erinys

Lowest listed price is $124.95. Got it on the first bid, so perhaps I could have gone lower, but there are no free rebids at 2.5* in the Tampa area and didn't want to take a chance. Holiday Inn Express And Suites Tampa Tampa North (At trip advisor it's the #1 rated hotel in Tampa, which seems strange at 2.5*) 8310 Galbraith Tampa, Florida 33647 Check-In Date: Sat, Mar 22, 2008 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Mar 23, 2008 / 11:00 AM Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $67.00 Travel Insurance: $5.00 Subtotal: $72.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.07 Total Charges*: $88.07 Normally I don't get travel insurance, but since I had rotator cuff and other surgery in January, this time I need a backup.

Standard rental prices for even the smallest cars start at about $100 for this date. Including taxes, I got 60% off the standard rate for fullsize, and half what an Aveo or equivalent would have cost. Don't know why I haven't pricelined rental cars before this! Your Offer Price: $38.00 Total Rental Days: 1 Subtotal: $38.00 Taxes & Fees: $13.07 Total Charges: $51.07 Lowest Published Price: $127.53 Total Savings:* $76.46

No Of Rooms:1 room No Of Nights:2 nights Hotel Name:Hyatt Place Tampa/Busch Gardens 11408 North 30th Street Tampa, Florida 33612 Check-in date Sat, Mar 29, 2008 Check-out date Mon, Mar 31, 2008 Price Per Night:$82.00 per night x No Of Nights:2 night(s) SubTotal:$164.00 TaxesAndFees:$23.41 Hotel subtotal $187.41 Total Listed as Customer Favorite Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness, Pool, Business, Internet Went as high as $76 on Priceline for 2.5 or 3*, ran out of counterbids, so switched to Hotwire at $82. Lists for $169 on their website. My Priceline bidding is not going well for this week - Easter must be a particulary rough time.

Had tried 4* at Seaworld first, up to 109. Tried up to $81 on 3* WDW, got confused with all permutations, just threw it up to $92 Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration Disney World Vicinity 2900 Parkway Boulevard Kissimmee, Florida 34747 Sun, Mar 23, 2008 / After 04:00 PM Fri, Mar 28, 2008 / 11:00 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $92.00 Travel Insurance: $25.00 Subtotal: $485.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $73.43 Total Charges*: $558.43 About thes same as I would have spent direct booking a 2*, $17 less than same hotel booked through Hotwire.

My husband and I stayed at these hotels (Brooklyn Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express) in August. They are basically identical under the same ownership. The lady who checked us in one night at the at the Comfort Inn checked us in the following night at the Holiday Inn Express. I believe because we were Priceline customers they put us in the tiniest room on each floor, down on one end where they've tried to cram as many rooms in as possible. The space was adequate for two however. Check-in area was tiny, but everyone was very polite and both were somewhat basic but very clean and well-kept. The rooms were new, again very clean and well kept. Each had a small walkway around the bed, streetview, small bedside tables, basic 25" or so tv, and a desk. If the tv armoire doors were open you had to close them to get to the far side of the bed. We had high speed internet, but I believe we paid $10 for it. The bathroom was small but completely adequate, including a tub/shower combo. I believe it was small enought that you couldn't have both the bathroom and room doors open at the same time. Parking was extra and extremely limited. Continental breakfast was good, even included a waffle maker(!), pancakes, and a thorough selection of food, including decent muffins. Both were in clean, fairly large areas with well-stocked vending machines. Other guests were reasonably pleasant and courteous. It was so much superior to the horrible experience we had at the 3*ish non-Priceline Broadway Plaza in the garment district, in which miserable people ran into each other in a walk-in closet over cold bagels and stale muffins (supposedly since renovated, but I'll stay in Brooklyn at full price before ever going there again). Differences: Comfort Inn had more parking, behind the building, but again it was for a fee ($24?). Holiday Inn Express had less parking, in front of the building, and we parked on the street for free. Staff said on a weekend there should be no problem parking on the street. I suspect during the week street parking is more difficult due to the autobody shop and other businesses across the street. The Holiday Inn Express cost a little more, but I suspect that was due to it being a Saturday night. It's location, IMO, is better because it is on Union St, the subway on 4th is only half a block away, and it was only 2? blocks north of a bar we REALLY liked. In front there was a small area with sweet little picnic tables that were lovely to just hang out. Neighbors is the run-down nearby houses were hanging out the same way on their front porches and yards. A group was doing the same on the concrete entrance in front of the body shop - that was weird and made us double-check the car, but all was well. The Comfort Inn on Butler a couple blocks north was a little more isolated and industrial, about 4-5 blocks to the nearest subway stops. It was a tad newer than the Holiday Inn Express, a little lonely in its industrial area over a weekend, but quiet. It was still a very reasonable walk to the same bar. I'd stay at either again - the prices were right, it was a bit of a trip into Manhattan but met our needs for proximity to a friend and Coney Island (much longer ride than to Manhattan, with many Saturday night delays). We had no problems with either hotel. If you can't afford Manhattan prices, these will do just fine.

