Angelnot

A good way to get a quick background and gain confidence for bidding is to read old posts. Without even clicking on the posts it appears the Intercontinental and Conrad are coming up in Streeterville as 4.5 wins. While you can't make a special request until after you win one way to ensure more than one bed is to list 3 or 4 adults in your Hotwire search. Priceline only guarantees one bed.

Mid May to early June is graduation season. One of the major NY univerisities, Columbia I think, had graduation this week and Priceline wins were near impossible. Even rack rates went through the roof (two weeks ago the rate at the Westin was $519 this week $689. My Priceline win was last minute and other wins I've seen were made months ago or less than a week before the stay. Keep bidding but get a cancellable back up.

I'm not sure if this is always the case but in the month that I watched the NYC board it seems most of the really good Priceline wins (read this as cheap) have been won less than a week before or even the day of the stay. To guarantee beds for eight people you would need 4 rooms and I'm guessing that is a pretty difficult last minute win. Last minute bidding is a not a strategy for the faint hearted, those without a cancellable back up or those who can't be flexible with their travel arrangements. Even if you wanted to gamble and bid on only 2 rooms it was noted by another poster that in NYC the hotel may not allow extra people in the room (even if they are willing to sleep on the floor) because of fire code.

To officially close this thread, our stay at the Westin went well. I made no special requests for the stay. When I called to confirm the reservation I noted we were traveling with 3 young children and needed rooms next door to each other. I was actually assigned adjoining rooms on the 15th floor, exactly what we wanted. The standard Westin-Times Square (a bit confusing because Westin-New York is on hotel signs) room has 2 double beds so this worked great for us. Room size seemed normal, the bathroom had a pocket door with an itty bitty sink but was as spacious as most hotel bathrooms with excellent water pressure. The room was clean and all rooms were non smoking. There was a safe, iron, IPOD dock and coffee maker in the room but no high priced snacks. We heard the occasional siren during the night but no other city noise. I'm not one for decor but I think modern best describes the rooms. Not exactly my cup of tea but black, orangy gold and stainless steel were what stuck with me along with the all white heavenly beds. When I called to confirm, at check in and when we checked out no mention was made of Priceline. All that was noted was that the room was prepaid. I was asked for a photo ID at check in and a credit card for incidentals. Westin staff were all cordial and helpful. I saw no children other than ours at the hotel during our stay. Our girls accompanied by their American Girl dolls were treated very well. The staff seemed happy to welcome the kids. One even got our shyest to volunteer this was a late birthday trip for her. A complimentary bedtime snack of milk, cookies and fruit was sent up for the kids. Each bathroom had one adult sized robe. Three kids, two robes, a potential issue. An extra robe arrived without me asking. I'm not sure who figured that out. I could not find the ice machine and asked a staff person who happened by. Rather than just telling us where the room was she stopped and led us to the ice room. There was no possibility of her getting a tip either because all I had with me was an ice bucket and 2 kids young enough to think going to get ice was an adventure. The Westin staff made the stay for three young girls extra special. All this on a Priceline stay at a sold out New York hotel. During our stay I walked pass most of the hotels won on Priceline. The Times Square crowds were not too bad during the day but at night the sidewalks were so crowded it was difficult to walk. On a positive note this made me feel quite safe with kids out late after taking in a couple of Broadway shows. We saw Phantom at the Majestic Theater less than a block from the Westin. The Westin was a 5-7 minute walk to the Marriott Marquis where the TKTS discount theater booth is temporarily located. In fact we stopped and purchased tickets for our first night before checking into the Westin. I did not like waiting until the last minute to secure a room but my tired, aching feet were happy our Priceline bid landed us in Times Square.

I gave up bidding on a late night arrival on May 11 days ago. It was just too expensive. We will be content with a one or two night stay. Our back up reservation was $500 a night per room including taxes. If Priceline had let me down, I'd decided on a day trip. It would have been a hard, long day but more affordable. Thank goodness for Priceline. I know it is New York City but gee whiz, $500 a room just about stopped my penny pinching heart. I'm going to keep trying using the links for a second night's stay.

