Attending a meeting at Town & Country Resort Feb. 6-10 where they have a SPECIAL rate of $121/night - woo hoo! Well let's try Priceline. Hotwire has a 2* property in Mission Valley area for something like $49 but let's see what we can do. Preferred area: Mission Valley but will also add some surrounding zones since I will have a car (Point Loma, Coastal, Downtown). Bid 2.5* from $22 to $43/night adding free areas and the above. All rejected. Started new bid at 2* bidding 25/29/33/37. Accepted at $37/night. Extended Stay America - Mission Valley 3860 Murphy Canyon Rd Price for 4 nights with taxes/fees - $173.61. Since it is just me (as opposed to family vacation) this will be fine, and the kitchen may come in handy.
Bidding for 3 nights beginning Dec. 30 for a property somewhat close to Burbank. This overlaps the Rose Bowl, and so I am prepared to stay a little further out - perhaps Woodland Hills, Sylmar or Santa Clarita. Hotwire shows $129 (3*), $102 (2.5*) and $99 (1*) for Burbank/Univ City zone. Not a lot of time so I begin with a 3* bid including Burbank, Van Nuys, and Warner/Woodland. (Prepared to add Studio City at a lower star level and perhaps reduce bid at lower level...then try Valencia later if needed.) First bid accepted...(so you get that mixed emotions thing going!). $65/night Airtel Plaza Hotel (Van Nuys-Mission Hills zone) Total for 3 nights including taxes/fees - $229.86.
Bidding for one night in Eugene OR. Bid $33 and $38 for 3 star. Rejected. Started new bid for 2.5 star. Bid $33. Rejected. Bid $41. Accepted. Upgraded to 3*. Valley River Inn 1000 Valley River Way Total for one night with taxes/fees - $52.89.
Bidding for 3 nights in Olympia. Lowest price shown on Orbitz was ~ $59/night at Super 8 in Lacey. Tried bidding $37 and $41 for a 2* Priceline and was rejected. So accepted the Hotwire offer of a 2* for $45. Extended Stay America Olympia/Tumwater 1675 Mottman Rd SW Total for 3 nights with taxes/fees $154.73. I have received this property before on Hotwire - and it is a pretty nice, well located ESA, and will be suitable for these purposes. I have not seen this property show up ever on Priceline - always seem to either get the Red Lion or nothing at all.
Bidding for five nights in Orlando - prefer WDW, Sea World or such areas. Bid 3* for WDW or Sea World from $25 up to $38. Rejected. Bid 2.5* for WDW or Sea World from $25 up to $33. Rejected. Bid 2* for WDW, Sea World or Kissimmee from $21 up to $28. Rejected. Waited 24 hours then started new bid. Bid 3* for WDW or Sea World from $41 up to $53. Bid for $53 accepted. Wyndham Orlando Intl Drive. 8001 International Dr. Total for 5 nights, including taxes/fees - $310.14.
Bidding for one-day rental - any size - Orlando. Best price I saw was Thrifty with Sam's 10% discount - about $31 all in. Hotwire shows $39 all in best price. Bid $16 for economy on Pricline. Accepted. Alamo 12/5/06 - 12/6/06 Offer price: $16 Total with taxes and fees: $25.17
Bidding for two rooms/one night - Nov. 25 - San Angelo TX. Any star level acceptable. Bid $22 for two star. Rejected. Bid $25 adding one star. Rejected. Tried again: Bid $28 for two star. Bid $31 adding one star. Started new bid. Bid $34 for two star. Accepted. 2* La Quinta San Angelo Hotwire had showed a property available for $39 - IIRC - and so if my bids had failed up to $37 or so I was ready to switch to Hotwire. Hotwire showed a property listed as a 2.5 - but could well have been the same LaQuinta since Hotwire's stars are sometimes higher.
