Scorp

Actually, that is a very smart suggestion! That Marriott at Starr Pass looks nice and they are likely to show up somehow and somewhere. I did take the leap and it turned out to be The Lodge at Ventana Canyon. I will post details under Hotwire - Arizona. Thank you for posting that information on the Starr Pass property, though! It is definitely one to keep an eye out for....

We are thinking of adding some days on to our previously booked Tucson stay (previous from 3/21 to 3/28, now from 3/28 to 4/1 or 4/2). Tried bidding on Priceline up to $120 for a Resort in both La Paloma and North Tucson zones. None were accepted. I know these are still busy dates for Arizona, but thought there might be some availability at that price. Not all the resorts are sold out, e.g. Hilton El Conquistador is $170/night for a AAA rate, $169 for Westward Look... Checking Hotwire, there is a 3* in Central Tucson with Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Spa, Golf, Tennis, Business Centre for $41/night. I think it is the Doubletree at Reid Park? Also, that tantalizing 4* in the Foothills that others have wondered about... it is $85/night with Resort, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Spa, Golf, Tennis. I have read that this is probably the Lodge at Ventana Canyon, but there is no Business Centre listed on Hotwire and the Lodge appears to have a Business Centre. It has meeting areas, business and secretarial services. Any more thoughts on this 4* Hotwire property??? I was thinking it might be the Westward Look, but the Westward Look appears as a 3.5* in the Package section. Does Hotwire ever change the rating of a property between the Hotels section and the Packages section?

I'm confused - the heading says Doubletree Reid Park, but the replies start to reference the Radisson. Was this stay at the Doubletree or at the Radisson? :)

Priceline does not pass on our CC info to the rental car company, but you always have a record of having paid for the car rental on your CC statements. I once had a question about Trip Cancellation Insurance and wanted to make sure my Priceline purchases were covered. I called my CC company and they were a bit confused about what I was asking at first, but then I twigged... they just weren't that familiar with Priceline! Finally, they said, "Oh, it's just purchasing through a 3rd party, but it's always prepaid!" They said it was no different than purchasing through a Travel Agent, which would always be covered (as long as I paid for some or all of the travel with that CC). So, if you call your CC company and they seem confused, just ask about prepaid rentals through a 3rd party or travel agent.

This hotel is going to have some construction nearby, as a 16-story condo complex is going up next door. I don't know how much it will affect hotel guests but I imagine rooms on that side of the hotel will get some noise.

I am so pleased to see that this hotel is appearing via Priceline! It really is a great location and has some nice features. Brand new is always nice, and I did notice that the staff were great when we went there for drinks and munchies. I have never stayed there, but yes the reviews seem very good. I think people were finding it almost impossible to bid for hotels in Victoria - the 4* Empress was often so pricey or simply unavailable, the 3* Coast Harbourside and Ocean Pointe seemed equally elusive (and may have deserved a higher rating), and the less than desireable Travellers Inn or Red Lion were just unacceptable at a 3* level. I thought the Marriott might show up as a 3*, but I don't think most people will be too upset to get it at the 4* level. It isn't really in the same class as the venerable Empress, but its youthfulness and eagerness will carry it, I suspect!

Sorry, I believe the last rejected bid was $58.

Some friends won this one. I had suggested they would be successful around $40 to $50, but forgot about the MLK holiday which likely affected the outcome. They had to use several free rebids and go up to $60 to find success.

Welcome to BetterBidding, Marc! Being banned by Sheryl, you appear to be in very good company. Some of the nicest people I know.... etc :) By the way, are you the same person as mtacchi over at FlyerTalk? If so, I have enjoyed reading many of your posts...

If you like to walk, you'd probably be happy in either Cabo proper or San Jose. And if you do end up in San Jose, you can always catch a bus into Cabo for the day or whatever, if you find the choices too limited. Buses in Los Cabos are actually quite new and very deluxe for Mexico! And of course, they are inexpensive. The bus runs along the Corridor as well, but you can't just walk to a nearby restaurant or whatever if you are staying there. Be wary of the time-share sellers at the airport. You might think the ONLY way to get out of the airport is to take a time-share offer, you will have to look very hard to find the 'public ground transportation' booth. A cab can cost $50 or more to Cabo. The shuttle is about $15 to $25, I believe, depending on how far you are going. It's hard to beat these rates unless you can make private arrangements. Hotwire also has a 4* in Cabo for $80/night with Resort, Beachfront, Restaurant, pool, fitness, tennis, laundry. I don't have time right now to try and figure it out (Misiones??? but they are condos, I think).... let us know if you would like further help trying to identify the Hotwire properties. There are some nice condo properties around Cabo, but for a brief stay that might not appeal to you.

