stevee

Looking for a 5* Hotel in Venice Italy(7-April - 10-April) and I don't have a lot of time to put in very many bids. I have seen successful bids as low as $119, however when I looked on Hotwire for those dates, they list a 5* at $231. I probably have only 2 days that I will be able to bid so what would your bidding strategy be? If I am not successful, I will purchase on Hotwire. I am thinking I should start at $120 (just in case). Re-Bid at $180. Next day bid $200. Re-Bid at $210. Then buy Hotwire for $231.

Trip Report Just got back from my stay at the Sheraton Waikiki. Surprisingly to me, the hotel was fully booked or nearly fully booked for my entire stay. Under these circumstances Priceline and Hotwire customers need to be prepared to be stuck in undesirable accommodations. I checked in late at night and was assigned to the 5th floor (Rm 511). Sounds harmless but it was like being in a dungeon since this is the lowest level for "city view" rooms and there were architectural obstructions. By this I mean there was no balcony and the outside wall was solid with windows only on the upper half of the wall. Obviously I wasn't expecting an ocean front view but the dungeon was a bit much. The other puzzling thing considering all of the positive reviews for this hotel is when I got to the room it struck me as rather large until it dawned on me (duh) there was NO furniture in the room except for a built in desk that served as a night stand and 2 standard beds--doubles, NOT Queens. So I called the front desk and asked "Where Is My Chair"??? I was told "This is our new design and it is a Japanese, Minimalist design". " Minimalist"I said....you've got to be kidding me! I should say in all fairness that there were shelves in the closet. By this time it was after midnight so I waited until the next day to approach the front desk and "request" another room. The desk clerk all but acknowledged those 5th floor rooms are CRAP but she had great difficulty finding me a different room until I insisted and then mid-afternoon they miraculously found a room and transferred me to the 8th floor (Rm 811). I continued to complain, asking for a room with a king bed and was finally accommodated on the 7th night of our 9 night stay. I'm sure they were glad to see me leave! The GOOD part....The hotel swimming pools were very nice and the "adults only" infinity pool allowed you to sit or float around while looking over the ocean. Very Nice CONCLUSION: I you end up with this hotel on Hotwire or Priceline, call the hotel right away and request the type of bed you want and INSIST that they NOT put you in the Dungeon on the DREADED 5th floor under any circumstances. IMHO

11/19/2010 - 11/21/2010 PRICELINE Bid $60 which was declined with a counter offer of $75. Rebid with another zone added at $65, then again at $70 which was accepted. This is probably a good deal since it is the Christmas lighting and parade weekend. I used your link for the booking.

Started at $16 and moved up to $19/day in $1 increments. $152.00 plus $60.08 taxes = $212.08 GOOD DEAL for a full size. Total is $31.12 less than HOTWIRE price. I used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.

Listing changed to: $123.00/night Amenities Resort Beachfront Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access Children's Activity Program I was guessing it was the Sheraton Waikiki and it was-----$123/night. The best AAA rate was $202.50 I decided to book only 2 nights (12/3 - 12/5). Then I booked HHV for 7 nights (includes 1 night free and luau). By the way I booked using your HOTWIRE link.

4-star hotel in Waikiki Beach This hotel features the following amenities: Fitness Center Pool(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access Price has changed to $129 and they dropped the RESORT logo

Price dropped on Intercontinental on Hotwire to $79. So I went that way.

Please help identify this hotel. It appears to me to be the Sheraton. 4* $123.00/night 12/3/2010 - 12/12/2010 Resort Beachfront Smoke Free Fitness Center Pools Restaurants Business Center Laundry Facility Trip Advisor Rating - 4/5

OOPS, I mis-stated the amenities. They are restaurant, business, and internet.

Based on previous topics, I would have assumed that this was the Crowne Plaza. However it is missing some of the amenities. It is showing swimming, dining and business. It is NOT showing internet for some reason. Don't all hotels of this quality have internet? Any comments???

Purchased this hotel through HOTWIRE for $89., two nights, Jan 29 - Jan 31. When I checked in I was upgraded, to my surprise, to a suite due to Platinum Ambassador status. I know they weren't required to do so, but they seem to do this even on "free nights" when possible. GREAT DEAL !

