thinking of going for a 1 night stay and then change plans to go outta town for the weekend but this is great for us...

We also arrive on a late flight so i am sure the nearby hotel will be bliss:)

oh btw - used the savingsbarn link!

paly:)

For others info - $66 - 4* 4 nights 04/14 - 04/18 logan - got hilton