lwitchel

WT - I know you've done this enough to know the general positives and negatives so a lot depends on how you feel about them. For me, I lose something of being "in Paris" even being at the Meridien Etoile on the Boul. Peripherique. At the same time, I'm not as warm towards Amsterdam (a minority position). One thing an airport hotel might give you is a quieter night's sleep. At the hotel I stayed at last year (the Bilderberg Jan Luyken right near the Vondelpark, but on Queens Day, which is the fourth of July on crack) there was screaming in the streets all through the night. Schipol has excellent links to Amsterdam but getting from the tram to the train to the hotel will probably take you a good 30-45 mins each time even with a quick and frequent train journey. Your call - how much night time experience and activity do you want? Have you tried bidding in the city itself yet - if the Renaissance is coming up for your dates I gather it's a good option as well.

Typical New Yorker that I am, I live less than five minutes from it and haven't gone yet. But I'll go one morning this week and report back. My stepmom went a few days ago and thought it worth the visit. The suggestion I have heard is to try and get an aerial view of it - perhaps by combining it with a visit to the Met and going to the rooftop sculpture garden (which is staying open during this period for that very reason.

Thanks! I shall. (And better, I get to review it. Muahahaha.) It's only a single night, and this is still more than 60% off any other rates they saw, so I think they'll take the bad with the good. I've also found that any time I stayed at a "horror" hotel, things were fine - you should see the things people have written about the Wyndham, which I certainly considered acceptable at $33. I'm not screaming about worn tubs at that price. I think my parents will handle it too - and I'll ask them what they thought!

My parents are going to the flower show that weekend - and things are very booked. I already booked for that weekend for another purpose (Pennsylvania Ballet), luckily I got the Hyatt Regency at the usual $43 a while back, but that was a Friday check-in. They wanted Saturday, which is harder with 4* in that zone. 4* from $43 up to $85 was rejected. I bid 3* and $45 and then jumped to $65 as I was bidding for them, there are only two rebid zones and I think they wanted results now, not in 72 hours. Club Quarters accepted. Club Quarters Philadelphia 3-star Downtown Philadelphia 1628 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215-282-5000 Check-In Date: Sat, Mar 5, 2005 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Mar 6, 2005 Check-Out Time: 11:00 AM Your Offer Price: $65.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $65.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.76 Total Charges: $81.76

Hello Bowman - Thereuare needs the potential dates of your stay to really assist you, but I can say that if you add in 3* on a rebid, you vastly reduce your chances of getting the Hyatt Penn's Landing. If you have made that bid for a 3* I really would wait 3 days to start a completely new bid. Look in the section on the forum on bidding tips about understanding free re-bids. There are plenty of them possible for a 4* hotel in downtown. Once you've bid 3* in downtown you reduce your options, which is why I suggest waiting and starting anew. Of course, Thereuare is better at this than me, so I'd take his advice!

Oh, food is very dear in London, but it's not THAT bad (maybe it's because I'm from New York. . .) The tube is about 1.60 GBP for a ride and less if you buy multiple tickets or day passes. When I stayed at the Holiday Inn Forum in Kensington there was a minibar in the room with space for your own stuff and I just kept bread, and sandwich fixings (ham, cheese) in the hotel. I don't really like eating all meals out - I wouldn't do it when I was home - it makes me feel more normal to grab a salad and a yogurt for a quick lunch on occasion. Of the supermarkets, Waitrose was a bit more expensive, but the food was also better. I'm going to London again in June, but also Buenos Aires in April. Hey, with Priceline, my hotel in London will STILL cost about the same as my hotel in BsA! And NYC-EZE is at least $600 and usually a good deal more r/t - I'm going at the end of May and NYC-LHR is still only $525 with taxes.

If you have the energy to pursue it, I'd ask to speak to a supervisor - or better, not bother with the phone and put the entire story including your contact with them (just so they know a rep offered you a refund) into a written letter, along with whatever written details you have to substantiate and send it to them, explaining the situation. I'd say that I understand the need for documentation and why the customer service rep asked for it, but that I hope that this documentation, which is all that is given and what is customary in the region, is sufficent for them to ascertain the veracity of your claim. You may get a more carefully reasoned response to a written request, and it will save you time explaining and re-explaining the same thing. Good luck with this, I hope it works out one way or another.

Basic Facts Going to be in the UK in late May through early June, broken down as follows: Morning flight to the UK, so thinking a hotel for the first might (5/30) at the airport is a good idea and a savings. London 5/31-6/5 Bristol 6/5-7 (staying with my brother) London 6/7-9 Birmingham 6/9-12 At leisure 6/12 (Wales? Stratford?) Here

Desirees - I understand your problem, and the grief you are feeling, but they've got to have some sort of documentation. The customer service person you are talking to needs to record and defend her actions, which are not standard with company policy. Essentially, you're asking her to just take your word for it. Is there some sort of written proof you can give them? A newspaper obituary? A death certificate?

