AEmgee

Okay, just noticed that Hotwire has 5* May 16 for $158.00. For the same date, Venetian.com has Luxury Suite with King bed for $129.00. Difference = $29.00. DTD = $158.00 - ($29.00 x 2) = $100.00? Just went ahead and booked it (it was the Venetian of course) and then filed the DTD claim. Hope it goes okay! I sent them the URL and also attached a PDF screen capture. May have to stay one night and then move to the Luxor... Incidentally, Hotwire has May 21 for $247.00 and Venetian.com has $239.00. Even with DTD = $231.00 still. Not that I could file more than one DTD in 6 weeks anyway (as per their policy). EDIT: SHOOT! Price just jumped to $160.00 on Hotwire for May 16. DTD of $4.00 more!!! Could have had it for $96.00! Damn it! EDIT AGAIN: Maybe I should have just tried up to $100.00 on Priceline before booking through Hotwire? I see that someone on the other board got the Sunday prior (May 9) for $99.00 on Priceline (that date is also $129.00 on www.venetian.com). So in fact I may have OVERPAID slightly doing it this way and then have to go through all this hassle.

Your Offer Price: $46.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $46.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.89 Total Charges: $57.89 Bid $40+10 and got a counter-offer to add $17 more. Instead, bid $42+10 which was rejected (no counter-offer). Added Rancho Mirage - Indian Wells - Palm Desert zone and rebid at $46 for the win. It wasn't a free rebid as I could have gotten the Indian Wells Resort (which would have been fine). Wyndham.com is showing this hotel as $143 for the night. Hotwire has this hotel for $74.

bbbb, since you seem to be the board's veteran expert on LV, do you have any advice about seeing the Grand Canyon on a day trip? Drive there yourself, take one of those bus tours, helicopter, etc? browneyeddaisy - You-know-who is just nasty... edits all my posts and repeatedly sends me messages to use her link for the commission! BetterBidding is so much friendlier. Thanks everyone!

Should I be concerned that the Hotwire price has gone from $185 to $220 now? May 16: $152 (was $191) May 17: $247 (was $217) May 18: $285 (was $203) May 19: $198 (was $191) May 20: $188 (was $148) May 21: $237 (was $217) Nothing to worry about or a sign that inventory may be drying up? P.S. I can only afford ONE Cirque du Soleil show!!! :)

5th Avenue Suites Hotel Check-In Date: Sat, Apr 3, 2004 Check-Out Date: Sun, Apr 4, 2004 Your Offer Price: $54.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $108.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $20.72 Total Charges: $128.72 Started at $51. Used free rebid for $52. Counteroffer for $15 more. Instead I used free rebid with $2 more and got it for $54. Was hoping for the Benson instead. This "suite" hotel has tiny "Priceline" (non-suite) rooms with only one queen bed. :)

Coast Bellevue Hotel Check-In Date: Sun, Apr 4, 2004 Check-Out Date: Mon, Apr 5, 2004 Your Offer Price: $30.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $60.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $15.22 Total Charges: $75.22 Started at $25 and used free rebids until I got it at $30.00 Lowest price on their website was $69.00

Damn, just spotted what seems to be the Novotel (with three icons - Shuttle, Restaurant and Fitness Centre) for $49 on Hotwire... Probably obtainable through Priceline for low $40s...

Travelling, I've only seen (what I think is) the Novotel as having Restaurant and Fitness Centre, never more icons. The alleged Delta had Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business, Spa and Children's Activites. The Delta only showed up for one day in the past 2 weeks or so and I've been checking at least once every day. Hope that helps.

I've been watching Hotwire for Montreal for a few weeks. Two 3.5* hotels - Novotel Montreal and Delta Montreal -- showed up consistently, but never together. They are differentiated by their amenities (Novotel with only 2, and Delta with 6). Another 3* property (presumably the Holiday Inn Select) also showed up, but at higher prices than the 3.5*. Anyhow, all three of these hotels are considered 3* by Priceline. I spotted the Novotel for $54 on Hotwire so I bid $45 on Priceline and was told to up my bid by $13. I waited 3 days and then the Novotel disappeared on Hotwire and the Delta appeared for $60. I bid $46 on Priceline and was rejected, with no counteroffer. Then the Delta appeared 2 hours later for $56 on Hotwire. I got my friend to bid $48 on Priceline and got it! Details: Check-In Date: Friday, April 16, 2004 Check-Out Date: Sunday, April 18, 2004 Your Offer Price: $48.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $96.00 (US dollars) Taxes & Service Fees: $16.07 (US dollars) Total Charges: $112.07 (US dollars) Delta website had a room for $139.00CAD/night, and Novotel had $129.00CAD/night.

Hyatt Regency Boston Financial District Check-In Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 Check-Out Date: Friday, April 16, 2004 Your Offer Price: $40.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $120.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $22.70 Total Charges: $142.70

Hyatt Regency Jersey City On The Hudson Check-In Date: Saturday, April 10, 2004 Check-Out Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 Your Offer Price: $37.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $111.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $22.56 Total Charges: $133.56 Accepted with first bid. Bidding amount was based on previous posts. Thanks BetterBidding.com!

