cheapsk8

I won the Westin St. Louis (Downtown). There wasn't a strong winning bid history for this location, with just a few 4*+ wins starting at $50 going back several months to up to 2 years.

I started by looking for a 4.5* in Forest Park for $40/nt, but then expanded my search to Downtown after 7 failed bid attempts. Here was my bid strategy:

1) Forest Park - Clayton, 4½-Star Deluxe-Plus, $40
2) Alton, $47 - NO
3) Collinsville, $54 - NO
4) Fenton, $61 - NO
5) Frontenac, $68 - NO
6) Granite City - Pontoon Beach, $75 - NO
7) Hazelwood, $82 - NO
8) Add Downtown St. Louis, $55 - NO
9) O' Fallon - St Charles West, $65

WON: The Westin Saint Louis, 4.5* for $65/nt, $82 after taxes. 

Under PRICELINE EXPRESS Deals, there was a 2.5* La Quinta with free wifi, breakfast, and parking for $65/nt in Westport. My location is better -- right across from Busch Stadium -- but I do like the amenities at the La Quinta better. 

Thanks!

Third attempt . . .4* in Downtown - River North OR Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park:

Bid #    Price    Added Zones/Ratings    Result
-----    --------    ----------------------------------    ----------
1)    $120    4* Downtown - River North or Millennium Park -> ACCEPTED

Won the following hotel in Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park:

Hyatt Regency Chicago

151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago , IL , United States 

Offer price:$120.00/night

Number of rooms:1 room

Number of nights:2 nights

Room subtotal:$240.00

Taxes & fees:$53.74

Total charged today:$293.74

It's been over 2 years since I was searching for Indy hotels. I have no idea what happened there. I didn't end up using a hotel, but may have been booking the trip for a friend, making a day trip or something else. Sorry!

It's been over 2 years since I was searching for Indy hotels. I have no idea what happened there. I didn't end up travelling, but may have been booking the trip for a friend or something. Sorry!

I wanted 1 rooms for 2 nights at 4* hotel in downtown Chicago (near the shopping areas) with a preference for North Michigan Ave area . . .here was my bidding strategy:
Bid #    Price    Added Zones/Ratings    Result
-----    --------    ----------------------------------    ----------
1)    $80    4* Downtown - River North -> DENIED
2)    $85    West Loop -> DENIED
3)    $90    Oak Park -> DENIED
4)    $95    Midway Airport Area (MDW)    -> DENIED
5)    $100     Midway Airport Area South (MDW) -> DENIED
6)    $105     Mount Prospect    -> DENIED
7)    $110    Skokie - Evanston -> DENIED
8)    $115     Lakeshore South - Hyde Park    -> DENIED
9)     $115    Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park    -> DENIED

I wanted 1 rooms for 2 nights at 4.5* hotel in downtown Chicago (near the shopping areas) with a preference for North Michigan Ave - River North . . .here was my bidding strategy:
Bid #    Price    Added Zones/Ratings    Result
-----    --------    ----------------------------------    ----------
1)    $80     4.5* Downtown - River North -> DENIED
2)    $85     O'Hare Airport (ORD) North -> DENIED
3)    $90     Lincoln Park -> DENIED
4)    $100     Midway Airport Area (MDW)    -> DENIED
5)    $105     Midway Airport Area South (MDW) -> DENIED
6)    $110     Mount Prospect    -> DENIED
7)    $115    Skokie - Evanston -> DENIED
8)    $120    Lakeshore South - Hyde Park    -> DENIED

I booked 3 rooms at $77/nt before taxes. I started bidding at $35 in $7 increments until I hit at $77/nt.

Hotwire had a 3* at $109/nt in the same area. I had 12 re-bid zones, so I subtracted my top price of $112 from my base price of $35/nt (which was an estimate taken from the Priceline.Maps here at BB) and divided by 12. That helped me choose the $7 increment.

