Keoni

Scored another Betterbidding deal! 3* Zone 2 (Hyannis) opening bid $55 added rebid zone 1 $57 added rebid zone 2 $59 added Eastham zone $60 CONGRATS! You won your price for a 3* on Cape Cod (Eastham)! I was shooting for Hyannis but anywhere on the Cape is good! $60.00 + $10.59 taxes/fees = $70.59 x 2 rooms = $141.18 Lowest discounted internet direct rate for a single room was $157.15 :) Man, I'm loving it!!! KA-CHING! Regards, Keoni :)

:) No strategy to this one, HIT on 1st bid! $51.00 + $10.90 taxes/fees = $61.90 x 2 rooms = $123 Yipee! Man I love Betterbidding!!! Regards, Keoni :) Anyone have suggestions for a must do tourist deal or place to eat. Only stopping for one afternoon/night passing thru to Cape Cod.

Revised my bidding strategy again and was only shooting for 6 - 8 September at 4 Star Level based upon previous "hits" at the Hyatt on the Hudson. Strategy follows: Jersey City 4* Opening bid $72 Jersey City and rebid zone 1 $75 closed browser Jersey City and rebid zone 2 $80 all zones $85 CONGRATS!!!! you won the Westin Jersey City Newport! Asked if I wanted to add to my stay so I picked up the 4th and 5th of September at the same price. All in... $85.00 x 4 nites x 2 rooms = $680.00 + $126.76 taxes/fees = $806.76 Lowest discounted internet rate at the hotel website $181.49 per night = $1451.97 Savings on Betterbidding $645.21!

What was your bidding strategy? Did you hit on your first bid at $90? Regards, Keoni :)

Ok folks, I am from Washington DC, previously identified as the Murder Capital of the US. To try to change our image our professional Basketball team name was changed from the Bullets to the Wizards. Having said that, like Dahammer, I have stayed in Jersey City in the Waterfront area and had no qualms about moving from restaurants and bars back and forth to the Hyatt, Courtyard, and Marriott. I found the PATH to be convenient, not crowded, and never had to stand between Exchange Place and either WTC or Midtown or reverse. As someone stated, there are scary areas of DC just like I am sure there are less than desireable areas of JC, but the PRICELINE hotels are not in that area. The JC area is my personal preference when visiting the City as I have done on at least 8 different occasions! Regards, Keoni :)

HawiiHoney, You asked if you got a good deal. Absolutely! See Below... Booking directly with Alamo and paying in advance like you did with PRICELINE, the website gives a 15% discount for paying up front. A convertable for your dates with pay up front discount is $329.95 so this website saved you $110 over the cheapest direct rate! Way to go! Do not ride with the top down between the hours of 10am - 2pm or you will get fried! Matter of fact, if you are outdoors during that time make sure you have plenty of SPF in your lotion, probably 30 or higher. Again, congrats on your savings and since you have a car, head up to Haleiwa Town and stop at Matsumoto's Store for a "Rainbow Shave Ice." Aloha, Keoni :)

Thereuare, Thanks for the advice. I have revised my bidding strategy based upon your recommendation and have been bidding as follows: 4* Halifax bid zone 3 $65 add rebid zone 3&2 $66 close window 4* Halifax bid zone 3&1 $67 rebid zones 1,2&3 $68 Regards, Keoni :)

Remember, rule number one when using an opaque service and you aren't having any luck but still have time before the event... Book a reservation that you can cancel so you know you have something at a price you like, at a property you like, then continue to bid on Priceline up until your latest cancel date. This way you know you received the lowest possible price even if you aren't successful on Priceline or Hotwire. You can book most major chains directly thru this website and continue to support Betterbidding. Then, if you hit your price on Priceline, cancel your direct book room. Finally, make sure you understand the cancellation rules for direct bookings, many places are now requiring you cancel 3 days prior or pay a one night charge. :) Regards, Keoni :)

Ok, you didn't say "which" weekend so I cut you some slack for the 4th of July. This is a bump so you can chew on this over the upcoming weekend... Regards, Keoni :)

