awesomemama

I will be flying in to SFO on 4/4 with 4 of my children, ages 9-16. Spending about a week playing in San Francisco. I want to make sure I make an educated choice on the area I bid on. The only things I am sure we want to see are Alcatraz and six flags. Since we will not have a car, and will be a woman alone with 4 kids, I want to be close to fun or transport, and very safe. Suggestions?

We have stayed there, and it is a great hotel, however it is placed inside a business park, so leave yourself plenty of time to find it!

Used SB link...I think. :) (In and out so many times!) I have been working on this, trying all kinds of bidding. Wanted a 4 star in either MTE, MTW, or UM. Finally got accepted at Millenium Broadway. Total for 3 night stay $781.88. Now I just have to figure out the best and safest way to get there from the airport in newark at 9 at night! Thanks for all the help I get from reading here!

Got this hotel for $55. $70 including taxes etc. started at savingsbarn. Started at 48, added north bid $51, added other free rebid, bid $55. accepted. Was hoping for the embassy suites that has come up in this area. Oh well. :) Still great price!

I have been trying for a hotel in this area for a few days now. Prices in downtown Boston are astronomical for this date. over $200 on Hotwire. Like I said, I've been bidding a few days, (always starting at savingsbarn.com) started at $60, and raised $3 each time. Got accepted at $72. total was $87.31 with taxes. The kids are excited about this one since it looks like a castle! :) Almost done with the trip! Thanks for all the help and input!

Accessed via savingbarn. Bid $50 albany downtown, denied bid $54 albany downtown and thru-way Accepted Your Offer Price: $54.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $54.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.76 Total Charges: $68.76

okay, checked into that....it would really only make a $3 difference for me--compared to just booking direct. After hotwires feels, I would probably still end up paying more through hotwire, even using the double the difference. I just thought it was odd. Have never seen this happen before. Thanks for the advice. My 11 day trip is coming together thanks to all the help I'm getting here!

thereuare--Hotwire has a double the difference guarentee?! I am going to have to look into that. hey--six bucks is six buck right? :) Thanks.

There is a 4* showing up, resort, restaurant, etc. really sounds like the Doubletree. (I didn't purchase.) But, on the doubletree sight you can book a room for $114! Why would be MORE?! Any ideas? Seems crazy to me. I guess I should definitely be more careful with my choices from now on.

Not that this has anything to do with priceline......except that I can't bid until I decide which area to stay in. I'm going to be in the Boston area for about 24 hours with my 3 kids ages 10, 8, 6. I am looking at 2 options for what to do. 1) Head south and visit Plymouth. Do the "plymouth village", Mayflower, maybe a whale watch or lobster boat. or, 2) head north, and do the New England Aquarium, childrens museum, and maybe a whale watch in Gloucester. I've never done ANY of these things, and since I only have 24 hours, I know I can't do all of them. Help? Thanks! I love this board, and always start my bid through savingsbarn.com! :)

Used savingsbarn .com sorry...such a habit, I forget to mention it.

Okay--bid Jun 19 Johnson city--won 2* La Quinta Inn, $49 (I have tried for a few days now, started at $45 and raised by $2 each day.) This is $19 less that the best price I could find it for direct, so, I'm happy. Thanks for the help! Your Offer Price: $49.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $49.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.13 Total Charges: $62.13

This is my favorite hotel of all in the area. Easy drive to Disneyland if you are going there, right near south coast plaza and Ikea! Spacious rooms, great front desk, you'll love it!

Sorry, I should have provided that information. The first night in the area would be the corning-ish. June 19th, 1 night. Hoping to spend under $100. Also, will be in Binghamton Jun 25th for 1 night. Same budget. Thanks, the state park looks beautiful, I'll have to try to fit that in our plans!

Looking at trying to book in the north shore area of Boston (Jun 23rd, 1 night)--around peabody/danvers. (Have a cousin up Gloucester way and want to be close but not too close :) ) is showing a 3* with rest. pool, fitness, business, internet, and laundry. This sounds like the sheraton ferncroft, but when I go directly to their site they show no availability. Any chance this could be something different? I'll probably end up bidding priceline in the peabody area at the $59 that every else seems successful at, but since I have time I am trying to bid each day hoping to get it just a little lower--I've done $48, $52, and $54 so far with no success.

Okay, you both have confirmed what I suspected about the area. Thanks. The one night that I "must" stay in Binghamton I think we'll just use my aunt's couch and floor. Another night I am going to need a room somewhere between Corning and Binghamton (or even scranton pa, but that will be a bit of a long drive that day if we go that far). Im not finding any great deals anywhere in that area (yes, I'm sure because of the smaller market....). I was thinking about booking the country inn suites in horseheads. Why? who knows! :) Can you tell me, what is the best place to stay in that area since I will probably end up booking directly? Thanks! The advice I am getting here is making my planning so much easier!

Forgot to mention that great savingsbarn link! Have to give support where its due huh? Thanks again!

Anyone ever stay in Binghamton NY? What hotels come up--either on priceline or howire?

Thanks so much. I have finally booked. Went through priceline. Bid $60 3* secaucus area. Started new bid, bid $70 Jersey city area. Bid $62 Jersey City and Secaucus Started new bid, bid $64 secaucus and elizabeth Bid $66 added Jersey city. Accepted. Wyndham Meadowlands Suites. Jun 21-23 (2 nights) total $159.76 Thanks again! Now I'll start working on the Boston area :)

dahammer-- thanks for all your advice. I know I have to have firm plans, that's why I always hesitate a while. Yes, I think I have pretty much narrowed my search down to Secaucus, or stamford, both have pros and cons. I also noticed the edison area yesterday, and am considering that area. I use priceline often here on the west coast, but this is my first "big" trip trying to use priceline for the great savings. Since I have never actually stayed in this area (as an adult :) ) I am just trying to make the most informed decision--and the one that will help my husband (who s to travel and s big cities) semi-enjoy himself, and give my kids a trip to remember. Thanks for everything!

Thanks for the info dahammer. The Whyndam suites are nice then? Maybe I will just try to bid in the Secaucus area then--I was worried about if it would be nice--sound like you like it okay.... The Hartford flight is at 1pm--we are just going to leave whatever hotel we get (wherever it may be) and drive up to drop him off on the way to Boston. Once I finally get up the guts to place the bid, I will post what happened. It always takes a bit of stewing for me, I'm always a little hesitant at commitment to anything! :)

Congrats! I just checked for my dates, and the 4*** is $316 a night!1 Yikes!

Thanks. Yes, the rates for my dates are quite high in the Jersey City area, (I bid up to about $130) which is why I moved into the other areas. I think the Hackensack or Secaucus are going to me my best bets if I stay in the NJ area. We will be dropping my hubby off at the airport in Hartford after our days in NYC which is why I am considering the Stamford CT area. Thanks for the airbed thought dahammer. My kids are used to sleeping on sleeping bags in hotels--I usually only get 1 room, and we use the $ we save to have more fun. I am thinking about 2 rooms in this area though since from my research it looks like we might have some tight squeezes... Thanks for the help!

anyone? Please? :)

Sorry thereuare, didn't mean to break any rules. Could you just tell me, what area would be best to stay when hoping to spend some time in NYC-- traveling w/husband & 3 small children. Secaucus, Hoboken, or the slightly pricier area of the connecticut coast?