I've been bidding every day for about two weeks using the maximum number of rebid combinations (17) from $140 to $200 dollars per room per night. Before work early this morning I bid for my full stay of May-12 checking out on May-14. This morning every bid for the 2 night stay was rejected as usual. My evening routine is to bid each night separately. Partial victory this evening bidding on the first night only. Heavenly bed here we come! :) I started my single night bid at $155. I got this screen: We searched hundreds of options to find your hotel room, however we can't accept your offer of $155 per room, per night... If you are willing to raise your price by $25, you can try the same request again right now. I declined this generous offer and increased my bid by a measly $5 to $160. Just when it looked like we'd be making a day trip, bid accepted! Yeee Haw!!! Westin New York Times Square - Theatre District, 270 West 43rd Street, New York, New York 10036 Check-In Date: Mon, May 12, 2008 / After 03:00 PM; Check-Out Date: Tue, May 13, 2008 / 12:00 PM Cost per room, per night $160 X 2 after taxes and fees $387. The least expensive room on the Westin website $489.00 + charges & taxes = USD $557.83 The extend your stay screen came up. I tried but my request to extend 1 night, 5-13 to 5-14 was denied. Darn. Priceline states you only get one try but the extend you stay screen came up on my itinerary after I was rejected. Do I still get to try and extend? About 5 minutes later I tried to bid Times Square for the 13-14 and was told it was a duplicate request.

Partial victory. Posted 1 night win on Priceline side. Still checking Hotwire and Priceline for second night of stay.

Thanks for the 3* bid advice. Using the PRICELINE links and rebids for each of the 3 zones, bidding each in order of preference (TS-TD, MTW and MTE) using all my rebids I placed 15 bids up to my maximum of $168 plus fees = 400.28. All rejected. I then tried my maximum bid for 1 night only on 5/13 without luck. I'm kid and work free tonight so I have time to kill. I'm off to try 3*s and figure out the rebid zones.

I'm going to keep checking Hotwire but prices have not come down so I am now starting to also bid Priceline for 2 rooms for a stay May 12-14 I decided booking a room for an arrival after midnight on Mother's Day will be too expensive. I have a backup reservation at the Marriott Marquis-Times Square at $469 + taxes a night. The lightbulb finally came on about rebidding on Priceline. Using each of my desired zones TS-TD, MTW and last MTE and closing my browser after each round of bidding I'm thinking I have about 18 bids. I actually bid 13 times this morning. It rather boggles the mind. I've bid 4* up to $161 x 2 ($384 after fees for 2 rooms). My Priceline budget is $200 a room a night with all fees. I'm guessing my top bid will then be about $175 a room. I figure I'll keep trying with HOTWIRE and PRICELINE to see if I can get something affordable right up to the day before our trip. I will add bids for 3* in Times Square and Midtown West. Will Priceline let me do that after multiple unsuccessful bids for a 4* on the same day?

There are 4* hotels in Time Square=Theater District (or there were early yesterday) so I do not think TS-TD would be a rebid zone. I got Brooklyn, Long Island, Upper East Side and Upper West Side as rebid zones. Have these changed?

