Nightfly

Actually as they say on the radio "First time caller" as far as a stay in Madison, so your link will come in handy. Much appreciated. If anyone else has any eats & drinks suggestions, please chime in!

Thanks Aaron... I'll be OK. I do think the phrase "Unfortunately, this property does appear to be a good deal" should go into some BetterBidding Hall of Fame Quotes. I love it. Take care!

Via BetterBidding's PRICELINE link, 3.5* Madison (Downtown) Sheraton Madison @ $52 while attempting prior bid of $45 @ 3* (Close but No Cigar thread). I'm not entirely happy with this, in that I made the bid for a 3* in hopes of getting the Hyatt. The win was an automatic "upgrade". Thanks Priceline, I appreciate the thought, but you put me in a hotel that hardly seems to be downtown. Guess I just need to budget some taxi fare in the party fund. Yeah, I know, 'pays your quarter,takes your chances' but in this case, for all the wealth of accumulated knowledge and practical support on this fine website it appears if you make a Priceline bid for downtown Madison you're GOING to stay at the Sheraton. I do wonder if this hotel is one of those places that stays occupied only by the good graces of Priceline rather than it's own merit? OK, I'm done sounding like an ingrate complaining about getting an upgrade and paying half the amount of money you would if you just waltzed in the place on your own. A First World problem at best.

Using BetterBidding's PRICELINE link, made an attempt for 3* Downtown Madison, WI @ $45. Rejected, but did get a "Try at $56" reply. I'll give it a shot splitting the difference later. I'd really like to nail the Hyatt since it appears the location would be convenient for the first leg of my "Visiting America's Dairyland's Sports Bars During The NCAA Basketball Tournament" Tour. Will report progress as events transpire.

Using BetterBidding's PRICELINE link, first attempt cleared. This is the second leg of the "Visiting America's Dairyland's Sports Bars During The NCAA Basketball Tournament" Tour. The first leg, Madison, is on another thread. [EDIT: I'd be grateful for any recommendations where in the neighborhood the TV screens are big, the food is good, the beer is cold and the servers are hot. I'm going to keep my shoelaces tied tight, since it's St. Patrick's Day weekend as well. Thanks in advance!]

There's nothing particularly unique or unusual about the Hilton Garden Inn Austin NW/Arboretum. Not to be smug, but one Hilton Garden Inn constructed in the last ten years is virtually indistinguishable from another. Additionally, unless there's been some hideous breakdown in employee performance standards at a particular location, staffing is also likely to be not very different (other than perhaps regional accents) from sea-to-shining sea. In that light, this review will attempt to offer enlightenment about the surrounds. Just off the 183 freeway north of the 1/183/360 interchanges, this hotel is, in terms of walking, well north of the Arboretum/Gateway/Domain shopping complexes. In terms of Austin driving, it's a ten minute trip (which, again in Austin driving terms, might as well be a Star Trek 'transporter' trip... fast, I was to learn) If your interest is staying near these shopping centers, there are better lodging choices. There are two upscale hotels at the Domain itself, in fact, there seems to be very little in the way of want at the Domain if unbridled consumerism is your goal. Sporting the two aforementioned hotels, the Domain also has a Texas-gestated Nieman-Marcus, residential housing(?) and an automobile dealership (??) on-site. (handy if you need a new Fiat 500 to bring home a proportionally sized Tiffany & Co. robin-egg blue boxed bauble) I digress. Nearby the Hilton Garden Inn Austin NW/Arboretum are some interesting dining choices. On the hotel site there is a Big Daddy's Tacos & BBQ, Mexican Restaurant, a kind of Hooter's-ish affair. On the other side of the freeway, the better part of a mile away sits Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q a seemingly authentic BBQ convenience store operation. Closer to the hotel, still on the other side of the freeway and sharing a parking lot is a national chain outlet of Brick House Tavern and Tap, a sleek man-cave sports bar operation and Austin-based Tex Mex favorite Chuy's. Of those mentioned, Chuy's appears to be the real deal and well worth a visit. Rounding out the other nearby businesses are some IHOP-class eateries, a few gas stations, a liquor store, quick loan operations and a 'news' stand (a Texas euphemism for an adult bookstore, I gather) nuff' said.

Make no mistake, the Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown/Town Lake is a business hotel. This mid-1980's appearing hotel was constructed with commerce in mind. With picture windows facing an open atrium, the 'suite' portion with a couch, chairs and small wet bar have undoubtedly held many a sales presentation on the merits of a particular industrial valve product line before the Internet made many of these face-to-face meetings obsolete. There are still a good many road warriors populating the premises as evidenced by enthusiastic participation at the morning complimentary cooked-to-order breakfasts and nightly 'social' cocktail hour where personal Per Diem spending can be kept in check. There are still indications, however that the Embassy is geared to maximize the income from the wheels of corporate travel. Billing for internet access and steep parking rates can offset free scrambled eggs and well drinks. The facility itself was I'm sure at one time a landmark property in Austin, but chipped Formica panels in the rooms and shop worn fixtures speak to better times prior. It is clean, quiet and the staff, who appear to be newly minted Hilton Corp. management trainees in their first large-ish property were eager to please if not slightly green. "Cutting the wheat from the chaff" so to speak. This review might indicate the casual traveler has no place in a lodge catering to the "Up In The Air" crowd, but that would be a mistake. To the contrary. As with all things hotel related, location-location-location is a truer measure of value. Sitting midpoint between Downtown proper and the eclectic South Congress district, the Embassy makes for an ideal walking exploration of urban Austin. A hearty stroll or quick taxi ride brings you restaurants, food pods, shops, saloons and music venues. Nothing (except Austin favorite Threadgills World Headquarter Resturant/Beergarden/Concert stage) is knee-crawling close or exhaustively far away. In short, leave the car parked in the $14 & $20/night garage and hit the town unencumbered. This review might be very different if the author had paid more than about a Benjamin per night to stay (which I'm quite sure you couldn't get anywhere near at the Hyatt across the street) but as an entree to an initial visit of Austin, at the right price, the Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown/Town Lake is a hard proposition to match for the value-play traveler.

