cntrfieldsmom

Did not want to bid over $50. Started at 4* no luck, dropped to 3.5* and started at $40. Rebid in $2 increments with success at $48. Website prepaid rate is 118.00. Used your PRICELINE link.

Started at $40, 41, 46 and successful at $50. Web rate 133.00 Used PRICELINE link.

8-8-08/8-10-08 Stayed for a price of $55 and 4 rooms. Was surprised when we got there that they were completely sold out. There was a very small window that this hotel was open for priceline bidding. Pro's: Small enough hotel that everything is very accessible. Was a security guard (although about 18 and not scary at all) visible and enforcing rules about pool use etc. Pool closes for children under 18 @10:00. Adult swim until midnight. Suites are good sized and fairly recently renovated. Nice to have 2 televisions. Pull out couch in living area. Great location. Good pool/hot tub/workout room/small pub Breakfast buffet for 10.95 Dinner service, but I didn't see many people eating during our stay. Pet Friendly for a $50 charge (one time not per night) Great towels! Good selection of bath toiletries. Common area very nice and comfortable. Cons: Still have some to go on renovating. They stopped short of a full renovation and was more cosmetic. Side entrances are filthy with nasty old landscaping. Entrance doors/windows need replacing badly. Kitchenette somewhat confusing. Bar area with no stools. Full size fridge. microwave, bar sized sink. full set of cabinets that are completely empty. Maybe used to have a stocked kitchenette? Glad they are pet friendly but many hotels are way less than $50. Heat/Air very noisy! Overall, for our needs the pros outweighed the cons.

Have been trying everyday for 4 days, today was the day. Interestingly the rate had been 85.00 and today it was 102.00 when I was successful, I don't know what that means if anything. Bid Central @ 40$ added Bellvue @ 45 added SW @ 50 added Council Bluffs @ 55 accepted. This was the hotel we were going to book direct because we wanted a suites hotel. Decided that we wanted to save the dollars and take the chance. We won this time. Also of note, I phoned the Holiday Inn Central (which kept me from bidding Omaha, see review) and they have added a huge water park and remodeled the hotel. So I felt safer bidding this zone. Used the PRICELINE link from the homepage. Thanks.

We're not considered a travel mecca :) But you are correct, Mount Rushmore is a rush, the hot Springs are "hot" , the Badlands "bad" and the Black Hills beautiful, and the rest of the state just very flat. Any questions give me a shout. Oh and PS....the temperature ranges from 105 to minus 30. Variety is the spice of life :)

Accepted on first bid (should've started lower!) Still, my parents were thrilled, they wanted me to bid $70. Hotel website = 116.00

Agreed on all counts, however very disappointing about the Doubletree stuck in with Holiday Inn Central. But on the upside...at least I can bid the West zone and be assured in not getting the HI. For this trip due to the fact my parents wanted to be assured of getting a suites hotel ( and the rate was good at 85.00) we won't priceline but will use your Hilton link. Thanks again.

I sent you a message.

It looks like Priceline has split the Omaha Central/NW Zone into two zones. Looking close at the map I'm wondering if that puts the following in the West zone: Holiday Inn Convention Center, HI Miracle Mile, Marriot and Crowne Plaza. And Doubletree (on Cedar St.) in Central. My question is would they put just one 3* in a zone all by itself? And if not what other hotel is in this Central Zone? I want to get that Doubletree but there isn't really any bidding history. Thanks for any help.

Hoping to get a different hotel this time, but am happy with the price none the less. Maybe will try the check in tip. Sometimes I really wonder about starting higher to target a different hotel, but have never had the nerve to possibly overbid on the same result. $50-counteroffer of $14 $52- rejected $55-rejected $60-accepted 129.00 rack price.

Hoping to get a different hotel this time, but am happy with the price non the less. Maybe will try the check in tip. Sometimes I really wonder about starting higher to target a different hotel, but have never had the nerve to possibly overbid on the same result. $50-counteroffer of $14 $52- rejected $55-rejected $60-accepted Used savings barn of course.

Things must change often, a couple of weeks ago I made mention that the Las Vegas boards don't even have the strip split update and criticized that it would cost people money. And why should people continue to be loyal when they don't get anything from the site in return. I finally thought to go back and looked for the post, did a search for the username I was using and nothing. Tryed to log in and bam, banned. Now I have to find that post that said how to clear something so you can view the site.

Aaron, So sorry it took me this long to get back on (long story) The "kids" had a great time and send their thankyou's to you for all your help. Chicago showed them a terrific time, the Cubs games, Sears tower, Millennium park, THE CHICAGO STYLE PIZZA!, and much more. They LOVED Evanston and their hotel. Not only was it higher quality than they expected, but the staff were very good to them, with directions, even an umbrella! They saw Bonds hit 2 home runs too. They did an on line room themselves one night after getting anxious (and not telling me) and wound up at a scary looking mom and pop hotel 2 blocks from Midway. I was terrified, but they did okay and said the location wasn't as bad as it could have been (it had a Burger King across the street) Definitely a "dive" though. They learned a good lesson! They had a blast, but it's always good to come home too. Said they can't imagine waiting for trains for so much time! We're just used to jumping in our car and 10 minutes later, we're there! Thanks again for your invaluable help!

