BidByMe

Just for kicks, I tried some alternatives that may help people with this city later: One Night, 03-MAY-2006 2.5* - $65 - Portage = DENIED 2.5* - $70 - Portage + Kzoo = DENIED 2.5* - $75 - Portage + Kzoo + Battle Creek = DENIED 2* - $45 - Kzoo = DENIED Two Nights, 03-MAY to 04-MAY 2* - $50 - Kzoo = DENIED 2* - $55 - Kzoo + Portage = DENIED Tried one night, 03-MAY 2* - $59 - Kzoo + Portage = Priceline said I'd already tried that combination, but I hadn't.

Trying again, but have reduced stay to three days = 03-MAY-2006 to 06-MAY-2006 2.5* - $70 - Portage = DENIED 2.5* - $75 - Portage + Kzoo = DENIED 2* - $50 - Kzoo = DENIED At this point I had a decision...do I risk getting the Econolodge with further 2* bidding or do I just book one of the following direct from the hotel's website: Econolodge = $49/night Red Roof East = $42.50/night Red Roof West = ~$60/night Best Western = $80/night ($72/night for AAA) I took a risk that Priceline might not consider the Econolodge a 2* for bids even though it shows it as a 2* hotel in the listings. I read somewhere that those two ratings don't correlate for some strange reason only a Priceline pinhead would know for real. 2* - $55 - Kzoo + Portage = DENIED At this point I think Priceline is too risky to keep trying; I'll just save money and book direct.

Pickup = 03-MAY-2006 PM Dropoff = 07-MAY-2006 AM Location = Chicago, Midway Airport Really wanted a Premium for $26/day or less. Got one last year for the same period. Was offered Full for $22/day with Hotel Bid Win, so based bids on that amount. Bids: Premium - $22/day - DENIED Luxury - $23/day - DENIED Full - $20/day - DENIED

One night, 06-MAY-2006. 3* - $75 - Midway - ACCEPTED Was planning to add my one extra bid zone (Skokie) to try $80...guess I should have started off lower. Hotel Assigned: Chicago Marriot Midway Web Rate = $149 + $24.58 taxes = $173.58 My Cost = $75 + $19 taxes = $94

Kalamazoo has 1-3* hotels (just one 3*). Kalamazoo (Kzoo) has two surrounding areas available for rebids: Portage with 1-2.5* hotels and Battle Creek with 1-2* hotels. Took a shot at the 3* Radisson for cheap, didn't work. Goal was a 2* other than Econolodge for under $50/night in Kzoo or Portage area. (Priceline lists Econolodge as a 2* for $59-$64/night. From past experience I know the Lee's Inn is a 2* also and is way better than the Econolodge. I'd pay more for the Lee's Inn, but don't want to risk getting stuck paying $50 for the Econolodge.) Second choice was a 2.5* (Residence Inn in Portage) for under $80/night. Stay was 03-May-2006 through 07-May-2006, booked 30-Apr-2006. Kzoo was hosting a conference during these dates so hotel rooms were scarce. 3* - $60 - Kzoo = DENIED 3* - $70 - Kzoo + Portage = DENIED 2.5* - $35 - Portage = DENIED 2.5* - $40 - Portage + Kzoo = DENIED 2.5* - $45 - Portage + Kzoo + Battle Creek = DENIED 2* - $40 - Kzoo = DENIED 2* - $45 - Kzoo + Portage = DENIED 2.5* - $62 - Portage = DENIED 2.5* - $67 - Portage + Kzoo = DENIED 2.5* - $71 - Portage + Kzoo + Battle Creek = DENIED Will try again tomorrow.