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Thought I was going to get the Holiday Inn as not too much data on this area. Saved about $20 for a well-reviewed Comfort Inn across from the Grove City outlets which is the area I was looking for. A bit confusing as it's part of the Youngstown, OH region. Used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link.

After bidding several zones and waiting overnight, got Renaissance Pittsburgh for $92. Note that this came up as a 4.5* not a 4* as listed in Pittsburgh hotel list. I'm assuming this is the same hotel that you can get today for $99 on Priceline Express. I used the BB link for earlier bids but I'm not sure if my final bid which was a rebid. Sorry about that. I do have a question regarding the rebid after 2 hours. I tried that and it said I'd already bid the same area and couldn't do it without changing something. I changed the $ bid but I thought I'd be able to do the same zone again. Anyone have insight for my next bidding? Thanks for all the info! I hadn't used Priceline for a couple of years so it was definitely helpful to use the BB site again.

Congrats on the hotel... I'm looking for same night and have never bid in Pittsburgh area before. If you're bidding for 4* downtown Pittsburgh what are the zones that you included. It's been a couple of years since I've used Priceline. Thanks!

Hoping to get the Buffalo Amherst Marriott 3.5* for the weekend of August 12-14 as I believe it's still the only 3.5* in all the Buffalo zones. I've seen some wins at around $75 and last summer was successful on the preceding Tuesday. This year I've been bidding starting at $65 and right up to $85. Just tried from $65 to $80 but no nibbles. Hotel still appears to have rooms. Trying to plan my next move. Looks like it may be to book a hotel directly. Too much uncertainty in Buffalo for 3* options. Open to suggestions and feedback. Have started each of my searches with the PRICELINE link on Betterbidding. Thanks!

Bid $55 and was not accepted but given the chance for a rebid of $71. Instead added Buff-airport zone and rebid at $60. Was surprised to get it accepted for next weekend so quickly. Pleased to have a long weekend of cross-border shopping. Staying at this hotel for the 3rd time. Used PRICELINE link to start bidding. Thanks for everyone's posts that assisted with bidding.

:) Success at last today at $74 for Marriott- Buffalo Amherst for Aug 13-15. When I bid $65 -- it counteroffered a free bid for $80 so I knew things were looking promising. Steadily bid 68,70,72 and then success at 74. Started the bids using the PRICELINE link from here. Apologize if I accidentally didn't use after the counteroffer using a borrowed computer so my links aren't all same. Thanks so much for everyone's help. This site is very helpful. Good luck to everyone else.

We stayed at the Comfort Inn near Times Square last fall and got a good rate with AAA. Right now it's showing $276 for your dates with free breakfast. May be a good one to watch.

Latest update: Have bid up to 101 on PRICELINE and no luck yet. Interesting development - have been checking HOTWIRE and Amherst 3.5* just showed up (after not being there on the weekend) at 129. Does history show this may drop on PRICELINE? I currently have direct with the hotel on CAA rate at 153. (I know -- depleting the inventory but we like the hotel.) Still hoping to save. :)

Still no luck. I've determined that Buf-Amherst is the only zone that has a 3.5*. Have been starting at 65 and adding zones. Today I bid up to 95. (Saw a successful bid on another site for 97). At 95, priceline counter-offered free bid if I bid 115. Wasn't ready to bid that high so closed and added one of my remaining zones and bid 97. Not accepted. Have been using PRICELINE link. Out of zones for today. I've booked a cancellable reservation as a backup. I guess the summer weekends are more popular than I anticipated. Open to other ideas. Also -- how to I change the title of my post when I am successful? (still optomistic) Tx

There are concerts at Darien Lake both of those nights (as there are for mine). I've actually gone as high as 85 and not been successful yet. Now considering other options. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the local info and the bidding strategy. Due to the events in the area, I tried 62 65, 70 today and still no luck. Will keep trying or try another weekend. Will post the end result. Thanks again.

Hoping to get the Buffalo Amherst Marriott 3.5* for the weekend of August 13-15. Typical win has been at $60. Bid history: -Buffalo-Amherst 3.5* $45, Added Buffalo airport $50, added downtown Buffalo $55 -Same next day - $58, 60, 62 Is it more likely that rates are higher for summer so I will have to bid higher tomorrow? Or is it that they haven't released rooms so I should try next week at $60. Trying to plan my next move. Open to suggestions.