MJRBIM

(Two-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Declined 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $50 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $55 = Counter-offer of and added $15 4th Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $60 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 5th Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $65 = Accepted with a "bump" to the 3* Ottawa Radisson Parliament =========== Check-In Date: Monday, September 11, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 Hotel Name: Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament 402 Queen St Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5A7 613-236-1133 Your Offer Price: $65.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $130.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $27.45 (US dollars) Total Charges: $157.45 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is a pre-paid at $115.00 (CDN) = $102.68 (USD) per night plus tax...so this PL rate is an OK savings.

(Three-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Declined 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $50 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $55 = Accepted at the Ottawa Courtyard Marriott =========== Check-In Date: Tuesday, September 5, 2006 Check-Out Date: Friday, September 8, 2006 Hotel Name: Courtyard By Marriott Ottawa 350 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E9 613-241-1000 Your Offer Price: $55.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $165.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $33.23 (US dollars) Total Charges: $198.23 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is $159.00 (CDN) = $141.08 (USD) per night plus tax...so this PL rate is a 60% savings.

(Two-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Declined 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $50 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $55 = Accepted at the Ottawa Courtyard Marriott =========== Check-In Date: Monday, August 28, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 Hotel Name: Courtyard By Marriott Ottawa 350 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E9 613-241-1000 Your Offer Price: $55.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $110.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $24.39 (US dollars) Total Charges: $134.39 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is $135.15 (CDN) = $119.92 (USD) per night plus tax...

(One-Night) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament =========== Check-In Date: Monday, July 10, 2006 Check-Out Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 Hotel Name: Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament 402 Queen St Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5A7 613-236-1133 Your Offer Price: $45.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $45.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $14.34 (US dollars) Total Charges: $59.34 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site for those dates is a pre-paid rate at $119.00 (CDN) = $105.98 (USD) per night plus tax...so this more than a 50% savings.

OK, you win - and I don't think I can catch-up on your 2 year head start. Good Stuff!

I work in Business Intelligence/Data Mining....it kinda comes with the job....

With this latest round of winning bids posted in the "PRICELINE-CANADA" forum - I have just passed 400 PriceLine Name-Your-Own-Price Hotel Nights since January 2003. I have had winning bids for 2*, 2.5*, 3* and 4* in the following zones - USA === Cincinnati, Ohio Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Orlando, FL Key Largo, FL Washington, DC Wilkes Barre, PA New Orleans, LA Albuquerque Airport, NM Chicago, OH Westborough - Marlborough, MA Springfield MA New York City, NY Syracuse, NY Austin, TX Hartford, CT CANADA ====== Toronto, ON, Canada Ottawa, ON, Canada Windsor, ON, Canada Edmonton AB, Canada Calgary, AB, Canada Winnipeg, MB, Canada Montreal, PQ, Canada Gatineau, PQ, Canada My average price per night including taxes is ONLY $53.47 (US) per night for 408 NYOP nights - which means I've spent almost $22,000 (US) with Priceline. On the flip-side my savings against rack-rate are about $30,000 (US). Thanks to everyone on this board for the help over the years!

(Three-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Declined with a $13 counter-offer (Ignored) 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $50 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament =========== Check-In Date: Sunday, July 16, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 Hotel Name: Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament 402 Queen St Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5A7 613-236-1133 Your Offer Price: $50.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $150.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $32.22 (US dollars) Total Charges: $182.22 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site for those dates is a pre-paid rate at $119.00 (CDN) = $105.98 (USD) per night plus tax...so this more than a 50% savings.

(Two-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Declined with a $13 counter-offer (Ignored) 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $50 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament =========== Check-In Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 Check-Out Date: Thursday, July 13, 2006 Hotel Name: Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament 402 Queen St Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5A7 613-236-1133 Your Offer Price: $50.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $100.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $23.70 (US dollars) Total Charges: $123.70 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site for those dates is a pre-paid rate at $119.00 (CDN) = $105.98 (USD) per night plus tax...so this more than a 50% savings.

(Two-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $50 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament =========== Check-In Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 Check-Out Date: Friday, June 30, 2006 Hotel Name: Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament 402 Queen St Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5A7 613-236-1133 Your Offer Price: $50.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $100.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $23.70 (US dollars) Total Charges: $123.70 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site for those dates is a pre-paid rate at $115.00 (CDN) = $102.42 (USD) per night plus tax...so this more than a 50% savings.

