buckeye09

I started 4* downtown Columbus bid at $85. Re-bid at $90. Re-bid at $95 was accepted. I was expecting Hyatt as that is the only 4* listed on the Priceline hotel list. Looks like this hotel just underwent a renovation, maybe bumped it up to 4* or maybe they are new to Priceline. Hotel was $169 for same night on their website. Other hotels I considered were 4* downtown on Hotwire for $149, Courtyard at Easton for $119, and Blackwell for $126. Wanted to be downtown to walk to hotel after fireworks.

I wanted Georgetown-Foggy Bottom 4*. Started with $90. Rebid at $98. Rebid at $110. Rebid at $120. That was about as high as I was willing to go. I was running low on rebid options, so I didn't inch up from $110 (maybe should have started higher than $90). Could have drug it out a few days to test from $110 to $120. Happy overall with the deal. The hotel's website has a pre-paid internet rate of $322.23/night, $1,107.21 total with tax for 3 nights. My final price was $421.09.

4* for 9/26-9/30 at $106 was rejected. I tried 3* for $90/night and got a message that says: "Thank you for your patience. We're still looking for a hotel room at your price and should have an answer for you within 15 minutes. Click on the button below to get your answer.' Never saw that before. Clicked on "Check my Status" and got a "Your Price Was Accepted" It is the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza. I'm off to look for some reviews. If anybody has any experience with this hotel, let me know.

AaronJB - thanks for the opinions on the hotels. I was a little afraid of 3* in general, but have stayed at a lot of Marriott's and was willing to stay there. I think I'll make another run on 4*. Will update.

I tried 3* or 9/26-9/29 at $74 and got another increase by $22 offer. I figured I'd drop the last night and see if they either offered me the extend 1 day or I would just bid for the one night separately and switch hotels or I would just cut the trip short a day. Still no luck. It sounds like I could get a 3* for all 4 nights around $95/night or a 4* for all 4 nights for around $115. Any thoughts on the differences between the 3* and 4* in that area is worth the difference? I checked the list of hotels, but don't know much about most of them.

Another update ... I figured that based on marriott.com's pricing, the Marriott 3* was out. So I added another zone and bid 4* at $96/night (basically the price that PL lured me into w/ their "bid $22 more now" thing). That one was also rejected with another offer to increase my bid by $22. "We searched hundreds of options to find your hotel room, however we can't accept your offer of $96 per room, per night. Your credit card has not been charged for Request Number xxx-xxx-xxx-xx. If you are willing to raise your price by $22, you can try the same request again right now. "

A little more research on my part ... if I go to Marriott's website and put in 9/26-9/29 the average nightly rate for the Marriott Mag Mile is $231 for a total cost of $924. If I change the dates to 9/26-9/30 the average nightly rate goes to $429, for a total of $1716. So that last night basically costs $792. I guess it is safe to say that is why the $74/night rate that worked for the person going 9/26-9/29 won't work for me for 9/26-9/30. Being that it is anniversary, I'd still prefer to stay in that part of town. Was the "increase your bid at least $22/night" PL's way of telling me how much to bid to get a 4* (since I'm assuming Marriott isn't available) in that part of town?

I am looking to book a hotel in the NMA area for 9/26-9/30. I have read these boards and used the links. I saw this person had luck at $74/night at the Marriott Mag Mile for 9/26-9/29. I tried $69/night and then a re-bid at $74/night and both were rejected. When the $74 was rejected it said that if I upped my offer by at least $22/night I could bid again immediately. I chose not to do that for now. I think I have some time to bid up more slowly. I would like the Marriott Magnificent Mile (rated 3*) or a 4*. The Marriott is $399 at their website. Hotwire has a 3* in the NMA/WT/GC area for $162/night and a 4* in the same are for $169/night. I was hoping to be closer to the $74/night the poster above got. Maybe as high as $100/night. Is my extra night (Monday night) hurting me or is because I am bidding later or just fewer rooms available? My question is what strategies more experienced bidders recommend. Should I go in slow increments (say $2-$4/night) and bid twice a day (I think there is only 1 rebid zone, Lincoln Park)? Should I jump closer tho the $96/night that PL recommended? Should I think about dropping Monday night and going back to the $74 bid that was succesful for somebody else (I am hesitant to do that because I am going there for my anniversary which is actually on Monday ... I'd prefer to spend it in the city rather than on a plane). Any thoughts appreciated.