My husband and I stayed at these hotels (Brooklyn Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express) in August. They are basically identical under the same ownership. The lady who checked us in one night at the at the Comfort Inn checked us in the following night at the Holiday Inn Express. I believe because we were Priceline customers they put us in the tiniest room on each floor, down on one end where they've tried to cram as many rooms in as possible. The space was adequate for two however. Check-in area was tiny, but everyone was very polite and both were somewhat basic but very clean and well-kept. The rooms were new, again very clean and well kept. Each had a small walkway around the bed, streetview, small bedside tables, basic 25" or so tv, and a desk. If the tv armoire doors were open you had to close them to get to the far side of the bed. We had high speed internet, but I believe we paid $10 for it. The bathroom was small but completely adequate, including a tub/shower combo. I believe it was small enought that you couldn't have both the bathroom and room doors open at the same time. Parking was extra and extremely limited. Continental breakfast was good, even included a waffle maker(!), pancakes, and a thorough selection of food, including decent muffins. Both were in clean, fairly large areas with well-stocked vending machines. Other guests were reasonably pleasant and courteous. It was so much superior to the horrible experience we had at the 3*ish non-Priceline Broadway Plaza in the garment district, in which miserable people ran into each other in a walk-in closet over cold bagels and stale muffins (supposedly since renovated, but I'll stay in Brooklyn at full price before ever going there again). Differences: Comfort Inn had more parking, behind the building, but again it was for a fee ($24?). Holiday Inn Express had less parking, in front of the building, and we parked on the street for free. Staff said on a weekend there should be no problem parking on the street. I suspect during the week street parking is more difficult due to the autobody shop and other businesses across the street. The Holiday Inn Express cost a little more, but I suspect that was due to it being a Saturday night. It's location, IMO, is better because it is on Union St, the subway on 4th is only half a block away, and it was only 2? blocks north of a bar we REALLY liked. In front there was a small area with sweet little picnic tables that were lovely to just hang out. Neighbors is the run-down nearby houses were hanging out the same way on their front porches and yards. A group was doing the same on the concrete entrance in front of the body shop - that was weird and made us double-check the car, but all was well. The Comfort Inn on Butler a couple blocks north was a little more isolated and industrial, about 4-5 blocks to the nearest subway stops. It was a tad newer than the Holiday Inn Express, a little lonely in its industrial area over a weekend, but quiet. It was still a very reasonable walk to the same bar. I'd stay at either again - the prices were right, it was a bit of a trip into Manhattan but met our needs for proximity to a friend and Coney Island (much longer ride than to Manhattan, with many Saturday night delays). We had no problems with either hotel. If you can't afford Manhattan prices, these will do just fine.

