tomereid

Tried yesterday for 2 rooms convenient to both Geneva and Seneca Falls, Mon 11/29 - Fri 12/3. Bids for 3*, 2 1/2* and 2* in Geneva rejected both days; bids for 2* in Waterlook rejected yesterday at $60. Most posts led me to believe there was a good chance of getting the Holiday Inn as the 2*, so I tried again today for $62 - which would still save $20 a night over the Advanced Purchase Price. But... the bid was accepted at Microtel Inn! This wouldn't be so bad except that the web price for the Microtel was $53. :)

Needed a 2.5-3* hotel in northeastern area of San Antonio, but no luck on 3* North using free bid zones for amounts $41-51. Started again with Airport 3.5 at $47, it was rejected; so I added East, raised to $52 and it was accepted. Regular prices on rooms appear to range from $106-$159; reviews are mixed - probably an okay hotel, just not as nice/new as some Doubletree Hotels.

I first tried for 5* in Central, then 4* there and Vatican area up to $111; added West only because one person has to fly out of FCO the morning of 10/3 and thought it might be easier to get him to the airport - got the Pisana Palace for $91. Hotel reviews are mixed; recent reviews favorable about the renovations and wonderful buffet. All discuss the distance from city center, but mention that a bus stops right in front of the hotel and that it's pleasant to get out of the 'bustle' at night. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works out alright...

Bid went through on the first try - makes me wish I'd started lower...

Be very cautious about bidding for a 3* hotel in the Schaumberg, Chicago suburbs zone! Priceline has included the Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows in this area, and the hotel is in awful shape. Our company does a lot of traveling, and we use Priceline a great deal of the time. Having had good bidding luck in the Chicago area before, we didn't think anything of using Priceline again. However, instead of getting the Doubletree, Hyatt or Marriott, as expected for a 3*, we won a bid for the Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows. We had a female employee scheduled to work in the area for two weeks and won a bid for this hotel at $55 a night - a higher price than normally charged for this area. The reviews we read were favorable since a recent renovation. However, the written report I received back from the employee verifies that that is not the case. The hotel is an old property, and has not been renovated as described on various websites; carpet worn out, peeling paint. When she arrived on Monday, the roof was leaking throughout the hotel - ceiling tiles damaged and falling onto the floor, and the whole placed smelled of mildew. Only one elevator was working at the time. On Tuesday morning, when she left her room, the hallway was littered with fallen tiles and the floor was covered in 2" of water. The hallway was quiet, and she could hear rats running through the ceiling. When she arrived at the elevator, she discovered that the doors to the hallway were open, but the elevator itself was stuck between two lower floors - with the open shaft visible! This was bad enough for her to experience, but there were also children on the same floor! It snowed the entire time she was in Schaumburg, but they never plowed the parking lot, only haphazardly the area in front of the office. We've contacted Priceline - who reports that the hotel is definitely a 3* (since it is reported as such by Travelocity, Orbitz and AAA - didn't know that Priceline used other sites' ratings to determine their own), and they refuse to downgrade the hotel or remove it from their list. So far we've had no luck with Holiday Inn either; but have reported this to every travel site I could find. The hotel is unsafe and unsanitary, and travelers should be very wary of bidding in this area, for fear of getting this hotel.

Our sales rep reported back that the room was fine. Hotel is old, but he said it's obvious there is a new owner that is renovating the whole place. His room was very comfortable, brand new carpet and furniture - only complaint was that the heating smelled.

The last review I saw for this hotel was in 2006, so I thought I'd add an update. It came up through a last minute bid for a room north of Trenton. He reports that the hotel is okay; a bit old, but it's obvious there is a new owner who is upgrading. His room was very comfortable, brand new carpet and furniture. In fact, the only complaint he had was the smell of the heating system.

