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used the PRICELINE link. bid for marina only, 3* and above, for $75/nt. got the 4* hotel on the first bid. $75 x 3 = 225 tax $40.23 total $265.23 direct booking from hotel website offered $199/nt with 3rd night free. i.e. $398 / 3nights. pas mal.

Waikiki Beach 3.5* at $55 failed. Waikiki Beach 3* at $58 failed. Waikiki City Central 3.5* at 58 failed. Waikiki City Central 3* at 62 accepted. 62*3 + fee 34.35 = 220.35 Kaiulani's website showed $119 per night. Could have made it lower if I read the forum carefully, (esp if I checked the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins thru next month) but still a good deal :-) I used the PRICELINE link in this forum. Thanks always.

*4 at $95 failed. *3 at less than $130 considered 'small chance', which I ignored. The hotel was not on the Shop & Compare list. $100 + tax/fee $18.94 = 128.94 total, while Orbitz showed $154.13 total. Used the link. thanks.

4* at $90 rejected, then 3* at $95 was accepted, through SavingsBarn. Until 5 days ago no availability at up to $103 for even 2*. Hilton Pittsburgh And Towers Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $95.00 Subtotal: $95.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $21.32 Total Charges*: $116.32 Regular $176 at Hilton web site.

Again aimed at 3*Downtown for 3 nights 5/21-24, so no free rebids. Started at $55 5/21-23, then counteroffered $70. Next at $63 5/22-24, then counteroffered $80. Then at $63 5/21 was accepted, but failed for extended check-out date. Offer Price $63 Taxes and Fees $17.73 Total 80.73USD HI website: CAD129+21.93=USD116.23+19.76 (for the following dates, CAD149 & 189, respectively) so saved ~USD 61, quite a deal :) Seemingly PL rate is quite correlated with capacity, as reflected by official website rate. Also, when booking hotels in Canada, it might work to target 'nines', i.e. CAD 69, 79, 89 etc. or equivalnet in USD. (or 'zeroes' for additional safety.) Any suggestions for the following two nights? Probably $72(~79CAD)? btw, used SB at last.

Wanted downtown only, so no free-rebids. Started at $50, with $3~5 increments. Offer Price $78 Taxes and Fees $20.36 Total 98.36USD HI website: CAD129+21.93=USD116.23+19.76 so saved ~USD 37, not a bad deal. Couldn't extend to earlier check-in, though.

Park Plaza Hotel Vancouver Downtown $102+23.43/night May 19-20 Restaurant(s) Tennis Nearby Hotel Website USD121.62+19.46, so saved ~$15. Expected Holiday-Inn, but ended up 'barely downtown'. Seems like more than an OK place, though.

Priceline quote: 2.5* Homewood Suites Hilton $185 2.5* Residence Inn Marriott $168 2* Wyndham Cap $159 Hotwire: 2.5* $122 + 21(tax), likely Country Inn and Suites Hotel sites: 2.5* Homewood Suites Hilton C$249 (~$210) 2.5* Country Inn C$189 (~$160) 2.5* Residence Inn Marriott C$199 (~$168) Failed Bids: 1/27 2.5* $65 2* $67 1/29 2.5* $70 2* $75 1/30 2.5* $80 2* $85, then ignored counteroffer +22 1/31 2.5* $90 Results: Your Offer Price: $95.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $190.00 (US dollars) Taxes & Service Fees: $42.76 (US dollars) Total Charges: $232.76 (US dollars)

Thank you thereuare, just fyi, it was two-night stay 2/9/07-2/11/07 I was not sure which is cheaper in general, to bid each date separately, or two as a whole. Of course there's a risk of split stay (ouch) with the former, but in this area it seems pretty unlikely. Any thoughts?

Fort Worth, tx downtown-stockyard area aimed at 3* only, no free rebids lowest Hotwire in the area: 153 lowest Priceline quote: 148 shifting to 169 at Hilton lowest Expedia: 148 to 168 Hilton site: 148 to 161 failed $60 1/23 failed $65 1/24 failed $70 1/26, then counterofferred +$22 ignorantly accpeted whole $22 our Offer Price: $92.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $184.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $37.29 Total Charges*: $221.29