franknstein

Dates are Sept 2 - 5th. Hank's results don't look too encouraging... Let me know if you succeed please! I'd be fine with any of the 3* (except maybe the doubletree since it's so far from the beach, but I'd risk it.) Any idea how the 2.5* 's are?

Trying to get near/or on the beach for labor day weekend. Currently have Best Western Oceanfront booked for $159/night in their "back lot"property, i.e., not on the beach. Would like to do better. What do you thin the odds are? I've tried $120 for 3* and was shot down. Just keep climbing, or am I wasting my time? Thanks! P.S. - I ALWAYS use the PRICELINE link at the top of the page!

In previous days I'd started at 3 1/2* for $55 and got as far as $85 for 2 1/2* yesterday and still no takers (everything's booked for a marathon). Finally today tried 4* for $85, 3 1/2* for $90, and 3* for $95. Realize it's a little backwards bidding but it was time to win something! I'm not worried about $5 here or there, and it's still just a little more than half price compared to their best rate online. And of course I used the PRICELINE link from here. Thanks for the help.

Ok, so I tried 3* at $65 - no go. I tried 2 1/2* at $75 - no go. I tried 2* at $85 - no go. I'm too nervous to pick 1* for fear it's a cardboard box on the street... I'll try again tomorrow I guess. We're going up there for a half-marathon my wife is running, and I think everything's booked up. Do the hotels just stop accepting Priceline if they're expecting big crowds? Would make sense... Thanks.

Actually, I come up with five: Cherry Hill, City Line, Gloucester, Trevose and University. I still don't believe there's any 1 star hotels in downtown Philly though. And I'm certainly not saying you're making this up, but do you believe that? Seems like Priceline's messing with the system! :))

If I go to the PRICELINE link I end up on Priceline's home page and I click "HOTEL" where I can then enter CITY, DATES, QTY of ROOMs, so I enter Philly, Sep 18-19, 1 room and click SEARCH NOW. It gives me a list of hotels and prices. So then I click the BEST DEAL tab (name your own price) and it brings up another page w/ a map of Philly and check boxes available to select STEP 1 - CHOOSE WHERE TO STAY (zones) and STEP 2 - CHOOSE THE STAR LEVEL FOR YOUR HOTEL (note - all on the same page). If I then select DOWNTOWN PHILADELPHIA it immediately lights up ALL star levels in the section below (STEP 2). If, however, I would select UNIVERSITY AREA then only 2 1/2* - 3 1/2* are highlighted in STEP 2. NOTE - at no time have I "proceeded to the next page" because STEP 3 (still on the same page) asks for my bid and below that I'm to enter my name. Now, the Better Bidding hotel list for Philly only lists 3* and above hotels. So is the Better Bidding list incomplete, is Priceline lying about the available star levels in that zone, or am I just on the wrong page all together??? Thanks!

Ok, maybe I figured this out, because I noticed if I pick University area it grays out certain star levels. But for Philly Downtown they're ALL lit. Your list only shows 3* and above? Can I safely bid 2 1/2* and below if I only want 3* and above or am I asking for a Motel 6 here?

In the pinned thread it says something like, "go to a PRICELINE page and enter a zone (the one you're interested in) then go to the next page as if you were going to enter a zone..." - huh? If I just entered a zone, why would I be going to the next page to enter a zone again? What am I missing. I'm trying to get a 3* in Philly (downtown). I bid $55 for 3* only in downtown and was rejected. Your list says there are no 2 1/2* or below hotels in downtown, so I tried again picking 2 1/2* at $58 and was rejected again. Thought I'd try again at 2* but started to get nervous and checked the pinned thread noted above and now I'm wondering how to figure out if there REALLY are no 2 1/2* or below in downtown Philly. So if go to Priceline and do the "name your own rate" thing it wants me to select zone, stars and name price, and the next screen is asking for name/address/cc#, etc. So where/how do I figure out what star ratings are really available in downtown Philly please? thanks!

Bid $40 on 3* at first on only airport, rejected. Tried again at $45 and added Space Needle figuring there's no way they're going to give me that for $45. Won the Doubletree, which is what I was hoping for! (we bagged the whole downtown thing because we have early flights the next morning) Of course I used the PRICELINE link at the top of this page! Thanks!