The hotel lists like 100 amenities, so I'm not sure if that tactic for identifying hotels by amenities works anymore . . .if it does, LMK and I'll post them. Thanks!

Looking for a 4* hotel room for Friday night in downtown Indianapolis.

Here was my bidding strategy, and of course I used use the site's PRICELINE links to start my purchases and searches.

Bid # Price Added Zone   Result
----- ----- ----------------------------- ----------
1) $56 Downtown   -> DENIED
2) $61 Airport North   -> DENIED
3) $66 Carmel     -> DENIED
4) $71 Downtown West    -> DENIED
5) $76 Fishers    -> DENIED
6) $81 Indianapolis Airport (IND)  -> DENIED
7) $86 Indianapolis East  -> DENIED
8) $91 Indianapolis Northeast   -> DENIED
9) $96 Indianapolis Northwest   -> DENIED
10) $101 Indianapolis South  -> DENIED
11) $106 Keystone - Castleton   -> DENIED
12) $111 Speedway - Indianapolis West -> DENIED

Unfortunately, I couldn't secure a win on Priceline even though another recent bidder got one for $90 on 8/2.

Priceline's Express Deal only had one hotel available in Downtown Indy: a 2* for $308. Hotwire also has no availability in Downtown for my preferred date. Airbnb also has nothing below $500/nt.

It appears GenCon, which is expecting nearly 50k attendees, is running during this time. Also, the Indiana state fair is wrapping up this weekend.

Does anyone else have any ideas?! (PIck a different weekend!?)

First bid was $45, bid in $5 increments and used 2 rebid zones. I got the Ocala Hilton for $55.

I'm just staying overnight on my way from IAH Bush Airport to Bayport Cruise Terminal. Overnight date would be 3/21 to 3/22. Thanks!

I need help deciding . . .I've booked the Hampton Inn IAH, but am considering the option of a 3.5* near IAH as well. My guess is that most 3.5* hotels (e.g., Marriott, Doubletree, Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, etc.) won't offer breakfast for free. They will probably have their own restaurants and charge for meals separately.

I can probably Priceline a 3.5* for $50 before taxes. The Hampton, which is a 2.5*, goes for $75/nt. I'm just there for an overnight stay. Up to what star rating would include a respectable, free continental breakfast? Thanks!

FWIW, I'm pretty sure I selected Madison West - Middleton and not Madison West.

I went back and checked and didn't see a 3* offered in MW but did see a 3* in MW-M for $70. Hmm...

I went back and read my post from 2011. Hotwire had what looked to be the HIlton Garden Inn available for $70, so I pulled the trigger. Here's what I got:

Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites MADISON WEST, WI

Midscale See ratings guide

1109 Fourier Drive,

Madison, WI, 53717

Amenities:

Free Parking Indoor pool(s) Airport Shuttle

Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Pool(s)

Restaurant(s) Laundry Facilities (self-service) High-Speed Internet Access

Golf Nearby Tennis Nearby Accessible for the blind

Accessible for the deaf Accessible path of travel In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom Handicapped parking Roll-in shower

Hotel

Rate per night: $70.00

Nights: 1

Rooms: 1

Tax recovery charges & fees: $16.48

Subtotal: $86.48

Trip total: $86.48

Here I go again doing my annual trip to Madison. Priceline changed their hotel star levels from last year. Madison West - Middleton maxes out at 3*, whereas in the past it maxed out at 3.5*.

I wanted the Marriott in Madison (west), which is Priceline's only 3* hotel on Madison's west side. Marriott wanted $102/night on their website.

Here was my bidding strategy, and of course I used use the site's PRICELINE links to start my purchases and searches.

Bid # Price Added Zones/Ratings Result

----- ----- ----------------------------- ----------

1) $42 3* Madison West - Middleton -> DENIED

2) $50 Madison South -> DENIED

3) $58 Deforest - Northeast Madison -> DENIED

Am now considering other options while I wait for Priceline's "cooling off period" to expire.

