Keoni

Guess my previous question got lost in the shuffle... BBBB posted a reply that said the Outrigger was downgraded to a 3* and since I haven't seen any wins at this hotel recently, how can you tell it was downgraded?

lamchop168, You done good!!! :) Lowest price for a room in 2005 at the hotel's website is $245.00 per night plus tax. Check it out. Regards, Keoni :) Waikiki Beachcomber

How do you know the Outrigger was downgraded to a 3 star on Priceline? Please note that the two fairly recent bids that got this hotel for $95 per night were executed about 3 weeks out from the date of the stay. You are trying to snare this deal almost 4 months out so be patient and keep trying. The one strategy that is constant on this BB is to book a cancelable backup hotel and then hang on to your bidding strategy until either successful or you reach your cancellation cutoff period. As an example, follow this link Hotel Webpage and click on the button for Special Rates. Scroll down till you find Keys to the City and you can get a room and a rental car as a package deal for about $89 per night plus tax. They identify the rental as a sub compact but I don't remember seeing anything that small of the rental lots. Of course there are lots of options for booking a cancelable room I just found this place that is about 1/2 block from Kuhio beach (southern end of Waikiki) and the price is good for 4 people. Note: I scored a rental car on Priceline for a recent trip to Hawaii at $20 per day so if you were planning on renting a car during the visit, you get this room for about $69 plus tax. If anyone has any experience with this hotel please chime in. If you only plan to use this as your cancelable backup, then it doesn't matter anyway. Regards, Keoni

Flyme2, At check-in ask for a room on the back side of the hotel away from the Interstate and Nimitz highway. Otherwise, you may suffer from street noise on the front side, particularly on a higher floor as the Interstate is elevated at this point. This place will definately be convenient and may be the only hotel/motel close to the Airport :) cause nobody goes to Hawaii to stay at the AP... :) Regards, Keoni

:) Ok Ok Ok, guess I need to get more sleep! I asked for help with bidding then went and checked the Hyatt website for the period I was trying for: 11/23 - 11/28 and noticed the price increased substantially during the two weekend days which appeared backwards from my previous experience. Duh! How many business travellers are looking to be away from home over Thanksgiving so I reversed my logic, bid $37.00 for the weekday nights of 23, 24, 25 November and Voila'!!! :o Your Offer Price: $37.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $111.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $23.95 Total Charges: $134.95 Scored again so now I am down to Friday and Saturday nights and with renewed vigor will continue to "play the game!" I have seen some posts that indicate you can add more nights to successful bids but after careful review of my winning notification I didn't see anyway to do this. Oh yeah, forgot to mention as always ... STARTED MY BIDDING AT SAVINGSBARN.COM .... SWEET SWEET SWEET This gets better all the time! Regards and Aloha, Keoni :)

Have been looking for a room for the nights 23 Nov - 28 Nov moving back and forth between a 4* in Manhatten and 2.5/3* in Jersey City. I have tried splitting my bid for JC focusing on 3* for the weekend nights of Fri/Sat and alternating between $37 and $41. Also offering $37 for the entire period at the 3* level only. I know this is slim because of the Holiday but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We are not picky and of course prefer the Hyatt but am also agreeable with Doubletree and the Courtyard. Regards, Keoni

The Ilikai Hotel is located between the Hawaii Prince and the Hilton Hawaiian Village at the Western end of Waikiki. The Hotel was shown several times in the opening scenes from the TV show Hawaii Five-O and anytime you get a hotel room anywhere in Waikiki for $65.00 that is a great deal. For this price there is a chance you could end up with mountain views versus ocean but there are lots of rooms so good luck. I stayed in a suite at this hotel back in '96 for $425 per night (1/2 the rack rate) so you can see this ain't no dump. Outback, Red Lobster, next door with many other restaurants within short walking distance. Hotel has a couple of restaurants internal. Sunset Hawaiian torch lighting cermony every evening is worth sitting by the pool with a beverage to take in the event. Hotel overlooks the Ala Wai Marina and Hilton Hawaiian Lagoon. Beach is just a short walk away. Parking, if you have a car, will probably be 10 or 12 bucks per day. Good luck with your trip!