Hi ufauxreal, Just an additional note... if you are still interested in pursuing a car rental, here is some contact information for the car rental companies that service the Port of Miami. Port of Miami Car Rentals Hertz's web site does not allow rental returns to the Port itself, but I checked and they do say they provide a shuttle service to the Port from one of the Downtown locations, which is close to the pier. So you can drop it off at the Hertz Local Edition location (354 SE 1st) and they will shuttle you over to the Pier. I would phone and confirm with the local office if I were you, but that looks like a good possibility. Also I know I just booked a car rental for friends doing a one-way rental from FLL to Orlando and there were no extra fees for the one-way rental.

Actually, I believe Hotwire breaks this area down into THREE zones now, which is great - they indicate either San Jose del Cabo, The Corridor, or Cabo San Lucas. You can get a fairly good idea of location with them, and also they indicate the amenities, which give some really good hints for identification purposes. (Just on a really quick look, I think the 3.5* in Cabo for $105 MIGHT be the Marina Fiesta...) Personally, I think Priceline is risky for Cabo, if location is really important to you. You have every chance of ending up at any of the three different 'zones.' Have you been to Cabo before? Are you planning on renting a car? Did you want to be in the Corridor, where you have to take a bus or taxi to either town? That's OK, if you really like the hotel you are at, but if you want to get around, you might feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere. Taxis are expensive and hotel shuttles tend to run infrequently. We actually really like San Jose, it is a great little town and has less of the touristy flavour. But if you want to party and hit the chain restaurants and bars, Cabo is the place to be.

This is a nice property. We had a great deal on the room rate (only $31/night through Hotwire!) but it is still a good deal even at a somewhat higher rate. We asked for a quiet non-smoking room and were given a room on the top floor (4th floor) facing away from the street. We had a pleasant view of the mountains and trees and the pool and hot tub were below. All rooms are suites in this hotel, I believe. However, if you have stayed in other Whistler suite hotels, you may find the Summit studio suites small. Having stayed several times at the Westin (in either the studio or an upgrade to a 1-bdrm), I found the Summit rooms pleasant but a bit cramped. The room door opens right onto a small kitchenette area, with a compact fridge, sink, microwave and two-burner cooktop. There is no dishwasher. The bath was spotless and adequate in size. The seating area and sleeping area were combined, with a small dining table, sofabed and shared TV. We thought the bed was small, perhaps only a regular double bed, but we didn't ask for a King or Queen specifically. There is a gas fireplace below the TV and a door takes you outside to a small deck area. Furnishings are pleasant and contemporary. We did not use any of the Spa facilities. The hotel employees were friendly and helpful.

The Wyndham 72-hour sale is back! If you have a Wyndham hotel or resort that you would like to visit, you can often get a great deal on it if you can book during the 72 hour sale. You must join or be a Wyndham ByRequest member (it's free) and all rates are prepaid and no cancellations allowed. But you can save up to 50%. You must book by October 15th. More details at: 72 Hour Sale

Also, there are some decent possibilities for Cambridge through Priceline. The Hyatt came up recently for $60, for example.

Also, this is not a bad place to stay. We stayed here not too long ago, and we found the staff was great, the room was decent and all-in-all, we were pretty happy. You had some hard dates to work with, there was not a lot to go with! I believe they have a shuttle service at this hotel, you can catch a rid on the local transit quite easily and they will come pick you up when you come back.

Tried for 2.5* property (hoped for Embassy Suites), but ended up with an 'upgrade' to the 3* Hyatt. Still, pretty good for these dates, the Hyatt website shows rates starting at $199. Previously tried bids of $50 and $55.

Started bidding at $60 for 4*, then dropped to 3*adding Miramar and Pompano Beach and increasing to $70 and finally $75. $75 X 2 + $25.42 taxes and fees = $175.42

What type of information are you looking for? I know there have been some other winning bids for the Coast Harbourside. And TripAdvisor has some REVIEWS. The hotel is a nice property with a lovely waterfront location. It is not in the centre of the Inner Harbour like the Empress, but it is just around the curve of the harbour and it is within easy walking distance of downtown, although I believe the hotel provides a shuttle service as well. It is almost in the residential area of James Bay, which is also a nice area for walking. It has a nice lounge and restaurant with some beautiful water views.

Helped someone bid on this. $35 generated a counteroffer for extra $9, but added Lincoln Park and rebid for $37, which was accepted.

I have used the same name for up to 4 rooms on a Priceline bid, when I didn't know the correct names for all the people travelling or wasn't sure how the rooms would be shared. There were no problems. And I think the travellers only needed to provide one credit card for their stay while at the hotel, because all the rooms were on the same reservation.