Ok, got the Westin for $80, which is what I figured based on all the other recent wins. That place must be packed w/ BetterBidders! So, I bid 75 for pike place, then 78 for pike and bothel, then 80 for pike, bothel and everett. Aug 28, 1 night, 3rooms, 4* - and I was bidding for 3 1/2* by the way. Now I'll have to wait till tomorrow for the 2 1/2* near the Space Needle at the end of the week because it says there are no rebid zones. I ALWAYS use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links in the upper corners of the page, of course. I mean who wouldn't? It'd just be silly not to. ;o)

Hey, space needle, carnival, rides - did I mention I have a 3 and 5 year old? I think what we'll do, since we have a night at the beginning and end of the trip, is stay downtown on the front end, and space needle on the back end. Is it really safe to keep adding other areas (Like Bothel) that show only a 2.5* as long as you're only bidding 3.5* and above? Thanks! I ALWAYS use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links in the upper corners of the page, of course. I mean who wouldn't? It'd just be silly not to. ;o)

Any idea what the odds are if I bid on 2.5* that I'd end up in Springhill instead of one of the others?

Yeah, I know. But the more I thought about it, I realized I just wanted to be somewhere we could walk to things. At least there's stuff to do around the Space Needle hotels, and the monorail is there as well if we want to take that down town. I'll have to check the SpringHill location, I thought it was closer to the Needle. Thanks! To be honest about the whole "star" thing, I've done a LOT of traveling and stayed in tons of hotels, from 5 star to the Super-8, and for my money you can't beat Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Suites. They generally have good size rooms, free parking, w/ lots of amenities and a great breakfast (for me anyway). The locations are not always smack in the middle of the action, and if that's a big concern I can see going elsewhere, but I never understood the attraction of paying more for a fancy hotel with often smaller rooms where you then have to pay for parking and breakfast (easily another $10 per head). And I know the HIE in Seattle charges for parking, but we're not driving so it doesn't matter.

Sorry, not sure how to change (or if I need to) the topic, or add the dates to the subtopic? Aug 28, 2009, 3 rooms, 1 night.

Ok, I think we're going to switch gears and go for the Space Needle area instead. I'd like to get one of the 2.5* hotels, since they all seem to come w/ complimentary breakfast. I'd prefer the Holiday Inn express, but it's not critical. Can't find any recent (or past) success stories, any help on bidding strategy? I ALWAYS use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links in the upper corners of the page, of course. I mean who wouldn't? It'd just be silly not to. ;o)

Hi, I'd like to get the Marriott Waterfront (the only 3.5*) for Aug 28th, 3 rooms, 1 night, and under $100. I've searched the forum and I NEVER see this hotel mentioned? They're on Priceline's list, does no one ever succeed? Am I just way under the proper budget? Seems like 4*'s are going for $70-95 and this is only 3*. We're flying in the day before our cruise and would like a hotel downtown not too far from the waterfront. We've got 4 octogenarians with us so the less walking the better. Marriott seemed perfect. Edgewater would be OK, but I don't want to risk ending up way out by I-5. Any help? Thanks!

Well, I was shooting for one of the Residence Inn's, and after adding more and more locations for 3 stars and got up to $75 I finally caved and added 2 1/2 stars and ended up with the Courtyard by Marriott in Green Valley. Looks like a nice place w/ good reviews. Priceline price was $139 so I guess I did OK at $75. Do I have a record now for the most replies to my own post? :)

I should clarify a little. On the 18th I'm that's what I'm looking for. I think on the 25-27th we might try for Treasure Island. I think I can get it thru Hotwire for $112/night. Is there anyway to be sure I'm getting it on Priceline and try for a better price, or should I stick w/ Hotwire? Thanks!

Ok, I think I figured out the system. It's the Alexis (or something like that) right I think.

3 star Near Strip East - $75 Any idea which hotel this would be for Nov18-19? Amenities listed are: resort, suites, pool, fitness center, business center, restaurant, and golf nearby? Thanks!

What a great site? You guys rock! Hope you can help me. We're travelling to AZ for Thanksgiving (near Flagstaff), but flying in/out of Vegas. We arrive on the Sat the 18th of Nov around 5pm, will be spending the night and leaving the next morning for Flagstaff. We've got a 2 yr old and a 4 month old and will probably arrive, eat, and go to bed (no sightseeing, shows or casinos). On the way out we'll probably spend 2 nights (25th-26th) and fly out early on the 27th, so we'll have some time to look around. I'm looking for something under $75 that's not a dump and bonus would be free breakfast. I don't care THAT much where it is, because we'll have a rental car. Any suggestions? Thanks!