mgaebler

failed bid 3* Los Angeles (Woodland Hills only) - $75

Unsuccessful bidding. Wanted to stay in 3* or 4* in: Boston Waterfront - Convention Center Copley Square - Theatre District Quincy Market - Faneuil Hall - Financial District for 2 nights (5/15/08-5/17/08), started at $95 / night and went up to $120 / night, using the following "free re-bid" zones (they have no 3* or 4* hotels at the time of the booking): Brighton - Brookline Medford - Somerville South Boston

San Jose (Sunnyvale) Add Sheraton Sunnyvale to Hotwire Hotel list as 3.5 * (I got it on 4/8/08) Amenities listed include: Airport Shuttle Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-speed Internet Access

Tried lots of various focusing on 2 areas: Sunnyvale, and San Jose. 4* failed up to $62 3* failed up to $52 2.5* failed up to 50 Just wasn't my night. But HOTWIRE had a decent alternative (3* Sunnyvale Sheraton for $69 + fees). So always try HOTWIRE if you can't get PRICELINE.

First bid of $43 won. Bid on 4/5/08 (one day before).

Did the same thing two days in a row (didn't know till end of 2nd day that I would be coming back). Bid same day, near end of day, except this time tried lower bids which failed: $55, $65, $75. Won with $80. Total with fees was $98. On Hilton website, rate was $169 ($186 with fees). Note: parking is $12 minimum, and internet is $10, so consider that in your costs. Hilton 15575 Jimmy Durante Boulevard Del Mar, CA

Bid same day, near end of day. Total with fees was $98. On Hilton website, rate was $169 ($186 with fees) Hilton 15575 Jimmy Durante Boulevard Del Mar, CA

Bid $75, 80, 85, 90, 95 for 4* downtown Seattle for 2 rooms for 2 nights. All failed. Won $100 per night ($119 per night with all fees and taxes). Edgewater is on the edge of downtown but still a nice place.

Bid $95 and got it first try. Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $95.00 Total Charges*: ~$117 I had gotten the weekend for $100 (see separate post) after several failed bids, so I didn't start much lower. Also, we have ended up at two separate hotels for our stay (because we needed 1 room for 1 night and 2 rooms for 2 nights), so be careful when making separate bids - it's a gamble and we lost (but we are still happy with the wins).

Ramada Limited in Canoga Park (Woodland Hills) was 2.5* when I won it recently, not 2* as listed below. See my post from Jan 13, 2008

Tried the following bids - all unsuccessfully - to get 3* LA-San Fernando Valley (Warner Center-Woodland Hills): On 2/11, tried: - $60 per night - 3 nights - 2/17-2/20/08 - $65 per night - 3 nights - 2/17-2/20/08 (free rebid) - $68 per night - 2 nights - 2/17-2/19/08 (changed dates) - $70 per night - 2 nights - 2/18-2/20/08 (changed dates) On 2/12, tried: - $72 per night - 3 nights - 2/17-2/20/08 - $77 per night - 3 nights - 2/17-2/20/08 (free rebid) - $80 per night - 2 nights - 2/18-2/20/08 (changed dates) - $82 per night - 2 nights - 2/17-2/19/08 (changed dates) The 'rack rate' for these nights is $199 / night at the Hilton in Woodland Hills. Oddly, I have gotten the Hilton via Priceline for $70/night when the rack rate was much higher.

3* Los Angeles (Woodland Hills) Hilton $70, 1/31-2/1/08. One night. Bid $65 unsuccessful. Was prompted to "add $17" to get a free-rebid, but added Studio City instead (no 3* there, so no risk) to get free re-bid and was accepted. Parking here is $12 and internet is $10, so others might prefer to go for a 2.5* in this area (which may be wonfor less). With fees, $70 bid was $86 total.

Ramada Limited Canoga Park/Warner Center / Woodland Hills 7126 De Soto Ave. Canoga Park, California 91303 2.5* 1 room(s) @ $58.00 per night x 2 nights $116.00 Taxes and Fees: $20.32 Hotel Subtotal: $136.32 At time of booking, cost on hotel website was $175 total, so savings was $39 BetterBidding Editor, Note: at the time of this booking, this hotel was not listed, from what I could see, in the BetterBidding Hotwire list of hotels. Can you add this? Thanks.

Bid on 12/13/07. Bid $55. Rejected. Bid $60. Accepted. Best rate on internet for Residence inn was about $119, so I'm happy.

Just needed a place at the airport. Tried 3* at $45 and $48 with no luck. Success at $50. Total cost with fees: $65. Hilton Seattle Airport And Conference Center

I wanted to stay in the Copley map for 3* or 4* Before bidding, I checked and found that I had 3 re-bids: Brighton, Medford, South Boston; all of these offer (at the time I checked) no better than 2

I forgot to add: Subtotal: $42.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $12.09 Total Charges*: $54.09 Also, I was offered the choice of adding additional nights at the same rate.

Accepted at $42, first bid for 2 1/2 * Bid was for same day of stay, at 5:39pm. Country Inn And Suites Sunnyvale 1300 Chesapeake Terrace Sunnyvale, California This is a decent place. If I recall correctly, they include breakfast.

Rejected $45, $50, $ 52 for 4* AND $45 for 3* Only wanted Sunnyvale-Santa Clara so I only bid there (with rebids from zones that did not have a 4*). Bidding was same day at 5:38pm. 4 * Hyatt shows availability at $179 a night.

Bid $52, $56, $60 for 4* Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (with dummy rebid zones of Milpitas and Redwood City). Rejected. Added Palo-Alto / Mt View (which has a 4*) and rebid $60. Rejected. Tried a new bid for 3 * for Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $50. Rejected. Added 2 1/2 * bid (still Sunnyvale-Santa Clara). Successs! Country Inn & Suites. All bidding was done 7/19/07 just before 6pm for same night (7/19/07)

4* rejected San Jose (Sunnyvale-Santa Clara), 4/16-4/17 rejected $45,$50,$52, $55 Also tried $45 for 4* San Jose area and rejected there.

This place wasn't so bad, but it is definitely an old hotel; they had a sign showing a rate of $38, although I was told my room (with jacuzzi tub) was usually $60. This place always shows up on travel websites (Hotels.com, Orbitz) as a very cheap hotel. I would say bid for higher stars, and then just book here as a backup plan.

1* for $$38 3/5/07; rejected 4*/$52, 3*/$45, 2.5*/$42, 2*/$35 (usiing re-bids where possible) I didn't know there was a 1 star in Sunnyvale. Reviews are mixed f; I shall see.

Possibly a function of the weekend? I find that lower bids work on the weekend in Silicon Valley, relative to weekdays.

Only wanted San Jose (Sunnyvale-Santa Clara). Bid on 4*: $43, $45, $48, and $52 using free re-bids (by adding non 4* zones). Bid on 3*: $48, and $52 using free re-bid (by adding non 3* zone). Rejected on all counts.