WzDancer

Even though I did not see the guy with wifebeater T-shirt, I agree with "Lowballer", this place does not qualify for 3*. This place does have some attributes of 3* places, nice looking lobby, restaurant and $9.95 for using in-room Wi-Fi. However, Wi-Fi is free in the lobby. Most of the sofas are occupied by geeks staring at their notebook PCs. They have probably been sent here by Priceline. I am not mad, sinceI am still getting a better deal than non-priceline alternatives.

Beverly Heritage Hotel Milpitas 1820 Barber Lane Milpitas, California 95035 408-943-9080 Your Offer Price: $36.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $36.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.35 Total Charges: $47.35 Three nights before my stay, my first bid of $35 for 2.5* in 3 zones near San Jose airport failed. I added So. San Jose and re-bidded $36 for 2.5*, and I got upgraded. Priceline gave me this place last year at $35. It is a real 3* place, and it is one of a few 3* places offering complimentary wired internet.

Wow! Looks like there's excitement waiting for me tomorrow. I know that Red Lion is a chain of varying quality since West Coast consolicated all properties (except the flagship in downtown Spokane) under one name. I had bad Red Lion in Idaho last year, but not as bad as you described. Luckily, I am just there for a one-nighter on my cross-country driving. This will be the first time I'm set my feet in Colorado other than Stapleton or DIA. I wish Priceline has a better rating system for hotels. I stayed last night at Clarion Louisville, KY, it does not deserve the 2.5* Priceline rated.

You are welcome. Lots of Red Lions on the West Coast charge parking fees. Hope this one is an exception.

This place definitely does not qualify for 2.5*. The hallway smells like a cheap motel. The furnishings in the room are acceptable, but not as good as 2* places like Hampton or Courtyard. Though not listed by Priceline, Wi-Fi is complimentary, but not breakfast.

Thanks for the tip. This is very valuable in a big metropolitan area.

Red Lion Hotel Denver Central Stapleton 4040 Quebec Street Denver, Colorado 80216 303-321-6666 Your Offer Price: $37.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $37.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.20 Total Charges: $49.20 I bidded $37 for a 2.5* two days in advance. It was accepted on the first try.

Extended Stay America Columbia - Stadium Blvd - Columbia Mall 2000 West Business Loop 70 Columbia, Missouri 65203 573-445-6800 Your Offer Price: $33.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $33.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.13 Total Charges: $44.13 in the evening before my stay, my offer of $35 for a 3* had no taker. Thebid was accepted when I lowered to $33 for a 2*. The pitfall of bidding for a 2* on Priceline is that there is approximately 1/3 chance of getting to ESA. ESA is not my favorite due to its lack of FREE hi-speed internet and Breakfast.

Clarion Hotel And Conference Center Louisville East 9700 Bluegrass Parkway Louisville, Kentucky 40299 502-491-4830 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.52 Total Charges: $47.52 In the night before the stay, I could not get any bite on $35 for 2.5* at Lexington. I moved on to Louisville, since I am on a East to West cross-country drive.

Extendedstay America Durham Rtp Research Triangle Park 4919 South Miami Boulevard Durham, North Carolina 27703 919-998-0400 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.89 Total Charges: $46.89 I started submitting bid at 2PM on the day of stay. My offer of $35 for 2.5* at Cary and Raleigh, even to all zones brought no offer. Therefore, I downgraded to 2* at $35, I was not allowed to narrow the zone selection. I was disappointed when Priceline informed me of ESA. I usually equate ESA to a Spartan Village, I went to school in Ann Arbor. Priceline only lists TV, Phone and clock radio as amenities. However, I was kind of pleasantly surprised becase this is an Exteded Stay Deluxe. The room with a King Bed is bigger than the comparable one at a late model Residence Inn. With a leather reclining chair and a sofa bed, it still has room to spare. Furnitures are in good shape. TV and clock radio are deluxe models. It even offers continental breakfast. This one is too good for Spartans. I rate this place a high 2*. It 'd earn my 2.5* had it supplied shampoo and Deluxe continental breakfast.

Homewood Suites By Hilton

Marriott SLC University Park 480 Wakara Way SLC, UT 84108 801-581-1000 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.74 Total Charges: $46.74 This is a reply of my weekend bidding. (See my previous posting.) I stayed in Idaho Falls on 07/09. My bid of $35 for 2.5* in Airpot, Cootonwood, Sandy and North had no takers. This one came in when I expanded to all zones. This may be the best can expect I can expect in SLC, especially on a weekday. My alternative would be a 2.5* place near the Airport for $38.

