Cory_G

I began as always, by using the Better Bidding PRICELINE link. My goal was to find a 3.5 star around the Bloomington or Eagan areas. I started by bidding for a 3.5 star in Bloomington, then Eagan, then neighborhoods that where rated as 2.5 stars for free bids (I knew they would not have any 3.5 stars but still allows you another bid). My bidding sequence was as follows: $60 Bloomington West - Mall of America, $62 Eagan, $65 Coon Rapids, $67 Stillwater, $70 Fridley. I hit at $70, getting the Holiday Inn Bloomington W. MSP Airport Area. $70 Room + $16.76 taxes & fees = $86.76, "49% savings". I stayed here before when it was a 'Country Inn & Suites By Carlson' and it was decent. Cheers, Cory

We were looking for a 3.5 star hotel in a zone not too far from the Mall of America area. I was booking for us (a family of 3), plus our friends (a family of 4), hoping the higher star rating would increase the odds of having 2 queen beds in the room. Using the BETTER BIDDING PRICELINE link, I started by selecting my desired zones one at a time, and increased in $1 increments. I proceeded to pick zones were the highest star rating <3.5 stars (free bids). However, in the wee hours of the morning I accidentally picked Brooklyn Center as a 'free bid area' at the $79 mark. I got an accepted offer at the Doubletree by Hilton Minneapolis North at $81/night. We loved the free cookies at check-in, and the fruit infused water in the lobby during our stay. There were 2 double beds in the room. It was not my best score using Priceline by any means, but full price for hotel rooms in the area seemed to be going for $120 - $140/night. With the accident of picking this area, we end up finding a neat shopping area close by in Maple Grove. Here was how I bidded on June 28/17: $75 Bloomington $76 Eagan $77 MSP Airport $78 Burnsville $79 Minneapolis NW - Brooklyn Ctr $80 Fridley $81 Coon Rapids Cost for 2 rooms, 3 nights: $486 + 91.92 taxes & fees = $577.92 I hope this is helpful info. for the Better Bidding members. Cheers, Cory

I saw a win on the board for the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Minneapolis-Bloomington South, booked earlier in the day for $42 staying July 13-14/13. We stayed at this hotel a few times and liked it. So I started my bidding at $38 (using the PRICELINE link) hoping to get it. My dates were from July 14-16/13, booking <24 hours from check-in. Not having success bidding (on 3.5 stars), and running out of "free bids" (using 8 areas) I stopped bidding at $65. I logged out and back in, and changed my date to July 14-15/13, starting at $67 - I thought if I split up the dates I would have more chance of success, plus I could have a second chance to start re-bidding from scratch for July 15-16/13. My second bid for July 14-15/13 hit at $69. Priceline said I saved 36% (calculates to $107.81 for full price), but the regular rate on price-line was $89 (not using 'Name you own price" or 'Express deal'). The final breakdown was: $69 + $17.93 (taxes/fees) -$3.45 (5% coupon) = $83.48. I was not so lucky scoring the big deal this time. And I will also have to pay 2 fees by splitting up the dates. Still, it is better than paying the full rate.

I first tried to book a 4 star in the 'Bloomington West -Mall of America' area. After several unsuccessful bids I stopped at $56. I then logged out, and then back in again, to try bids for 3.5 star hotels. On the first attempt my bid was accepted at $40. The full price came to $53.49 (includes $6.24 taxes + $7.25 fee). Priceline said I saved 46%. The regular price-line price on the site said Regular $99, on sale for $74.