(Two-Nights) The Ottawa/Hull area is packed with School Groups for the next few weeks so bidding has been tougher than normal. It took me a lot of bids to get there - but after a few days something finally hit. The new shorter 24-hour lock-out is great for this kind of bidding. 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $50 = Declined 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $55 = Declined -- waited 24 Hours and started a new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $60 = Declined 4th Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $65 = Declined -- waited 24 Hours and started a new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $70 = Declined 4th Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $75 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Holiday Inn Gatineau Ottawa Plz =========== Check-In Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Check-Out Date: Thursday, June 22, 2006 Hotel Name: Holiday Inn Gatineau Ottawa Plz 2 Montcalm Street Gatineau, Quebec J8X 4B4 819-778-3880 Your Offer Price: $75.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $150.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $32.39 (US dollars) Total Charges: $182.39 (US dollars) =============== A new hotel in the HULL zone - it's close to the river and the website looks pretty good... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/yowcp?irs=y I'll post a REVIEW after my stay. The best rate on the Hotel site for those dates is $125.10 (CDN) = $111.41 (USD) per night plus tax...so this more than a 30% savings.

Anyone had any luck with the PL website when connecting via a PDA or Mobile Browser (cellphone)...? I can get to the PL site and sign-in FINE, but it doesn't want to accept my entries for City and Dates. Anyone managed to do this....?

Got this survey below tonight. Looks like Priceline will be offering a new BONUS program - but only for regular price bookings - not Name Your Own Price

(Two-Nights) 1st Bid - Downtown 3* @ $50 = Counter-Offer $14 - Ignored 2nd Bid - added Toronto East (FRB) 3* @ $57 = Accepted at the 3* Courtyard Marriott Toronto Downtown =========== Check-In Date: Thu, Jun 1, 2006 Check-Out Date: Sat, Jun 3, 2006 Hotel Name: Courtyard Marriott Toronto Downtown 475 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1X7 416-924-0611 Your Offer Price: $57.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $114.00 (US dollars) Taxes & Service Fees: $25.54 (US dollars) Total Charges: $139.54 (US dollars) =============== Best rate per room/per night on the Marriott site is $179.00 CDN = $161.84 USD plus tax...so this is a HUGE 65% saving --- Great Deal!

Looks like the "Toronto East" zone is ONLY greyed-out for SAME-DAY bids. You can still use "Toronto East" zone as a FRB zone for 3* and higher.....

Sorry, It was $60 - bad cut & paste job...

(One-Night) Same-Day bid. I could have started bidding lower, but I noticed that "Toronto East" zone is now greyed-out so no FRB for that zone....only Scarborough-Pickering is left with a 2* - and they are building a new Hilton Garden Inn out there that opens in June. 1st Bid - Don Valley 3* @ $55 = Accepted at the 3* Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley =========== Check-In Date: Saturday, May 27, 2006 Check-Out Date: Sunday, May 28, 2006 Hotel Name: Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley 1250 Eglinton Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J3 416-449-4111 Your Offer Price: $60.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $60.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $16.57 (US dollars) Total Charges: $76.57 (US dollars) =============== Best rate per room/per night on the Crowne Plaza site is $132.96 CDN = $120.03 USD plus tax...so this is a 50% saving. Great Deal for a last-minute bid!

(Three-Nights) Different bidding path on this one, but the same end result... 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Declined 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $50 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $55 = Declined 4th Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $60 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 5th Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $65 = Declined with extra $17 Counter-Offer 6th Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $70 = Accepted at the Ottawa Courtyard Marriott =========== Check-In Date: Sunday, June 11, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Hotel Name: Courtyard By Marriott Ottawa 350 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E9 613-241-1000 Your Offer Price: $70.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $210.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $42.74 (US dollars) Total Charges: $252.74 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is an even higher $179.00 (CDN) = $160.83 (USD) per night plus tax...so even at this higher PL rate this more than a 55% savings against the hotel best rate - over $90 (USD) per night!.

(Three-Nights) The shorter 24 hour lock-out made this much less painful than the old 72 hour lock-out.... 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $50 = Declined 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $55 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $60 = Declined with extra $17 Counter-Offer 4th Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $65 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 5th Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $70 = Accepted at the Ottawa Courtyard Marriott =========== Check-In Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 Check-Out Date: Friday, June 2, 2006 Hotel Name: Courtyard By Marriott Ottawa 350 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E9 613-241-1000 Your Offer Price: $70.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $210.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $42.74 (US dollars) Total Charges: $252.74 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is $169.00 (CDN) = $151.84 (USD) per night plus tax...so even at this higher PL rate this more than a 50% savings against the hotel best rate.

