Agoust

Occupancy and rates are crazy that particular night. As I suggested here, I bid up $200 for a four star hotel on the evening of November 30. No luck. I did the same for a three-star--no luck. This is for a friend/colleague--it's not a "must-do" trip, so for now the trip is on hold. I'll bid again a week or so before the date and see what happens, but I'm not too confident. Thanks again to the board.

I bid up to $200--no dice. I think I'm going to drop down to a three-star and see if I have a bit more luck. I note that rates and occupancy that night are just crazy. Thanks to the board for your help.

I'm attempting to book one night in the city on the evening of Thursday, November 30. I'd like a four-star, and am willing to spend up to $200. I'm willing to bid all Priceline areas, with the exception of SOHO/Financial District. This is for a wary colleague, who's been flabbergasted by the deals I've gotten courtesy of this board. Thanks in advance for your help.

My initial bid was $18/day for an economy car. That was rejected. My second bid was $20/day for a compact--this was accepted by Budget. Four Days = $80 Taxes and Fees = $31.36 Total = $111.36 Lowest Published Price: $144.11 Savings: $32.75 I entered Priceline using the link from Savingsbarn.com Thanks to the board!

One night stay. I bid $60 and was rejected; added rebid and upped to $65 - rejected; up to $70 accepted. With taxes and fees, $87.67 I entered using the link from Savings Barn; many thanks to the board.

Today I discovered that Lollapalooza is in Grant Park, August 4-6. Between that, the Cubs, and the Tall Ships it sounds like a very full weekend. I have a reservation at the Whitehall and will keep trying Priceline, but I don't think the outlook's too brilliant.

Ahem.... You see the nicest people on these boards! :) http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=22171& I've booked the Whitehall for a manageable rate, but it feels like I should be able to do better. I've been running my search through Priceline every few days, going as high as $95--no dice! The Cubs are home that weekend, but I think the big draw is the Tall Ships. Good luck! MC

I entered Priceline using Savingsbarn.com. I bid $45 for a three-star around the Pittsburgh Airport. My bid was immediately accepted. Maybe I started too high? I'm out of town the next ten days, so I really didn't have much time to make rebids. Very Happy! Four Points Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport 3-star Remote control TV w/ premium channels Radio Alarm Clock Business services Telephone w/ voicemail Iron and ironing board Hairdryer 24 hour front desk Restaurant Room service Check-In Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Check-Out Date: Thursday, May 25, 2006 Your Offer Price: $45.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $45.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.75 Total Charges: $58.75

Updates: I've nudged my dates; I'm now in Chicago August 2-6. (I don't know how to change my topic, alas.) Using SavingsBarn and EasyClickTravel, I booked an additional night at the Whitehall; again at $119/night. I've been running my dates through Priceline every 4-5 days, adding Skokie and Midway rebid zones. I've gone as high as $95. I'm comfortable with the Whitehall, but still have the sneaking suspicion that price-wise I could do better. I note that the Tall Ships are in Chicago that week, and that the Cubs are home. I imagine these two things are effecting availability to some extent.

I had no luck with June 14 - 16 using thereuare's bidding advice in this thread. So I altered my nights a bit, thinking that a weekend night might have a bit more availability. I began at $110 and went up to $130, adding UM/CPS and rebid zones. No dice. Closed my browser and restarted. I selected MTE and MTW and bid $135. I got a message that for $22 more I could rebid immediately. I closed my browser and rebid MTE/MTW and UES at $140. No dice. I bid MTE/MTW/UES/UWS at $145 and got the Hilton New York, Sixth Avenue and 53rd, just below Central Park. Very happy! The Hilton's site shows a price of $289/night for these dates, or $268/night nonrefundable. Each time I restarted Priceline I entered using the link at Savings Barn, including my winning bid. Check-In Date: Thursday, June 15, 2006 Check-Out Date: Saturday, June 17, 2006 Hotel Name: Hilton New York 1335 Avenue Of The Americas New York, New York 10019 Your Offer Price: $145.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $290.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $56.45 Total Charges: $346.45 Many thanks to thereuare for assistance!

I nudged my dates slightly and got a nice deal at the Hilton on Sixth Avenue. I'll make a separate post. And again, many thanks!

Alas, I went through the suggested rebid strategy and completely struck-out. I'm wondering if I'm too early? I imagine that being in the middle of the week isn't helping either.

