CaseyJPS

3.5* The Roosevelt, A Coast Hotel 1531 Seventh Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101 Amenities Free Internet Pet friendly Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Restaurant(s) Business Center AWESOME! I got exactly what I wanted--The Roosevelt. I might be adding two more nights 'cause it's such a great deal. Here's the breakdown... Hotel Rate per night: $97.00 :)

Better late than never. I haven't been here sincemy last research and win. Here are the amenities as isted on Hotwire.... Free BreakfastFree InternetIndoor pool(s)Smoke Free RoomsFitness CenterPool(s)Business CenterSelf service laundryInternet accessAccessible for the blindIn-room accessibilityAccessible bathroomHandicapped parkingRoll-in shower :)

90% customer approval rating Note: When I went back to re-search about 5 minutes later to find the amenities, the rate had increased to $61/nt Free Breakfast, Free Internet, Indoor Pool, Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Pool, Business Center, Self Service Laundry, Internet Access (this is what was listed, some of it is redundant but that's how it appeared on Hotwire) Booked November 5 (two days in advance)

$50.50 total with taxes and fees. Hotwire showed this as a "Best Buy" and 80% of customers recommending it although Trip Advisor reviews are primarily not good.

I got caught broad-sided on this one. There was only one 1* listed for Marin and this wasn't it. Well, when you're trolling for plankton, expect plankton. Started with San Rafael 1* at $46. Added Novato at $51. Added Corte Madera @ $56. I was shooting for the TraveLodge in San Rafael, the only 1* on the hotel list. This is only the second time that I got a hotel not listed (in more than six years), a good track record for BetterBidding. Bright spot: I'm on a special diet and the "Inn" has a microwave and refrigerator in every room!

FIRST, I USED THE PRICELINE LINK PROVIDED ON THIS SITE. There is only one known 4* hotel for Essex Junction and I had to stay there due to a gift certificate I purchased at a silent auction for the same hotel. This was a matter of being patient and waiting for my number to come up. I was surprised that the rate had jumped so considerably. The highest bid indicated previously on BetterBidding was $105 and Priceline fed that same information back to me a few times as I kept bidding over and over, telling me 'someone else has recently won at a bid of $105.' Nonetheless, it's still a great deal. Lowest available rate on hotel's booking engine was a prepaid non-refundable $189/nt. There are resort fees in addition to the room rate as well. My bidding was: 76-80-86-92-98-104-105-106-108-110-112-114-116-120-124 only using Essex Junction at 4* for each bid. Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $124.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Travel Insurance: $10.00 (USD) Room Subtotal: $258.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $36.48 (USD) Total Room Cost: $294.48 (USD)

First, I've used BetterBidding a lot over the past 5 years (myself and for friends) and it has provided me an 85% success rate in selecting specific hotels. I am currently bidding on two nights in December. I started $10 below the "lowest common" bid found over the 12 months prior to my arrival date. I have bid 10 times at this point, and for a while, Priceline stated specifically 'someone recently bid and won @ $105/nt.' I'm past $105 at this point and I'm starting to wonder if the hotel even has inventory loaded for this period. Considering the fall off in the market at the time I'm booking, it would be unlikely (in my experience) that the hotel hasn't loaded their inventory yet (Dec 10, 2 nts, Burlington, Essex Junction, VT, Essex Resort & Spa). Maybe the hotel doesn't load inventory until 60 days out (which would be unusual)? When the system refers to that $105 bid win, what dates were the win for (who knows)? I'm also wondering if the system has alerted the hotel that bidding activity has increased for XX period and encourages the hotel to up the rate for that period? AND, I'm wondering if the Priceilne system is recognizing my persistence and editing the rate by itself for that period? I know there are "controlled" nuances with the system. What do you think?

1) Started at $44 and got the message indicating there was only a slim chance that I would get a hotel at that price. 2) Changed the initial price to $46 and got the same message. 3) At $48, the message disappeared but the bid was rejected. 4) Dropped to 2.5 stars and bid $50 which was rejected. 5) Added "Waterfront - Convention Center" and bid $52. Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $52.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Travel Insurance: $5.00 (USD) Room Subtotal: $57.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $14.14 (USD) Total Room Cost: $71.14 (USD) Thanks to all the posters who repeatedly confirmed that $52 was pretty much the bottom line. Now I know first hand! Great value, a blink away from other great neighborhoods and within walking distance to the South Boston Station.

