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This post was originally refering to the switch from "we'll let you know within 15 minutes" to the now "2 minutes 'we're searching" screen; which is a huge improvement. I think the difference between the sometimes 45 second response and the sometimes 2 minute response is partially the way their systems are set up and partially a wait for credit card approval (sometimes when i charge soemthing at a store it takes longer at the cash register than other times... Priceline's computers have a variable wait time as well). I don't think they'd go the extra effort to find a hotel for an outrageous pri

You can separate Islamorada from Key Largo.... just put Islamorada into the city box and on the next screen it show you both Islamorada and Key Largo... only put a check mark in the box next to Islamorada. Always a good idea to look at the maps too, as sometimes their zones cover a greater area than the zone description implies.

Way to use the information you had in order to hit the next bid on the mark!!!

I believe i have seen extended stay properties come up before, but keep in mind most of them do NOT offer daily maid service, so that would confine them to the lower star levels.

The hotels themselves are in a "catch-22" situation between having unused inventory and cheapening their brand name by offering too low of a price... Priceline and Hotwire offer a good alternative to them as the typical Priceline customer is indeed "buying an opaque product." As well, the frequent guest points you mention do indeed cost the hotel money, and therefore makes a guest that gets points a "higher cost customer" than somebody who doesn't get points (ie- Priceline and /or Hotwire).... so there should always be a discount available for a Priceline/Hotwire customer since they cost the h

Yes, i have always done better waiting and undercutting the re-bid offers. Of course i could always get "hurt" if the inventory and/or price changes within the 72 hours, but when bidding a few weeks or months in advance i don't expect the inventory to change that quickly. Situation would be different if my rejected bid was placed 4 days before arrival and i was expecting to re-bid the day before arrival. I think some hotels increase their prices right before arrival, others lower them, and some pull their offers entirely. I can understand the philosophy behind each of these actions, and it

Las Vegas is one place where i don't recommend using priceline since the zone "Strip Area" included hotels that are NOT on the strip. As well, there are often some great deals available directly thru the hotels and non-opaque consolidators. I would not use Priceline in this area unless: 1) I'm trying for the 5* Venetian (as of this writing, the Venetian is the only 5* hotel we've seen awarded thru Priceline, and i don't know of any non-strip hotels that could also be rated 5* (except Bellagio, which i'd also be happy getting)... still a slight risk in doing so, but a risk i'm willing to acce

Good point!! Also, if bidding inside of 72 24 2 hours and only have one or no re-bids available, it may be better to just take the counter-offer rather than risk cutting it in half and getting nothing. For instance, let's say only one re-bid left, your $60 bid is rejected and Price.line counters with $70. You then use your re-bid zone at $65 and are once again rejected (because the "right" price was $67, for example)... now you have no options left, don't have the 72 hours required to bid again, and are left with paying full price for the room... all because of a concern of over-bidding by

Yes, if you'd like to read more about this you can take a look at this link: Priceline Suggests Price to Pay (taken from the General Priceline Tips in the "Tips and Tricks" section of this board)

Swag, Did Priceline recently reconfigure the FQ and CCGD zones? I know Canal St. borders each zone, but the post below yours indicates that the DoubleTree used to be in the FQ, but your win indicates it's now in the CCGD. Or are there 2 DoubleTree hotels in this area and i'm confusing the 2 of them. Lastly, i don't know New Orleans too well but am familiar somewhat with it... is there a reason why you don't bid the CBD, seems like if you're interested in the FQ then the CBD would be a good zone to add when re-bidding (although not a free re-bid). Just thought maybe there is a hotel in that a

I think you did just fine, sometimes hard to re-bid if it's the same day and getting close to the bidding deadline for the day. Better you overpay by $6 than not get a room for the night! Good evidence though how the "counter-offers" by Priceline can almost always be undercut. As always, thanks for posting.

Welcome to BetterBidding. Thank you for taking the time to post your results and comments about your hotel stay.

You're soon going to be able to write a guide book about the Naperville/Lisle area with the multitude of hotels you've been receiving.

Congratulations on your first Priceline "win". I know you were on top of this for awhile and glad to hear that you are happy with your ultimate result. Have a great stay and an even better cruise!

Thanks for your detailed post... and it is an prime example of how sometimes it pays to be creative and mix/match products! I'm told the tax rate in this area is 12.5%

The better rates are usually (not always) found with Priceline. You didn't mention your dates, so the info supplied is with the belief that your reservation is not more than 6 months out and that there is no unusual room demand for the nite of your stay. I assume you want the Tampa Downtown zone, which if bidding for 3* or higher, has lots of re-bid zones. I would try using Priceline, 3* Tampa Downtown: Bid $37, if rejected add re-bid zone and bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone and bid $42, if rejected add re-bid zone and bid $45 Make sure you have an understanding of re-bids by READING THIS

Welcome to BetterBidding. Thanks for you posting your winning bids, i've posted both hotels to the 'master list by city'. Enjoy your hotel stay.

Welcome to BetterBidding, we'll provide all the help you need and answer whatever questions you may have. If you haven't read this explanation of re-bidding already, check it out: Bidding Again before 72 hours . This is one of the best "tricks" of Priceline. By adding certain zones, you can bid again but ensure that you won't get that zone (because they don't offer any hotels at the star rating (or higher) that you are requesting). If you have questions after reading the above, feel free to ask. As i write this, there are 2 re-bid zones available when bidding Downtown Miami. This is anothe

It sure does help!! Welcome to BetterBidding and thank you for posting your results (and for supplying the amenities too!). You contributions in helping to build the database are appreciated. Looking forward to seeing you around the board in the future.

As always, thanks for the post... of course we like them all, but you know how much we LOVE the exclusives!! :)

JMG, thanks for posting this information!! Bill, i don't know anything about the hotel, but the Comfort Inn Airport/Crusie Port seems available thru QuickBook for $69/nite (and it says includes breakfast, including made to order omelet station) as well as transportation from the airport and to the pier. You can book/reserve the same hotel above directly at their website for $90/nite, and it appears (as in, double check it yourself) that they have a 24 hour cancellation policy (i know QuickBook does charge a cancellation fee, but i don't recall how much it is), so that might at least be a poten

Welcome to BetterBidding. Thank you for posting your winning bid information and contributing to the databasae of hotels. Have a great stay!

You're not doing anything wrong, but i would suspect that it's your dates that are the problem. Priceline and Hotwire typically get inventory that the hotels don't expect to sell through conventional means, so if the AmeriSuites and/or Embassy Suites are sold out (ie- no availability) then there is nothing offered to Priceline or Hotwire to sell for those dates. I would guess that something is happening in town that nite, or there are an abundance of cruise ships in port the following day. Do you have a cancellable back-up booked? (if so, at where and at what price) Also, this is peak season

For THEATER ATTENDEES ONLY: $10 Flat Fee for Up To 10 hours parking Click the above link for a list of participating garages, but here at the terms and conditions taken from the above page (note: same day ticket stub and coupon must be given to receive the special rate): Offer valid Monday through Friday after 5pm, and anytime on Saturdays or Sundays. Offer valid January 1 to May 31, 2003. Must turn in coupon and ticket stub for same day performances to receive special $10 rate. Offer subject to change. Rates are subject to and based on availability.

That's GREAT!! I know how good it feels to be "done" with it all :) Just another example of how inventory can change at any time and sometimes it just requires a little patience and persistence. Welcome to BetterBidding and thank you for taking the time to post your winning bids, your input at the board is very much appreciated. Enjoy your hotel stays.