If I was booking an AG trip in August, I'd wait to book a nonrefundable room. I'd find and make a cancelable reservation at this point and keep checking PRICELINE and HOTWIRE. Although there can be no guarantees, unless you run into a major convention or event (which would already be scheduled) you should get a room well within your $200 range. Now your AGP reservations can't wait. Go ahead and make your Cafe reservations (ask for a window table) and buy theater tickets. While these are nonrefundable, last minute reservations during school vacations are next to impossible to get. If you can try and work with an AG Personal Shopper. They will make sure everything goes smoothly and if closer to the date you decide to buy one of the special day packages they will work out the details for you. If you will only be in Chicago one night is the pool really a necessity? On most trips with kids the entertainment value of the pool is obvious. But this in a trip to AGP in Chicago! First you will be surprised just how much time you will spend at AGP. Assuming you can drag your girls out of there, and that is a pretty big assumption, you are in CHICAGO. There is lots to do and see right around AGP. When you force your kids, kicking and screaming out of AGP, into the daylight all they will likely want to do is go back to the hotel and play with their loot. I'll spare you the details of the pity parties that went on when our girls were 'forced' to go to the theater to see Wicked and to Navy Pier for a boat tour. Yes they had a good time once they have there but I should have saved my money. If you are interested in the 4Points Sheraton keep checking the website and while at the site join the hotel chain's frequent visitor club (even if you never plan to stay there again). Also talk to someone at the front desk directly. I got both an email for being a member and a phone call from my hotel contact telling me about a special that gave us 50% off room rates that included breakfast. The 4Points is in a great location and an excellent place for people traveling with kids and you won't be nickeled and dimed to death. Midway transportation. Get visitor's transit passes allowing you to take unlimited train or bus trips during your stay. There are a few ways to do your airport transfers. Take the EL to the stop closest to your hotel then walk or take a taxi the rest of the way. Map out the wheelchair accessible stations as they have elevators and you won't be dragging kids and luggage up and down stairs. One trip we had shuttle vouchers from Midway where the kids rode free. But I'm not a shuttle fan. On one business trip, because the shuttle stops at every downtown hotel coworkers who went with the Chicago native on the EL actually got to the hotel faster than those of us on the shuttle. Also with 5 people and luggage a limo to and from Midway may be an affordable option worth exploring. I'd save the limo for the return to the airport when you are loaded down with red AGP bags and you can stay till the last minute. Keep in mind you can check your bags and luggage at AGP to hold while touring or after checking out of your hotel. As long as you are near Michigan Ave or the Loop I would not worry about location. Chicago has excellent public transportation in the area and with a visitor's transit pass you can hop on and off the bus or train at will or walk everywhere. This post is now way too long but my last suggestion is don't rule out PRICELINE if you are willing to bid on two rooms. If you review old posts you'll see it is not impossible to get a 4* room in the loop area for less than $100 a night. Lightening does strike and occasionally there are rooms in the North Michigan Ave/Water Tower area too for $100 a night. As there are two families traveling things could work out and you may even save money. The second bathroom really helps. You'll have to call the hotel and request rooms side by side or across the hall from each other or at least on the same floor but if done early enough most of the better hotels seem happy to honor these requests (no guarantees of course). With a cancelable reservation and a travel date in August you really do have time to keep an eye on Priceline and Hotwire for a deal better than rack rates. You are going to need the dollars you save for doll gear.

We've done the AGP trip with our girls and posted about our trips on this forum. Hotwire rates may not come as low as you like. There are of course no guarantees on Priceline. With that number of people you would need two rooms and would have to then call the hotel as soon as your bid is confirmed and request 2 beds per room, adjoining rooms or rooms side by side. There is a chance your requests would not be honored. It is not impossible and a very good option if you are budget sensitive. I've gotten two rooms on Priceline for less than one on Hotwire. Lightening can strike but in Chicago you will most likely have to give up the idea of breakfast, pool and fridge unless you book direct. Pools are common but free breakfast and room fridges are not. For instance, the Hyatt frequently won on Priceline at really low rates does not have a pool. Mini fridges are often a special request that cost about $25 a day. Parking costs $30+ a day. With Priceline I've had to decide what I wanted to trade off. I carried a cooler and stocked it with milk, juice, boiled eggs, pudding cups, PBJ etc., and purchased cereal and muffins for a continental breakfast in our room. It was a trade off I made because two Priceline rooms at a 4* hotel cost less than one room booked directly. Hotels to try that offer the options you are looking for close to AGP are the 4Points Sheraton (very affordable), the Omni (pricey) and Embassy Suites (moderate). All three offer an American Girl Package. There are also other 2* or 3* hotels that may fit your needs. All that being said, I almost always use Priceline for family trips when I can be flexible. I'd rather spend my dollars in the city than in the room but I still want a high quality hotel. If you've got time to read back pages, Aaron has quite a few posts on the area around AGP and things to do in Chicago. Consider getting tickets to the American Girl Revue this trip because Mattel plans to close the theater for good in August. Good Luck. It will be a great trip.

