drjbo3

Was hoping to land the Clarion, but the Holiday Inn will do for overnight. Amenities listed: Free Parking Internet access Restaurant Pet Friendly Business Center Fitness Center Self-serve Laundry and the all important Airport Shuttle. Also listed as accessible for the blind.

Very nice accommodations at the Courtyard. I had a nice comfy king bed and there was a minifridge in the room. There looked like a nice lounge with an outdoor patio that might be nice in better weather. I arrived very late at night so didn't have the opportunity to check out the restaurant or lounge. The onsite parking is $18 a day, but there is overnight parking on the street if you arrive after 10:00 PM and leave before 8:00 AM. You can use the 5 hour meters if you need a few more hours without having to dish out the $18. The check-in clerk was super friendly and even volunteered this info. Would definitely stay there again, although the Crowne Plaza offers superior rooms and amenities. Hope this info is helpful. Janet

Sorry....price was $54 before taxes. The hotel was very nice and the staff accommodating....However, we arrived about 9:30 PM and NO prepared food was available...the restaurant AND bar were closed and room service was unavailable. (What?!?!?!)

Was hoping to land the Crowne Plaza but the Courtyard was also recommended by 95% of the customers. Bidders should know that parking is additional and not cheap (~$20 depending on if you use the valet)....so take that into account when bidding. You usually can find free parking on the street for overnight but must get up early in the morning to avoid being ticketed. The Quality Inn offers free parking and you can book that for $76 directly on their website, but is also not a 3*. The Residence Inn offers free parking but it is pricier and a longer walk from the Convention Center. Used your HOTWIRE link, of course! Amenities for the Courtyard were listed as -Free Internet -Smoke Free Rooms -Fitness Center -Restaurant(s) -Business Center -Internet access This will be my first time staying at the Courtyard and will let you know if it is as nice as the Crowne Plaza.

Needed an overnight place near the airport before leaving for Sedona in the morning... I booked for three people...so we will get a room with 2 beds. Used your HOTWIRE link...of course. BTW, may helpful for Abbyjoy.... Free Parking <amenity names only please... not descriptions> Free Internet <amenity names only please... not descriptions> Pet friendly Pet friendly - terms apply Airport Shuttle <amenity names only please... not descriptions> Smoke Free Rooms Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free. Fitness Center Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply. Pool(s) Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal. Restaurant(s) Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary. High-Speed Internet Access Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply. In-room accessibility Accessible path from the room entrance to the window, the bed and the bathroom; accessible hardware and minimal resistance to open the door; accessible temperature controls and window coverings

Had location been a primary concern, I would have asked the board. Since it was just one night stay any 3* was acceptable....it gets sketchier when trying to figure out a 2.5 star or less. Then I really need the help. ;) The Holiday is is on the southern end of Saratoga Springs downtown area. We had a very nice dinner at Limoncello right across the street. Our room was fine with 2 double beds, a round table and two chairs with a fridge and a microwave. It appears to have been recently renovated and everything was spotless. Also, free wifi...which is always a plus! Thanks for keeping the info flowing!

Booked a three star for one night. The amenities made it sound like the Hilton, but from searches on other sites indicated the Hilton did not have any rooms available. Anyway, I knew I would be happy with any of the 3* hotels in the area. It also indicated a 95% satisfaction rate amoung Hotwire users. They are definitely making it harder to figure out! ;-) Oh...and of course, I used the HOTWIRE link on your site. Here are the amenities listed: Free Parking Indoor pool(s) Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities (self-service) High-Speed Internet Access Accessible for the blind Accessible for the deaf Accessible path of travel In-room accessibility Accessible bathroom Handicapped parking Roll-in shower

Used the HOTWIRE link on Board looking for a on night stay in Saratoga Springs on the way to VT. This was a great find since it is listed for $159 on the "More Hotels" tab. It is "downtown" so easy to walk to most of the shops and restaurants. Amenities listed: Indoor pool(s) Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Accessible for the deaf Free Internet In-room accessibility Accessible bathroom Handicapped parking Roll-in shower

Of course....I used the links on the your site to connect and purchase my stay. Love this site!

