icedancer

I think wait it out and try again, maybe raise my maximum to $110 or $115. Next plan would be to lower my star rating. I'm leaving the country this morning for 9 days, so I'll try again when I get back and have reliable internet.

Just to update... I finally got around to bidding, and was rejected up to $100. Used the SB link to bid.

Oh, say $100 max bid.

Any 4* in Greenville would be fine with me for the right price, though we do happen to have had some very good experiences with Westins in the past.

My husband and I are planning a trip to Greenville, SC from 4/26-4/29, and have been asked to stay at the Westin Poinsett. I saw on TOBB that the Westin was listed as the only 4* in Greenville, but the reviews were very, very out of date. 4* is still listed as a choice on Priceline for that zone. Has anybody won that hotel recently, or know if that's still the only 4* hotel offered (or the only 4* hotel in Greenville, for that matter...)? We are completely unfamiliar with that area. Right now, best rate for those dates is $169, with multiple free re-bids, so I'm thinking this is a ripe opportunity for getting a good deal.

Holy Moley! We just checked in and got upgraded to the "Lovers Suite"! I wonder how that happened! I hope the rest of the trip goes as well as the first couple of hours has :-).

You can add me to the list of those who have been banned by TOBB. Last June, my husband and I were looking for a hotel (I think) in Durham, NC. I had wanted to bid on a 4*, requested help, received a bidding strategy, and then at the last minute my husband said he wanted to go 3* instead to save some additional money. I didn't bother going back to Sheryl to ask for additional advice, but posted my winning bid on the 3* thinking that I was doing something that would be appreciated. Next thing I know -- zap! My account had been suspended. God forbid something would come up and I would have to change my plans! I think I had also discovered BB at around the same time, so maybe it was a coincidence -- i.e. she saw my screenname at both places and decided she couldn't have anyone with split loyalties (FWIW, I had no idea I shouldn't be using the same screenname at both places. I was new to Sheryl's antics.) Anyway, I'm a loyal BB supporter now. I love the site and have recommended it to many. In particular, I like that it covers both Hotwire and PL, and for EasyClickTravel that it has the reverse lookup tool.

Looks lik $85 was the lucky number! I got the Westin, as I had hoped. Feel free to change the thread title. A little surprised they were only willing to accept $20 below their best non-refundable rate. Made my bid through the Savings Barn link. Y'all are the best!

I think I'd like to start with Resort. Maximum bid $85. Another reference price: Omni Resort -- $129

Cancun, one night, 12/14. Prefer a resort property/4*. Best rates found on hotel websites were: Westin Regina Resort: $105 CasaMagna Marriott $149 Le Meridien $209 JW Marriott $219 Hyatt Cancun Caribe $170 Thanks in advance

I ended up booking through the HOTWIRE link, and it was indeed the Westin at $111. Please go ahead and change the thread title to reflect the purchase. That was $200+ saved over the Westin site! Thanks again.

I'm really, really interested in getting the Westin. Just wanted to find out what the experts think it is. Amenities: Fitness Center Business Center Restaurant(s) High Speed Internet Listed as Best Value, $111 and 44% discounted. (This price seems super-low to me for peak holiday travel time.) The Westin on its own website has $199 as it's lowest internet non-refundable rate, which is exactly the retail rate listed on the Hotwire entry. The Sofitel has $290 as the lowest rate on its website. Tracey

Just following up...my husband was able to cancel the EasyClickTravel reservation quickly and easily with one phone call (I had to leave the country in a rush right after finishing bidding and just returned this morning). Thanks again for all of the assistance.

OK, thanks. Got the JW Marriott for $165 through SavingsBarn. Taxes and service fees $56.67 for a total cost of $386.67 for the 2 nights. BTW, from $150 on up, it was taunting me with an "add $25" counteroffer. Just my luck that the 2-3 times a year I go to DC, rates are higher than usual. Bleah. Thank goodness for Priceline! One last stupid question: How do I go about cancelling my easyclicktravel reservation? There doesn't seem to be an option for this in "my account".

It's confirmed.

OK, thanks for the clarification. I'll go ahead and make this my backup. So any bidding strategy thoughts yet? Or are things looking pretty dire?

I looked at your link, and the property and location seem good. I've never used EasyClickTravel Travel before. Are you just throwing this out there for bidding reference, and for if I fail with Priceline, or are you actually suggesting I book it and be done? (I thought there was no backing out with opaque vendors.) Sorry for all the questions...

Oh, sorry. Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. I guess this is in the wrong zone. Never mind...

Yeah, no luck. I'm ready to bid again as soon as you can suggest a starting point :) . Capital Hilton and Renaissance Mayflower are Pricing at $429/night on Priceline for those dates. The Hyatt is $269. The Westin Embassy Row is $324 and the Omni has no availability for my dates.

No luck with the "extend your stay" option. There was no counteroffer given. I'll move over to the 5/31-6/2 thread now...

I've been successful with the first half of my trip. Hope to do as well on the second half. Looking for 4* in White House-Downtown area, 5/31-6/2 I'll take Dupont Circle-Woodley Park as a backup. No limit on where I'll bid to; I have to make the trip and have the Madison as a backup at $239+ tax.

Followed your instructions to a T (using the link on SavingsBarn) and got the Capital Hilton for $80 for 5/29-5/31, Yay! The location is perfect, as my meetings are at 15th and M. Should I post a separate thread for the win? I'll start a new thread for 5/31-6/2. BTW, I started doing Priceline bidding with help from TOBB, and even after reading everything on the site, I didn't know that I could do the rebidding in the way you described. Your method gives you quite a bit more range with every attempt for a 4*. One last thing -- on the confirmation page, it gives the option to extend my stay. What will happen if I try this? Is it going to reject, given that $80 was rejected for 5/31-6/2 earlier?

OK, I've checked with the necessary people, and splitting the bid should be no problem. For the second half, 5/31-6/2, I've decided that I'd be willing to add the Dupont Circle-Woodley Park area as a backup.

Thanks for the suggestion. It's something I'd never considered, but it might work out; I'll have to check a few things. Question then: Where should I start bidding for the first 2 + last 2 nights if I try to split it?

I've bid the last 2 nights (through SavingsBarn), and have come up empty. The Madison and St. Regis are currently pricing out at $240/night. Other 4*s in the zone are in the $350-$375 range. The first night, I started at $90 and used my free re-bids to go up to $105. The second night, I started at $110 and used my free re-bids to go up to $125. I've currently got a reserved room at the Madison for $239+ tax as a backup (no cancellation penalty), so I'm willing to bid pretty high. Any suggestions on where I should start next? I'd like to stick with the White House zone to be close to my meetings.