3* Somerset-Brunswick (Somerset-Piscataway-South Plainfield) Somerset Plaza At Garden State Expo Center $36 ... 8/23-24/07 My inherent cheapness got the best of me.. Used Savings barn, selected 3* Somerset - Piscataway - S. Plainfield, offered $33. Rejected, but gave counter offer to add $9. Declined, used first rebid zone to $36 - Won. Somerset Plaza At Garden State Expo Center 110 Davidson Avenue Somerset, New Jersey 08873 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $36.00 Subtotal: $36.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.71 Total Charges*: $48.71 $40 less than we're paying for Friday night in Brooklyn! Thanks to all for your help!

Trying to keep it cheap for now, went through savingsbarn. Selected 3* Carteret Tried to bid $38 - note that my offer had little chance of being accepted. Made it $39 - note that my offer had little chance of being accepted. Made it $40 - rejected, no counter offer Didn't want to continue on this track until had tried the 2*, closed browser. Selected 2* Cateret Tried to bid $38 - note that my offer had little chance of being accepted. Made it $39 - note that my offer had little chance of being accepted. Made it $40 - rejected, no counter offer There aren't any free rebids for a 2* in this region. May start on Edison-Woodbridge following your same pattern in a bit, but this is how it went so far, there's always Piscataway for cheap or just driving from home Friday morn if necessary.

Thursday, 8/23-24 2.5* and up. Looking for CHEAPEST, absolutely under $53. May stay home that night if can't beat $53. Aware of possibility of 3* upgrade in specified area and ok with that. The further north, the better, so listed in order of preference: Somerset-Brunswick: Don't want this location much, but will start with Somerset - Piscataway - S. Plainfield since a number of people have gotten it for $33. If fail, will then remove that, and move on to others starting at $37: Carteret (only 3* available, facility seems unknown, which arouses my curiosity. Radisson perhaps?) Even likely 2* there (Holiday Inn?) looks pretty good Edison -Woodbridge East Brunswick-Edison Safe rebid zone: North Brunswick as of today. Aware it could change tomorrow. Trenton-Princeton: South Brunswick-Cranbury Today's safe rebids in: Cookstown Mt Holly Philadelphia, PA: Cherry-Hill-Mt Laurel NO safe rebid zones, so no point posting in PA forum. EDIT: Ignore that - going to go for Carteret first. Any suggestions on what to start the bid on the 3* there? Will follow with Edisons starting about $37 for 2.5*, move to 45* for 3*. Last with Somerset-Piscatway 3* at $33 - looks like cheapest place won in all of Jersey.

The Comfort Inn Brooklyn Bridge at 297 Butler St is a new facility that's been widely criticized by locals for being in an iffy industrial park, and someone in that area posted a photo of an out-of-state car totally stripped to the bone, supposedly in that neighborhood. Does anyone have any more information on the hotel or neighborhood - it will really help our decision whether to try to get a second night there.

Anything along I-95 from Cherry Hill to Carteret (the further north, the better) is perfect as long as it's 2.5* or higher. I'm being really cheap here to allow every penny of cash for recreation on the New York and Baltimore trips. 2.5* Comfort Inn in Brooklyn works out to $87/night with taxes. I've gotten as low as $47/night with fees on a decent 2.5* in Cherry Hill, so it looks potentially as much as a $40 difference. Appears a couple folk have gotten an Edison 3* for $45/night (guessing $59 with taxes). I appreciate the advice to spend the extra for the convenience of one room for the whole trip, just looking for any other tips.

Minimum star is 2.5*, maximum bid is something less than $68, preferably under $50. If it's close to the $68 for the one we've booked there we'll just try to spend an extra night in Brooklyn for the same price if possible.