Followup. They booked something online last night. I don't know the details, will post when I do. Thanks again for all the great help, I've told them to print off your suggestions for getting around the city.

Sorry, thereuare, I forgot to start a new topic before now. This is a continuation of this Chicago Hotwire Thread of the same name. I wasn't sure if I should put it under hotwire forum because I've been trying priceline for this night? I will keep trying for this night and think about other close areas near Midway.

How far is the Ohare area from Midway area? it seems to be the least expensive area. Their goal for the last night is to hang downtown and then stay as close as possible to Midway airport area and spend as close to $60 as possible. they'll have to be at the airport at 5am so up at 3:30-4:00. They don't plan on being at the hotel more than a few hours.

Aaron, We're back from our vacation so I'll be trying to secure this last night for Chicago. Thanks again for your help and I'll post my result. I'm wondering why even the rates in Midway are so high for this night?

Returned from this trip and wanted to share some things we learned that may (or may not) help others. #1 book a cancellable backup conventionally. As someone posted earlier about the Flamingo....no we really weren't impressed, but glad to have any room after rates tripled and then sold out. Found out 7-7-07 is significant for weddings and gamblers! We will definately stay somewhere else next time. It's pretty "tired" We did get a larger higher floor room by tipping, but common areas in this place are pretty pathetic. Pool is nice, but a party pool for sure and I doubt the deck is ever hosed down for cleaning, yuk! The little things just add up, like bad shower heads, dirty vents in shower stall, spotty carpet, dirty elevators etc. Absolutely none of the employees were friendly or helpul. In fact I broke my toe at the pool and got ice from the bartender a couple of times and there wasn't any concern at all that someone had injured themselves. *3 in Downtown Minneapolis are far better. We explored many of the strip hotels to find out where to stay next time. The south strip did appeal to us and my husband really liked the Luxor, and I, Mandalay bay. Actually I think any of those connected south strip hotels we'd like better, there's also more inexpensive food choices for a quick lunch. How can priceline call the Westin on the strip? It's a 10 minute walk and even there website says it's a block off the strip! Skip the Rio Seafood Buffet everyone raves about. I wish we had spent the $80 and gone to a real restaurant, we could have had lobster or crablegs that weren't rubbery. Allegiant air sent out emails on 7-7-07 and were offering $7.00 departure fares and $79 return. Had to be booked by 7 pm and used by Nov 15th. We jumped on that and are now looking for a hotel for Nov. 5-8th. Rates seem high now, but I obviously can't figure out Vegas rates so would like the boards help once again.

Just returned from a 4 night stay in Las Vegas. I had done a internet search on the $20 tip and it seemed it was commonplace in Vegas. We really wanted an upgraded room because we really weren't thrilled with our hotel. (found out later the lack of occupancy in Vegas was due to the 7-7-07 date) Our hotel had shown sold out for a week prior to our arrival. Slipped the 20 under the credit card at the airport check in and she didn't even bat an eye but started typing away. We got a top floor executive instead of lower floor deluxe. Not a suite as some get, but again it was sold out.

My recent experience with booking vegas and the Flamingo for what it's worth....I booked the Flamingo ($490) a couple of months ago for our trip July 5-9. It was a backup reservation and I was trying for a 4-5* for $500 for the 4 nights. I never was successful and prices just kept going up. A couple of weeks prior to departure Flamingos rate was $1100 for those four nights and 1 week prior ALL the Harrahs properties were sold out. The Venetian was $4-500 (actually the 5th is $900)a night. I would jump on that price as a cancellable backup. I didn't know about the EasyClickTravel guarantee, but I'm just glad we have a room at this point, and I'm glad I took thereuares' advice about a cancellable backup.

Many thanks again! I'll keep forwarding on the information. This will save them time and hassle and they'll be able to do more things while there. Cool picture of the station too!

So this is a newly reported hotel to the board? I've seen there website, love to get a review so I can consider it when bidding next time.

I will start a new topic. I know I say this everytime, but thanks for the great site thereuare. Believe me, there is no other place that would give me the kind of attention and help that Aaron did!! I will try and return the favor in my area.

I too was really surprised by the Hotwire price compared to the rack rate, rather amazing. So we were really lucky with the hotel but also for your fantastic help. The directions are invaluable, as the Mom I'm worried enough about my "baby" in the big city, so I really appreciate it.

Your call for the Orrington was correct. We booked it for $66 for the first 3 nights. Hotel website rate is 212.00. It had gone up a couple of dollars. I struck out with the last night and will have to retry tomorrow. I tried many combinations within the downtown zones and included the Midway zone down to a *2 at $50 no luck. They are very happy with the Orrington. Thanks again for your tremendous help, I will post back when I get the last night.