OK, here is a summary of what I see for options. I suspect the most likely Priceline Resort property in Kapaa-Lihue-Koloa is the Marriott and might require a bid of about $120 or $130. The Hyatt may be available through Priceline but would be a much higher rate and you could always end up with the Marriott (and an overbid). If you wanted true luxury and a really special resort, the Hyatt would be the one, but it is PRICEY! I think it is the 5* property that is available through Hotwire and I see $269/night for your dates for it. (Starts at $338/night on the Hyatt website, though) The 3* properties on Priceline for the same zone probably include the Radisson and the Sheraton. They would probably be available for a bid of about $100. The Radisson, Sheraton and Marriotts are all nice properties, but you might be disappointed if you wanted a really super-luxurious resort. They are decent, but the rooms (and views!) can vary quite a lot. Still, you are most likely to be satisfied, even if not completely thrilled. There might be some additional charges for parking, but these usually aren't high and include valet service, if you wish. I don't think most of them charge a resort fee, but you could give them a quick call to ask. I am pretty sure the Radisson does not charge a resort fee. There are 2 and 3* properties in Princeville on Priceline, but I think you might find these feel a bit out of the way (unless that is what you want?) and I would think they would be $70 - $90 for a winning bid, but that is just a rough estimate. Haven't really researched it. On Hotwire, I do see a 2.5* condo for $87/night, but this is only useful if you really want a separate bedroom and kitchen. Personally, I would make the decision this way - where do you really want to spend your time? If you want the total resort and luxury experience, and plan to spend most of your time around the hotel itself and its pool and want full-service everything, then you probably want the Hyatt. But your budget says you should try for the Marriott. This would be the Resort category and I would bid it on Priceline as outlined above. If you want to be able to spend half your time at the hotel and you want some decent service but don't need all the luxury, go for the 3* properties through Priceline. However, there is one other option. If you know you are going to be out and about and exploring the island and its beaches and eating in different areas each night, then maybe you could go for the budget option. The 1* property on Priceline may be the Kauai Sands and it is humble, but clean and well-located. You can walk to a lot of things and it is a pretty beachfront area and a short distance to good swimming beaches (Lydgate Park, for example). There's probably no room service and no one will bring you drinks by the pool, but you may be able to get a room here for $45 - $55/night. I believe it is the same one that shows as a 2* on Hotwire for about $56/night. My personal favourite would be to book 4 or 5 nights at the Kauai Sands (while I am busy exploring) and then 2 or 3 nights at the Hyatt (for kicking back and enjoying the BEST of the rest). But some people would never want to stay at the Sands and would never want to spend the extra money for the Hyatt! Still, if you combine them this way, you don't spend much more than you would for the intermediate properties... for example, $200 for 4 nights at the Sands plus $800 for 3 nights at the Hyatt gives you a total of $1,000, but you would spend about the same for 7 nights at the Marriott. But this is my own idiosyncratic take on things, and may not be right for you! Feel free to ask me more about why I would do things this way, if you wish. Check out the reviews on TripAdvisor.com to help narrow things down. As for cars, I would try bidding Priceline - about $18 to $20 for a full-size and $22-24 for a premium, but make sure you check for special weekly rates through the usual sites first. And thereuare, feel free to add any additional wisdom or let me know if I am missing anything.

I can probably help a bit with this, but don't have much time tonight. A couple of quick suggestions. First, do check out Hotwire for both car and hotel for your dates. It will give you a starting point, at least. Are you sure you want only 4* or Resort accommodation? (Because Hawaii often does have some good condo choices, but it depends on what kinds of amenities and service you would like....and Hotwire will give you some details on these other properties.) For a full-size or Premium car, I would think you would find success between $18 and $25/day, but if you start bidding early, it gives you more time to try out lower bids. I would start for a full-size at $15 or $16/day if I were you and I would do it sooner rather than later. I don't know about Luxury cars, they can be very pricey, if available at all, even through Priceline. I would guess $35-40/day, but someone else may have a better guess. I think the Marriott is the most likely Resort property. The Radisson seems to jump around a lot in terms of its rating. What types of amenities do you prefer? And do you have a price limit in mind? There are some nice 3* properties on Kauai, are you sure you want to rule them out? And it won't hurt to try bidding for a hotel now, your travel is not that far away.

I am also sad to hear this. While I didn't really know him, I do recognize the 'board name' and remember running across several of his posts, and I think I felt some of his personality through them! I am sorry I cannot have the chance to read more of his writings, or even meet the person behind the words!

I agree that there are LOTS of things that Hotwire could do to become a more competitive choice. However, amenities now include things such as "Free Parking", which can certainly influence a decision in some areas. I don't think they have included this information in many hotel lists yet, though, as I searched quite a few places and didn't see more than one property that had it included on the amenity list.