sage

Started good at what I thought was a low price compared to Hotwire offerings and recent history. First bid was accepted. Total with fees/taxes equals $189.21. The lowest rate on Radisson.com was $114 per night, so quite a significant savings. I suppose their business is down since the airport move. Good for me. I started bidding using betterbidding's PRICELINE link.

Correct -- only four amenities were displayed before purchase. And I do use the betterbidding links.

A new Hotwire property next to the Cracker Barrel. Advertised amenities were fitness center, laundry facilities, pool(outdoor), business center. It also had a continental breakfast called a "coffee bar", and wireless Internet access is available for a small fee. checking Overall it was clean and comfortable, so I would have no problem staying there again. Total price was $142.74, roughly 30% off.

The stay was alright. I recently received notification from Hotwire stating that the property has been reclassified from a three star to a two star. I myself would classify as a 2.5 star. I consider it better than an ESA or Homestead suites in its furnishings and in its continental breakfast. The outdoor pool was not heated by the way.

Amenities: Business Center, Laundry, Hi-Speed Internet (unreported amenities: suite-style full kitchen, heated outdoor pool, complementary hot breakfast) Started purchase using betterbidding's link. New property to Hotwire's NW Indy zone. I was expecting Holiday Inn Select, although I noted amenities were somewhat different (this selection had fewer, so my guess is I could've been assigned either property). Room was $89 on Marriott website, so not a bad deal. Tripadvisor reviews are mixed, so I'll just have to see how it works out. At 10

Amenities are complimentary breakfast and high-speed Internet. Reviews seem to be decent for this hotel. Total price was $153.66. Best website rate (corporate) was $69.50, totaling $148.92, so this certainly was not a deal. You win some, you break-even some. C'est la vie.

Started at $39 in this zone. Rejected. Tried $45 adding Bridgewater zone. Rejected. Tried $49 adding Basking Ridge zone. Accepted. Total was $63.90. Haven't stayed here yet. Best website rate was $117+taxes.

Amenities are Comp Breakfast and Pool. Total for 4 nights was $194.25. Used betterbidding's HOTWIRE link, as usual. Stayed here several times. Good area location, good breakfast, free high speed internet. Best chain website non-smoking room business rate was $77+tax, so a nice half-price bargain this time.

First bid of $29 was accepted (figured winning bids of $25 a year ago may need adjusting upward, so didn't try it). Lowest rate on their web site was not available, but there was a $36 equivalent on HotWire. Total cost was just over $40. Used betterbidding's PRICELINE link for the bid process. 12161 Lackland Road Saint Louis, Missouri 63146 314-878-8777

Location is Independence. Thanks for the clarification. Saw good nearby restaurant reviews, so I'm going to try the Mavis Winkles Irish Pub for dinner. Go to their website and sign their guestbook to be emailed a coupon for a free appetizer.

Won on first bid, total was $111.80 for 2 nights. Best on-line rate was $119/night, so it's a good deal. Recently renovated. Worth giving it a try.

Tried to win a three-star in this particular zone. Free re-bids were available in 3 areas without 3*s. Bid $35, $40, $45, then accepted with $49. Total was a $63.21. Hotwire's 3* hotel was $63. Sheraton's best website rate for this room was $129 before taxes. Good deal, tho' WiFi is not free.

A new confirmed listing for this area (though a member had alluded to getting this property in 2005). Amenities were Suite and Laundry. Total was $54.44 for the one weekday night. Listed website rate was $78 (before taxes), enough savings for a nice dinner at PF Chang's nearby.

Extended stay by trying $44/night and was accepted on first bid. Very good deal for a quite decent property. Get room on back side of building to minimize noise.

New property for list. Been P/L trying here for years, but H/W always had better rates for the star categories. Tried $42 for 2.5* but not accepted. Used free re-bid in Speedway zone at $47 and was accepted. Website price was $85/night. Taxes/fees added another $41 to 5-night stay. Free breakfast and wireless internet. Started bid through SavingsBarn.

I forgot to mention that I used BetterBidding's HOTWIRE link. As a follow-up for prospective future purchases, the Hotwire price increased by $10 since my purchase. I looked at Marriott's rate and it also went up $10. This difference appears to be due to Fairfield's three-day advance purchase rate no longer being available for my stay this upcoming week. So, if one wants the better Hotwire rate for this property, it should be purchased at least three days before arrival date (this theory is supported by checking both rates another week out). Even if one waits until the last minute, though, HOTWIRE provides a nice 50% discount to the rack rate. Unlike the other four Indianapolis Northwest Hotwire properties, this hotel is not at the Pyramids on Michigan Road; it is on 86th St near Interstate 465.