Thrilled to know there's a place in my town for future visitors! This is a little late, but for anyone else's future reference: A good friend stayed at this hotel for 3 weeks in April at the regular rate. He is a finicky man with frequent insomnia who travels often and regularly changes hotels when he isn't satisfied. He was thrilled to have the Olive Garden across the street (there's also a Red Lobster, chain drug store, and Dunkin' Donuts around the corner). As for beach traffic, if you are staying south of New Castle, it usually isn't too bad unless there is an accident (and you can switch between Rt 1 and Rt 13 if it's slow going). EZ Pass speeds it up considerably, since there tend to be backups in the cash lanes, particulary at the Dover toll. Try to get on SOUTH of Dover Downs to avoid tolls and backups

I'm guessing the Edison area options, but for 8/23/07 we are looking for the cheapest 2.5* or higher option coming from the south on I-95 towards 278 going to Staten Island and Brooklyn. We'd like to be in Brooklyn as early as possible Friday, but money is more of a concern than proximity (which is why we aren't spending 2 nights in Brooklyn at the $68 rate we have for Friday). Thank you for any advice!

I messed up and forgot to go through Savingsbarn - so sorry! :) Thought the info might still help someone else. Don't recall the exact bid and re-bid scheme. Had stayed there last year on a Friday in August for $53 so probably initially bid that, this year ended up with $60 on a Thursday. Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $60.00 Subtotal: $60.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $15.62 Total Charges*: $75.62 We were extremely satisfied with the hotel and our room last year. They provided us with our requested 2 bed room without any difficulty. The previous time we had tried for Saturday too and rejected because the hotel was full for a Horror convention. Once at the hotel, when checking out we asked at the desk if there was any chance of keeping the room for Saturday night - they let us, at the Convention rate, so we were even very pleased with that. We had just finished a stay at the Intercontinental Barclay last year, a 4* in NYC, and I swear our room and experience at this North Baltimore 3* was just as good. The Marriott was MUCH nicer than the 3* Embassy Suites across the street we had booked through Hotwire and ended up NOT staying in - couldn't get the money back but the 3 hour free bar there thanks to the paid reservation was great.

Darn, that should be 8/24/2007 - thereuare, hope you'll correct as you do so kindly with all my messed up posts! :) Went through Savingsbarn. Initally tried 3* Brooklyn hoping for the Marriott with rebids up to $111 - no luck, no counter-offers. Had read of 2.5* for a longer period on the same dates in Brooklyn for $61, so bid the same. Priceline made a counter-offer to add $17, used free rebid of $68 and got Comfort Inn Brooklyn Bridge. Not that close to bridge, but free parking, continental breakfast, fairly close to subway, and between our potential destinations near the Bridge and Coney Island. Hotwire price for the same date for most likely the same hotel was $106. Subtotal: $68.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $19.40 Total Charges*: $87.40 Does no one else realize Astroland has been sold and as crowded and slimy as it can be, will cease to exist as we know it after this summer? Farewell sadistic ride operators of the infamous Top Spin of the 14 flips, hello condos! :)

Staying at the hotel now, so far it has been an 'ok, kinda' experience. Many children, much noise, half the staff are surly while the other half are very pleasant, room is adequately clean and not very stinky OR perfume-y for a smoking room. If I remember I'll try to do a review at the end of it all. I suspect we're getting a lousier room due to Priceline, but that's not a definite. More of a "I think we have some King rooms left, let me look it up...oh, no, we just gave out the very last King room." On the other hand, we are high and facing away from the noisy highway. Up late spending $ washing their towels which do have far too much smell of fabric softener in them. How much can I complain when we're getting 1/3 off thanks to all the great info on this site! Our friends ended up at the 2.5* Holiday Inn - Monroeville (at full price) and seem much happier. Will try to check it out before we go. It was renovated in 2006. Can't say for sure, but sounds like as good an experience for potentially less money for anyone interested. In our case it appeared the 2.5* would have gone for about the same price as the 3*. Based on the Holiday Inn website, the 2.5* seems to have a higher regular retail cost than this 3*. Go figure.