(Two-Nights) The weak US Dollar looks to be causing a small rise in the lowest base price for bidding. The $40 and $45 don't appear to be hitting anymore... 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $45 = Declined 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* @ $50 = Declined -- Waited for 24 hour lock-out and started new bid -- 3rd Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $55 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Ottawa Crowne Plaza =========== Check-In Date: Monday, May 22, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Hotel Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel Ottawa 101 Lyon Street Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5T9 613-237-3600 Your Offer Price: $55.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $110.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $25.64 (US dollars) Total Charges: $135.64 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is a pre-paid rate at $133.95 (CDN) = $120.40 (USD) per night plus tax...so this more than a 50% savings.

This one hit, but I failed on bids for three other weeks in May and June up to $55. I'll try to rebid those dates tonight after the 24 hour lock-out expires.

(Two-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $50 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament =========== Check-In Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2006 Check-Out Date: Thursday, June 8, 2006 Hotel Name: Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament 402 Queen St Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5A7 613-236-1133 Your Offer Price: $50.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $100.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $23.92 (US dollars) Total Charges: $123.92 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is a pre-paid rate at $115.00 (CDN) = $103.60 (USD) per night plus tax...so this more than a 50% savings.

(One-Night) Orginally looking for a 4* Downtown - but went all the way to $75 with no luck.... 1st Bid - 4* Toronto Downtown @ $50 = Declined 2nd Bid - added Brampton (FRB) @ $55 = Declined 3rd Bid - added Don Valley (FRB) @ $57 = Declined 4th Bid - added Markham (FRB) @ $59 = Declined 5th Bid - added Mississauga (FRB) @ $60 = Declined 6th Bid - added Oakville-Burlington (FRB) @ $62 = Declined 7th Bid - added Scarborough-Pickering (FRB) @ $65 = Declined 8th Bid - added Toronto Airport YYZ (FRB) @ $67 = Declined 9th Bid - added Toronto East (FRB) @ $70 = Declined 10th Bid - added Vaughn-North York (FRB) @ $75 = Declined Ran out of zones and didn't really want to spend more than $75, so I started a NEW bid at the 3* level (still hoping for Downtown). 1st Bid - 4* Toronto Downtown @ $45 = Declined 2nd Bid - added Scarborough-Pickering (FRB) @ $50 = Declined 3rd Bid - added Toronto East (FRB) @ $55 = Declined ...became pretty obvious that Downtown wasn't going to hit on this date - so I added the Don Valley zone expecting the Crowne Plaza which is pretty nice. 4th Bid - added Don Valley 3* @ $55 = Accepted at the 3* Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley =========== Check-In Date: Monday, April 24, 2006 Check-Out Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Hotel Name: Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley 1250 Eglinton Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J3 416-449-4111 Your Offer Price: $55.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $55.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $15.83 (US dollars) Total Charges: $70.83 (US dollars) =============== Best rate per room/per night on the Crowne Plaza site is $151.96 Canadian Dollar = $133.61 US Dollar plus tax...so this is about a 60%. Great Deal!

(Three-Nights) 1st Bid - Ottawa 2.5* @ $50 = Declined with Counter-Offer of an extra $14 - IGNORED 2nd Bid - Added Hull 2.5* $52 = Declined --- Waited for 24 hour Lock-Out, and started new bid --- 3rd Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT @ $55 = Accepted with a bump to the 3* Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament =========== Check-In Date: Sunday, April 30, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2006 Hotel Name: Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament 402 Queen St Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5A7 613-236-1133 Your Offer Price: $55.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $165.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $34.89 (US dollars) Total Charges: $199.89 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Hotel site is a pre-paid rate at $119.00 (CDN) = $103.48 (USD) per night plus tax...so this about a 45% savings.

(Two -Nights) 1st Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT @ $45 = Declined with $13 Counter-Offer [iGNORED] 2nd Bid - 2.5* added Hull @ $52 = Declined --- Waited for 24 hour Lock-Out, and started new bid --- 3rd Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT @ $55 = Accepted at Courtyard =========== Check-In Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 Check-Out Date: Thursday, April 20, 2006 Hotel Name: Courtyard By Marriott Ottawa 350 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E9 613-241-1000 Your Offer Price: $55.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $110.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $25.50 (US dollars) Total Charges: $135.50 (US dollars) =============== The best rate on the Marriott site is $149.00 (CDN)/$129.45 (US) per night plus tax...So I am saving $75 (US) per night - approx. a 60% savings. Good Deal!