Marriott SLC University Park 480 Wakara Way SLC, UT 84108 801-581-1000 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.74 Total Charges: $46.74 My bid of $35 for 2.5* in Airpot and North had no takers. This one came in when I expanded to all zones. I had the same initial reaction as "rb.sr" about the remoteness of this hotel. However, my reaction mellowed after I had a chance to familiarize with SLC. This place is only 10 minutes from the Downtown. The neighborhood looks safe. There is even a nice hillside garden with summer evening concerts. To my relief, parking is free. There are charges for everything else just like most of 3* places. Furnitures are new and nice, but I did not what to do with all those extra pillows when the bed time came.

Hampton Inn Raleigh Crabtree Valley 6209 Glennwood Ave. Raleigh, NC 27612 (919) 782-1112 Bid Price $35, total charge $46.90 I tried twice unssuccessfully during the week at $35 for a 2.5* place in Cary, Raleigh, RDU or RTP, my bid was accepted when I dowgraded to 2* the night before my stay. I'd rate this place at high end of 2*. Expedia showed very tight availability in the whole Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle area, I later learned that all universities had commencement in the same weekend. Therefore I was surprised that my offer was accepted.

Yes, I have received E-mail (this week) invitating me to re-bid after one day. There was no taker for my second bid (in No. Carolina) either. However, my third try was accepted on Thursday for a Saturday stay. I believe that hotels do not want to give rooms away too far in advance.

Homewood Suites By Hilton

Holiday Inn Select Seattle Renton One South Grady Way Renton, Washington 98055 425-226-7700 Check-In Date: Thursday, March 16, 2006 Check-Out Date: Friday, March 17, 2006 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $12.16 Total Charges: $47.16 The best thing about this hotel is the location, it is in a acommercial district rather on a hotel row. Within walking distance, there are wide range of restaurants, shops and new car dealers. Room quality is at the low end of 3*. However, this in one of a few hotels that has a modern (Amana) heat pump unit with digital control, it is quiet. Also, I just discovered that Sunbeam Hair Dryer is NOT always flimsy like in most of hotels. Wired internet access is comlimentary. I hope Priceline send me this way again.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Raleigh/Cary 100 Macalyson Ct. Cary, North Carolina 27511 (919)-467-4444 Locating any hotel near the intersection of US-1 and US-64 in Cary is a challenge, I found the place during the day hours. I wouldn't do it in the darkness, especially with the highway construction. However, this hotel is located in a very peaceful office park. At this priceline bargain, I only get a non-suite room. Homewood Web site list this room at $49 Market Rate, $69 Promotional Rate (?). With two full beds, I barely have space to turn around. This is my first experience with Homewood, even though my room is not as good as other Hilton Garden (that I use as a benchmark for 2.5*), I'd still give it a 2.5*. Other than my tight quarters, this hotel deserves a 3*. The complimentary breakfast is above average. The complimentary Wi-Fi (11Mbps) also works smoothly. Surprisingly, Priceline does not list these as amenities.

Thanks for the suggestion of Cortyard in Carolina Beach. It is definitely at a nice ocean front location. Unfortunately, this dancer has to be in the office every day 8-5. I did manage to stay at the Wilmington Courtyard for $43 for one night.

I have been at this place most of previous three weeks. (See my precious reports) This is the only place would response to my bid for a 2* in Wilmington, even if I lowered the bid by $1 each time. I am moving into an apartment this weekend. So it is up to other better bidders to find the bottom of this ESA.

Sea-Tac probably has the most diverse parking options among all US airports. Most motels in cities of SEA-TAC, Tukwila, Renton and Kent offer airport parking. However, most will not offer free parking with discounted room rates, you need to reserve under a parking package. Therefore I doubt that they will give you free parking if you go in with a Priceline reservation. If type in SEA-Tac Airport Parking in Google, you'll see lots of choices for airport parking. Actually, this route work for most airports.

Cortyard by Marriott Wilmington 151 Van Campen Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 395-8224 This is the Courtyard that "Raleigh Pilot" has been talking about. My first bid of $40 for 4 nights was rejected. So I settled for $43 for one night. $56.09 with taxes and fees. The room has the traditional Courtyard layout. The appointment is of 2.5* quality. Self-service welcome cookies in the lobby are quite good.

Double Tree Hotel Seattle Airport 18740 Pacific Highway South SE Seattle WA 98188 (206) 246-8600 My first bid of $38 for 2.5* at Bellevue was not accepted. This bid was accepted when I included SEA-TAC, $38 for 2.5*. I re-scheduled my car rental pick up to the next morning and avoided $14 parking fee.

I have lowered by $2 each time I bidded for a 2* place in this town. Priceline keep putting me at this place, even though I have been here for 6 nights. :) I'll find the bottom one of these days.

2.5* Wilmington, NC Failed Bid, $40 for 2006/02/16-2006/02/19 Options Wilmington is by the Atlantic, hotels usually requires a surcharge for weekends. I am going to stay at a 2.5* places one of these days. :) I see a better bidder get to stay at Courtyard for $45.