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I know it had: Pets allowed Swimming Pool I believe the rest were: Free Internet in public areas Restaurant Business Center Fitness Center

Tried Priceline Name Your Own Price at $180 for 4 Star Oceanfront and received a $223 counter. Priceline Express had it at $205. I could've rebid adding Bluffton as it has no 4 stars but always worry about making a mistake when adding zones. Time was short so I grabbed the Priceline Express at $205 (It had been closer to $220 a few days ago). Were 4 hotels that it could be but I knew really it could only be 3 as the Marriott is sold out. It was the Sonesta. 4 Star Ocean front were either side of $300 at the time to book straight up knowing the name.

Excellent location but the hotel itself is unremarkable for the price. The rooms are pretty standard size, not what I'd call roomy, but they are all ocean view which is nice. Linens are excellent. TV is okay, no dvd player. A/C is effective but is a very noisy wall unit that sticks into the balcony. The bathroom sink area is nice but the shower was older and had mildew in the caulking. The lobby was nice, and they have a free computer in the lobby along with free wireless in the rooms. They also typically have a lemonade station in the lobby or by the pool. The pool was quite small for a hotel of this size and price. Access to the beach is of course excellent and the beach is wide and the slope into the ocean is gradual. They have two shower stations to rinse and a separate foot and hand rinsing station. The Folly Pier is right next door. We rented fishing gear one day and did some fishing from the pier. We had some good action catching small whiting (possibly other similar fish...I'm no expert but some were a bit different) and one good sized beautiful Atlantic Spadefish. We saw a few catch sharks from the tip of the pier but no King Mackeral. There are lifeguards on the beach and you can rent waverunners from the beach in front of the hotel. You take an elevator from the lobby up to your floor. The elevator is hot b/c the walkways to your room is outside. One tip...after using your access card...lift the handle UP not down! The hotel sits at the end of Folly Beach Rd and right across the street is the "strip" so to speak (pretty low key...this is no Myrtle Beach...which is not a bad thing!). A number of nice looking restaurants and bars to choose from as well as several beach shops. It's all nice and compact. We ate at Rita's right across the street and the food was excellent; especially the grilled Mahi Mahi special with grits and asparagus. We also enjoyed Fleet's Landing in Charleston. The Blue Crab cakes there are outstanding. Fleet's was recommended by Jay who is on staff at the Holiday Inn. He was outstanding in helping us with parking and anything else. Actually, all the staff were very friendly and helpful. Final notes: There is free parking in the lot but it is not large enough. When I asked what to do if it is full (full sign is up a lot even though there may be a spot or 2 open) the desk told me "Street parking is also complimentary." LOL! We booked our rooms for 5 but they only had double beds and no pull out sofas. At first the front desk wanted to charge us for a roll away, but after asking for the manager and pointing out our reservations were for 5 the manager agreed we should not be charged. In summary, the hotel is nice but won't blow your socks off. The beach location is excellent though and it is an easy 20 minute drive into the heart of Charleston.

I tried several more times in the days following my last post up to $170 to no avail. I got rebid offers a few times of $160 + $35 but declined. Anyway, they win, we are still going but paying with miles from my BIL who travels extensively for work. I'm going to pay him for his miles, but not full value, he is generously cutting us a deal. The room rate on Travelocity is now up to $260 and it is $246 on HOTWIRE for my dates (Prices were $216 and $206 back in late May.). Like I said, they have a pretty good exclusive ocean front gig going there. I imagine its one of the more profitable Holiday Inns in the chain. Oh well, I hope its nice.

Trip is back on so tried bidding again today. $150, $155, $160 and was offered rebid if +35 on the $160 so tried increasing by 1/3 of difference as suggested by a poster in the thread you linked to. $172 bid failed. Not too disappointed only b/c I wouldn't really be thrilled to pay $172! Disappointed only b/c I see in another thread that I could get the ocean front Marriot in Hilton Head for $89 for those dates and having stayed there before know it would be nice. Obviously they have a good gig going there in Folly Beach being the only oceanfront game in town. Will update when I have anything new to post.

When you say the "right" number is between $161 and $180 how do you know that? When they offer you an instant rebid if you increase by x amount do you know from experience that they always accept that new amount?...thus making it the upper end of the acceptance window? So being offered an instant rebid if I go up $30 from my $150 meant they would definitely take $180? I tried $160 and $165 today again with no luck. I was offered an instant rebid on my $160 bid if I went up $35. Actually, maybe I was lucky after all. We found out later today that our relatives may have to cancel their trip (they are paying with miles). I would've been bummed to pay up only to have no real reason to go to that specific hotel anymore! So things are on hold now. I will update if anything changes. Thanks for your continued input. EDIT: Oh, the backup plan was to see if our relatives would be allowed to use more of their miles (they have a tons due to work travel) to book us a room and pay them the $300 and something for two nights instead. Otherwise just stay inland and travel to the beach to visit each day. We'd probably be going to dinner in Charleston anyway so between us we'd have a hotel base in both locations.

Well I guess business is good on Folly Beach. Tuesday I got rejected at 130 - 145. I tried yesterday after 24 hours but for some reason it I couldn't bid again yet...then didn't get around to it again. Just now, Thursday, I got rejected at 150 -165. The only things to note are when I bid $150 I was offered the "one time" ability to rebid right away if I increased my bid by $30 without changing anything (that was new to me) and then at $160 (that is the 1st bid after closing the browser and reopening to try the 2nd 2 bids) I was offered an immediate rebid if I went up by $35. Neither immediate rebid price levels were attractive to me. I'll probably try $160 each of the next few days and then make other plans.