I didn't see anything on the board about this hotel, so I wanted to add this information: Our sales rep needed a room north of Trenton - rack rates of $189-$219 for a Holiday Inn Express or similar. I started in the Princeton area, and having seen winning bids in $50-60 range - first bid $57 for 4*, rejected; second bid at $57 for a 3*, rejected; added Cookstown/Wrightstown at $61 - it was accepted. Pre-paid rate on a room was $144. Priceline with tax and service fees included totaled $77.82. I haven't found any Priceline reviews for the Wyndham, although after I won this bid I did some checking. Other travel site reviews are not very complimentary, but from what I read it has more to do with the service than the hotel. If I can get a review from the sales rep, I'll post it.

Tried several times for 3 or 2 1/2 * hotels a bit north of Miami. Started at $51 for Miami Beach, used free bids up to $67 for 3* with no luck at all; began again with 2 1/2 * up to $57, same results. Today I started at $71 and finally got accepted at $74 for 3* Wyndham - total cost of $347.01 includes $51.01 in taxes and service fees. May not be the best deal, but this hotel prices at $179 from most websites.

There aren't a lot of posts for Fort Worth, so I wanted to add this one... Tried for a 3*, 1 night 11/30/07 - started at $48, then used free bids up to $71; all rejected Changed to 2 1/2* in Downtown area only, leaving bid at $71; accepted - taxes and service fees $18.28, for a total of $89.28 at Springhill Suites. Rooms in the area generally priced $115-169 per night.

I didn't see anything on South Bend, so tried my luck for a room at the last minute. Started with $40 for a 3* - rejected, tried $45 for 2 1/2* - rejected; $45 for 2* also rejected. Ended up booking a Quality Inn for $63.

I started at $35 for a 3* room, rejected; raised to $38 and added East, rejected; next bid added North and increased bid to $40 - it was accepted at the Millennium Hotel. I just looked at their website - the hotel looks very nice, but they mention valet parking for $20 per 24 hour period. Hopefully that isn't the only way to park - kind of negates the price... Looked on another website and found the hotel advertised at regular rates for $69.07 per night. Someone there said it is a renovated Sheraton.

I don't normally have good luck in Arkansas, but I've noticed there aren't any bids to use as guidelines - so I thought I'd post this information, in case it is useful to anyone: 1 night, November 7th 3* Fort Smith - $40 rejected 2* Fort Smith - $35 rejected Back in October I did win a bid in Fort Smith: 2* Baymont Inn for 3 nights 10/10 - 10/12 at $45 per night, with tax the total was $54.36. Regular rate advertised at $59 plus tax - not a lot of savings, but some. Be advised though, they are not very nice at the Baymont - our employee had to stay over Thursday night, and they quoted her a price of almost $70. She called the Guesthouse, which is close by; they gave her a price of $55. Employee reported that the room was fine, clean, and the employees very nice. Apparently, they enjoy taking business away from Baymont, and do it every chance they get.

Tried again for the Courtyard at the airport, with no luck - continued to add the other closest zones at $38, $42, and $45 - finally got the Residence Inn at Mesa for $48....with taxes and fees $61.37.

Accepted on the first bid at $39, plus taxes and fees for a total of $51.22

Had bombed out on 3* hotels in the Phoenix area, bidding up to $50 - tried the 2 1/2 * at $35, received a counter offer for + $9, added West at $38 - and it was accepted. Total charges including fees $49.95.

Tried several combinations for a 3* - up to $60, then gave up. First bid for a 2 1/2* accepted at Holiday Inn and Suites, Overland Park West

I didn't find any posts for Olathe here, or on that other website... For a 3* it took $45 to get past the 'Based on recent bids...' warning (I've never had Priceline accept a bid for less), but that was rejected. Warning flashed until $52 on a 2* - I tried, but that was rejected also. Rooms at regular rates: Holiday Inn $79, Fairfield $82, Hampton $95 and Candlewood $90. Guess I'll try Overland Park...

Started at $45 for Enfield, rejected; added West Springfield at $50, rejected; included Springfield at $55, accepted - total including taxes $258.02.

Started at $45, rejected; added East at $48, rejected; added North at $52 - accepted Rooms around the airport ranged from $139 for Hilton, down to $71 for Comfort Inn. There is another Country Inn listed in Knoxville, but it appears to be 20+ miles from the airport.