roboron

Amenties: Indoor pool(s) Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Self service laundry Internet access Accessible path of travel In-room accessibility Accessible bathroom Thought I was going to get the Sheraton but happier that it ended up to be the Hilton!

I am trying to identify what property this might be for Niagara on the Lake. My dates are 8/14-8/16 and I saw a 2 1/2* property for $150. By the amenities (Free Parking, Fitness, Free Breakfast, Business, Free Internet, Smoke Free Rooms) it might be White Oaks -- but White Oaks is 4* and doesn't show Free Breakfast. Don't think its the 3* Anchorage Motel because Anchorage only shows Free Breakfast, Smoke Free and Golf. Might be Shaw Club except that Shaw is also 4* and doesn't show Free Parking. So I'm thinking that the rating is wrong on Hotwire or this is a property that is not in the Hotel Lists. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

Booked on Jul 18 -- Free Internet Boutique Hotel Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Accessible for the blind Accessible path of travel In-room accessibility Wheelchair accessible Accessible bathroom Handicapped parking Roll-in shower

Here are the amenities for the Tryp: Free Internet Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Accessible path of travel In-room accessibility Accessible bathroom Roll-in shower

FYI - I got this hotel on June 8th (sorry for the delay). TRYP Times Square South for $170/night. Good deal I think. Originally I tried to get my full trip from Wed 9/18 to Sun 9/22 (to see the Giants play the Mets AND Yankees - woo-hoo!) but something must be going on that Wednesday because the rates were extra expensive. Thursday-Sunday (9/19-9/22) was much less and so I did it that way. I just (today) picked up the Yotel for the Wednesday date (9/18) for $268. I probably could've waited longer but always wanted to try out the Yotel and thanks to BetterBidding I knew that was the hotel they were describing. Also it's close to the Tryp and so it's an easier to transfer luggage after that first night.

Started at $139 with 4 * in Financial District, then 3 1/2 *, then Japantown (rebid zone), then SOMA. Got the Marriott at $150. Always wondered how this hotel was and now I'll find out. Seems to be an expensive weekend so happy I got it.

Update - I went ahead and booked a 3.5* room for $253 that I was reasonably sure was the Distrikt Hotel via HOTWIRE (and your link). I did end up getting the Distrikt and am satisfied. I figured that I would be going pretty close to $250 to get a winning bid and thought for a few dollars more I could get a 'sure' thing. I've also posted the winning bid on your Hotwire board. Remind me not to visit NYC in mid-May again! ;) Free Internet Smoke Free Rooms Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Thanks again for your help.

Initially tried to go with Priceline but this is a horribly expensive time of year to go. Went up to $220 and was offered rooms at $263 if Increased my bid to that amount. Led me to believe that I would have to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $250 to win a bid. That being the case I went with more of 'sure' thing and booked via Hotwire.

Just an update - tonight I bid up to $220 with no luck. When I initially bid $200 it did give me the opportunity to get rooms for $263 but I passed on it. Not really sure what that means but I'm guessing a winning bid might be around $250? Yikes!!!

HOWEVER, i also think you may be able to get a 4* hotel in the UWS for this price range as well (if you're willing to accept a 4* hotel in this zone... you may not be bidding this zone at the 3.5* level due to some hotels included in the zone) Thanks for the good advice. I'll try going to 4* in UWS and see what happens. Also thanks for the offer for bidding help but you've already taught me so well that I don't think I need it :D I think I just needed reassurance that I'm not too far off the mark. There's still some time and I'll keep trying. Will definitely let you know what happens and as always will get to PRICELINE via your link.

We are trying to get two rooms for May 12-17. I'm trying Downtown, Madison Sq Garden, SoHo, Times, Chelsea, Empire (staying away from the Midtown area because I'm not keen on the 3.5* properties there). I've used Priceline many times for NYC but never for this time of year and have never got rejected for going as high as $210. I'm beginning to think that I'm running into a bad luck combo of super-high season and trying to get 2 rooms. I've been trying every day for last 2 weeks and am wondering how high do I need to go and how much time do I have left before I should panic?

Thanks, that was I suspected. I guess it's either HOTWIRE or see if two rooms on PRICELINE would be worth it.

There will be 3 adults on this trip and ideally we would like a 2 double room. Is this advisable using Priceline for this kind of accommodation? I worry that we might get a King and not be able to upgrade. Would Hotwire be a better bet? Thanks.