I can't bid again until Monday morning. Should I try what you posted above? And many thanks!

Thank you for your speedy reply! Yes, after reviewing recent wins in MTE I'd be thrilled to stay at any of those four-star properties. I'd love to stay in Soho or Tribeca--not too far from the squalor of my salad days--but I don't want to end up in the Financial District. So, I'm willing to bid all areas with the exception of Lower Manhattan. What should be my strategery? Thanks again for your help.

Hmm... Up around the Park would be ideal, although within walking distance of the theatre district would be nice, too. Above I stated I was unwilling to bid MTE--I don't want to be out by the UN. However, on closer examination I'm not sure I'm seeing a four-star property out there. Am I right? Otherwise, the more centrally located four-star hotels would be ideal. I also stated I was unwilling to bid Downtown. Soho/Tribeca would be wonderful, but I'm hesitant to chance ending up down in the Financial District. Thanks again for any/all help.

Quick update: Every other day or so, I've been running this search through Priceline. I'm only willing to bid NMA and Millenium Park. I've gone as high as $90--no luck.

I bid four stars in the following areas, upping my bid each time. $125 - CPS $130 - CPS/UES $135 - CPS/UES/UWS $140 - CPS/UES/UWS/MTS $150 - CPS/UES/UWS/MTS/MTW No dice! I'm not willing to bid Midtown East or Downtown. For many years I lived in pretty squalid apartments on the Lower East Side and in the West Village. I'd like to see what a four-star hotel feels like. I have a backup reservation--barebones, empty apartment at $100/night. I think I'm willing to go as high as $165. Do I have a prayer--particularly at this star-level and during the week?

Thank you! Using your link, I booked the Whitehall at $119/night. With taxes, the total came to $412.65. I'll periodically run my stay through Priceline and see if I can do a bit better. Many thanks for your help!

Many thanks Aaron and thereuare. The Whitehall looks perfect. However, I'm not sure I'm seeing the site's cancellation policy--I'm definitely going, but what if I priceline and find something more amenable? Anyone have any experience with this EasyClickTravel? Yes, I know I just made a new verb above. Conjugate with me: I priceline You priceline He pricelines She pricelines We priceline You priceline They priceline.

An update.... I upped my bid to $85 and was rejected (4*, NMA). I added Millennium Park at $85 and was rejected. I added boutique hotel at $85 and was rejected. I'm guessing I'm too early, and maybe too low.

Some months ago.... Just joined the board and throwing-in a few wins. My bid of $75 was immediately accepted; I wonder if I could have gone lower? Great, small hotel with loads of interesting architecture.

Some months ago.... My initial bid of $75 was accepted immediately. In retrospect, I wonder if I could have gotten it cheaper? I've stayed here twice--it's one of my favorites. Just above the University of Toronto, across the street from the Royal Museum, loads of shopping, and ethnic restaurants within walking distance.

Just joined up; this bid was from some months ago. I don't have the exact details, but I know I bid $75 initially was rejected and re-upped to $85. Nice hotel; easy access to the Terminal and an easy walk to Union Square, Chinatown, and North Beach.

Thanks for your speedy reply, AaronJB. In general, I like to be within walking distance of most conference hotels--though not necessarily *in* the conference hotel for the reasons I described above. Price: I'm looking to spend around $75-85/night. Ideally, I'd like to be in the four-star range or a boutique. I think I'm going to let a few days pass, and then rebid at $85/night. If it's unsuccessful, I'll take that as a sign and let a few more weeks pass before trying again. Good strategy? Also: I've just recently discovered this board. Should I post Priceline wins from November, August, and March 2005? Further back? Or just let by-gones be by-gones? I'm not sure I'm seeing this in the FAQs.

I need to be in Chicago August 3 - 6, 2006 for a conference at the Palmer House. (Comparatively speaking, it's not a terribly large gathering.) When attending conferences, I mildly prefer to stay outside of the conference hotel. Then, I get to see a bit of the city and am not couped-up with conference-attendees ALL the time. Yesterday, my bid of $75/night for a four star/boutique hotel in NMA was rejected. Today, my rebid of $75/night for a four star/boutique hotel in NMA and Millennium Park was rejected. Any suggestions? I've previously stayed at the Hyatt Regency on Wacker for $75/night, though this was in March not August. Am I hopelessly underbidding? Is it too early for me to be bidding?