Here is a new BetterBidding listing for HOTWIRE. Total cost is $187.88; hotel's website price is $89 per night so it appears to be a good deal. Amenities listed are (with my own elaboration in parentheses): Complimentary Breakfast (hot) Fitness Center Business Center Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access (wireless) Golf Nearby The Marriott website says there is also an indoor pool, hot tub, Jacuzzi and that the rooms have recently been renovated.

First bid of $45 was based on recent wins - surprised this was accepted for a weeknight, although I forgot some properties can be won cheaper on Thu nights. Had 2 free bid zones available that I didn't even use. Website rate was $179/night. The 2 rooms totaled only $106.06. Good bargain. Reviews seem to be overall favorable. Started on savingsbarn.com.

Oh, yeah, and I started the purchase with betterbidding's HOTWIRE link.

Amenities: Laundry, High-Speed Internet I noticed this didn't look like the usual 3* (Holiday Inn Select), so chose it to see what would come up. This is a new pinned listing for Hotwire. As there isn't a restaurant on-site, I'm surprised it's not a 2.5* instead. It's closer in features to the nearby 2.5* Comfort Inn/Suites than to the HIS. I've stayed here before, and it's a pretty good place. It has complementary hot breakfast and evening snacks/drinks. It has 60 mins free long-distance phone calls and a pool. Rooms have microwave and small fridge. The staff is very pleasant. Total price was $270 for 4 nights. I checked Drury's website and found best pre-paid rate was $55/night, so this isn't a true deal by that comparison. After taxes and fees the prices would be about the same. I filed a Hotwire Low-Price Guarantee form on principle. Regardless, it's still decent lodging for a decent price.

Okay, I finally found the identical listing as Customer Favorite as shown below (and another 2* for Mountain View). Our stay was just okay, not what I would rate as a Favorite. Had a number of maintenance issues in 2 rooms, and was moved to a side away from the freeway to avoid noise, but with the right room an extended stay would be alright.

The Customer Favorites classification was shown for two hotels, both 2 stars, both having only Laundry as the amenity, both $53/night, one in Sunnyvale and the other in Mountain View, each having different CF review statements. I tried to repeat these offers for several other dates, but the amenities change (sometimes has Internet rather than Laundry) and 'Customer Favorites' does not appear. Are we "being watched" and our entries adapted to (we've seen posts indicating this sometimes happens), or likely just a case of multiple 2-star properties being offered?

Amenities: Hi-Speed Internet (free), Complimentary Breakfast, Pool (outdoor), and Fitness Center (off-site) Total price was $111.75 for 2 nights. Website rate was only $50/night plus taxes, so not a real bargain going through Hotwire, but this was a same day reservation. I think I've seen this 2 star for less $ before, but a good value regardless. This wasn't the chain that I expected, but I'm pleasantly surprised with this Super 8's accommodations. My room seems nicely renovated, especially the bathroom area; everything is neat and clean within it, and in good working order. The breakfast includes hard-boiled eggs, danishes and bagels, bananas and juices, cereals, and make-your-own waffles. The staff is very courteous and quite responsive to service requests. The motel is in a good area (adjacent to Holiday Inn and dinner/show club). Ground and second floors are exterior walkway entry, the third floor has interior hall. The pool area looks clean and family-friendly. Internet is wireless with access code required, and there are 30+ cable stations including HBO. New pinned listing for HW. I see from the Priceline pinned list this used to be a Fairfield Inn.

Amenity: Laundry Customer Favorite (good reviews) Three nights for 2 rooms total $348.74. ESA's website best price was $105/night plus tax. Wireless internet access is $4 per stay. Fully-equipped kitchen. New property for pinned list.

Tried 4* to $81 for a Sat/Sun/Mon night stay without success. Hilton website showed $138 each night. Changed to only Sat/Sun nights, starting at $38 and increasing by $2 or $3 until accepted at Hilton at $52. Total $127.10. Website showed $99 rate (+ tax) for these nights, so still a good deal. Car rental offer for $8 compact was displayed after win, so didn't pass up that deal. Upgraded days later (using PL's offer) to full size for just $4 more per day. Parking at Hilton is a bit steep though.