While I was waiting on the Hotwire hotel ID, I tried bidding on Priceline in the Millenium/Loop/Grant Park area. Here was my bidding strategy:

Bid # Price Added Zones/Ratings Result

----- ----- ------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------

1) $100 4* Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area -> DENIED, but Priceline suggested bidding @ $136/night

2) $110 Franklin Park -> DENIED

3) $120 Hyde Park -> Accepted

I booked The Fairmont Chicago

200 N Columbus Drive

Chicago, IL 60601

Check-In: Thu, Jun 27, 2013 / After 03:00 PM

Check-Out: Sun, Jun 30, 2013 / 12:00 PM

Rooms: 2 rooms / 3 nights

BB and AaronJB, thanks for being a great resource for smart bidding!

Still looking at options . . .I received an offer from Hotwire. Could you help me identify this hotel in the Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park - Grant Park area?

$151 per night, 4*, 95% with 96 reviews. TripAdvisor 4.5 out of 5.0. Amenities include:

Pet friendly

Smoke Free Rooms

Restaurant(s)

High-Speed Internet Access

Accessible for the blind

Accessible for the deaf

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom

Bump

I was asked by the Admin to update this thread. I ended up skipping the hotel stay. I chose not to stay in Memphis.

I wanted 2 rooms for 3 nights (Thursday pm thru Sunday am) at top hotel in downtown Chicago (near the shopping areas) with a preference for North Michigan Ave - River North . . .here was my bidding strategy:

Bid # Price Added Zones/Ratings Result

----- -------- ---------------------------------- ----------

1) $100, 5* NMA-River North -> DENIED

2) $110 Franklin Park -> DENIED

3) $120 Hyde Park -> DENIED

4) $130 Lincoln Park -> DENIED

5) $140 McCormick Place - Medical District -> DENIED

6) $125 4.5* -> DENIED

7) $140 Midway Airport North -> DENIED

8) $125 4* -> DENIED

9) $140 Skokie-Niles-Evanston -> DENIED

I had a hard stop at $140/room and at least at 4*, so I use my star ratings to rebid down to 4* instead of adding the ORD N/S and Millenium/Loop/Grant zones. (Using those 3 zones would have prevented bidding down to 4*).

On to other options . . .

A.) At Priceline, I was given the option of a PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal for a 4* on NMA-River North for $162 per night. When I went to choose it, they changed the offer and price to $184 per night. Both had wifi, restaurant, business and fitness center icons. The Guest Rating was 8.0.

B.) Also listed with the $184/night (refreshed) deal Priceline Express Deal, I was offered a 3.5* NMA-RN property with restaurant and business center icons for $168 (no guest rating) and . . .

C.) for $149, a 3* NMA-RN property with wifi, business and fitness center icons. The Guest Rating was 7.0.

D.) The final NMA-RN property Express Deal listed was a 4.5* for $172 per night. It had a pool, restaurant, business and fitness center with a Guest Rating of 8.0 (Guest Favorite).

E.) According to your Hotwire board, they have/had the following options for similar date ranges:

4.5* at $201

4* at $143

Neither of these were available when I checked. Of the 5 hotels quoted in the Magnificent Mile Area - River North area, the best deal presented to me was a 4* for $194/night. It was 100% recommended on 377 reviews and came with the following amenities: Boutique Hotel, Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, and High-Speed Internet Access.

Looks like inventory might be too low when trying to book with this short of notice?!

Here's a question for the group: I spent an hour researching all of this. Is there a average percentage that Name Your Price (NYP) wins beat Hotwire deals? Because I probably could have saved a bunch of time if I would have thought up front.

I mean, what are the odds that a NYP 4* would go for $140 when it's listing for $190 at Hotwire?! Maybe I could have expected to get it at Priceline for 10-20% less. Does anyone have experience enough to know what the discount between Hotwire and Priceline's NYP is?