I mapped out directions to Journal Square and Path to 33rd. Recommended they walk the two blocks to ES for a trip to the top. I believe the subway is now $4.00 a trip so I recommended they grab a cab from ES up to Radio City, Rock Center, St. Pat's and again, depending on time, taxi or walk back to Times Square. After that, if enough time take the subway to WTC, then Path back to Journal Square. Otherwise if out of time take the Path back to Journal Square. Keep in mind, they are only looking at 6 (+-) hours from the hotel in Orange so subtract 1 hour just to get back and forth to the parking garage in JS. Now they're parked, fumbling around to find the path station and ticket machine, buy the tickets, get to the correct platform, ride the Path to midtown. Minimum, another 30 minutes if the train is there waiting for them when they walk up. Not likely so add another 20 minutes. Now we're down to 4 hours, tops. There are 4 people in the crowd, never been to NYC, probably will have some disagreements over what is going on. Probably never experienced a subway other than DC which is a kiddie train compared to NYC. In other words, we have 5 subway lines known as the red, blue, yellow, green and orange lines. Never more than two lines cross a single station, and the only difference in the trains is which endpoint they are going to, Virginia or Maryland and so you are dealing with 5 lines, and 10 destinations. Folks can do this in their heads. This is nothing compared to uptown, downtown, cross-town, N line, R line, Q line, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc... A train, E train, C train, and that's just on your Blue line, and although once you have experienced it a couple of times, the FIRST day is very intimidating. Now add the stress that this is a family wedding you can't miss and you're looking at 3 hours to go from ES, 53rd Street sites and Times Square, throw in lunch, even on the run... and when my daughter and I went to the top of the ES, it seemed like we didn't really spend much time on-line but by the time you walk around the bottom a couple of times to get to the elevator, walk around the top a couple of times taking photos, gawk at the Art Deco ground floor which is truly amazing, you got a minimum of 1 hour invested. Now we're down to 2 hours to loop up thru 52nd/53rd Street somehow grab lunch, and back down to Times Square. You or I could do this easily but with 1st timers, I am skeptical based upon my own rookie experiences just a few short years ago when we were getting the HOTH for $37 bucks per nite! I totally agree with you that you have to press the crowd in Times Square and marvel at the Moving Message Boards, experience the subway, and if nothing else stand at the bottom and gaze up at the ES, Chrysler Building, Grand Central TERMINAL, etc... My first visit we stayed in a Savings Barn/Priceline Murray Hill 3* and ate at Sarge's Deli. Nothing can replace that experience of eating where the local's eat! I had recommended my friends grab a sandwich at Carnegie Deli cause us non-natives relate to what has been hyped by the media. I personally thought $27.00 for two to share a plate with a Pastrami on Rye was rediculous even with the "all you can eat kosher Dill's..." But I will change that recommendation per your suggestion to Katz's. Anyway, just wanted to share with you my thinking about why I recommended the "safe" version of taking the Circle Island in the first place. While it doesn't give you the "feel" of the City, and I totally agree with you on that point, I felt it may be the best option for folks to see the landmarks they are familiar with, and still keep folks from choking each other cause they are "late to the wedding..." Since you provide lots of advice to non New Yorkers, and I do truly appreciate it and that is why I give you so much business, I wanted to remind you that your view may be a tad unrealistic when it comes to navigating Manhattan for 1st timers simply because it is so familiar to you... My Warmest Aloha, Keoni :) U Au Mea Kei'ki O' Ka'Aina, I Kapono "The rightiousness of the land is perpetuated in our children" Ancient Hawaiian Proverb and State Motto of Hawaii.

Because I am constantly talking about Betterbidding and my trips to NYC, today I was asked for advice as follows... "If you were staying the weekend in West Orange, NJ for a wedding at 5 pm on Saturday, what would you do to get the best overview of NYC in 5 - 6 hours on Saturday morning/early PM?" Without thinking I replied that in that short of time, I would drive to Weehawken or Pavonia, take the water taxi over to 39th Street, walk the 3 blocks to 42nd Street (or taxi), and use the Entertainment Book Ticket for the buy-one, get one free ticket on a two hour Circle Line Water Tour. This goes from 42nd, down the Hudson and WTC, around the tip of Manhattan, past the Statue of Lib, South Street Seaport, and up up the East River under the BMW bridges, and turns around at the UN building. The only other option I could think of was head to mid-town and take the double decker busses but these folks are rookies and with an impending wedding at 5 pm I didn't want to get too complicated and stress them out over trying to get on the Path/Subway in/out, parking, etc... Any thoughts would be appreciated. Regards, Keoni :)

