tilepusher

I doubt that the Silver Cloud was downgraded to 2* unless the hotel didn't want to be the only 2.5* in the area. However, given the lack of reported wins for this hotel in recent years, it's unlikely that lack of opacity was an issue (come to think of it, when was the last time you saw a reported win for any Silver Cloud hotel?). I don't think it's a coincidence that this new zone appeared on Hotwire just weeks after Priceline dropped 2.5* bidding from Northwest Portland. I'm guessing that the Silver Cloud switched to Hotwire because the rates they were looking for on Name Your Own Price just couldn't compete with the discounts offered by other hotels in the Portland area. As for the 2*, it looks like the Holiday Inn Express and La Quinta are the only possibilities. Since both appear on the retail site, it's really a toss-up. It's possible that both hotels are available through NYOP.

Have you considered using Priceline? I've found that you can get far bigger discounts on Portland hotels through Priceline than through Hotwire, particularly when booking this close to the check-in date. If you haven't yet found a deal that you like on Hotwire (or on a hotel website), it's extremely unlikely that one will suddenly appear in the next few days.

But according to the Hotwire listing, the hotel has a rating of 4 on Tripadvisor with 40+ reviews; the Holiday Inn Express has only 22 reviews on Tripadvisor.

I see the same hotel as tex winter (and I'm using the default parameters). I also see a 3* in the Gresham Northwest zone for $55; is that the one you're looking at?

The Inn @ Northrup Station and the Hotel deLuxe are both within this zone's boundaries, but neither is a match for the listed amenities (they don't offer a complementary breakfast). My best guess for this hotel is the Silver Cloud Inn Portland Downtown. This hotel was once available as a 2.5* hotel in Priceline's Northwest Portland zone, but Priceline recently stopped allowing 2.5* bidding in this zone; perhaps the Silver Cloud decided to switch over to Hotwire to sell its rooms.

I bid for this on behalf of a friend. My first bid of $10 was rejected. Both times I received a warning that my bid was too low and I chose to ignore the warning. However, the bid that Priceline suggested would give me a good chance of acceptance dropped from $22 to $17, so perhaps I should have bid $10 or $11 the second time. But at $74.48 after taxes and fees, this is considerably less than the best rate I through Entertainment (about $120 at National) and about half of what my friend paid for a President's Day weekend rental in Phoenix two years ago through Entertainment. I used the link at SavingsBarn to start my bid.

Welcome to BetterBidding, dens. The first hotel is a match for the Crowne Plaza Universal; the second is a match for the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort on Hotwire's Vacation Packages. Those are my best guesses. Please use this HOTWIRE link to begin your Hotwire purchases.

I don't see a match on either the hotel list or on Hotwire's Vacation Packages. Given the amenities and the Tripadvisor (not Travelocity) information, my best guess is the hotel I stayed during my last trip to the Phoenix area: The Hyatt Summerfield Suites Scottsdale/Old Town. If that's the case, that would appear to be quite a good deal for a November stay. Please use this HOTWIRE link to begin any Hotwire purchases you decide to make.

Welcome to BetterBidding, beachpaper. My best guess for this hotel is the Renaissance Orlando Hotel Airport. Please use this HOTWIRE link to start any purchases you make.

Welcome to BetterBidding, jfunk. The amenities are a match for the Hyatt Place Convention Center on Hotwire's Vacation Packages (it looks like they've added Complementary Breakfast to the amenities since this hotel was last reported), so that would be my guess. Please use this HOTWIRE link to start any purchases you make.

I don't see the 3.5* hotel you're referring to. The closest match I can find is a 3.5* in Central Phoenix for $95 with the following amenities: Boutique, Complementary Breakfast, Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, High-Speed Internet. If this is the one you're looking at, my best guess is the Clarendon Hotel. The 3* is rather tricky to identify because there are a lot of hotels on HOTWIRE with these sorts of amenities. Assuming that the retail price listed is reasonably accurate, my best guess is the Best Western Innsuites.

The retail prices listed are not always accurate. And when they are accurate, they may have come from a different source than where you looked. So you always have to be wary about using the retail price when trying to identify a hotel on Hotwire. A hotel selling through HOTWIRE must have the amenities that are advertised; the Regal Sun Resort does not offer complementary breakfast, so there's no chance that this is the 3* in the LBV zone. Also, the Regal Sun Resort appears on Hotwire's vacation packages with a very different set of amenities (Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Laundry Facilities, High-speed Internet Access, Tennis Nearby, Children's Activity Program). It should be noted on the hotel list that this place shows up on the VP as a 3* again. I came across the same 3* LBV listing during my own searches, and my guess at the time was also the Country Inn and Suites.

Welcome to BetterBidding, chloecona. The Embassy Suites appears on the Hotwire hotel list: Orlando (Sea World - I-Drive South) 3.5* Embassy Suites Orlando Convention Center Amenities: Suite, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Complimentary Breakfast, Kitchenette, Business Look at the hotel descriptions on HOTWIRE and see if anything matches.

Welcome to BetterBidding, mariat. The amenities are a match for the Imperial Palace, so that would be my best guess. If you decide to take this deal, please use this HOTWIRE link to start your purchase.