Since there are four 3* places regularly on Hotwire near the convention center figuring out which hotel you are bidding on is sometimes confusing. But now Hotwire has added two new features..."recommended by Hotwire travelers" and ~sometimes~ the "rate on other sites". I was hoping for the Crowne Plaza AND wanted two beds....so tried a variety of combinations to see what happened. Two of the 3* came up at near or close to the same price with similar amenities,but one is recommended by 75% and the other 95%. Bidding on two adults with 2 children gave us this. Portland (Downtown - Convention Center) 3* Crowne Plaza Downtown Convention Center Airport Shuttle Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities (self-service) High-Speed Internet Access Rates on other sites were $109-129 but the "other rate" noted was $101....so I am not sure how reliable this is for narrowing down the hotels.

Update and Review. My hotel stay at the Best Western was very pleasant. My room, since I had requested one for 3 adults, had 2 nice comfy beds. There was a small round table with two chairs that could double as a desk. My room had a small coffee maker, microwave and a bar sized refrigerator. The entire hotel is non-smoking now and they even have a fitness center which looked nice, but I didn't use it. This was not list as an amenity. They had a decent breakfast selection, hot and cold cereal, eggs (or a facsimile) and sausage, fresh fruit, the usual carb assortment, good OJ, apple juice and weak coffee. The best part was the make your own waffle station. The entire facility looked spotless and the staff was very nice despite their having had a bad computer day. Wireless is FREE but my wireless connection was weak in my room, but the desk provided me with a short CAT cord. If you like to work in bed, you can plan ahead and bring a longer one with you. The only negative is that it is a distance from downtown Saratoga Springs, so you will have to get into your car to go there. For this stay it was not an issue. I would certainly stay here again given the opportunity.

Oh my! Did you want a smaller bed or a larger bed? If you are expecting a king bed in NYC on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, you may be very disappointed. You are lucky to get a queen and in some hotels...a double is the norm. In NYC location is the principle driver of hotel price. Many very nice hotels offer very small rooms. In order to get the deep discounts that PRICELINE or HOTWIRE offer, you need to be able to live with what you get. Otherwise, you may be better off trying other sites that are not as deeply discounted, but offer the ability to specify your bed preference. Another option is to search hotels or hotel groups directly which may offer a discount. BTW, Vegas does not have the nicest hotel...some are pretty average to downright sleazy. New does not always mean nice. ;-) If you are going to spend more time outside your room than in your room, plan accordingly. Do you really need an in hotel restaurant, room service, a business or fitness center???? Breakfast is nice but you will likely to grab a bagel with a schmear within a block of any location. ;-) Personally, for me a comfy bed and free internet is enough (um, coffee is nice too), and really hate to spend anymore than necessary on a room. When is the next time you will ever be in NYC? If you need to spend $50 more a night....that means adding another $200 to your stay. You could get a couple of tickets to a Broadway show for that....or 4 if you use TKTS. Only you can decide for yourself what you want to spend your $$$ on.

If I may jump in here....Don't think that Times Square is the only ideal location. Personally, as someone who lives in the suburbs on NYC I would rather be near Central Park....or if I wanted to be funky the SoHo region. If you use the HOTWIRE site and eliminate the airport locations, you really won't be too far away from public transportation and MANY MANY attractions. Each one of the neighborhoods listed will have museums, restaurants, etc in close proximity. Our NYC metro is the fastest and cheapest way to get around town, and is as safe as any other major city, although I agree with Thereuare, take a cab at night. Taxis are pretty reasonable if you are only going a short distance and are real feet savers after a long day of sight-seeing. NYC is unlike other cities like Paris, Rome and London, where you can be stuck not centrally located and no where near the metro. Look at the MAP selection on Hotwire and you will see there are subway stops usually within two blocks of anywhere on the Hotwire selections. Also remember that although you think $250 is a LOT to spend on a hotel...for NYC this is a bargain. Most hotels are much more expensive. In NYC everything is at a premium...including space. A hotel room is likely to be pretty small...even at a high end hotel. I suggest you use TripAdvisor to explore the various areas on Manhattan to see where the attractions you want to see are located and then make your decision. If you read the hotel reviews you will see many out-of-towners complain about the size of the room. If you are smart, you won't be spending too much time in the room...and will be out exploring the city. Hope you find something that suits you and enjoy your stay.... Oh...and also remember on HOTWIRE there are taxes and fees to add to your cost....expect about 15-17% on top of the rate that is quoted....you will see that before you agree to the reservation. Good luck!