No, I would not split our stay at the relatively high prices I'm finding. Since we we would not be arriving until after midnight, I would stay in DC for another evening and hop the train or bus on Monday, morning. LauRne14: I did explore the bus options. Both Vamoose at $25 and Bolt Bus $20 one way are very affordable and easy to access options. Now if Megabus was on line at $1 each way as it will be in June we'd definitely be on the bus. Our girls (9 - 12 yrs) have never been on a train and the opportunities for a train trip are few and far between. This seems like the perfect opportunity because the trip is not so long they will go stir crazy.

It does not come up for 5/11 but it is still there for the 12-13. The only additional information it gives is: Rate per night: $249.00Subtotal:TaxesAndFees:$46.90 TotalPriceWithAddOns:$295.90 Total. Travel information: 6.0 miles to La Guardia Airport (LGA), 10.6 miles to Newark Intl. (EWR), 13.6 miles to New York John F Kennedy Intl. (JFK) Our 3.5-star hotel suppliers include: Hilton, Millennium, Crowne Plaza, plus other (4.0 out of 5) What's this? Based on:400+ customer reviewsLast Reviewed:March 2008 I'm going to guess the Doubletree Guest Suites because it has a TripAdvisor 4* and 403 reviews. The hotels that also came close on TripAdvisor: Hilton Garden Inn 4* 321 reviews Hilton Times Square 4* 383 reviews

Yes there will be 5. The kids can be in one queen bed or a double and a roll away for a night or two without being too uncomfortable. Two doubles and a pullout sofa would also work. I really cannot do $1,000 a night for 2 rooms and do not want to spend $500 a night. The bigger issue is I can't risk having the kids in a separate room. They are not quite mature enough yet. We have split the kids up, one adult to each room but they have issues with that and will likely end up in the same bed or room anyway. I've found no hotel, whether booked direct or not, that will guarantee adjoining rooms. If I use Priceline we may not even get rooms on the same floor. I've taken the risk and always been able to get the beds or room arrangements we needed after a Priceline bid in the past but that seems too risky in a town with smaller rooms where hotels cater more to business travelers than families. Any ideas which hotels the Hotwire ones might be. We visit the grands so often in DC I'd like a different experience and a New York run sounds like fun. This little trip is not a must do, and at the prices I'm finding it may well be a can't do.

Mainly because I'm forgetful, I'm planning a last minute trip to NYC around a graduation. While I much prefer Priceline, because I'm traveling with kids and must have 2 beds I'm trying Hotwire. Two rooms would be best but because of cost I'm going for one room this trip. I'm totally unfamiliar with NYC, can get lost on a dime, and will be out with young kids late at night. I really want to be within walking distance or a short cab hop to our events. Based on the zone post this means Times Square-Theater District, Midtown east, west or south. Looking at various hotel web sites, I've found limited room availability (is something big going on) and what was available was $450 a night and up. We are planning on taking Amtrak from D. C. late Sunday evening arriving around midnight or early Monday morning arriving around 9 a.m. We will either train it back to DC after the theater or leave early Wednesday morning depending on what I find for hotel. Either way we have to be back in DC by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14. We will spend way too much time at American Girl Place at 609 5th Ave with side trips to the Statute of Liberty, Empire State Bldg. etc. If tickets are available we will see the Little Mermaid or Wicked Tuesday evening. When I enter 2 adults, 3 kids on Hotwire nothing comes up. I've found nothing on the hotel list that mentions suites but here's what keeps popping up when I enter 2 adults, 2 kids: 3.5* Times Square-Theater District 0.2-0.7 miles from 609 5th Ave., $249 per room, per night Suite, Fitness Center, Restaurant, Hi-Speed internet, Business Center Trip Advisor Rating 4* 3* Midtown East 0.0-0.7 miles from 609 5th Ave., $279 per room, per night Suite, Fitness Center, Restaurant, Hi-Speed internet, Kitchenette No Trip Advisor Rating Any ideas which hotels these could be? I'm also open to suggestions. This trip I can be a tiny bit flexible. We have to be in DC to celebrate Mother's Day and back on Wednesday for the graduation but those are my only time constraints. We fly back to Denver on Thursday. I don't have a budget per say but less is better even if this is NYC. I would like to stay well below $300 a night in a 3 or 4 star hotel. P.S. Even when I just browsing, I try to use the appropriate links.