I've worked my way up using the suggested strategy but no luck so far. I just got rejected at $125 which concluded my 2nd round of bidding. The only thing I did different was I started at $85 (skipped the $65-80 steps) since I became pretty confident my target hotel is the only 3*. I know you were starting conservative just in case there was another non-oceanfront...I decided to risk it. Since that was the case I didn't really expect a hit until above $100, but was kind of hopeful for $125. I have at least 24 hours now to consider upping or going another route...maybe staying in another area. BTW, thanks for the step-by-step illustration showing how to get 4 bidding opportunities per round. I'm pretty sure I would've only thought to do 3 combos.

Thank you again for your response. I will let you know how things go and use your link. One other detail...if booked directly on the travel sites they are including a $20 breakfast credit with the $216 rate. What really threw me off was the $216 travel site rate vs. the $159 "median" rate that showed up. Is that odd if there is only one 3* in the zone and it is in fact the oceanfront Holiday Inn? Or does that number not mean much? I also found this link: Priceline webpage showing 3* for the hotel I want

Thank you for your reply! Holliday Inn of Folly Beach: 116 West Ashley Avenue, Folly Beach, SC *not oceanfront, not desired, independent Holiday Inn Folly Beach Oceanfront: 1 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC *oceanfront, target property, part of the major chain I have not found the double L Holliday in on any travel sites whatsoever...only via Google Maps and their own website: http://www.hollidayinnfollybeach.com/ This hotel may be fine, I have no personal experience there, its just I would not want to pay oceanfront rates for a non-oceanfront property unless it is truly excellent. Their rates seem high to me considering location, the room pics and the one scathing review I read. Water's Edge Inn seems to fall in the excellent category. I do not have a specific price target. If we get a good enough deal on 2 nights we may bid for a 3rd. If the deal is so/so we will stay 2 nights. If we can't seem to get much off w/ failed bids then we may stay in closer to Charleston and drive in to visit family at the oceanfront Holiday Inn. I guess I would love $105 to $120 and maybe go as high as $140ish for the real Holiday Inn oceanfront. Does that sound reasonable? A successful $105-$110 I would probably bid for a 3rd night. Hotwire has it for $206 and the travels sites for $216. I got such a good deal at Wild Dunes last year ($105 for $243) maybe I'm expecting too much?

I am hoping to win a stay at the Holiday Inn Folly Beach Oceanfront the nights of June 20 & 21. Travel site rates are $216 and HOTWIRE is $206. It appears to be the only oceanfront in the PRICELINE Folly Beach area using Search Nearby in Google Maps "Hotel" and looking on the travel sites. HOTWIRE shows the oceanfront icon for the $206 hotel. My hesitation is when I go to bid on PRICELINE it lists the "median 3* price in the area selected" as $159 which makes me wonder if there is another 3* hotel in the zone that in not oceanfront. No other hotel comes up period on the travel sites specifically in Folly Beach, however Google Maps shows an independent hotel named Holliday Inn of Folly Beach (note the 2 "L"s in Holliday)...this hotel is not on the water and has a bad review...I do not want to stay here. Their website also specifically states they are not affiliated w/ the major chain Holiday Inn. There is also Waters Edge Inn of Folly Beach...also not ocean front...but appears to be very nice and I would be okay if I got this one. I doubt the double "L" Holliday would be in the PRICELINE system but welcome others' thoughts. We are visiting family staying at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront so its not mandatory we are oceanfront, but the bad review (and quite honestly their own website pictures) of the one independent has me concerned. There are 2 zones in the general area that max out at 2 1/2 stars so I have several rebid opportunities when combined with the 3 weeks or so before our trip date. Could anyone offer a bidding strategy and any insight into whether the Holiday Inn Folly Beach Oceanfront is the only 3*? I'm pretty confident but the $159 vs the $216 I've seen is throwing me off. All I've found in a search of Folly Beach here is this thread where someone came to the same conclusion a few years back. Thanks! Priceline Folly Beach

I just won Wild Dunes Resort - for 8/21 - 8/23 bidding $105 for 4* Isle of Palms/Mt. Pleasant SC Last minute trip, we are very excited, thanks to the board. $105 was initial bid and accepted. Travelocity price $243/night for same dates. No 4* available for that area at all on Hotwire for same dates. Wild Dunes Resort 5757 Palm Boulevard Isle Palms, SC 29451 843-886-6000 Check-In: Friday, August 21, 2009-04:00 PM Check-Out: Sunday, August 23, 2009-11:00 AM Room Cost (avg. per room, per night):$105.00 (USD) Number of Rooms:1 Number of Nights:2 Room Subtotal:$210.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees:$39.34 (USD) Total Room Cost:$249.34 (USD)

Crowne Plaza on Broad St in Glen Allen area of Richmond Amnenities: Fitness Center Restaurant High-speed Internet Pool Business Center I went for the $59 3* option at 46% listed savings over the $79 3.5* option at 11% and was surpised but happy to get the Crown Plaza. On Priceline I tried $40 and then $55 unsuccessfully for 3* Richmond - Glen Allen before booking on Hotwire.