photomikey

Very seldom am I met with such a task, but this one really left me guessing. No Priceline hotels listed here for Pasadena, and only one hotwire hotel whose identity is known (Sheraton). The Sheraton on Hotwire was going for $109/night, too expensive for me. No rebid zones via PL in Pasadena, so I knew I'd have to make every bid count. My date is a Saturday night, smack in the middle of summer. I decided to bid $55 and see if I could get a counter offer, then confer with the board for a next move. I couldn't remember my damn priceline password, and once I figured it out I had to type in all my credit card info anyway. (What's the point of a password?) Once I was done with all that, I reconsidered (and checked Travelocity"]Travelocity, where the 3*'s were $120+) and decided $65 was a better offer. $65 accepted, first try. I always feel like somewhat of a rube when my first offer is accepted, but the web rate is $160, still a savings of 50%. (And I probably would have been rejected at $55, and had to organize a strategy every 72 hours thereafter... probably worth the $10 to save the stress.) I used the savingsbarn link. Thanks to the board and thereuare for all the support. I can't believe all the money I've saved. I used to be a great big priceline chicken.

60% off Code: 91971 Exp 2/22/06

I just found this feature for the first time also. Just wanted to cover some specifics that I'm not sure have been mentioned. You can extend your trip with an earlier check in date, or a later check out date, but NOT both. Priceline does guarantee the same hotel, but not necessarily the same rate. It's my impression that they just bid again for you, on only that one property, for the additional days. So the earlier mentioned strategy of splitting the bid when you can't get a reasonable rate for all your nights, and then just adding nights, wouldn't work. However, if there were several four star hotels in a zone, and you had a preference for just one, you could bid the first night by itself. If you got the hotel you didn't like, you could stay there on night one, and open a separate session for night two. You'd either get the first hotel again (not a problem, at least you wouldn't have to move), or you'd get another undesirable hotel, or you'd get the hotel you were hoping for, at which point you could extend for the remainder of your days. You could possibly try this strategy a number of times, based on how many times your family would tolerate your frugality (a little humor at my own expense), how many nights you were staying, and how many times you would allow changing hotels.

Bid $50, rejected. Added rebid zone, bid $55, rejected. Added rebid zone, bid $60, rejected. Added rebid zone, bid $65, accepted. Omni Los Angeles Hotel $65.00 +26.99 tax and fee Total Charges $156.99 Hotel website lists $129 / night.

I've never bid on a hotel room six months out before. I'm curious if you think I would be better off continuing to increase $5 at a time, or wait 3 or 4 months (or longer) and try again in the $80-$110 range.

Argh. Apparently I had some trouble finding them. Any thoughts on if I'd be better off waiting for a while, or continuing to bid?

Bid $80, rejected... Added rebid zones in $5 increments up to $105, rejected. The Hyatt Newport beach, one of the 4*'s listed here, shows $175 for the night. Hotwire has two 4*'s in a similar zone, one for $175, one for $242. Neither have been identified here. I'm interested in hearing speculation on how much I might have to cough up to stay for these June weekend nights. Also interested in hearing thoughts on waiting longer to bid on these rooms. Edit: Fast fingers and poor proofreading left a 5* in the title, where a 4* belongs. Argh!

These expire soon, but are good as of right now... 60% off Code: 89500 50% off Code: 53649 Exp 1/31/06

One bid - $40. Accepted. Subtotal - $40.00 Taxes and Fees - $11.81 Total - $51.81

The girlfriend and I, after much bidding help, will be staying at the Venetian in Las Vegas over the next few nights, then NYNY for the third night. We live in San Diego, and we (or, at least I) have been barraged at work with questions about where we plan to gamble while we're gone. But we don't really gamble much. The truth is, we like luxury hotels, we're in our late 20's, make pretty good money, and don't have any kids. We go to Vegas because it is the closest city with a 5* that can be had via PL/HW for around $100. And it's just a few hours drive from here. We can basically take three nights (well, two in this case) at a five star (and this time, an additional night in a four), and eat some pretty decent meals for $500. So I was wondering what other cities had 5*'s... I tried some searching on the board, but searching for 5* seems to return 2.5*, 3.5*, 4.5*, etcetera... and I didn't know if anyone had compiled a list of 5*'s around the country. We would be willing to travel, just to see a new city and stay in a 5* hotel that we'd gotten a steal on! So... thoughts? Anyone stayed at a particularly nice 5* lately?

I'm not especially good at Priceline bidding strategies, but I am a San Diego local, and I can advise on locations. San Diego, unlike most resort towns, doesn't have a pleothra of hotels on the ocean. Carlsbad-Encinitas-Cardiff: These hotels are located 20-30 miles north of San Diego (and Sea World), but are likely to be close to the ocean. The comunities are sleepy, but homey, and very friendly. There will be little (if any) nightlife. Lots of emphasis on "lay back and relax". There is a train that runs down the coast that will drop you at downtown, and have access to busses to airport, seaworld, downtown, etc. Coronado: Both known hotels are on the bay, but very nice. (Read my "bay vs ocean" diatribe, below.) There is a ferry that goes across the bay, from which you can access busses to the airport or seaworld. Downtown is ripe with nightlife, and Coronado will have coffee shops and bars open until 2am. Del Mar: Virtually the same as Carlsbad-Encinitas-Cardiff, but not as far away. Downtown San Diego & Harbor Island: My personal preference, with loads of nightlife and all hotels in prime spots. Bus or train to anywhere in town. Plenty to see and do. This is where I'd stay. Most hotels aren't on the bay, but are within walking distance. Escondido - Vista: Inland, far from anywhere (for your needs). Miramar - Rancho Penasquitos: Ditto Mission Valley: Centrally located, locally called "Hotel Circle", a central location for folks with a car, but virtually unreachable by bus. Point Loma - Shelter Island - Old Town Rancho Bernardo: Inland, far from anywhere (for your needs). San Diego Coastal: Farther north, but I believe there are actually a few hotels with ocean views / walk to ocean. Many hotels on Mission Bay. Our transit system in San Diego is horrible, but it could probably be arranged to get a bus or something to the airport, or to Sea World. (Sea World is close to many hotels on Mission Bay, but not close enough to walk. Perhaps a $10 taxi ride, each way.) Sorrento Mesa: Of limited use for your needs. Obviously, I reccomend downtown. The caveat is that it is Bay-side, not ocean-side. The bay looks like a lake. No crashing waves, no sandy beaches... mostly shipping ports and big buildings. Still beautiful, don't get me wrong, but my Mom is into the ocean, and the bay just won't substitute. F'rinstance, you can't lay on the sand and read a book on the bay. It's mostly parks and concrete. :-) For prices, I usually take the hotwire price, subtract 30%, and start there. Hope this was in some way useful. I'm happy to answer any more questions that you may have. I apologize for spelling mistakes, I can't find a spellcheck in here, and I'm just too lazy to put it all in OpenOffice. :-) Best of luck.