Mrxow, thanks for the interpretation. I was wondering about the opaque reference myself. I like you assumed that's what Stevee was questioning. Most of us understand that clicking on the links help generate income so this site can remain open and up. I get the feeling sometimes Thereuare forgets we do not do this every day and really are not trying to mess things up. Other than that I attribute it to being cranky from lack of sleep cause he's on the internet all hours of the day and night trying to answer what to him must seem like silly questions.

Would you consider writing a REVIEW upon your return? There is a lack of current information about PRICELINE and HOTWIRE hotels in Omaha and none about the Crowne Plaza since it was sold, renovated and became a Crowne. Your insights would be helpful since Priceline wins for this hotel have been reported in the $33-$40 range and is a likely option for those bidding central Omaha.

And if you are doing all that commuting on the EL don't forget to buy a visitor's transit pass before you leave the airport or order one off the CTA website before leaving home. At $5 - 1 day, $9 - 2 day, $12 - 3 day... It saves money because you have to pay for every transfer in Chicago. The visitor pass is only available at the airport or main CTA building, must be purchased from a special machine (not the regular ones), runs for 24 hours from first use and allows you to hop on and off buses or trains at will. All this makes it sound hard to get a Visitors Transit Pass. It's amazing how seldom they are used by tourists, how much money it saves and how helpful it is to hop on a bus in bad weather or when lost for free (prepaid actually). Just ask the CTA folks at the airport station and they will point you to the correct machine. Exact change needed. P.S. When using the pass on a bus always, always ask the driver which slot to put the VISITORS pass in. There are 3 choices and 2 are the wrong choice. The right slot changes positions on each bus. Put it in the wrong slot and your pass will be eaten and not returned. Why CTA does not fix that mess I'll never know. Fortunately we kept our receipts and CTA refunded our money for the one we lost. This is not a problem on the El because all passes are returned.

We are back from Omaha. After half heartedly bidding throughout the week we ended up staying at the LaQuinta NW. I bid Downtown Omaha up to $50 with no luck. Because of rates found on Hotwire I was fairly certain if I'd gone over $50 we could have stayed at a downtown hotel. I have to admit because of the great rate I got at the LaQuinta NW, I was not sure if I really wanted to win a downtown hotel on Priceline. Any bid over $40 after taxes and fees would have made Pricline more expensive than LaQuinta. I watched Hotwire and what looked like the Magnolia (formerly Sheraton) and the Doubletree Exec. Suites both came up at $48 and $59. There was even a 2 star hotel with a $39 rate. I was not really tempted. I preferred the sure thing, knowing we would get adjoining rooms and if they were not available we could back out of the second room without being charged. The NW location turned out great for us and with good directions from Goggle maps it was easy to find. You can see the LaQuinta NW from 680 but getting there is not intuitive. Without good directions you will never find it. I heard the desk clerk on the phone helping the lost a couple of times. That being said it is only a couple minutes from the Maple Street exit off 680. We were 7 minutes away from one event and 20 minutes through town from the Orpheum Theater. Granted there was little traffic on Saturday but still it was easy to get around the city from the La Quinta NW. I topped off the gas tank with $8.25 in gas before leaving Omaha. All the driving around we did on Friday and Saturday while in Omaha came to less than one day's parking fee at a downtown hotel. The LaQuinta served breakfast, without which we never would have gotten anywhere on time. We made it to the theater just 15 minutes before curtain but we got there. The rooms were quiet, clean, basic and well maintained. This is a solid 2 star hotel. One room had a refrigerator. Both had two double beds but one room was larger giving the kids a play area. The low flow shower heads made bathing a slow process and water pressure a dream in the mist. The only issue we had was the sink in one bathroom was slow to drain. While not the Ritz Carlton or even a Hyatt it really was not a bad place to stay, just not real special. This was my first visit to a LaQuinta and I would consider using again when traveling with the kids. This was a good choice for us. Thank you Colfax for suggesting it.