FYI - Just got the Montreal InterContinental for Aug 26-29 for $105. Started at $100 and just re-bid once.

FYI, I just successfully bid $130 for 3* Four Points Sheraton Chelsea from Nov 10-15. The same property was on HOTWIRE for $162. So the difference actually paid for an extra night (we were planning on only staying 4 nights initially). Yay! Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link of course. Thanks for all that you do!!

I stayed at the Desmond Tutu Center a couple of times. It's a little out of the way but it's a very nice property. Rooms are modern and tasteful after a remodel about 2-3 years ago. Very quiet and friendly (it's actually a religious conference center so don't expect any wild parties) with a incredible continental breakfast (salmon, pastries, etc.) in a beautiful renovated, gigantic chapel. Make sure you don't get a room on the ground floor as it's sidewalk level and a bit dark. Hopefully it hasn't changed too much in the past couple of years. I'm really surprised it's a 2 star property. I would probably give it a 3 at least. It is far on the West but easy enough if you take the crosstown bus to get to the subway station (we walked it mostly).

I am trying to bid on a 4* room in Victoria for one night on July 4th. Already got knocked down at $120. I would rebid but although there are 4 zones for Victoria on Priceline your pinned list only has one zone. I'm pretty sure that Victoria Airport and Langford have no 4* hotels but do you know if this is really the case? Thanks!

Was accepted for 4 nights at Hyatt Regency Vancouver from June 30 - July 4. I started at $105 and was hoping that I would get an acceptance since others on this board got it at about the same price. Got rejected though and they gave me a chance to add $22 to the bid. Lost my nerve and said yes and got the Hyatt Regency for $127. I'm wondering if the price was higher because of the holiday (Canada Day)? In any case, still happy to have a nice place for $150 taxes included. Still ... what if I just re-bidded? Guess I'll never know ... :) Thanks for the board!!

THANKS! I snagged the AMEX deal (although a mini-van is overkill, you can't beat the price!). Much, much appreciated!!

Wow, I guess I waited too long. I got rejected for a mid-sized car at $50! That's hard to swallow when I see all these bids being accepted for around $20. Priceline is recommending between $65-$71 for acceptance! Bad time of year for deals I suppose. Any advice? Thanks.

I ended up having to go to a 3* and up to $190! To top it off I got the Copley Square which the one hotel I didn't want. From the reviews I'm expecting the worst and maybe getting something better when I get there.

In another thread you suggested the following strategy for a 4* stay in Boston with a preference of Downtown, Copley and Waterfront: Coincidentally I'm planning on booking around the same time from 10/10 - 10/13. I've already struck out going up to $155 before I saw your messages. I want to use the same strategy as you outlined but am a little confused because you specify 3 rebid zones. For a 4* hotel in the following areas: Boston Waterfront - Convention Center Brighton - Brookline Cambridge Copley Downtown Boston - Charlestown Medford - Somerville Revere - Logan Airport South Boston I can only identify Medford - Somerville and South Boston as rebid zones. Not even quite sure of South Boston. The hotel list on your site doesn't quite match the list on Priceline (not that I'm complaining - this is a great thing that you do!). The closest thing I can see is that Brighton - Brookline, Medford - Somerville and South Boston are my rebid zones. Is that correct?

Coincidentally I'm planning on booking during the same time from 10/10 - 10/13. I want to use the same strategy as you outlined but am a little confused because you specify 3 rebid zones. For a 4* hotel in the following areas: Boston Waterfront - Convention Center Brighton - Brookline Cambridge Copley Downtown Boston - Charlestown Medford - Somerville Revere - Logan Airport South Boston I can only identify Medford - Somerville and South Boston as rebid zones. Not even quite sure of South Boston. The hotel list on your site doesn't quite match the list on Priceline (not that I'm complaining - this is a great thing that you do!). The closest thing I can see is that Brighton - Brookline, Medford - Somerville and South Boston are my rebid zones. Is that correct? Booking the hotel in the New York part of this trip is proving to be a snap compared to finding a room in Boston!! :)

Decided to go down to a 3* and got the Hudson Hotel from 10/7 -10/10 for $175/night. Good luck everyone!

Sorry to report that my bidding up to $250 for the dates 10/7 - 10/10 wasn't accepted. Will try to go down one * or look at other options. :)