Not every city has great Priceline deals. I've had great luck in London, Brussels and Philadelphia. The choices in Paris up until recently forced one to choose between quality and location (How is the Novotel Les Halles?). Amsterdam did not work out well for me (I chose another avenue to book). Do you have any nominations for no-brainer Priceline cities (or zones) and those you would avoid?

I'm just curious about people's success stories. My best are probably My first bid on Priceline in mid 2000 when they offered crazy promotions, like $25/night credits. I stayed at the Sheraton Towers in Seattle for 3 nights for $77 total. London, October '03. The Marriott Marble Arch for 2 nights at $65 per night (used a $10/night bonus) - total of $81 a night. My parents were staying at the St. James Club for close close to four times the cost. My room was just as nice. Brussels, May '04. The Renaissance Brussels for about $60 total for a night. A lot of luxury on the cheap.

Saving thereuare from having to ask - What are your dates?

I was bidding for weekends in Boston and Philadelphia; the Boston weekend took a good deal more work. Bids up to 4* $80 and 3* 60 had been rejected three days previous. $60-$85 rejected at 4* this go-round (involving lots of closing the window and restarting in different free zone combinations). $60 at 3* produced a "raise your bid $17 and try again" message. So did $63 and $65 (I had restarted on each bid). $68 got the Park Plaza. Again, I'm traveling alone so hopefully the room won't be too cramped! After 40 minute subway journeys to get downtown from the Tage Inn in Somerville, I'm prepared to give up some room quality for a more central location. Check-In Date: Friday, March 11, 2005 Check-Out Date: Sunday, March 13, 2005 Hotel Name: Boston Park Plaza Hotel 64 Arlington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 617-426-2000 Your Offer Price: $68.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $136.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $26.08 Total Charges: $162.08

Bid $40, rejected, bid $43 accepted. Now I can see the difference between this and the Hilton Garden Inn. Check-In Date: Fri, Mar 4, 2005 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Mar 6, 2005 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $43.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $86.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $19.79 Total Charges: $105.79

Gracias! I'm honestly not that worried. I've stayed at a few "horror story" hotels and have found them just fine. It doesn't hurt that I'm traveling alone with no special needs. A small room isn't going to kill me - is it going to be that much smaller than a typical hotel room in NYC or London? Besides, I've told all my friends that I'm staying at the St. Francis, and they all went, "Oooooo!" so there's something to be said for that!

Hope - speaking as a New Yorker (and a guy) I may be overly blase but there are very few areas of Manhattan I don't feel safe in at night - and those generally aren't in places you can bid on hotwire or priceline. DO watch out for the really cheap dormitory "bargains" I see listed on some of the off price travel agencies - East Harlem is not a neighborhood you wish to stay in, but any Manhattan Priceline zone should be safe. I would find the Upper East side or lower Manhattan to be inconvenient but not unsafe. Enjoy your stay!

Worked my way up in two dollar increments from $65 and then in one dollar from $72 - was accepted at $74. The St. Francis has mixed reviews, I hope I do OK - I have a nagging feeling I should have stopped after $70 and tried my luck at Union Square West for the Renaissance :) Your Offer Price: $74.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $222.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $38.49 Total Charges: $260.49

Dirk - I visited San Diego in February last year; the weather was pleasant and mild. I stayed in downtown San Diego but ended up doing very little there (maybe with more time) so having access to a car and perhaps bidding on the coastal zone would be an option. From what I saw of that area, La Jolla is very pretty as is Del Mar and the rest of the coast. I'm a city boy at heart, but the most interesting things I did in San Diego were all outdoors, hiking (Anza Borrego, about a 80 mile drive inland into the desert), coastal drives and the like. I didn't think of it as a shopping town, but I'm not walking around with Euros burning a hole in my pocket! The other thing I remember fondly as an Easterner was that Mexican food in California, even fast food, seemed like a real cuisine, delicious and fresh. In NYC, it's mostly an excuse to get drunk on margaritas :). I pricelined the Radisson Harbor View downtown for $53/night. It has mixed reviews, I found it completely acceptable. Enjoy your trip!

Just wanted to thank flyme2 and LoneStar for their responses. I'm also a member at Flyertalk and have been researching there - there's great information. I've narrowed down to a few places, and I'm just trying to make final decisions. My one question is it looks like I can get a very good deal on the Sol Melia, or stay at the Etoile, which looks a bit more tired but in Recoleta rather than Catalinas. Go for location or amenities?