OK, So I decided to try to add additional nights prior to my Downtowner reservation, however the only room available was for $159. I could stay at the Hilton for that...so I am willing to try another selection. Used the HOTWIRE link on this site, but only two hotels were available....a 3 star and a 2 star but the 2 star did not come up when requesting a room for 3 adults. The 2 star amenities were "pool" and "spa", which are the same amenities listed for the Grand Union Motel on the Standard Rates tab. Since I may be sharing a room with my sister-in-law that evening, I thought it would be safer to opt for the 3* that had accommodations for 3 adults. I was sure I would wind up in Malta....but decided I could cope for one night. Surprisingly, it was for the Best Western Park Inn in Saratoga! Interestingly, the only amenities listed were Business Center Hi Speed Internet However, when you check their website, they also do off a "full" breakfast and an exercise facility. Most of the negative reviews for the hotel on the HOTWIRE site was from folks who don't understand you can't be guaranteed two beds unless you request a room for 4 adults. Also, you can't be sure you will get a non-smoking room. Sometimes you can make nice with the reception person to get a special request...but sometimes they really just can't accommodate you. I bring a pocket sized fabreeze with me just in case. This is a busy weekend in Saratoga with our conference and Skidmore's Family Celebration weekend, so I am quite happy with the result, although rooms would likely be less expensive when the town is not as busy. Happy to be add another hotel to the Hotwire list. ;-)

Oh...BTW. Did use the HOTWIRE link on your site to book ;-)

Couldn't figure out what this property was from prior listings, but my guess was the Comfort Inn....wrong but not disappointed. ;-) 2** Saratoga Springs/Malta Area Amenities: Smoke Free Rooms Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free. Complimentary Breakfast &lt;amenity names only please... not descriptions&gt; Pool(s) Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal. High-Speed Internet Access. ______________________________________________________ I needed to attend a meeting at the conference center which was being held on the same weekend as Skidmore's Family Celebration Weekend. Our Conference rate at the Hilton was $159, but thought I would stay elsewhere to save $$$ for my organization. I have stayed at the Downtowner many times and although it is not a new facility it is so conveniently located within walking distance of many downtown Saratoga restaurants and attractions. The staff is friendly, the high-speed internet access is free, coffee is available all day, and they even have an indoor lap pool. The continental breakfast spread is nothing to write home about....but better than nothing. Besides the Common Ground Coffee House is right down the street. I think we paid more when we first stopped here when my children were infants....over 25 years ago. I can stay here for THREE nights not much more than would cost me for one night at the Hilton. And just to be clear....it is a MOTEL, not a HOTEL

The Holiday Inn worked out really well. Shuttle picked my son up without a problem. When I called to ask if our two rooms could be adjoining, I was already informed that they had already done so. The staff couldn't have been nicer to us even though we had purchased through HOTWIRE. It is also a very convenient location next to a lot of shopping and dining options....close to the Burlington Airport without the feeling of being at an airport location. There was a really nice pool that we didn't get to use. The rooms had been remodeled, but the bathrooms, while clean, feel a little tired. I think the entire hotel is non-smoking now, but there was evidence that the rooms were not always so.

