gleff

Yeah, first bid. Actually there's only one zone for Hilton Head, so no rebids. Basically bid half the prevailing rate for the Hilton, though there are other properties that seem possible in the zone that wanted slightly more $$.

Your Offer Price: $45.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $45.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.10 Total Charges: $59.10

Your Offer Price: $55.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $55.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.47 Total Charges: $68.47

Honestly not alot of availability through ANY venue, especially for the Friday and Saturday nights. Priceline is just not likely to have anything to sell you. That doesn't mean you'll definitively be shut out. I've gotten Priceline rooms at otherwise sold out hotels before, but that's the exception and not the rule. The first two nights of your stay actually don't look too terribly bad in the city. You might try to split up your reservation if you don't mind moving hotels. You could bid, perhaps successfully, for the first two nights. And then pay whatever is necessary for the second two. If you tell me where precisely in the city that you are and aren't willing to stay.. what quality level... what you'll do if Priceline is a 'no go' (i.e. won't make the trip, will pay the conference rate at the Grand Hyatt) I could offer you some specific bidding suggestions. Another option... are you willing to stay across the way in New Jersey? (Within reach of public transit) Or are you willing to stay out on Long Island, perhaps by one of the airports? Potential to save alot of $.

Your Offer Price: $110.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $110.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $23.76 Total Charges: $133.76 A story of constantly changing Priceline inventory.... in realtime. Bidding for a work colleague, discretionary trip to NYC, didn't want to spend more than $135 + tax. Didn't care where in the city he stayed. So bid all zones and rebids up to $135, no luck at the 4* level. Then started on 3* bids, and at $110 was upgraded to a 4* property... which apparently wasn't available even at $135 only minutes before.

Actually, the bid is for a colleague. We're doing a small event at the Kensington Park hotel for the couple days prior to the bid. She hasn't ever been to SFO, decided she wanted to stay a few extra days. * This allows her to not have to change hotels. * I figured that a 4* would cost ~ $20/night more x 4 nights. This is one of the more junior staffers in the office, she appreciates the savings more than the difference in property. (Of course I could have been wrong on my guess about what would have been accepted at a 4*... used to be that bids in the mid-40s would bring up properties like the Park Hyatt but I haven't seen that in awhile.) I think she prefers the 'boutique' properties anyway. But you're right, not the bid I would have placed for myself! :)

Your Offer Price: $53.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $212.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $36.88 Total Charges: $248.88 Possible overbid... got this on my first try, I had 5 rebids available that I did not use. A bit anxious as MacWorld starts 1/10 and 87,000 visitors are expected... Still, quite happy at the price. :)

First bid, so possible overbid, didn't use any of the 3 rebid zones... Your Offer Price: $46.00 Number of Rooms: 3 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $138.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $25.68 Total Charges: $163.68

Bear in mind that if you do dispute with Amex, Priceline may be unwilling to deal with you in the future. (At least you may need to create a new account, clear your cookies, use a different credit card, etc.) I don't know this first hand, but third-hand they 'blacklist' customers who dispute CC charges.

Bid $60, rejected. Added rebid @ $70, rejected. Added rebid @ $76. Your Offer Price: $76.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $76.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.35 Total Charges: $92.35 This Wyndham seems to go in the 40s on the weekend but is pricey during the week and appears to be the only 3* in the zone. Prepaid web rate at the property was $119 for the night. For context, 2.5* properties can be had for much less... low 40s... Country Inns & Suites seems to pop up ~ $40 but often has a web rate of $45.

Enjoy the OMNI, as mentioned it's in the Woodley Park area rather than in DuPont but there's a metro stop about a block and a half from the hotel. DuPont is one stop away on the red line. OMNI is a huge conference hotel but nice. You're right by the zoo as well. If you're looking for dinner out within walking distance of the hotel, recommend New Heights right across the street.

A little bit inconviently located vis a vis metro, etc. so best to have a car IMHO. The revolving lounge at the top of the hotel comes off very 70s, but has a nice view of the landings at DCA.

There's plenty of free street parking around this hotel. I'd be shocked if it was listed as Alexandria-Pentagon, it should pretty clearly be in Alexandria-Mt. Vernon based on Priceline's area maps and descriptions.

Can you do this an infinite # of times?

Eek, I wouldn't want to stay in a room with outdoor-corridor access on Tulare street. Just MHO. :)

Great property, great value. This used to be a Ritz-Carlton years ago, still shows of the old Ritz style. And it's in a great location. :)

Nah, 'cause I said COUCH. :)

At that price you'll be happy with the property. :) PL used to classify it as 4* (the only 4* in the zone) and then downgraded it. Too bad, as it's always nice to know precisely what property you'll get at a particular quality level, though on the other hand it made for another rebid at the 4* level for bids elsewhere in the city!

Travelaxe definitely puts 'spyware'-type cookies on your computer, but only just like other sites like mileage malls where they're tracking your purchase as they earn a commission from the different hotel vendors you might book from. Nothing too pernicious. A very useful too IMHO for quick searching across several booking engines and properties, and displays results in an easy-to-use collated format that allows you to sort by price, property, etc.

Started at $60 and re-bid up to $80. Your Offer Price: $80.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $80.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.90 Total Charges: $96.90

Just used priceline's "add a night" feature so that this stay now begins a night earlier.

Availability during the Republican Convention has sure opened up... wasn't too long ago that nothing was available in midtown at the 4* level for even $180. :) Your Offer Price: $110.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $330.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $56.90 Total Charges: $386.90

Talking on the phone with a friend of mine, turns out he needs a hotel night in town for tonight. Bid $65 for 4* Capitol Hill/Convention Center. Priceline counters with $82. I ignore, add downtown, bid $70. Your Offer Price: $70.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $70.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $15.95 Total Charges: $85.95 Probably would have been accepted for $67-$69, but no worries.

For anyone considering a Seattle stay, while $110 is a good rate for this property it's worth noting that the Westin Seattle participates in Starwood's "Cash & Points" award promotions pretty much every quarter -- a fully cancellable room can be booked for $45 and 2600 Starwood points per night. https://www.starwood.com/preferredguest/sta..._landing.html#4

D'oh, let me qualify the above remark, I was thinking of the Grand Hyatt. (Hyatt Regency has often been available at under $50)