nd88

Looking at this one on Hotwire, but with all the different ammenity combos being posted its a real crapshoot. Ammenities: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services Looks like the Wynn but I don't know. I also bid $80 on Priceline for 5* North Strip and got counter of $100. My gut says this is likely the Wynn too based on Hotwire price. Rebid $85, got rejected. Best prices on the hotel websites are: Venetian $179/nt Trump $199/nt Wynn $269/nt This makes it seem that I am seeing the Venetian. Any words of wisdom?

First bid accepted. Website rate was $85.

First bid for South zone of $41 was rejected. Added North zone and rebid of $43 was accepted. Courtyard by Marriott 1018 Appalachee Parkway. Two nights for $86 + $18.34 fees/taxes = $104.34. Marriott website rate was $149 per night or $332.27 w/ tax for 2 nights. I stayed here last month and on Tuesday night there is a managers reception with free beer/wine and appetizers.

Well doesn't that suck. I was trying for the Homestead Suites as a 2* and, if unsuccessful, would have fallen back on the Extended Stay as a 1*. Looks like Priceline has bumped the Extended Stay to a 2* :) It was a 1* when I won it on 9/21. I guess I overpaid by $4 assuming they would still hit the same bid ($23) as when it was a 1*. I suppose the Homestead won't come up anymore if both are 2* since it is more expensive to begin with. The Homestead has breakfast and a pool while the Extended Stay has neither.

First bid accepted. 2* bids rejected at $27,$28,$29,$30 & $31

NICE! HW is now $365 and westin.com is $210

This will most likely be my last post for JAX. It has been a long 6 months - 1 week at a time. Received $33 counter offer @ $26. Total w/ taxes & fees was $135.66 up from $135.58 last week and $135.54 the week before.

As usual I got a $34 counteroffer at $27. Total w/ taxes and fees was $135.58 for 4 nights. Tried for the 2.5* from $33 to $43 in $1 increments. Received a counteroffer for $55 at $43. That bid included the downtown zone and I suppose PL could have upgraded me to a 3* there since there are no 2.5 *'s downtown. For you newbies, this is what I call a quasi-free rebid zone. Since the Homestead Suites is only $28 and the Extended StayAmerica is only $23, I just couldn't justify going any higher on the 2.5*. That $15 or $20 a night covers meals.

I have often wondered what the 2* and 2.5* Jax Beach properties were. I have a sneaky suspicion that the 2* is the Days Inn Neptune Beach (which is $89.10 for your date). Not really surprised to see the Comfort Inn rated a 2.5* - Hotwire ratings generally seem higher than Priceline's. The Comfort Inn website rate directly from the hotel is $70.20/ night. I believe you could hit Hotwire up on their Double the Difference Price Guarantee on this.

One thing to note about buying one night and then adding on is that you will pay more in fees to priceline. Although you can't determine exactly how much they are; there seems to be a per transaction fee and a per night fee. You could see the difference by entering your bid price for one night, see the screen with the total fees, don't submit the bid, go back and enter the same bid price for 2 nights, see the screen with the total fees again, then divide this by two. You will see that the fees per night for one night is higher than the fees per night for two nights. Repeat for 3 nights, 4 nights, etc. nights and you will see how much more it costs you to buy consecutive night separately rather than all at once. I understand that you were being cautious because you didn't know which hotel you would get - that is the price of admission to the priceline "game". Enjoy your stay and spend lots of $$ - we need the tax revenue :)

Decided to spend the big bucks this week - no 1* (althought there is really nothing wrong with the Extended StayAmerica for $23/nt). The Homestead does provide a continental breakfast, manager's reception (pizza or wings but nothing to drink) on Tuesday's and it has a pool. Received counter offers for $7 more at $26 & $27 4 x $28 = $112 + $23.54 taxes/fees = $135.54 Website rate is $83.99/nt. All bids on 2.5* rejected in $1 increments from $32 to $42. Tried to get the Springhill Suites. Others have but not on weeknights.

You should be happy considering the best rate on their website for these dates is $119.

This is getting really old! The girl at the desk greets me by name every Monday evening and wishes me a good weekend on Thursday night. If the other guests only knew how much they are overpaying! Mums the word of course.

What are your travel dates?

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

It looks like the La Quinta Baymeadows in the Jacksonville-South zone has been downgraded from a 2* to a 1*. It now shows up in the non-opaque Priceline listing as a 1*. Do they ever have different ratings in the opaque area than in the non-opaque area? I stayed at this property in March and I would not be surprised by a rating downgrade. The rooms open to the outside, but they do have a free cont. breakfast. This property may now come up for us 1* bidders if the Homestead/Extended Stay properties are full. BTW - There is another "new" 1* La Quinta in this zone. The Baymont Inn in Mandarin is now a La Quinta. The Baymont had been reported won on Priceline as a 1* elsewhere.

My home away from home again this week - same price. Website rate this week went up to $64.99 - they might just charge more for 2 nts versus 4 nts.

The La Quinta in Orange Park has been won in that zone in the past, but of course this is no guarantee that it is still in the zone (zones can change). $51 seems high enough to get it if there was availability. If no 2* hotels have kicked rooms to Priceline it really won't matter what you bid. I might suggest using Amelia Island or Mayo Clinic/Beaches to rebid since rooms in these areas are usually more expensive than Orange Park. Do this at your own risk because nothing is certain with Priceline and $50+ for a 2* might be high enough to win these zones. FYI - I just $26 on a 2* on the Southside for tonight and tomorrow night and got the old rebid offer if I raise my bid by $7.

Received counter for $6 more at $21, Rejected at $22 Website rate $59.99/nt Total this week $112.71 -- 8 cents more than last week. Recevied counter for $7 more on 2* at $26 - I suppose Homestead Studio Suites (Salisbury) is available for $28 again. Not really worth the difference just to get breakfast.

At checkout they gave me a copy of the folio. It shows that PL paid $23 + 2.99 tax per night for the room. The grand total was $103.96 so PL made just $8.67 on my 4 nt stay.

Bids rejected at $20, $21 & $22. $6 counter offered at $20 and $22. Total for 4 nights: $92 + $20.63 fees/taxes = $112.63 (2 cents less than last time) Website rate is $59.99/nt.

This is the low mark for this property. Total for 4 nights: $92 + $20.65 tax/fees = $112.65 Website rate is $59.99/nt ($49.99/nt for stays of 7 nts or more) Its just not worth getting an apartment when I can cover 4 weeks (weekdays) here for $450. 2.5* Bids rejected up to $34 2* Bids rejected up to $27 ($7 counter at $25 and $26) 1* Bids rejected at $20, $21 and $22 ($6 counter at $21 and $22)

Started with LAX, then added Culver City, then added Manhattan Beach Rejected at $50 and $60 2 rooms, one night Website rate - $169.99

Got this on the first try. This a new property for the list! Extended Stay Jacksonville - Butler Blvd. 6961 Lenoir Avenue 3 x $24 = $72 + 17.57 taxes & fees = $89.57 BTW - Reveived $7 counter on bid for 2* @ $27 and rejected on bids for 2.5* from $30 to $35

3 nights this time - total cost $103.37 Received $7 counter on first bid of $27. Failed bids on 2.5* from $30 thru $33