Have been bidding as follows for a 4* in Halifax. Note: currently there are no 3.5 * showing so I currently have 8 chances to bid: 4* Halifax bid zone 3 $47 add re-bid zone 2,3 $50 close browser, then reopen browser 4* Halifax bid zone 1&3 $52 add re-bid zone 1,2,3 $55 close browser, then reopen browser 3.5* Halifax bid zone 3 $57 add re-bid zone 2,3 $60 close browser, then reopen browser 3.5* Halifax bid zone 1&3 $62 add re-bid zone 1,2,3 $67 If anyone has a better strategy for Halifax, please let me know as I have plenty of time to bid. It seems there are two sets of prices being won, high $40's to mid $50's, and a second set of prices at the low - mid $60's. Any advice is appreciated. Regards, Keoni :)

Looks like a great win and I hope to land this place as well Keoni :)

Also added September 18/19/20 using the bidding strategy above. I still prefer the weekend of the 5th but as we get closer I will increase the amount and take any 4* in the area. Regards, Keoni :)

Ok my friend from Middle Tennessee State University, why didn't you tell our Yankee Cousin about a ride on the INCLINE Railway, which is a "Trolley Car" with a glass roof that takes you to the top of Lookout Mountain. From there you can see seven states which I believe is the only place in the country that is possible. Visit the Read House, maybe the only still standing building in downtown that dates from the Civil War. It was used as a hospital by Union Troops during the siege of Chattanooga. How about the Hunter Art Gallery or maybe a stroll across the Chestnut Street Bridge for a little shopping in North Chattanooga. Take the drive along the top of Missionary Ridge and see the many monuments to the War of Northern Agression... whoops, my bad. I meant to say the Silver War. Anyway, take in a Chattanooga Lookouts Baseball game and see minor league players that still think the game is played for fun. How about a short drive over to Rossville, Ga., just across the state line. Here you will find the log cabin of Chief John Ross, head of the Cherokee Nation. Chattanooga was originally named after this great leader and was called Ross's Landing. Read up about the Lupton family of Chattanooga and learn about the history of the first Coca Cola Bottling plant. And... if you haven't experienced the Southern version of the White Castle, or Slider, or Belly Bomber, or Greesetal, you absolutely have to visit a Krystal Restaurant and TAKE HOME A SACKFUL! The difference in the little Krystal burger and the White Castle is that the Krystal is made from 100% pure beef, and having comsumed more that a few WC's I've never been really sure what its ingrediants are... Finally, are the tourist attractions on Racoon Mountain still there? Sincerely, Brainerd Rebel, Class of '71, Aloha, Keoni

srqsnook, I haven't lived there in a long time but I grew up there... You DO NOT WANT TO STAY BY THE AIRPORT! I wasn't yelling, just wanted to get your attention. There is nothing to do by the airport except drive over and go shopping at a mall. Eventhough Downtown is "dead" at night, it is the central place to start all adventures, Tennessee Aquarium, walk along the Tennessee River and Ross's Landing, walk across the Chesnut Street Bridge to the shopping area, ride the INCLINE railway to the top of Lookout Mountain and "See Seven States", visit Chickamauga Battlefield for Civil War History, take in a minor league ball game with the Chattanooga Lookouts, and if it is still there, take a tour of the Coca Cola Bottling plant, the first in the country. Most folks would never know that around 1925 - 1930 more MILLIONAIRES lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee than anywhere in America. Why, because one family OWNED the exclusive right to BOTTLE Coca Cola. The pharmacist in Atlanta Georgia that developed the recipe for Coke (uh, yes it probably had some extract from the poppy plant when it became the national drink) anyway, this guy never thought anyone would buy the drink anywhere except at the pharmacy so he sold the right to bottle it for $1 (which he never collected!) Take a drive up Lookout mountain or Missionary Ridge and see many historic sites to include the Cravens House. Regards, Keoni :)

