paulsblake

Best Value!

Eiffel Tower - Mus

$ 5 bidding increments scored a 4* in downtown Seattle. Some of the reviews kept me from going the 3* route on Priceline - and no attractive 3.5* options were available on Hotwire. I think this turned out great. Thanks for your help, thereuare - and good luck to everyone else!

This completes my search for accomodations for a Memorial Day Weekend train trip from Portland, OR to Vancouver, BC. Now to start filling in the rest of the blanks =o)

I'd like to check out the new additions to the Seattle Library and Art Museum. Does anyone know of a good play or show the evenening of the 29th? Thereuare - I'll certainly check out your happy hour suggestion!

Thanks,

Paul

Wherever u go ..... I mean, thereuare - I went with your Hotwire suggestion and booked the Sheraton @ $89. Maybe not the cheapest, but it looks pretty cool - and sounds like the rooms have fireplaces? Who could pass that up!

Thanks yet again!

Paul

Continued down the same path;

$95 added Airport (was offered a chance to rebid without changes for add'll $22, and refused)

$100 adding Bothell for a victory

4* Seattle Sheraton Hotel for the 27th.

I never really felt Hotwire was offering a 4* for less than $100. Also realized I couldn't turn back to a 3* without waiting the 72 hours, as I'd already bid on other zones containing 3* hotels. Now - I'm still looking for the 29th in Seattle. Keep ya'all posted!

Thanks,

Paul

Unsuccessful bidding for 5/27 thus far;

$70 Seattle (downtown)

$75 added UW

$80 added Lake U

$85 added Bellevue

$90 added Bothell

Wondering if perhaps I should drop my expectations down to a 3.5*, as it seem Seattle is a little pricey. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Paul

Thanks for the tips! My rebids were as follows;

$60 adding Delta ( 2* highest )

$65 adding Langley ( 2* highest )

$70 adding Surrey ( 3* highest )

none of which were accepted.

Since I've exhausted the rebids, I now assume that I should wait a few days to continue to persue a 4* hotel on Priceline, or move over to Hotwire. Let me know =o)

Thanks,

Paul

First bid with Priceline for 4* was $55 declined. As I would like a 4* in the downtown area, I wanted to check with the experts as to my strategy for a rebid. I'm really not certain which areas do not have a 4* to include in my rebid.

Any suggestions?

Also - seems that Priceline is currently doing better than Hotwire in this category.....just my observation.

Cheers!

Paul

I'm thinking of doing the helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon. Anyone have a good reccomendation for tour companies in Vegas?

Paul

Just managed to book my "O" tickets for the sold out show on the 19th. A few pairs of tickets remain for the late show if you call the Bellagio ticket office 888.488.7111 (What else are you going to do with all the money you save?).

hank - see my post for 18-20

i just got the v for $94/nite

paul

Just received notification of a $296 credit to my card! Yippee!

Thanks all for your 5* help.

Made it so!

Okay - I've done it ........ booked that V @ $242 and submitted a DD @ $168 which should net me a room for $94/nite (plus tax). I'll keep you all posted on my DD claim.

See you in Vegas AEmgee!! Thanks all......

Paul :)

(now it's all about celine & o)

Hotwire is posting the V @ $203/nite as of today

Lowestfare postz the V @ $179/nite as well.

using hotwire's DD guarantee = 24*2*2 (for two nites) would net the V @ $155/nite? still too much?

Regarding 5* options - is there anyting else on the strip that may interfere with plans to get the venetian (and a dd guarantee) ?? Can I bid with confidence that anything 5* on the strip would be the V?

P

Getting close guys - any fresh advice at this point?

Did you figure out what this could be? I'm thinking Westin, and wondering how that might compare to TI ?

Seeing Venetian on Orbitz for 229.50, and also on Hotwire (based on amenities) for $256. Thinking this is a wonderful opportunity for a DD guarantee? But is $203/nite still too much to pay, assuming a successful DD refund?

Paul :)

[url=http://home.comcast.net/~paul.blake/orbitzratesforvegas.pdf]http://home.comcast.net/~paul.blake/Orbitz...tesforvegas.pdf

http://home.comcast.net/~paul.blake/hotwir...tesforvegas.pdf

Orbitz is offering the V at $229.50/nite whereas Hotwire is posting it at $256. Would this be eligible for a DD price guarantee of 104 for a two nite stay? Making my net stay at the V ~$200/nite?

My bids for the V on the dates i'm looking for (18-20) have been up to $135 (as of 4/23). I'm backing down for awhile, to see how things settle out. My backup is a free 1* for listening to a timeshare presentation (scary). I think I may just stay at a reasonably priced 3* if it gets down to that.

Paul :)

Anyone?

3* on Hotwire @ $67 - what is it? Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Business Center (only). I see no matches on current posts. All other 3* listings include fitness and/or golf. :)

Paul

Thereuare,

You suggest the Mirage 4.5* @ $124, which is excellent value - THANKS! Before I go ahead and book the Mirage (which ironically by definition is something illusory and unattainable), would like to open discussion on the DD price guarantee that Hotwire offers.

Hotwire is posting a 4.5* for $136/nite. Logic says this is MGM (115: 140/90 on Orbitz) or Caesars (155: 110/200 on Orbitz).

Hotwire is posting a 4* for $124/nite. Logic says this is TI (104: 109/99 on Orbitz) or NYNY (120: 130/111 on Orbitz). [i think I read that someone actually got the TI and a nice discount recently?]

Would there be a preferred strategy here with respect to the Double the Difference price guarantee that Hotwire offers? Do the hotwire prices sort of "give away" wich hotel is behind the price (ie; Caesar & NYNY wich are less favorable discounts). Anything here eye catching? Seems only the TI at $104 is any real money saver - but you seem to give that one the thumbs down for some reason. Why? Is the Mirage the place to be?

ALSO: is all hope lost for everyone's favorite - the V ?

Thanks!

Paul :)

Please see my post under the Priceline forum;

5* Las Vegas Strip May 18

Thanks!

Paul :)

Greetings Bidders!

Wanted to create this opportunity to discuss bidding for these midweek dates [5* +/- Las Vegas Strip May 18 - May 20]. So far lady luck has played no role in providing deluxe accommodations for next-to-nothing prices ..... but hand me the dice one more time, cause I'm feelin' lucky!

Here's my story - sad as it may be - I've got my free airfare and off-strip 1* hotel for two, courtesy of one of those timeshare seminars. So now it's time to build a better vacation, starting with the room. I'm staying midweek, which works in my favor - but there's a Geriatrics Convention (2,750) at the Venetian on all of these particular days. My 5* bidding attempts have been upwards of $135/nite. The odds are not in my favor.... gasp!

Bally's site is offering $109/$99 for those days (not their rock bottom $69). And I'm sure other fine casinos are in that same price range. I believe that Priceline was offering the Venetian for $249 as a second chance, and other similarly ranked hot-spots for just as much.

But before buckling under pressure, and accepting my losses - I wanted to reach out to the masses and see what you-all are finding out there in the desert for these dates.

note: Seen 'O' and 'Mystere' before. Planning to take in "O" or "Zumanity" this time, but seems only the nosebleed seats are available at this late date (for 'O'). Other show suggestions warmly welcomed. Wish Seinfeld or Elton were in town these dates! Would love to stay at the Bellagio, Venetian, Mirage, Treasure Island, etc... In the past, I've stayed at the Flamingo, and the Excalibur. Both OK - but really looking to find something better.

also: this forum is divided between priceline and hotwire - since my bidding has been on priceline, i've opened this post here - but would like to have information for both.

Thanks, all!

Paul :)