My husband bid and bid and bid starting at $40 on 2.5 and 3* in Monroeville and West Mifflin. Finally bid $58 based on 2.5* and was given a counteroffer to add $17, but was out of free rebids and time. Later I logged in (through Savings Barn) under my account, sick of rebidding and didn't want to fool around anymore, bid $66 for 3* in Monroeville and got it. This was the hotel we hoped for, but since it's for a trip to Kennywood we would have gotten more (breakfast) for the same price on ONE of the two nights if we'd gone through the HI website and gotten the Kennywood package (including park tickets). But still a significant savings on the second night. Doesn't look like there've been a lot of summer season wins in this area, so hope it helps someone! Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $66.00 Subtotal: $132.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $27.41 Total Charges*: $159.41

This is purely out of sheer, pointless curiousity, but why are rates in NYC so high the night of Tues 8/8? If it were just the end of the Accessories show, I'd think rooms would have sold out well in advance, but at On the Ave on the UWS where we've stayed several times, basic rooms were readily available a week ago for $179 and are now completely booked at $229. I realize this is a Priceline forum, but for comparison the cheapest (and only) 4* Hotwire room is $411 Tuesday, but Thursday is $142, Wed $316, and Mon $214. A month ago Le Parker Meridien could be had for $165 through Hotwire for these dates. All the Hilton properties are booked, as are nearly all the ICs. Is there any reason to expect the city to be crazy-busy Tuesday and/or Wednesday? I'm feeling really lucky we got in at $175.

Yes, those are the exact amenities. Thank you again for all your help.

Already have a Hotwire reservation for 4 at Embassy Suites for 8/12/06 for $109, decided to try cheaper reservation for 2 on Fri. Bid $46, received counter offer to raise by $13 which I rejected, added rebid zone and got it for $53. Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $53.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.19 Total Charges: $67.19 After going through Savingsbarn.com, I didn't log in until after putting in my desired location information. Does it make a difference if we sign in immediately upon arriving at Priceline or during bidding process?

Horror convention at the Marriott, so all the local Marriott properties were booked. Amenities listed were identical to those listed here: Suite, pool, kitchenette, fitness, business - almost certain it was Embassy Suites. Hotwire offered rate of $92 for 3 adults, $109 for 4 adults. We wanted the best chance of getting 2 double beds for the 3 of us and not just a sofa bed, so didn't risk Priceline. Still no guarantee of 2 doubles. Hotel $109.00 TaxesAndFees: $20.84 Total : $129.84 Lowest (nonrefundable) site list is $164.95 for 3 adults with sofabed, $186.39 with taxes, maybe could have slipped by with reservation for 2 for $144.95.

Thank you for the breakfast tip - prices at the hotel seem high, so it's great to know what else is around! I LOVE your site, and am so grateful for all the work you do and help you provide!

The 8th seems to be the end of the fashion accessory show at the JJ Center, and I'd bid all possible permutations of Downtown, MTW, & CPS to $171, and MTE to $161 over 2 days. Our 3.5* UWS backup was the equivalent of $188/night with fees. Finally threw everything but MTS into the pot for $175, and got Intercontinental the Barclay. We probably could have done it for less if we'd moved the trip a day later, but this is really better. Never stayed on the east side before since it seems easiest to hit Christopher St/Sheridan Sq from the West side, but we're open to the new experience, for half of retail when lowest list is $369! Hope I did the savingsbarn thing properly on each bid.

Just an update on the Wyndham, I'll add it to my review after the stay. I'd joined Wyndham ByRequest, and emailed to request a room with 2 beds. Response: We have received your request to change the room type on your reservation to arrive today 3/31/06. We have rooms available with two queen beds so that is not a problem to change your room type. One more thing I would like to mention if you have not been informed already, when you make your reservations through a third party web site like Priceline.com, you are not entitled to receive the amenities of the Wyndham ByRequest program. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. I have already changed your room type for you from one king bed to two queen beds. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further assistance. Thank you for choosing to stay at the Wyndham Mt. Laurel! Sincerely, Kxxxxx Axxxxx Reservations Manager Wyndham Mt. Laurel