Whoops, forgot to add weather info... Honolulu Weather :) :)

Something to keep in mind regarding the Radison Prince Kuhio, if you are still considering it, is the location which is two blocks off the beach. Kuhio Avenue fronts the hotel, lots of construction and although it is only two lanes, it is frequently bumper to bumper. After crossing, you have a healthy city block with shops, restaurants, and hotels, next is the 4 lane "main drag" called Kalakaua Avenue, then either beachfront hotels or boutiques/stores. I would pick the Hawaii Prince over the Kuhio because of price and room size. Also there wouldn't be that much difference in distance walking to a beach and you wouldn't have to cross traffic. The Prince can be had for $50 bucks per night less than the price for the Kuhio quoted above and the Prince room I had came with two full/queen size beds. Of course if you can get an Outrigger hotel on the beach for around $130 per night or less that is the best deal of all. Good luck with your bidding.

Just returned from a 4 night stay and would recommend if the hotel wants to put you on the second floor, ask politely for something higher. The Hyatt on the Hudson is built on a Pier in the Hudson River. The reception/front desk is on the 3rd floor of the hotel and is the same level as the convention/ball rooms and VU restaurant/dining room. Floor 1 has the pool (lap size and very small), exercise/weight room, and some hotel rooms. Floor 2 has hotel rooms under the ball rooms and restaurant and I'm not sure which area was active (ALL NIGHT LONG) but it sounded something like a grocery store shopping cart was being rolled across the ceiling of my room. Based upon the location of my room, 215, I believe the culpret area was the Bar/Restaurant but the Bar closed about midnight so I don't know what could have been going on. We were so tired each night from hiking accross Manhatten I was still able to sleep but had we not been so tired this would have been grounds to demand another room. Good luck on your stay and I promise you will be awestruck by this fabulous hotel especially for the price! Didn't know about the Discount at the Baja but ate there anyway and the food was excellent. Also had a good meal at a Cuban/American restaurant called the Hard Grove which was very reasonably priced and also excellent quality. Regards, Keoni

Nilkaya, I understood your shuttle question was from Dulles International Airport to Reagan National Airport... If you are flying out of Reagan I don't believe it is possible to go directly to an international destination so you probably have a little more time because you technically won't be going international until your second flight. Not a big deal, I was just nosy.... If you are going from Reagan to Dulles, same stuff applies just in reverse. I understand it seems expensive for $50 for the Washington Flyer but when you realize the airports are probably 35 miles apart, it really is a fair price. Travelguy gave you some good tips on the Metro system and it really isn't as scary as it sounds. However, if you have several bags, or heavy bags, making a couple of changes from bus, to subway, to a different subway line, may not be worth the hassle. Good luck on your trip and let us know how your adventure works out! Regards, Keoni

Started at SAVINGSBARN.COM :) Bid Waikiki North, 4*, $90 rejected, add rebid zone, $95 Congrats Offer Accepted! Your Offer Price: $95.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $380.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $57.06 Total Charges: $437.06 According to the website this hotel is located at the edge of Magic Island and should be a great view and location. Will report when I return. :) Aloha, Keoni :o

The generally accepted "shuttle" between the Washington DC airports is called the Washington Flyer and is actually a taxi service. Estimated rates between IAD and DCA are approximately $50.00 and can go upwards depending upon time of day and traffic. On a good day with no traffic problems figure 45 minutes to 1 hour. The Supershuttle, aka "The Blue Van", is generally used between a residence, hotel, or business location, to or from the airport. This option may be a few bucks cheaper than the flyer but keep in mind they load the van up with multiple passengers, thus multiple destinations, and most likeley will do drop offs along the way and probably won't take the most direct route to the airport. I do not have direct experience with the Flyer but have waited as much as 45 minutes to an hour waiting for the Super Shuttle to arrive at the airport to pick me up because not enough passengers were --- going my way... Regards, Keoni

Although not bidding related, this does affect the overall value of the bid. During a recent stay in Jersey City we visited the three primary hotels offerred on Priceline: the Hyatt, the DoubleTree Club Suites, and the Candlewood Suites. The Double tree charges $10.00 per day for parking, the Hyatt is $30.00 valet but may be had cheaper at a nearby selfpark lot with validation from the Hyat for $18.00 per day, and the Candlewood Suites which has a fenced parking lot. When I asked at the front desk if they still only charge $10.00 per day for parking if you check out of the Candlewood and spend a couple of days in Manhatten the desk clerk was surprised and said that to her knowledge her hotel had NEVER charged for parking. And, that after staying a couple of nights it would be fine to leave the car in their lot while spending a couple of nights in the city... Something to keep in mind if you drive to JC. Regards, Keoni