Published rate $189.95. PRICELINE booking with fees $69.01. Really pleased. Thanks to other posters for providing the information I needed to make this happen! I've used this forum repeatedly and encourage everyone to pony up a few dollars, to support the site.

DON'T FORGET TO USE SAVINGSBARN.COM to link-up with Priceline. I did! I was surprised at this one. Here goes... Saturday, September 9, 1 night 2.5* (not 3*) Doubletree Club Hotel in Mission Valley on Hotel Circle 1st Try: $56 4* Downtown/Harbor Island 2nd Try $56 3* Downtown/Harbor Island 3rd Try $56 2.5* Downtown/harbor Island 4th Try $58 3* and 2.5* Downtown/Harbor Island and Mission Valley $58.00 room $14.07 fees & tax $72.07 TOTAL $10 for self-parking

I find it so interesting anyone would "zero-in" on adult-oriented businesses, considering all the great restaurants, sights, clubs and other activites within walking distance of this hotel. Let's remember, San Diego is also a town with a notable population of MARINES who like to "party" when they get the opportunity (this means adult-oriented businesses). I guess our Marines are a bad social element in San Diego.

Ah, yes...the amenities. I forgot this is a HOTWIRE purchase as opposed to a PRICELINE purchase. The amenities for the Knott's Berry Farm Resort in Buena Park are... Fitness Center Pool Restaurant Business Center Laundry Facilities Hi-Speed Internet Access Golf Nearby

This is for the night of September 10th, 2006. Great price of $47/nt and the hotel has a good reputation. HOWEVER, the hotel was selling at $49/nt on its' web site after I completed my HOTWIRE purchase. The net effect of this is about a $7-8 higher price on the total HOTWIRE price vs. the hotel web site price. AND, OF COURSE, I get nailed $9 for parking. The irony is I have to be in Garden Grove but picked this neighborhood so I could get free parking (thought I was going to get one of the two Holiday Inns). This is a good example of how you just can't know for certain what hotel you're going to get. Total Hotwire Price $62.11 (Total Hotel Direct Price $54.88) I've produced 37 car rental days and 1 room night from HOTWIRE since November 2004, so I rolled the dice and sent them an email asking for an "intervention." Let's see what happens... ________________________________________________

Priceline $49/nt Taxes and Fees: $13.34 Total: $62.34 Lowest available (qualified discount) rate at hotel's web site was $103.55 at the time of booking. Started at $38/nt - rejected and offered option to rebid by adding $11. This is more than I wanted to spend but I simply don't have the time to revisit. It's still a good value. I used SAVINGSBARN.COM!

:) Winning Bid $72 Taxes and Fees: $24.99 Total: $168.99 Started in the mid 50s night before winning bid tonight of $72. Last bid before $72 was $65. Priceline regular booking site indicated average for the area was $157/nt, so this is a great deal (at a good hotel). Priceline offered to extend my stay at the same rate after I won (presumably I would like the hotel and the price I "won" so much I would want to extend). Have I been sleeping? I don't recall seeing this before! Current lowest available "Internet" price on hotel's direct web site was $152/nt when I won. Self-parking is $10/nt additional. GREAT DEAL! Better Bidding is my favorite booking information web site! Thanks for the help and the guidance.

This is part of the "Hilton Weekly Specials" markeing email. I've never found one Hilton "deal" I thought worthwhile, until today. http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/special...nSpecials,last2 Costa Mesa Hilton April 7 through Sept 10 Stay two nights Get $30 travel rebate from Costa Mesa CVB Get $30 dining credit for more than 20 participating restaurants, for EACH NIGHT of your stay. If you can find the $119 nightly rate, this is a great deal.

$56.25 total paid ($12.25 in fees and taxes) Booked at 4:20pm on November 22 (arrived at hotel at 11:00pm)

With information I found here, this was a slam dunk! If I hadn't researched here, I would have skipped it altogether (paying more in another San Diego location). THANKS! :)

:) Just made my first purchase using comments and information fromt his site. It was a slam dunk! Saved me hours of research. THANK YOU!

The price you pay the intermediary (in your case Priceline) is always higher than what the hotel collects from the intermediary. I am not as familiar with Priceline, but the other popular sites (ie: Hotwire, Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity) will markup their contracted/negotiated hotel pricing anywhere from about 22 to as high as 35%. Technically, Priceline is acting as your agent (this is why hotels refer customers back to the intermediary so frequently, because it is the intermediary's responsibility to make certain the customer [you] understands the specifics of the "deal," including who is responsible for what). :)