jayer

If it makes you feel better about possibly getting the Maui Prince (and I have never been inside), it has a fabulous snorkel beach out the back door. The Marriott is quite nice and I would be pleased to stay there again, but its not the hotel experience of your life. Then again, I rate hotels based on the nearest reef.

The former Studio Plus chain seems to have been absorbed by or merged into the Extended Stay America chain. The new chain seems to have also absorbed the old Crosslands properties and also Homestead Village properties. All extended stay properties but significant variation in room size. In regard to the subject property and the original poster's upcoming stay, I noticed on the way in from the airport last night the signage has changed to say Extended Stay, rather than Studio Plus.

They have never participated in the past in that zone. Country Suites in Humble has as a 2.5*. Availability is your issue, and for this far out conventional availability at IAH does not look encouraging for a Priceline bid (I'm looking too). If Priceline works on a 3* it will be something leftover dropped out there much closer to date. Just the way IAH zone works now. You have bid well past what bidding history says it should take if there is something there. You've hit a price range where you might as well consider a conventional stay at a lower star hotel just to get the full points and stay credit. You do not say if you have transportation or where you need to do business. Do you have any option about which airport you fly out of? The Marriott at Hobby is on Priceline conventional list for $99.

Your price should do it, perhaps way more than do it, it the availability is there, but IAH has become a much tougher bid in the last year or so (especially midweek). While winning bids have not skyrocketed, availability has tanked. On Hotwire that night is already high, so it may be a tough one.

Please let us know what you think when you get back.

Restraurant, Fitness Center, Business Center, Pools, Near Golf, and Laundry. Also "Customer Favorite."

Does anyone think the zone "Customer Favorite" is anything but the Sheraton on JFK? Sounds like it, except no shuttle service mentioned. Really need to be at the Marriott on airport property. If the no shuttle description is accurate, it would have to be the Marriott, but in the past the Customer Favorite has been the Sheraton.

No. Tried $45 (worked for a different bidder) and was declined. Rebid $50 really not expecting to accomplish anything but feel good about taking the Hotwire price and picked up the Sheraton.

Well, I still don't know what hotel it is in Hotwire, but I suspect you are correct. I had a hot Priceline bid price tip on another hotel in the zone and tred to repeat it. Booked the Sheraton for $50. Not what I was expecting and higher price than in the past, but hardly a dissappointment.

May1, 2006 to May 5, 2006.

:) Don't remember seeing a 3.5* in this zone before. Features listed are Dining, Swimming Pool, Workout Facility, Near Golf, Business Center, and Laundry. Described as "Customer Favorite."

You should not be dissappointed. That hotel has been rejuvinated over the last couple of years and is as good as anything in IAH. Last time I go it it on Priceline it was $45. It has been quite difficult to get a 3* in that zone at all lately, and your price is a steal.

Thanks for the suggestion. Hotwire says they have removed the restraunt icon (no comment on the green pool) and issued a partial credit, which I now just have to figure out how to access. Given you are ok without a restraunt or a swim (even in September a sacrifice in Houston) for a short stay I think the place is plain but OK. Just take a copy of your reservation.

Listed amenities are Restraunt, Pool, Excercse Room, and Laundry, but the restraunt is closed and the pool is locked and green. Used to be a Holiday Inn. Room is small but recently refreshed. Star rating is way too high. Current proprietors have difficulty with English and were turning away people claiming reservations (even prepaid) but unable to produce a printout to prove it. One poor guy claiming a Priceline reservation was trying to get their computer running just to prove they owed him a room. Odd experience. The room is clean and towels changed daily, but bed not made once. It's liveable but frustratingly misadvertised on Hotwire.

Courtyard would be a 2.5* so not likely it. The 3* Marriott has been picked up at $46, so perhaps one all or nothing Priceline bid? Then again, no higher than the posted Marriott and Courtyard prices are for that night what about a conventional booking?

Are you a regular bidder in this zone? If so, are you finding it much harder than it used to be?

So far as I can tell nobody has posted an accepted bid at this hotel before. Kind of my suprise too, since I thought I was using DT as a 3* rebid zone. Well, downtown will be interesting and Houston has gotten unpredictable, so I guess now we all know there is a new possibility downtown!

Declined at several price points up to $45. This is several dollars higher than this hotel and zone required last year, but on balance zone has bid much tougher since New Year's. (Availabliltiy at several previously-participating hotels in the $140-$170 range. That range last year translated into Priceline rates in the mid-30's).

The airport hotel for $39 after several unsuccessful bidding sessions. Had to drop Thursday night to get picked up, and was rejected at $36 just before this bid. Have stayed in zone on occassion for several months, and usually been accepted somewhere for $5-$8 less and no problem getting all week. Like several other airport zones this one seems to be tightening up.

Have been bidding DFW North heavily last three weeks for just about any Sunday or Monday night I could get. Used to be this one was predictable, if you had just a bit of date flexibility. Got some hints how to interpret Hotwire off an SFO string and think we got my question figured out--on Hotwire its a 4* and the price is only a few bucks less than a conventional res. I'm working on Plan B. Will add yesterday's bidding success for another area also.

Has anybody deciphered code for Hotwire listings in this zone? Have booked the DFW Hyatt (on-airport) hotel for early flight layovers off Priceline in the past, but the hotel seems to have all but disappeared from Priceline inventory. Has anybody had success with Hotwire? Would still be worth it to pay more to walk to the plane, but not the $124 Hyatt.com rate. A shuttle ride from five miles away defeats the purpose. Thanks.