I'm resurrecting this thread 'cause I just redeemed my AANYC voucher to go in April. Not a bad deal, I flew to California twice last winter on American - total cost about $375 and got the two flights (to SAN and SFO) 10000 butt-in-seat miles, gold status (through a challenge), 5000 bonus miles from AA (FLY04 bonus), 2500 bonus miles from e-rewards, 2000 miles online booking bonus and a ticket to Buenos Aires. And I upgraded to Business SFO-JFK for $75. That's got to be one of the best travel deals I've ever had. In all cases, if anyone went to Argentina, how was the hotel situation? Is there any place you'd recommend staying? I'm looking at the Howard Johnson downtown, but unsure whether I should stay right downtown or Recoleta. A perfect place for me would have free or low-cost internet access and a fitness center onsite. If anyone woulod like to recommend guide services or other tips, please feel free. I'm really excited to go - and probably also going to Iguazu Falls as well.

I got this on a Hotwire bid (2.5*) but it also comes up frequently at the same star rating on Priceline. This has gotten rave reviews on tripadvisor. It's a good value for the money, but I wouldn't rave about it. The hotel is situated about 2 miles outside of Boston, near the Sullivan Square T stop on the Orange Line. It's either a 15 minute walk or a short shuttle ride the hotel offers complimentarily - caveat to this, it only runs once every half hour and finding the shuttle stop when you first arrive from Boston can be very confusing. Call the hotel to arrange for them to pick you up, and as you walk out the turnstiles at Sullivan Square go towards your left to a tiny monorail - you will need to press a buzzer to call it and it will take you over the train tracks to a parking garage. Exit the monorail, walk to your left to a flight of stairs going to the ground floor. The pick up for the shuttle is right at the bottom of these stairs. The hotel is pleasant enough - about on the level of a Residence Inn, though more a standard hotel room than a suite. There was a cube refrigerator in room. The free am breakfast on a crowded Sunday was jammed and nothing to write home about, but I grabbed a muffin and some juice. This hotel is a good option in an expensive city, but I'd offer one significant caveat. It may not be that far out from the city, but it isn't all that convenient either. With the shuttle and the T, it could take you either only 20 minutes or a good 45 minutes to an hour to get into Boston. If you're hoping for some nightlife, spend the extra money to get downtown if you can, or have a car handy - the hotel has ample free parking.

Just got back from a Priceline stay here. I had a similar positive experience to those above. I was given a second floor twin superior room, which was fine for my needs. I believe it may have been smoking, but I didn't notice that at all. Rooms are smallish, but modern, bright and clean. I wouldn't entertain there, but I could certainly get work done. Also, they use toiletry dispensers in the rooms rather than small bottles; they do give small soap bars, but if you use hair conditioner, bring your own as it is not provided. As of November '04, the hotel offers free wireless internet access in the lobby, which also clogs the lobby up (but free access is great!) Also, the fitness room is decent and free. As stated before, several food options and the tube a very short walk away. This was not one of the most luxurious 4* Priceline bids I have ever won (I'd say it's more a 3.5*) but it was a great bargain for a fine stay. Access to and from Heathrow or central London via the Piccadilly line was easy as pie. Do note though, that if you opt to take the tube from Heathrow, there is a flight of about 20 steps at the Gloucester Road station that is unavoidable. I only hit it going down, which was no big deal with what I had (2 medium-large bags) but going up with very large bags alone might have been difficult.

I've been to Paris 3 times in the past year and haven't yet decided on the best approach to accomodations. Bidding 4* is a quantum leap in quality over 3* - in my opinion well worth the extra $40 or whatever nightly. The 3* I got on Priceline (the Hotel des Victoires) was the barest tourist class. However, a hotel like the Meridien Etoile is at the edge of the city, and if you want to feel like you're in Paris, is a bit unsatisfactory even though the hotel itself is pleasant. I've also booked at www.lastminute.com (very inexpensive, but I got what I paid for; a cheap and spartan place to sleep.) and there are decent rates to be had as well at www.goldentulip.com and www.0800Paris-Hotels.com . If I were going again, I would probably concentrate my bidding on 4* Opera Quarter East and hope the Novotel Les Halles came up. I've never stayed there, but it seems like it might be a good mix of price, quality and location.

I was able to get the Hilton Garden Inn for a $43 bid on Priceline. It goes for a bit more than the other usual 3* hotel in Center City, the Wyndham, but it

If you've got the extra money or get a good deal (look for the Amtrak discount codes at www.webflyer.com/blog or try V822 as a promotional code, it should be good for 20% off through December 16) I'd take the train. It's the most hasslefree way of going. Fewer preliminaries than the plane, far more space than the bus and you can get up and move around. For cheap though, it's hard to beat the bus, but expect it to be full and cramped.