mudpuppysmom

We won this hotel after much bidding over two days. The Crowne Plaza North Columbus sits across the street from a Budweiser Brewhouse and in a large office park. We had gone to Columbus for the famed Columbus Zoo and we were not far from our destination, but we were not that close either. Upon arrival at the hotel, as we entered to check in you pass THROUGH the designated smoking area -- it was nasty! You MUST walk through the front doors of the hotel to check in and dragging my children through the smoke was not pleasant. Check-In was smooth although we did wait a few minutes. We were assigned a room on the 7th floor with two double beds. One would think a 3.5 star hotel might have queen beds, but alas we did in fact have doubles. The view from our room was of the outdoor pool and rooftop of the rest of the hotel. Our room was clean and not in need of refurbishment. The bathroom was SUPER small and the fan did not work. There was plenty of hot water, but not a lot of water pressure. The hotel was mainly utilized by what we saw as business people. The hotel was quiet and there was no slamming of doors or any other noise for that matter! The beds were firm, yet perfect for my crew to sleep. There is a self controlled A/C unit in the corner of the room and while it was not hot outside, we did keep our room cool for sleeping. We are used to having a refrigerator and complimentary breakfast when we stay at other comparable hotels, and these amenities were absent at the Crowne Plaza, but we lived and no one really noticed it much (except for when the kids wanted cold water -- we had none). We really were at the hotel to sleep only and we did not take advantage of the amenities offered by the hotel such as: pool, fitness or restaurant. All in all the hotel was fine and I cannot complain about anything offered to us -- my only gripe would be to move the designated smoking area. Would we stay here again if we were doing our same itinerary? Probably not, but if we won it again via priceline or hotwire it would be fine.

After failing miserably yesterday, today I started out trying again for Dublin and needed to add, South and then North before I landed the Crowne Plaza for $58. I started out yesterday at $46 and went as far as I could with rebid to $55 with no luck and today started at $50 and ended at $58. I've read some not so nice reviews in recent days about this hotel on Trip Advisor and there is no breakfast (which is always helpful with two young boys), but I'm going to keep an open mind and will report back when we return. I used the PRICELINE link to begin my planning.

I'm hoping to win in the Dublin area for this week and when I look at theoretical list there are 3 stars listed but no 3.5 star hotels....when I try to bid there is a choice of 3.5. Star...any idea which hotels these 3.5 star would be? We stayed at Hyatt Place last year and that worked very well for us, so I don't have to have 3.5 but if something has bumped up I don't want to miss what could be the HP.

Got the Residence Inn Carlisle right off the turnpike for $44 on 9/11 to 9/12/09 on the first try for $44. Right around $57 with all taxes.

Finally booked and the 3* with Shuttle, fitness, pool, business center and hi speed internet was the Holiday Inn Airport (which I'm not real happy about, but it's just a place to spend the night). We will spend the extra $5 per night to leave our car there instead of an offsite lot (the Crowne Plaza lets you leave your car there for free -- which is why I really wanted the Crowne).

Need help ID'ing a 3* in the PIT airport area for 1/15-1/16-2008 Amenities include if I put in for two adults: Shuttle, Comp breakfast, Fitness, Pool, Business Center and Internet Access -- I'm thinking this might be the Country Inn, but not positive Also for the same dates, if I put in for two adults and one child the hotel changes.....amenities include: Shuttle, Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, LAUNDRY, and Internet Access. I'm hoping to get the Crowne Plaza as we have stayed there before and they allow you to leave your car there for the duration of your trip, so any help getting that one is appreciated!

Dates of stay: 9/27 to 9/28/06 Initial date of bid: 9/22 Initally tried for $28: rejected rebid add W. Mifflin: $30: rejected rebid add Pgh N $32: rejected rebid add Monroeville $35: rejected Try again 9/25: Initial bid $35: rejected (which I found to be strange since most of the wins have been in this range) rebid add Monroeville $37: rejected rebid add Pgh N $39: rejected rebid add W. Mifflin $45: accepted (I figured I better up it quite a bit since I really wanted to finish the process Monday!) Crowne Plaza Pit Airport Rate: $45 Taxes/fees: $13.73 Total for the night: $58.73 I'm happy though!!

If I knew for sure which hotel this was I'd just use Hotwire in the first place.....that is why I'm trying to "play" this "game".......If I knew for sure I wouldn't even think about priceline.

Dates of stay are once again 9-27 to 9-28 and now there is a 3* coming up with the following amenities: Airport Shuttle Fitness Center Pool Restaurant Business Center Laundry Hi Speed internet Golf nearby Tennis nearby Ths one does not appear in any of the lists here, so anyone want to venture a guess......do we think it is once again the Holiday Inn? Hyatt is definitely coming up a 3.5* still, so it's not that in disguise!

Thanks for your help! Hotwire is my backup plan if I don't get anything on Priceline.

9-27 TO 9-28 are our dates of stay.

I'm trying to figure out which hotel this is, but in the main list some of the amenities for the Holiday Inn are black lined....... PIT Airport 3* amenities: Airport Shuttle FItness center Pool Restaurant Business Center Laundry Hi Speed Internet If it's not the Holiday Inn......what can it be?? the Hyatt is 3.5* but has these amenities also.