Made numerous attempts via PRICELINE for Compact or Economy starting @ $15 up through $24 @ AUS airport 11/8/11-11/13/11 without success. Moved to BetterBiddings Car Rental Checker and reserved an Intermediate (Toyota Corolla or similar) for $25/day less 15% promo code discount ("PIGSKIN" Thanks Longhorns) with Ace Rent-A-Car via their website. Yelp! feedback on Ace generally good. Net-net, larger and presumably more comfortable car and close to a free day tossed in. Again, thanks BetterBidding for being my point of departure in making travel arrangements.

Second part of a split bid. Used BetterBidding PRICELINE link. Thx

Happy to report the following: WIN: Austin Downtown - 3.5* - 11/8/11-11/11/11 - $98 - Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown Town Lake WIN: Austin Arboretum - 3* - 11/11/11-11/13/11 - $56 - Hilton Garden Austin NW/Arboretum Booked via BetterBidding PRICELINE link. Ice down a Shiner Bock folks, I'm coming to town... Seriously, thanks for all the hints, advice and good Juju. thereuare, please feel free to tweak the subject line to use this information to the best benefit of your readers. I'll try and offer hotel reviews after I get back. Thx again !

Took thereuare's advice on splitting the bid. Attempted $114/4* - $93/3.5* from 11/8-11/11 downtown, no enchilada (hey, I'm trying to get into the spirit of things). Provided I can get the first three days setup downtown, I thought I'd wrap things up near the Arboretum. EDIT: BTW Romelle, I'm living in Michigan and also spend a lot of time in Portland, OR, so yeah, it will be different with a capital "D"

You guys are the best !!! A Comic convention huh? I guess you can't plan for everything. 'Splitting' is a definite option I'll look at, the idea of the whole visit was to learn if Austin is the kind of place I could spend some extended time and resources in, so there may be some merit expanding my lodging horizons. Before I start digging too deep in neighborhood info, anyone have a feel for locations that offer an 'urban-ish' experience with many types of housing options? Of course, like most cities, near the university is always the dart board pick, but any insight is welcome since thus far you guys have come through with flying colors. Thanks again folks !

Thanks Romelle, I'll keep metaphorically circling the airport for awhile longer...

Per Site Admin. suggestion to post results, finding no love in Texas for the indicated dates (11/8-11/13) at a sub $120-4*/sub $100-3.5* price Downtown. No Longhorn home game during that time, looking at historical info on this fine website it seems like I'm not being TOO much of a piker (or am I?) Thanks in advance everyone for your advise, sympathy or slap up the side of the head reality check...

Austin seems to be a tough nut to crack. I've been banging away at either a sub $120 4*/sub $100 3.5* Downtown for a number of weeks now for a Nov. trip (BTW - NOT a U of T home football weekend either) and have not had any luck. Getting close to booking out in the burbs and letting the downtown folks choke on their own hubris. Stay tuned...

Just a quick followup... Had a very nice stay at the Allerton. The staff couldn't have been more pleasant and the facilities, for an updated 1920's property, are quite nice without too many of the quirks one finds in a hotel of this vintage. With a Apple Store across the street and Brooks Bros. adjacent, the neighborhood is anything but sketchy. There were a number of airline crews that appear to use the Allerton as their Chicago layover base. Also worth mentioning, yes, it is in Chapter 11 proceedings, but it does not appear to be affecting operations. The staff are upbeat and enthusiastic, the court case seems to be strictly a case of money guys (investors) doing what money guys sometimes do to make their money. Administrator: Please feel free to move/copy this in the review section if it would be beneficial to others.

My bad. The stay will be 6/28/11 - 6/30/11 Thx. BTW - Priceline CS got back to me, we're good. I still wonder however, what the procedure is when a request # gets lost on their end? Does one have to wait for a reply from Priceline CS to proceed/cancel/rebid? Too many questions... makes my head hurt.

Used Better Bidding PRICELINE link (hope it worked). I've been chipping away at getting a room in the NMA zone for a few days, started @ 3*/$75, no joy. Did $10 bumps over the course of 3 days, then tried 3.5* on last attempt thinking I could work down from there but $107 was accepted at Allerton. I know it's in a great location, looks like they've "boutique-ed" up the property however I read in the Chicago Tribune that they just filed Chapter 11. Looks like a typical squeeze from their lender, not too unusual these days. Allerton Hotel files for bankruptcy Per article, all reservations will be honored. Hope so or I'll be sleeping under the bleachers at Wrigley. I did have trouble with Priceline. It went into the "We'll let you know in 15 minutes mode" Pinged it a few times to check status and it said it had no record of the Request #. Nice. Sent email to Customer Service. In the mean time the booking went through. A little frightening. All in all, a little rough sledding on this booking, but as long as I get to see my Chicago Cubs spank last year's World Series champion S.F. Giant's (delusional, huh?) on the trip, I'll be fine. Thanks BB, for all the great insight.

First timer with this monkey business on Priceline as well as this website. Booked via the PRICELINE link on this website. 1 bid @ $55 for 3.5* accepted for Downtown Hilton. Just like falling off a log, it was that easy. If there's a room for me when I arrive, I'll be a happy and impressed camper. Thanks folks !