Aaron you are right. The latest reported bid won for a MP/Loop or Michigan Ave. hotel for less than an $80 bid on Priceline seems to be for March 10. There are some good HotWire deals popping up for mid March is spite of the 2 conferences. The conference block of rooms must have recently been released. I wonder if this will translate to Priceline availablity too.

Another thing to consider is going to the AG website and contacting the hotels in the area that offer an AG package price. From the 4* Park Hyatt and Marriott to the 2* 4Points Sheraton the 10 or so partner hotels offer specials at set prices. Many of these AG hotel specials are available year round. The packages may include take home beds, matching robes for the dolls and girls to special check in perks or bed time tea parties. If price is a concern and you are willing to take the chance, there have been some Priceline wins in the Millenium Park/Loop area for the Hyatt on Wacker (no AG package) in the $65 range in mid March but I'm not sure of the exact dates. We did the same trip last year March 14-17 as part of a 9th birthday party celebration. Whatever hotel you stay at mention the big AG birthday party connection when you call to confirm your room arrangements. Our girls and their dolls were treated like princesses. If you are not aware of it, Mattel plans to close the AG Theater when the Chicago store relocates in the fall so this is the swan song for the American Girl Revue. The play is well worth the extra cost or is included in the special day birthday party package price we purchased. If you call AGPC they can also put you in touch with a personal shopper at no extra charge to help plan your child's special day. Having a PS made our day extra special and helped navigate the many AG packages and pin down details like reserving a window table for lunch that I never would have thought of. If your have not already done so, don't wait to make your AGPC reservations. The Cafe is near impossible to get last minute reservations for on weekends and school breaks. Have fun.

Thanks for the information and clarifying how to use the rebid zones. We will most likely end up at the LaQuinta Northwest as bids Downtown for a 2.5** average $58 plus parking. I did check out the LaQuinta Southwest because it was a tad closer to downtown, but its reviews were lower and much more mixed than the LaQuinta Northwest. I don't want to bid my maximum until I get closer to the actual date of the trip. We are driving and cancelling the trip is a real possibility if the weather is bad. Although I've already paid for event tickets I'll be able to save a few dollars if I have not already paid for nonrefundable rooms. Thanks again. I'm off to Priceline to try $45 to $50 Downtown using all the rebid zones.

I made a cancellable reservation at the LaQuinta Northwest for two rooms at $44.10 a night (AAA Auto Club Rate). That comes to $102 a night with tax or $204 for two nights. I don't think I will get a better rate on Priceline or Hotwire but I'm still hoping for a downtown hotel for about the same money. If my Priceline bid is not accepted I think this LaQuinta will be OK. It gets plain but decent reviews.

Thanks! I'll check that out. One of the events we will be attending is at the country club very close to the LaQuinta Northwest. The price is right and it will be great for a cancellable back up reservation even with mixed reviews. The reason I generally book 2 rooms is not so much for the beds but for the extra bathroom. Trying to get three preteen girls up, dressed and out in the mornings is difficult with only one bathroom. These little weekend trips for the kids are supposed to be fun. It kind of kills the spirit of things when one of the adults (me, hanging head in shame) gets stressed out then goes bonkers because we can't get where we need to be on time. To date my Priceline bids on Downtown have been: on Monday 2/11 $40 rejected I did not rebid because there does not seem to be any rebid zones with no risk to being upgraded to a 3. 2/12 $40 rejected 2/13 $45 rejected 2/14 $50 rejected I will add the central area next week as a rebid zone. I noticed the Crowne Plaza (an older property with mixed reviews, no breakfast but an indoor pool) was won for $33-$40 a night. I've been reading and I think I'd really like to be near the old Market during our stay. I'll keep trying Priceline and watching Hotwire. I've decided I will not spend more than $55 a night on a bid for Downtown as we may end up at the LaQuinta Inn in Iowa near the OMA airport. It is in the Downtown zone. If I'm going to stay at a LaQuinta it might as well be on the cheap in Northwest Omaha.