Thanks!

I wanted one room for one night in Downtown Memphis at a 3.5* rating. Here was my bidding strategy:

1st bid: $55 -> REFUSED

2nd bid: $60, added Cordova - Wolfchase -> REFUSED

3rd bid: $65, added Germantown -> REFUSED

4th bid: $70, added Memphis (MEM) -> REFUSED

5th bid: $75, added Memphis Southeast -> REFUSED

I have two rebids left, but am not sure I want to spend $100 (after taxes) on a 3.5* room. Here are my remaining rebid zones:

6th bid: $80, Memphis Southwind

7th bid: $85, Memphis South

I'm going to sleep on it and make a decision in the morning. Happy to share what I've found so far . . .

Needed a room for 11/7 . . .here was my bidding strategy:

Bid Zones Bid Star Rating Result

Los Angeles Airport (LAX) $60 4* N/A

Added Culver City $70 4* N/A

Added Inglewood $75 4* N/A

Added Lawndale $80 4* N/A

Added USC $85 4* N/A

Dropped star-rating $75 3.5* N/A

*** tried again ***

Los Angeles Airport (LAX) $90 4* N/A

Added Culver City $100 4* N/A

Added Inglewood $110 4* N/A

Dropped star-rating $95 3.5* N/A

Added Lawndale $110 3.5* N/A

Added USC $120 3.5* N/A

I then switched to Hotwire and considered booking a 3* for $112. It showed the following amenities and appeared to be the Holiday Inn:

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

Laundry Facilities (self-service)

High-Speed Internet Access

Accessible for the blind

Accessible for the deaf

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom

Handicapped parking

Roll-in shower

I ended up booking the highly rated 2* Crystal Inn Suites & Spas for $85 including fees. Whew, glad that's done!

I wanted the Marriott in Madison (west), which is Priceline's only 3.5* hotel on Madison's west side. Marriott wanted $119/night on their website.

1st bid: $45, Madison (west) <- rejected

2nd bid: $50, added Madison (southwest) <- ACCEPTED

Madison Marriott West

Madison West

1313 John Q Hammons Drive, Middleton, WI 53562

Check-In: Fri, Aug 17, 2012 / After 04:00 PM

Check-Out: Sat, Aug 18, 2012 / 12:00 PM

Rooms: 1 room / 1 night

Offer Price: $50.00

Rooms: 1

Nights: 1

Room Subtotal: $50.00

Taxes & Fees: $14.71

Total Charged to Card: $64.71

Aaron, I tried adding a night but was given the option to at the rate of $138.60 per night. I wasn't interested . . .and I didn't want to try to book another night and force my group to change hotels after one night's stay . . .thanks!

Wanted 2 rooms for 2 nights (Friday and Saturday) at a 4* in downtown Chicago with a preference for NMA-River North . . .here was my bidding strategy:

1) $55, NMA-River North -> REFUSED

2) $60, added Skokie -> REFUSED

3) $65, added Midway Airport North -> REFUSED

4) $70, added Midway Airport Area (MDW) -> REFUSED

5) $75, added Lincoln Park -> REFUSED

6) $80, added Franklin Park -> ACCEPTED

I mistakenly won the Sheraton at $70/night for 1 night, but after speaking with 2nd level support for an hour was allowed to rebook for 2 nights for "only" a $25 change fee. Strange, but it works if you're persistent...

My 2-night win was for the Hotel Felix Chicago @ $80/night for the dates 12/9 thru 12/11.

There are more metra stops south of the river . . .that's my only hesitation -- I need to take public transportation north to the theatre district. Think I could get a room there for $150 a night or less? Also, can you help me ID the Hotwire hotels in my previous post (above)?

This morning, I booked as a back-up the Crowne Plaza (160 East Huron) for $150/night at a discounted rate through my employer. It seemed safer than the airbnb option (which also only had a double bed). It is in the NMA area.