LPines

Hi, I would add, as a very regular bidder for the Princeton/MJ area, that in the last year or so, $55/nt seems to be about the bottom of the market for a 3*. However, I have not scored the Hyatt below the $60's as I recall, and rarely do get the Hyatt near the bottom. Most often, get the Chauncy Conf. Center, the Harrison Conf. Center, and new Mariott Conf. Center. Agree with "thereuare" that P'ton area is a relatively longer and expensive commute into NYC. The Chauncey is several miles from train station. Others, not quite as far, but 10 minute drive or so. Only Hyatt is "walkable" to train station. Parking quite expensive and it fills up early during the week! However, it might be OK to stay there a night or two if you want to take in P'ton and surrounding area, including sculpture garden in Trenton 10 minutes south (incredible "Grounds for Sculputure") and good historic stuff in P'ton. The campus worth a visit. I should add, that I have read posts for accepted bids in the $40's for 2 1/2 stars, and guests have been pleased with that newer property as I recall.... Good luck. NYC is very expensive unless you know how/where to go!

Date of stay: Jan. 11-12, 2007. (It was mentioned, but indirectly).

Princeton Marriott Hotel & Conference Center at Forrestal Bid up to $50 yesterday at 3* level, using new Cookstown zone for free rebid. Refused. Then tried 3* again, two days before stay, and bingo, accepted first try. This is a new hotel at the 3* level and I have had Priceline hits 10 times in 2 years. This newly renovated property looks great, and lowest posted rate on Marriott's webiste is $229 plus taxes! I will be happy to review the hotel upon my return. Your Offer Price: $55.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $55.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $15.66 Total Charges*: $70.66

Marriott Atlanta Northwest 3-star - $42 Remote control TV w/ premium channels Radio Alarm Clock Business services Telephone w/ voicemail Iron and ironing board Hairdryer 24 hour front desk Restaurant Room service 2 Rooms: Check-In Date: Sunday, December 17, 2006 Check-Out Date: Monday, December 18, 2006 Over 3 days, I tried 3* Marietta at $34, 35, 36, 37, 38,39, 40 using re-bid zones and was rejected every time. Previous several posts in the $30 range for Hyatt Regency Marietta rejected. Finally scored at $42 and assigned to Marriott Northwest. This looks south of Marietta actually I probably not a nice as the Hyatt, but i imagine it's worth $42/room. :)

Tried 3* a couple of days ago at $55, invited higher bid by $15 or $70 total Waited and tried again at $60. Accepted First Bid: Hyatt Regency Princeton 3-star - $60 Check-In Date: Friday, November 10, 2006 Check-Out Date: Saturday, November 11, 2006 Not quite as nice a setting as the Chauncey Conf. Ctr. (3*), but more convenient. These properties seemed to have increased their min. accepted bids from $40 to $60 over the last several months. Don't know if the trend is regional or national, but bids now taken at 50% premium over last few years..... Oh, well, still good value at $60. Rack rate at least double that.

Hi, the hotel list is an incredibly helpful feature -- a PL lifesaver! However, I think it is possible that the PL list for Morristown, NJ submarket is incomplete, especially in the 3* or above range. If I am correct there is more than just the Hyatt at the top. And the star levels might have been changed a bit. Am I correct on that? Thanks.

I have been booking into the Princeton-Manmouth Junc. sub-market at the 3* level for the last 2 years at or around the $40-50 level. I have had wide success with regular visits with bid accepted on the first try 7 out of 10 times. Now, for some reason, these same bids are being rejected at the $60 price level, and increase of as much as 50%. Have also tried in November on a weekend then, with no success. Has Aramark or others decided to up the price point or have I just been unlucky in selecting the wrong weekend or bid too soon? Are prices up overall in NJ or Nationwide for priceline hotels? Any help would be appreciated. I see better bids being accepted as recently as over this past summer. Thanks for your time and effort. :)

Needed a nice place to stay near Westwood and Getty Center. Bid $100 for 4* Los Angeles (Beverly Hills-West Hollywood) and rejected. Added another submarket with no 4* properties offered, and upped to $105 on 4 days advance notice. Bid accepted at $105 for 4* (Beverly Hills-West Hollywood) Hyatt Century Plaza. I guess I didn't do all my homework, 'cause they dinged us $29+tips for vallet for one night. With tips, that's one-third of the room rate to park! When we pulled up, the vallet surrounded us and we were politely "pressured" to hand over the keys, on the representation that self-park would cost even more with no in-and-out privileges. Since we wanted to check in, change, and drive to Westwood for dinner, it sounded like Vallet was the way to go. But I got the bill and they whacked us $29 for a one night park. Plus $6 tip to get your car back on 10 minutes notice (a big hotel), the tab was $35 to park! (I am frankly too shy not to tip something.......even when I know the fee is high!) First room on 11th floor was way smokey smelling, but a quick call to the front desk got us an immediate room change to a more suitable room (same footprint) down the hall. Next morning a $13 movie charge showed up on my bill also, even though my daughter only watched a 1 hr. Disney sitcom. The front desk removed the movie charge, but didn't budge on the vallet. I don't think they should be telling guests that the vallet is cheaper than the self park. I doubt that is accurate, and frankly feel a little taken advantage of. At $105 plus around $25 in fees/taxes, it's not my best value through Priceline for sure, but Hyatt.com lists the lowest price at around $250 + taxes, so I guess I did OK. The rooms were very well appointed and had a generous supply of Starbucks room coffee and a wine cork puller -- so we could have done worse! The fact is, there is simply no street parking near Century City, so they have you where they want you! :)