Please share your bidding strategy and star level as this sounds good for my Thanksgiving visit. I too am interested in MTW so please share. Regards, Keoni :)

MICAWBER, When compared to the "rack rate" of $500.00 per night for a room at the Hyatt on the Hudson, 10% is a great deal. Enjoy your stay as you will not be able to find a room that will compare to the opulence, convenience, and friendly staff of the Hyatt on the Hudson! Regards and congrats, Keoni

I told you before I'm here to stay and will be a good member. Regards, Keoni. :)

Bid $37 first try for 3* checking in 9/3 (Friday) and checking out the morning of 9/7 (Tuesday) over the Labor Day Weekend. This is the best deal on ANY REDUCED PRICE HOTEL SITE. Got it via Savings Barn and this place is unbeatable! :) :) :o :) :D

Just returned from one night and I echo all of the above comments regarding jaw dropping views for us lowlanders not used to the NYC skyline. Also, FWIW, valet parking at the Hotel is $30 per night but there are nearby lots that are cheaper. In addition to being steps away from the PATH train you are also 1/2 block away from a light rail train station. Discovered a BJ's discount shopping club and shopping mall within a short few blocks walk that has a pretty decent food court for those folks looking to eat outside the hotel. All in all, for less than $50 per night this rates as the besthotel deal I have ever experienced! Also, front desk was courteous and very friendly and didn't seem to care I used priceline to score a cheap room!

Update: I just returned from one night at the Hyatt and as of 3 July 04 they charge $30 per night for Hotel valet parking.

Thanks for the tip on the stations but one item is unclear. If I took the PATH from WTC, where would I have to change trains? Would I get off at Exchange Place or Newport? :)

I reserved the Yankee Stadium tour for 1200 noon which takes about 1 hour. Total cost for two people going through Ticket Master for the least expensive "classic tour" was $35.00 as folllows: 2 x $14.00 for tickets, $5.00 convenience charge, (this cracks me up because there is no other way to buy these tickets if you are from out of town), and a $2.00 order processing charge. Anyway, tour will be over approximately 1pm and the gates for the game won't open until 5 or 5:30 and I would like to have a place to go for about 4 hours. We are open to just about anything and particularly like to do things most tourists don't ever even find out about! Hoboken sounds interesting and I am more adventuresome than is probably good for my own health and safety but like the old Budweiser commercial used to say, "You only go round once in life, this Bud's for you!" So if any of your subscribers can recommend items that will fit between 1 - 5 pm I am up for it! Again, thanks for all your patience and help. Regards, Keoni

Anyone... I would like to take the noon time tour of Yankee Stadium on 5 July, find a place to hang out nearby until game time and then attend the 7:05pm game that evening. Since the 5th is a holiday should I expect huge crowds? Can anyone recommend a place to shop/relax/get a bite to eat nearby? We'll have an unlimited Metro/Ubann/Subway/whatever you call it pass so moving a few stops is not important. There is a ferry called the Yankee Clipper and since I am staying in Jersey City that night at the Hyatt, is this a good option or should I stick with subway/PATH to get there after the game? Thanks again for all the help. Keoni :)

I am considering taking a "China Town" express bus from Washington DC that would arrive in Manhatten at approximately 10 or 10:30 pm on a Friday night. I would then need to get to the Doubletree Club Suites in Jersey City with my wife and a couple of Suitcases. The dropoff points are: 88 E. Broadway or 7th/W 34th Street. Which would be the better option for the dropoff and connection to the Doubletree? Seems like maybe W 34th is close to Penn Station and a direct connect to the PATH. Also, would we be awarded the "stupid" sign for moving about at 11 pm with suitcases clearly indicating "TOURIST!" This board is great and I really appreciate all the good advice and patience with us lowlanders... Thanks, Keoni

Thanks for all the great information. I am using the Penn Hotel as a "fallback" that is cancellable with the hope I don't have to use it and can get something nicer in the area via priceline. If someone can recommend a nicer place for the same or less money, that will be cancellable up to 24hours in advance, I be happy to take the advice. Regards, Keoni