Luxor has been booked as a backup. Deposit charged to CC but it's not really a problem (no balance) - just a bit different than most places that are not Vegas! The Venetian website has rates of $179.99 to $269.99 for my dates. The $119 suite specials only extend to April 13 at the moment. Anybody have show/attraction recommendations (that need to be pre-booked)?

I am looking at Luxor for $89/night as a backup. Do all hotels charge one night's rate as a deposit that is refundable with 48-hours cancellation? First night room and tax will be charged immediately to the credit card given at the time of reservation. There is a 48 hour cancellation policy. You will receive a full refund if reservation is cancelled no later than 48 hours prior to arrival. Thanks for your help!

Thereuare, any sage advice? Latest Hotwire prices: May 16: $191 May 17: $217 May 18: $203 May 19: $191 May 20: $148 May 21: $217 Hotwire wants $185 for the 6 days. It seems that May 20 would be available via Priceline for a decent rate even now. Do you think it would be best to hold off until early May before even thinking of bidding?

Changed my vacation dates to May 16 to May 22. Seems like much better availability for the Venetian! From Hotwire (Quikbook in brackets): May 16: $186 ($195) May 17: $203 ($214) May 18: $230 ($268) May 19: $191 ($195) May 20: $191 ($195) May 21: $210 ($214) Hotwire wants $199 for the 6 days. I will keep my eye on Hotwire and hopefully will grab a deal via Priceline a week before check-in. Also made reservations to watch Cirque du Soleil's O at the Bellagio. Anybody have comments on this show?

Thanks for the heads-up. Mystere tickets are available 3 months in advance and the closest available date is Tuesday, May 18. So for a May 24 show, I should make a booking in about a week. It's in the budget to pay up to $125/night but unless it's as nice as the Venetian, I wouldn't want to pony up that kind of money for an "okay" hotel.

Er, this sounds really stupid, but we don't drink or gamble! :) Just going to Vegas to soak up the sights, have a few nice meals, and watch some shows!

Thereuare, this site rocks. Too bad it's not that well-known. It looks like the largest convention (34,000 attendees) around that time is for the "International Council of Shopping Centers" (May 23 - 26) but their base hotel is the Hilton. I'd say for a backup I'd be willing to pay $60-70. Thanks for your help! BTW, Tripgenius has the following (Hotwire price in brackets): May 23: N/A May 24: N/A May 25: N/A May 26: $249.96 ($190) May 27: $249.96 ($184) May 28: $249.96 ($190) May 29: $349.96 ($275)

Since everyone is so friendly here (unlike at some other forum where you always get your head bitten off), I thought I would post a "help!" request and see if anyone has any thoughts. I'd like to stay in the Venetian from Sunday, May 23 to Saturday, May 29 (6 nights). Since May 28 is a Friday and prices are generally higher for that night, I would be okay with just May 23 to May 28. I know that Priceline offers the best price 7 days from check-in and to use Hotwire as a "gauge" as to when to try bidding. I don't mind bidding up to the day of arrival if I have to (won't be leaving for Las Vegas until evening of May 23)! Currently, Hotwire has the following: May 23: N/A May 24: N/A May 25: N/A May 26: $190 May 27: $184 May 28: $190 May 29: $275 So my questions: 1. Any ideas where to look for a nicer rate to use the "Double the Difference" rule on Hotwire? 2. I've never been to Las Vegas, so any suggestions on backup hotels? Thanks so much for your help!

Radisson Hotel Waikiki Prince Kuhio Waikiki South 2500 Kuhio Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 808-922-0811 Check-In Date: Friday, March 12, 2004 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 Your Offer Price: $58.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 5 Subtotal: $290.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $44.93 Total Charges: $334.93

Sorry, my bad. This is in the Universal/Sea World zone.

Check-In Date: Saturday, January 10, 2004 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 Hotel Name: Holiday Inn Intl Drive Resort Your Offer Price: $33.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $132.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $23.45 Total Charges: $155.45 Started with $30 and used free rebids to $33. Got the "3*" Holiday Inn I-Drive "Resort" for 4 nights. There is a $3.95/d resort fee as well. :) The reviews on this hotel are horrible. :)

Hyatt Regency Miami 400 S E Second Ave Miami, Florida 33131 305-358-1234 Check-In Date: Friday, January 2, 2004 Check-Out Date: Saturday, January 3, 2004 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $10.83 Total Charges: $45.83 Started with $30 bid. Got offer to rebid if $8 added to bid. Used free rebids to get it at $35.

Congratulations, you got your price of $65 for a 4-star hotel room. Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Plantation West Ft. Lauderdale - Plantation 1230 S Pine Island Rd Plantation, Florida 33324 954-472-2252 Check-In Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 Check-Out Date: Friday, January 2, 2004 Your Offer Price: $65.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $195.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $31.12 Total Charges: $226.12 I have been bidding on this for a while, starting at $40 and going up very slowly using the 4 free rebids. Today, I started at $60 and was offered to rebid for $18 more. I went up $1 at a time and got the bid for $65. Incidentally, I had also bid up to $40 for a 3* with no luck previously. Higher than usual for this 4* hotel but my dates are over New Year's. Rate on www.marriott.com is $169.00/night.