bkmtl

Started at $50.00 for 4*. Added Downtown - City Center at $60.00, Laval at $70.00 and Longueuil-Boucherville at $75.00. Read some reviews that weren't that great but it is still a 4*, has a great roof-top pool and the location is in the center of the action. Looking forward to the 1 night get-away with my daughter. Used the PRICELINE link.

Any ideas on the one ? Amenities are: fitness center, restaurant, business center and high-speed internet access.

Why don't you try the Travelocity.com new "Top Secret Hotels"? They seem to be trying to capture some of the PRICELINE / HOTWIRE action for those who are willing to trade a little "educated" uncertainty for a good deal. Right now, for your date, they show a 4* Midtown @ $141.00 and another 4* Midtown @ 146.00, but the amenities don't give much of a clue to either ( no smoking & high-speed internet). I think they do this on purpose as all the hotels listed have the same amenities and 4* hotels have more than this. Might be worth a look if the PRICELINE bidding doesn't work out.

Just to up-date... Unfortunately things came up and we've had to postpone our May trip for now. Thank you to everyone for your advice and suggestions. I hope that they will be useful to others planning a similar trip. Have a great day.

Thank you for your advice slygirl. Would the area you work in be considered "#5: Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill area" or "#13: White House - Downtown"? And what area would Metro Center be considered? The end of May should be lovely walking around weather if we are not too exhausted from all the museum visits.

Thank you Doubleplay. Your information was very helpful. Am I correct that in zones 5,13, 8, & 9 ( as suggested), there are no free re-bid zones? The only thing that can be changed is the price and open new bids for each area so as not to over-bid. I will firm up my dates and then get back to the board for more advice on bidding.

Want to bring my 12-year old to Washington at the end of May for her birthday. Since I've never been there, I need advice on what areas to bid on. We want to be central to all the touristy sites - either by walking or by hopping the Metro. Also what areas to avoid as being iffy especially at night. Would it be better to stick to 4* or are 3* and 3.5* clean and comfortable as well?

Thank you thereuare for your quick response. I've been reading this board since before my last trip in May and your advice and patience is amazing. Keep up the great work and I did and will continue to book my trips using your links. Kudos as well to AaronJB for all his good advice. Having found the Club Quarters on Hotwire for $109.00 for Nov. 15-19, would it be wise to book it or try to get it lower on Priceline? This is the first price break that I've seen for various dates from Nov. 15 through Nov. 29. Does this mean that hotels may be releasing more rooms at this point and more prices will come down. I know fall is an expensive time in NYC but there has not been as much action on your board for Nov. as there was for Oct. up to the Marathon. Are the hotels panicking!!! yet?

I just saw a really great deal on HOTWIRE for Midtown Central. The amenities are Fitness Center, Restaurant, and High-Speed Internet. I know it is not much to go on, but does anyone have an idea of what hotel this is?

:) First time using better bidding (although not the first time using PRICELINE). Booked 4* Grand Hyatt @ $120 per night for 5/28/09-6/02/09 through the PRICELINE link. Here was my strategy. Started 4* TS @ $85.00, used free rebid zones BROOKLYN, LIC, MSG & UES up to $99.00, then added CPS $105.00 & UWS $110.00. REJECTED. Closed bid. New bid 4* MTW @ $85.00, used free rebid zones BROOKLYN, LIC, MSG, UES & CHELSEA up to $106.00, then added TS $111.00 & CPS $116.00. REJECTED. Closed bid. New bid 4* ESB @ $85.00, added MTE $90.00, used free rebid zones BROOKLYN, LIC, MSG, UES & CHELSEA up to $101.00, added MTW $106.00, TS $111.00 & CPS $116.00 and finally UWS $120.00. Won the Grand Hyatt. The reason that I closed the bids and started new ones (permutation method) is that I didn't want to overpay for MTW, ESB or MTE once I was up over $100.00. As it happened, it didn't matter, but YOU NEVER KNOW! On the Hyatt web-site, the average rates for the 5 nights are as follows: Stay More 4nts - $234.40 Advance Purchase - $284.75 Hyatt Daily Rate - $307.00 So I'm pretty pleased! Rates are about 1/2 of what they were last May when I couldn't get a PRICELINE win bidding almost $200.00 per night. Hope this helps others...bkmtl