No, I have not purchased since my dates are not firm yet.

Does anyone know how the Inter-Continental Hotel treats Ambassador club members who book on HOTWIRE (or PRICELINE for that matter)? Do they pass out room upgrades like they do for non-HOTWIRE reservations?

I have seen concerns on this board that the Palmer House puts Priceline customers in substandard rooms. I can attest that that has NOT been the case for me. I had 2 rooms this past weekend. They were both decorated similarly. One room was fairly small which is typical I believe for old hotels, however, the other room was a corner room (2 windows) and was quite large. All things considered.....A very good experience!

Arrival Date: Nov 20, 2009 Depart Date: Nov 22, 2009 Festival of Lights is Nov 21, 2009

Bid originally $59.....Priceline offered for +$17 or $76. Changed bid several times and finally sold at $70/night for each of 2 rooms. I'm a bit surprised that hotels can be had for such a low price for this weekend (Festival of Lights) which I thought was pretty popular.

I need 4 rooms for Dec 31. The going rate direct from the hotels is in the 160 - 175 range. Hotwire price is $174. Any advice on bidding strategy? I don't see any other bids for that night.

Madrid Hotel, 4.5-star hotel in Chamberi - Chamartin - Salamanca Any Idea which hotel this is ? The price is $182 per night. Could this be Occidental Miguel Angel Hotel ?

Your Flight Details Departing Flight Information - Saturday, October 11, 2008 (operated by United Express/Sky West ) Flight 6451 1h 37m, 368 mi Phoenix- Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) Phoenix, AZ Departs: 1:26 PM Saturday, October 11, 2008 To Los Angeles Intl (LAX) Los Angeles, CA Arrives: 3:03 PM Saturday, October 11, 2008 Aircraft Canadair Regional Jet (Jet) Economy/Coach Class Flight 49 5h 47m, 2482 mi Los Angeles Intl (LAX) Los Angeles, CA Departs: 4:10 PM Saturday, October 11, 2008 To Kahului (OGG) Kahului, HI Arrives: 6:57 PM Saturday, October 11, 2008 Aircraft Boeing 757 (Jet) Economy/Coach Class Returning Flight Information - Saturday, October 25, 2008 (Arrives Sunday, October 26) Flight 48 4h 56m, 2482 mi Kahului (OGG) Kahului, HI Departs: 10:15 PM Saturday, October 25, 2008 To Los Angeles Intl (LAX) Los Angeles, CA Arrives: 6:11 AM Sunday, October 26, 2008 Aircraft Boeing 757 (Jet) Economy/Coach Class (operated by United Express/Sky West ) Flight 6526 1h 21m, 368 mi Los Angeles Intl (LAX) Los Angeles, CA Departs: 6:50 AM Sunday, October 26, 2008 To Phoenix- Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) Phoenix, AZ Arrives: 8:11 AM Sunday, October 26, 2008 Aircraft Canadair Regional Jet 700 (Jet) Economy/Coach Class

Finally.....I placed many bids that were gradually increased. Priceline continued with their $425 counter offer. Then when I hit $330 (plus $58 in taxes and fees) they said OK. The total price paid for a rountrip ticket (with 1 connection on United) from PHX to OGG was $388.

Bid $250 plus tax on PRICELINE for PHX-OGG for a Saturday/Saturday mid-Oct Itinerary. Total price w/ tax was about $325 ($75 in tax and fees). PRICELINE declined the offer and countered with a total fare of $425. The best price I can find is for United at $501. per round trip. I'm in no hurry so I plan to raise my offer in $10 increments and hope for something under $400. Any suggestions?

Done......By the way, what's a "BUMP"?

Postponed trip....Will rebid at a later time.

It appears that the only 2 airlines that fly this route to Maui (without changing airlines) is United (conecting flights) and US Air (non-stop). Any idea which airline Priceline is most likely to give me? My guess is that since the United connecting flights are cheaper, that is the way they will go, but I don't know.

Cranky....No, Condescending....YES