I started looking for options for Christmas Eve, and with lots of information from hotwire, I started bidding on Priceline: 4*, Strip Area: Bid $75, rejected (Countered with $89, at which time I knew I was close); Added "Airport Area", Bid $81, Accepted. Got NY, NY. I am quite happy with NYNY at that price, but a word to new users of this forum (and this method) -- It's the first time I've added a zone that I absolutely wouldn't want to stay at, at a star level that, while not listed on this board's reverse-lookup list, could actually exist in that zone. And I'm not so sure that I'd do it again. After I clicked "Place My Bid", I was having pretty severe second thoughts about what the girlfriend would say when we ended up in a 4* outside the airport. That said, It did save me ten bucks, and I am a cheapskate... that's why I'm here. :-) Thanks for the help. This trip is booked.

I did mean that Priceline countered with $150. I'm a die-hard Hotwire user, and am just getting comfy with Priceline. I think we'll step down to something 3-star for the last night, but haven't decided yet. My girlfriend is (inexplicably) stuck on staying at Imperial Palace. Thanks for the help!

Girlfriend went to bed. Tried 12/22-12/24, 5*, Strip $99, rejected (PL countered with $124), $105, rejected, $115, accepted. Started over with 12/24-12/25, 5*, Strop $119, PL countered with $209. I decided that Christmas was a battle I wasn't going to win.

Tried $129 for 12/22-12/25, rejected. Gave up. Advice on bidding a 4*, Strip Area, 12/22-12/25? Thanks.

Ok, here's how it went: For 12/22-12/25 (three nights): bid $99, rejected bid $109, rejected Changed dates to 12/23-12/25 bid $109, rejected back to 12/22-12/25 bid $119, rejected. At this point, my girlfriend got cold feet and we stopped bidding. Venetian, on their website, lists $179, on Hotwire it's $167. At some point, Hotwire countered with $150-something. We're looking for 4*'s now, but if I were a betting man, I'd bet that I get back to bidding after my girlfriend goes to sleep. I'm a man of limited means, but who appreciates luxury, and the last time we stayed at a 5* I was amazed. Thanks for all your help.

I would like to keep it under $150/night. I would be extatic to get Venetian (or another 5-star) for the oft-mentioned $99/night, if you think it's possible during that period.

Hi, I read a post in another thread in which ThereUAre mentioned Priceline was not always the greatest deal when staying in Vegas. He invited posts to this forum, where more knowledgable folks would advise others on how to get the best deals. My girlfriend and I are hoping to stay in Vegas for a few days around Christmas. We'd like to arrive on the 23rd, and depart on the 25th, but would consider coming on the 22nd or departing on the 26th if it were cost effective. We're looking for a 4* or 5* hotel... we would prefer near the strip, but would entertain other areas based on price. We probably won't gamble much, but typically walk the strip and shop; also, lay around the room and relax. Any advice you can give is appreciated. Thanks!! Edit: I'm not opposed to splitting bids.

Bid $60, accepted the first time around. $17.79 in fees, for a total of $77.79. Was hoping for Hotel Phillips, but... oh well. Happy Bidding.

Checked in 10/20/2005, checked out 10/23/2005. For the record, it was a super nice hotel, both the facility and the service had me baffled as to why it wasn't 5*.

Just a few weeks ago (on a non-holiday, for what that's worth), I was looking at $140 a night for a 4* downtown via Hotwire. Ended up PL'ing it, and got the same class for $100. If you're looking at downtown, don't forget about parking. Some hotels tack on $25 a day!

Started with $90 on San Diego costal, bumped to $100 and added Downtown. Got the Omni, which l'm quite happy with, especially considering it's $229 / night on the Omni website, and $150 / night on Hotwire... Your offer price: $100 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $300 Taxes and Service Fees: $44.63 Total Charges: $344.63

Yes, it is in "The White House - Capitol Hill", which is a subsection of Downtown. As I understand it, there are five areas of "Downtown", this being one of them. If I'm wrong, please keep pressing, I'll investigate further.

Botique, Restaurant, Fitness, Hi Speed Internet, Golf. Listed as a Best Value. 2 nights, Nov 4 - Nov 6 (Friday and Saturday), $144/night plus $49.05 tax/fee (both nights), for a total of $337.05. Tripadvisor shows it as the 15th most popular hotel in DC, of 110. The hotel website lists the same two nights, inclusive of taxes, at $432... netting me a cool hundred bucks! This one wasn't on the forum list, but I'm satisfied with it.