The best deals in Downtown Portland are generally at the 3* level. I think this would be particularly true during the holidays because the most frequently won 3* hotels -- the Hilton and the Marriott Downtown Waterfront -- are business-oriented hotels. The only risk, it appears, would be getting the Hotel Fifty (formerly the Four Points). If you're willing to tolerate this risk, I would try the following bidding strategy to start: You have two rebid zones for a 3* bid: Beaverton-Hillsboro and NW Portland. Start a new bid of $45 for 3* DT Portland Add rebid zone #1 and bid $48 Exit this bid and start a new bid of $50 for 3* DT Portland + rebid zone #2 Add rebid zone #1 and bid $52 If you really want a 4*, you can split your bids as Colfax suggested, but keep in mind that there is a reasonable chance that your split bids will be accepted at two different hotels. Also, the lowest rates for the Benson are in the middle of your stay -- the 23rd-25th -- so I'm not sure how effective splitting would be if you want the Benson. I think it's best to just be patient; most of the 4* wins reported lately have been within about a week of check-in. I would recommend that you make a fully cancellable backup, then bid every 2-3 days, each time starting at $55 and working your way up to about $80-85. If, 5-6 days before check-in, you're unsuccessful, you can decide if you want to split your bid, try for a 3*, or keep trying the single 4* bid and stay at your backup hotel if it ultimately fails.

This is true, but if a 3* hotel is willing to accept a lower rate than any of the 2.5* hotels, you can buy breakfast with the money you save :) . And you'll probably get a nicer room too. As I said, there's always the possibility of being upgraded on any bid; this is explicitly stated in Priceline's Terms and Conditions. Kissimee is one of the four rebid zones for a 2.5* bid; the others are Sand Lake Corporate Park, West Disney Area, and Winter Park (but always double-check before you bid -- Priceline adds and re-rates hotels all the time). Although you've already bid $29, I'd still start a bit lower, because you never know when a hotel will drop the rate that it's willing to accept. Here's a strategy that you can try: Start a new bid of $25 for 2.5* Orlando Airport (make sure it's been at least 24 hours since your last bid) Add a rebid zone and bid $27 Add a rebid zone and bid $29 Add a rebid zone and bid $31 Exit this bid and start a new bid of $33 for 2.5* Orlando Airport + unused rebid zone (the one you didn't add to the previous bid) Add a rebid zone and bid $35 Add a rebid zone and bid $37 Add a rebid zone and bid $39 If you need a clarification of this strategy, please ask. If you decide to try it, please let us know what the results are.

When you choose the 2.5* quality level, you are actually bidding for a hotel of 2.5* quality or higher; there is no way of avoiding an upgrade if a 3* hotel chooses to accept your bid. Is there any particular reason why you don't want a room at a 3* hotel? To find your rebid zones, just go to the bidding screen and check each zone one at a time (remember to uncheck the last zone you selected). In this case, you're looking for zones that only offer hotels of less than 2.5* quality. Let us know when you've found them (there are four of them).

Welcome to BetterBidding, dschuell. The minimum bid allowed for a 2.5* hotel is $19. I've seen bids accepted at the Amerisuites Orlando Airport West for less than $30/night, so I would probably start at $20-$22. You've got plenty of time and rebid zones, so you can afford to start low and work your way up. How much are you willing to bid for this room? If you can tell us what your limit is, we can give you a bidding strategy.

It could be the J.W. Marriott Las Vegas Resort; the Red Rock Casino, Resort, and Spa is also a possibility.

I agree with you, CanadaMel, that the 3* is probably the Best Western; I think the 2.5* for $79 is the La Quinta. But be aware that the single king rooms at the Best Western are cheaper than the rooms with two beds, so you'd likely get a room with only one bed if you book through Hotwire. If the ESA is adequate, you may want to try bidding for a 2* on Priceline; many ESA's go for $35/night and less.

The resort icon is also there, so this place is a match for the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. If you decide to book this room through Hotwire, please use the Hotwire link to start your purchase.

My best guesses are: 4-star hotel in Lake Buena Vista - Downtown Disney - $76 Customer Favorite Resort Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-speed Internet Access Golf Nearby - The Hilton, located in the Walt Disney World Resort (with different amenities than previously reported) 3-star hotel in Disney Main Gate - Champions Gate - $49 Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access Children's Activity Program - The Holiday Inn Main Gate East 3-star hotel in Lake Buena Vista - Downtown Disney - $59 Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-speed Internet Access - The Sheraton Safari Please use the HOTWIRE link.

I agree with blindman that the 3* is probably the Ramada. I would definitely avoid this hotel. I couldn't find the other one until I changed the parameters to 2 adults and 1 child; when I selected 2 adults only, this hotel appears to come up with no amenities listed. This hotel is not on the Hotel List or on Hotwire's Vacation Packages, so I'm forced to speculate here. Looking at the zone map, however, I can't think of too many hotels in this area that offer complementary breakfast; my best guess is that the 2.5* is the Ramada Limited Vancouver Downtown. If so, you wouldn't be saving much money by booking through HOTWIRE: the rate on the hotel's website is $69Cdn/night. In general, I don't recommend booking a hotel through Hotwire if they're not claiming any savings.

I think I see them. Is your check-out date the 21st or the 22nd? When I select the 21st as the check-out date, the one on I-drive South comes up at $49 and the one on I-drive North at $46; when I select the 22nd, they come up at $36 and $39 respectively. I'm assuming that these are the ones you're referring to. Comparing these listings to the hotels on Hotwire's Vacation Packages, my best guess is that the hotel on I-drive South is the Hyatt Place Convention Center and the one on I-drive North is the Hyatt Place Universal. If you decide to reserve one of these hotels through Hotwire, please use the following HOTWIRE link to start your purchase.

The amenities you listed are a match for the Westin Harbour Castle on both the Hotwire List and on Hotwire's Vacation Packages, so that would be my guess.