Bidding for two rooms/one night - Nov. 21 - Waco TX. Any star level acceptable. Bid $22 for two star. Rejected. Bid $25 adding one star. Rejected. Waited 24 hrs. Bid $28 for two star. Rejected. Bid $31 adding one star. Rejected. Waited 24 hrs. Bid $34 for two star. Accepted. 2* Extended StayAmerica - Waco/Woodway 5903 Woodway Drive Offer price $34 Price with taxes/fees for two rooms/one night - $84.78. This property is not on the existing list of hotels that have come up for Waco!
Bidding for one night in Orlando - Dec. 5 '06 - lots of flexibility on area and star level - though close to airport or the parks will be best. Bid $29 at 2.5* including WDW, Universal, Kissimmee, Airport, West Disney. Bid rejected (received counteroffer to raise bid by $7 - ignored counteroffer). Bid $31 at 2.5* adding downtown. Bid accepted. Barcelo Orlando Hotel. Total including taxes/fees - $42.22.
Tips on using Restaurant.com I had a certificate I had purchased some time back - and called the restaurant to verify the hours and found it had been disconnected. I reported it via email (there is a reference in their FAQs) and within 24 hours was given a link to replace it with a same-price certificate to another restaurant. Note also that if you ever misplace a certificate - you can log in and reprint it - but of course make sure you do not reprint one that you have used - as it will put you in an embarrassing situation when the certificate is denied. :) Regarding the minimum purchase of $35 on a $25 certificate - (before tip) - If you get your $25 certificate for $4 ($10 plus 60 percent off) - and then spend $35 and add a $5 tip - you will have spent $19 ($4 + $5 + $10) for a $40 value. So that comes out to about half off. Still a good deal - but not quite like paying $4 for $25 value! Anyone had any experience using the certificate when you did not hit the $35 threshold?? Oh...one more good use for the certificates at 60% off - is to purchase them and donate them for silent auctions for charity events. A $25 gift certificate will usually fetch close to face value at these events - and you can snag them for $4 a piece!
Bidding for one day Nov. 6 '06 - small car is fine - only myself. Best rate I found on Orbitz $43 including tax. Bid $21 for economy - rejected. Offered free rebid without changing any parameters. Bid $23 for economy. Accepted by Alamo. Total price with taxes/fees - $37.07 - only $6 less than conventional but what the heck!
Bidding for one night in Miami - any area - Nov. 6. Just looking for cheap - traveling solo. Bid $29 for 2* airport area. Rejected (but with $7 counteroffer). Ignored counteroffer. Bid $31 and added South Beach. Accepted for $31 at Homestead MIA Blue Lagoon 6605 NW 7th St. Total with taxes/fees for one night - $42.28.
Bidding for a one-day rental, any size car, August 10. Cheapest option I see on Orbitz is a standard with Advantage Rent-a-car for $31 - $45 with taxes/fees. (Oddly cheapest economy car is $44 - $61 with taxes/fees. On Hotwire - a compact is available for $30 - $45 with taxes and fees. I try Priceline - first bidding $21 for economy. First bid is accepted on Avis - $32.97 with taxes and fees. I haven't had much luck on Priceline for cars in the past - but I will continue to keep them in mind now! :)
Looking for reasonably priced accommodations for Labor Day weekend in JAX area - Sept. 2-5. Bid 2.5* Jacksonville South - $36 then $40 then $45 - all rejected. Bid 2* Jacksonville Beach - $45 then $50 - rejected. Bid 3* Jacksonville Downtown - $45 then $50 then $55 - all rejected. Bid 2* Jacksonville South - $28 accepted. Homestead Studio Suites Salisbury Rd. Total for 3 nights with taxes/fees - $103.39 We had received a pretty nice sale airfare from Houston to JAX for Labor Day weekend - $136 roundtrip each. So this bargain hotel room should give us a little $$ to blow on some yummy eats - plus we will have a kitchen for light meals too.
Bidding for 3* in Stone Mountain zone of Atlanta - many free rebids in zones with no 3*. Two nights - March 5-7 '06. Started bidding low with bids at $49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 77, 81. $81 bid accepted. Marriott Evergreen Stone Mountain.