Got back now from our stay here at the Newport Hyatt. Overall, not a bad value for the price paid on very short notice. First night was in the Lido building, most remote from lobby and other amenities, and older and in need of some updating, but a good size room. They did mention "Priceline" when we checked in and my hunch is they do not put out their best inventory for bargain travelers. However, they did (reluctantly?) upgrade is to the newly redone Balboa building with a King bed and nice golf view the second night. You have to politiely push a little in some hotels like Hyatt to be treated like a "first class" patron. Same experience at Hyatt Century City L.A. 2 nights later. First room had smokey odor, and front desk said it was not a smoking room. Since I called down immediately, they moved us a few rooms over and got a nicer smelling room. You just have to push a little if they give you "B" inventory. But to be fair, that often happens off priceline in many hotels..... :) Parking of $12 is a bit high considering the self park lot is quite a hike from the main hotel and most buildings. But, alas, it's a bargain compared to the Hyatt Century City, who got us for $29/night for vallet, claiming on check in that it's cheaper than self park -- which is not totally true, unless you are in and out a few times during the day in self park, which has no in'n'out privileges. With a couple of bucks tip to valley, the tab was close to $35 to park one lousy day. Even the vallet guys know it's high, and give you little water bottles to "ease" the pain! :)

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach 1107 Jamboree Road Newport Beach, California 92660 Check-In Date: Monday, April 3, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Bid $90 for Newport/Huntington Beach rejected Free Rebid by Adding Anaheim Hills and upping bid $5 to $95. Took 5 minutes, but accepted. Just hope they will provide extra rollaway for our 11 yr. old! Understand that property is quite large and rooms vary greatly by buildlng and outlook. Will hope they offer decent room! $12/day extra to self-park! :) Ouchhhh. Otherwise, pleased with the outcome. :)

Yipeeeeeeee! $40 first try. This is the best of the 3*s if you don't need to be right on/near Rte. 1. Very close to downtown P'ton and P'ton U. Nice property. Beautiful setting. VG athletic facilities. At this price, I can feel like I finally got something back from ETS! (after all the SAT, PSAT, everything-SAT.... fees!!) :)

Hyatt Regency Princeton Through savingsbarn.com: Princeton - Monmouth Junction Check-In Date: Fri, Sep 30, 2005 Check-Out Date: Sat, Oct 1, 2005 FIRST BID: Offer Price: $45.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $45.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.79 Total Charges: $58.79 Haven't yet stayed at the Hyatt Regency here. Heard good things about it. Glad it's not the Raddison. :)

This could be the best kept secret in the Princeton/Trenton region. Understated class and first rate accomdations on incredible sweeping grounds with generous outdoor facilities, including free tennis, volleyball, nice pool, basketball, and acres of ponds and grounds to hike and run on. We were hard pressed to come up with anything negative. Stayed 4 nights in 2 rooms in old historic Lori House and new building across the green. The price-to-value ratio was the best of anything yet on Priceline or elsewhere. (Pd. $44/nt per room plus tax etc.) Grab this if you're in Princeton, you won't be sorry. (We had our meals in Princeton, so can't comment on the food, which I hear is good but a bit high.) :)

In response to admin. request: Win on Chauncey (Aramark propertry): Aug 31-Sep 4 $44.00/nt. Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $352.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $ 62.06 Total Charges: $414.06 Got it on the first try, as I recall. Very out of the way, away from Route 1 shopping, etc., but close of you are visiting Princeton U and want more "country feel".

Sorry, my error, I meant to say there were no reviews of the Harrison. Nice reviews of the Chauncey, which is why I successfully bid $44/nt, 8/31/05-9/4/05. Bidding for the Harrison, which I now hear is undergoing room renovations (thus the very low rate hit?), was $40/nt on the very first try. Any when I called, yes, they also have free tennis courts!! Nice.

Harrison Conference Center & Hotel - $40 per night (***) Check-In Date: Thursday, October 13, 2005 Check-Out Date: Monday, October 17, 2005 A bit disappointed and perplexed. I expected the Chauncey Conference Center, closer to Princeton U., and from what I have read on this BB (have not stayed at either yet -- will review later) much nicer place. I see no reviews for Chauncey on BB. Anyone know if this place is a small or big step down from its Aramark brother, the Chauncey Conference Center? Last month, I successfully won 2 rooms for multiple night stay (early Sept.) at the Chauncey at $44/nt. Was expecting to get the Chauncey again at the $40 level, per recent posts, such as one a few days ago for 8/6 stay at $40! :) Hopfully, my family will not be disappointed with the Harrison... The price is right and the grounds look very nice as well with sprawling lawns, private pond, outdoor pool, and fitness center. I will miss the tennis courts at the Chauncey, though. :)