Holiday Inn Burlington, VT 1068 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT, 05403 (802) 863-6363 CheckInDate:Thu, Mar 24, 2011 OutDate:Fri, Mar 25, 2011 Airport Shuttle, Fitness Center,Pool(s),Restaurant(s),Business Center,Laundry Facilities (self-service) Selected this hotel because of the airport shuttle service. We needed a hotel for one night and my son will be arriving at the airport before we arrive via car. The shuttle option was great in case someone can't pick him up at the airport. Used the HOTWIRE link on the site for the search! ;-)

FWIW, If you want two beds, always search for 3 (or 4) people in a room. Often 3 will search different that 4 guests on Hotwire. Most hotels will only guarantee the minimum number of beds to accommodate your listed overnight guests. Three or four people always need two beds! I do this whenever I travel with a girlfriend who I like...but don't want to share a bed with. ;-) Good luck next time, Janet

Update: Hotel was very nice. No mention of Priceline discount. Offered 2 doubles or king room. We opted for a king which had corner views. Pool was unexpected in a downtown location. The room was large, but the bathroom a bit tight. Coming from NY this is not surprising for a downtown location. Coffee maker in room, no minibar. Internet for $$$, even on the lobby computers. Parking was in excess of $20 per day, but the first night we parked nearby for less for $8 a day but without in and out ability. Weekend rates there were 3.95, but we found overnight parking on street for free after 7 PM. Right near local mass transit which we didn't use. High end shopping surrounds hotel. We would definitely stay here again, especially at this deep discount. J Bo

Was also trying to book a 4* in Downtown Portland like tvhagen, but for 8/13-8/17/09. Added North West Portland, then Convention Center with incremental bids to $79. Reduced bid to $68 and added 3.5* and was accepted. Shoulda went lower on the 3.5* or higher on the 4*. Still not a bad deal, considering listed rate on Priceline and Orbitz was $159. :-) Used your PRICELINE link for bidding. Thanks for all the great tips on PRICELINE and HOTWIRE! :)

Thought I'd let the forum know about a "win" from another classmate of mine, since it doesn't appear to be previously listed. The price is fluctuating between $46-56. Caution...there was ~another~ 3* with similar icons (plus maybe internet access) but it appears to be the Quality Inn, which is less convenient for those trying to get to UNC. However, the QI is more convenient to Duke. Comfort Inn: 3508 Mt. Moriah Rd., Durham, North Carolina 27707 This is the CI right off of the 15/501 exit from I 40. It is adjacent to the Homewood Suites. Not quite as nice, but decent.... and I am sure not worthy of the 3* Complimentary Breakfast &lt;amenity names only please... not descriptions&gt; Pool(s) Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal. I have been told that this location also has free internet access, but there is no icon indicating that.

Follow up: The Excalibur was just OK...more like a 2 1/2* than a 3*. We got an unrenovated room (no surprise), but the room was really spartan. no coffee maker, minibar and worse...no TUB in the bathroom...only a shower. After walking around in 105 degree temperature, I really wanted to soak in a tub. The location is very convenient...right next to NYNY and across from the MGM. There is a tram that will take you to the Luxor and Mandalay Bay...although we didn't have time to check them out. To get to the Monorail, you have to walk through the MGM, which is HUGE! No real problems during the stay. Sherwood Cafe was very nice for breakfast, never did make it to the pool though. FWIW, there is shuttle service from the airport to the hotel, although this is not listed as an amenity on Hotwire. Since we arrived at 1 AM we took a cab instead. I didn't investigate if the shuttle was free or not.

2 1/2 * Chapel Hill Courtyard Chapel Hill 100 Marriott Way Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517 USA Hair dryer, iron/ironing board, complimentary newspaper, cable TV, coffee maker/tea service,pool I decided to take the plunge and use Priceline (used the SavingsBarn.com PRICELINE link) for the first time. Hotwire did not appear to be listing my desired location (Homewood Suites), and decided to try getting it on Priceline instead, after two of my classmates successfully bid and got the Homewood. I initially bid $55 for a 3* since that is what Hotwire rates the Homewood. After an initial rejection I included the 2 1/2* as well, since Priceline rates the Homewood 2 1/2*. Go figure. Best rate on the hotel website was $139/149. While the Marriott has no kitchen, fridge, or free breakfast...it does have an indoor pool and a convenient free bus to UNC stops right outside. Another plus...the entire hotel is smoke free. :-) Will let you know how the stay goes...

Yes, the price was $119 for Friday night, but $198 for Saturday... So, overall the $149 is OK....although not the best "win" I have had using Hotwire. :-) It is still $139 today...hotwire is just playing with me, but again....this is Vegas! Your site has been a tremendous help. Thanks again.