Interesting, I believe this may be the best hotel in Halifax based on scant information on the postings. You said you won this hotel on Priceline for $45 before but I don't see a post on BB with anything near that amount. I will be spending 3 or 4 nights in Halifax in September and will need 2 rooms. I was bidding in the 65, 66, 67 dollar range as that is what has won recently. I still have 2 months to bid so I was wondering how recent was your $45 win? Regards, Keoni :)

:) I figure you don't get out as much what with all your fatherly duties and such, but when you get a chance can you provide a current insight into Jersey City/Hoboken dining. Your recommendations before were spot-on and although I thoroughly enjoyed La Isla, Margherita's, Baja's in JC was beyond belief (seems we had a grilled shrimp entree...) and of course the Odd Fellows, not to mention Essa Bagle in NYC, do you have any new favorites that are a "must try" either in JC, Hoboken, or "the City..." Also, there are several pages of comedy clubs in NYC in the Entertainment Book. Is anyone familiar enough to recommend one? Last trip we went to Dangerfields and it was excellent. I'm almost hoping we can't get into the HOTH on Saturday night so I will be FORCED into staying in Newark at the Hilton Penn Station and get some eats in the Ironbound district... DaHammer knows what I'm talking about. I don't recall the restaurant name, but I could lead you there in the dark it was that good! I booked a big circle trip thru New Orleans and Texas last September using the BB PRICELINE links for 3 roooms each night and this big Fandango to Nova Scotia will also result in a few sheckles in your coin box cause... I LOVE this place! Aloha, Keoni :)

I ALWAYS do... :) Modified my strategy slightly, now bidding $71, rebid - $72, rebid - 75 as these have all "hit" the Hyatt but not the Westin. Also trying the alternate weekend of September 18-20. This trip is centered around a start point of Washington, DC and I'm trying counter clockwise thru NYC, Cape Cod, Halifax Nova Scotia, Quebec, Onterio, Montreal, Toronto, then Niagra Falls and back to DC, or Clockwise going the reverse direction. Regards, Keoni :)

Anyone know of something afoot during Labor Day weekend? The HOTH is coming in on Priceline at $199 Sat Nite, $189.00 Sun nite, and only $119 Mon nite. I am continuing to bid $71 then re-bid $72 which have both "hit" recently. I then drop Sat nite off and start again at $71, then rebid $72 but since Sun nite is not much less than Sat nite, this strategy doesn't really make sense. Any suggestions, or should I continue to wait it out. Regards, Keoni :)

:) I've stayed on the pier several times and had both views. I prefer the left side of the hotel which gives you the view of the Empire State building and others, but second place ain't bad either with a view of the Statue of Liberty. In any case, we'll probably have a cocktail in the VU Bar and take it all in! I'm still holding out for the HOTH and was disappointed tonight to see the Hyatt come in at $85 which could also land the Westin. In the end, I'll be thrilled with any of the 4*'s at the PRICELINE price but still hoping for the Hyatt. Regards, Keoni :)

:) Westin or W would work fine by me. I will have my in-laws on the trip who have never been to the area so I was hoping for the skyline view of Manhatten that you get from the Hyatt. Regards, Keoni :)

I'm not sure about needing to study... You already Ace'd the course with your win at the Westin! This is the best site going on the Internet and not a day goes by that I don't share this jewel with anyone who will listen... Stuck on a plane for 13 hours to Korea, you sit next to me and sooner or later you will hear about BetterBidding. Walk by my cubicle near lunchtime, hey... check out this view from the Hyatt on the Hudson and guess what, if you bid through this website you can get the best deal in NYC for less than $100 bucks... Anyway, congrats on your win and I am also looking to score in NYC, Cape Cod, Portland ME, Hallifax, and others for an upcoming September trip. Regards, Keoni :)

I am trying for the Hyatt at $71.00 per night. There is plenty of time so I am not willing to go higher and risk getting one of the other 4*'s. Regards, Keoni :)

The Hawaii Prince is not a Resort, is not on the beach (overlooks the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor) so it shouldn't be considered if you hit amentities for beach and resort... I just won the Hawaii Prince on Priceline for $75 per night and this is a great deal as it suits my needs but is no comparison for the HHV ... say at $110 or $120 per night but these rates for the HHV are almost never won. Regards, Keoni