Skeet

Started bidding at $35, climbing in $5 increments (using a couple of profiles over a few days). Finally scored at $60. Best published rate is $99, so saved around 35% (after Priceline fee). The property is in very good condition, with updated rooms, and the free included breakfast is probably the best we've ever encountered! As always, used the PRICELINE link above... :)

Hit this one on the first bid at $35. Could I have saved a $$ or two by starting lower? Guess I'll never know... :) "Dlx" continental breakfast included; hotel website claims newly remodeled rooms; property is not all non-smoking so have to remember to call and request. Best rate is currently $60, so not too bad. As always, started bidding using the PRICELINE link!

Started bidding for 2* at $35 and rejected, missed again at $38, then scored at $41. I used Moorhead as an acceptable rebid zone and a second profile to place the extra bids right away. The hotel website has this property at $99 and it looks very decent. Score another one for The Negotiator! :-) As always, started bidding using the PRICELINE links on this site.

Started bidding 2* at $40, then tried 2.5* for $45, and finally got a room at $45 for 2*. Regular rate at this La Quinta is $75. Nothing really wrong with this hotel, and we were satisfied with our stay, but there were a number of little reminders of why we usually try to book 2.5* and higher. The room was clean and fine, just little things like upstairs ice machine not working, one area of parking lot lighting working intermittently, quirky shower valve, etc. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again, but it wouldn't really be my first choice. Forgot to use the PRICELINE link this time. Shame be upon me. :)

I started out bidding 3* in this zone, but when I didn't hit anything at $60 I dropped to 2.5*. I climbed in increments from $45 until I got a hit at $55. Regular rate at this hotel is $149, so a nice deal! Only downer was $15/night parking fee, but not unexpected in this area.

Started bidding 3* in this zone at $26, then creeped up a few dollars at a time using multiple re-bid zones. Scored the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Buckhead at $40. Rack rate for this hotel that night was $149, so a sweet deal! Fantastic hotel, with free breakfast. Also free parking, which I understand is not the norm for this zone. Of course, followed the PRICELINE link.

Moderator, you should copy and paste the second paragraph above into the "Hotel Reviews". It's more thorough than most of the reviews in that forum! :-)

Got this one on my first bid at $34, so it might be available for a few bucks less. Looks like a decent property. Free continental breakfast. Their website's "best available rate" without prepurchase is $99, so not a bad savings today! Of course, used the PRICELINE link above to start my bidding. Cheers!

After unsuccessful bidding 2.5* in this zone up to $50, I decided to go cheap and drop to 2*. Got it on my first bid at $30. It looks like this is an older property with mixed reviews, so we'll see if I regret it, but I saved a few $$....

Was bidding 2.5*, but upgraded free to 3* when I hit at $36. Started at $28 (very low, I know), then increased by $2 increments using rebid zones until I scored at $36. Looks like regular rates are about $80 at this property, so saved about 50%. As always, opened PRICELINE site through link above!

Bidding for 2.5*, started at $34 and increased by $2 until I hit at $42, upgraded free to a 3*. Pricey property, too, with regular rates for those nights at $129/nt!

Originally wanted 3* in the Dayton South zone, but gave up after slowly increasing to $76 (less $10 of Priceline Rewards coupon). Started 2.5* at $40, then hit it at $46. Checked the property on Tripadvisor and it sounds like it's been renovated in the last year or so. Includes breakfast "buffet". Normal rate for those days is $70.

I just scored a winning priceline bid for a 2-1/2* for August in the Dayton South zone at $46 after increasing in small increments. The property is a Comfort Suites, all-suite property with free breakfast. It's only 9 miles away from downtown and I know it's not the zone you want, but thought I'd share to put the area in context for you. Like the mod said though, you've got lots of time before your planned stay in October. Unless that's the weekend of the world's biggest dog show or some other event that's going to fill all of Dayton's hotels, don't get in a hurry and open up zones that you don't want to stay in. Cheers!

Started bidding 3* in this zone at $40, increased to $45 then $50 (using a rebid zone and an extra profile) until I scored at $55. Used $10 in "Rewards" coupon that I had in my profile, so real cost was only $45. Checked the hotel's website and their best rate, prepaid with no changes allowed, was $118. Yikes! As always, used the PRICELINE link!

After a rejected 2-1/2* bid at $35, scored this Springhill Suites Denver Airport using a free rebid zone. Considering their listed rate for that night on their website is $144 (!!), an awesome deal! Of course, followed the PRICELINE link from this site.

Only one zone in Abilene, so no rebids possible. Increased bids in $5 increments for 3* over a few days and hit this one at $85. Very little historical bidding data available for Abilene that I could find. I also tried 2.5* up to $60 with no luck. Prices could be inflated due to this being graduation weekend for several high schools in town, and not that huge of a hotel inventory in Abilene! This Residence Inn sounds great from their website. Built in 2008 so it's brand new, all suite property, and all rooms include full hot breakfast everyday and evening food bar on weekdays. Best posted rate is currently $119 for the same room, so not my best Priceline deal ever, but not bad.

Started bidding on 2.5* in The Woodlands, but gave up when I reached $60 and still no hits. I switched to be 3.5* in the Airport-IAH zone and got this one on my first bid at $40, so a hit might be possible for a few dollars less. Plenty of rebid zones in Houston for 3.5*, so give it a try! I know for a fact that this hotel used to 3* on Priceline, so it looks like there's been some re-classification going on, although the hotel hasn't been upgraded that I can tell. Great, well-maintained property. Completely satisfied with my stay! As always, used Priceline link to start my bidding.

The hotel was very nice, flawless actually. Beautiful grounds with golf course, spa, and interesting pools on the property. Only one negative: they stuck me with a $15/night "resort fee". :) I called PRICELINE to ask about it and apparently it's somewhere in PL's Terms & Conditions that this can happen. Bummer.

My last rejected bid was $83. Like I said -- plenty of free rebid zones!

Looking for something conveniently located on the west side near Sea World and decided to try for one of the resorts. Since "West" is the only San Antonio zone with resorts, there are loads of free rebid zones. Started at $45, increasing in small increments and hit this one at $85. Best posted rate for this resort for those dates is currently $239/nt. :) As always, followed PRICELINE link on this website to start my bidding!

Dates: 3/27/09-3/31/09 I was booking a hotel for a last minute ski trip and looking to stay on the south side of town to be close to the Cottonwood Canyons. Bidding on 2.5* and willing to accept either Cottonwood or Sandy-S. Valley-Draper zones. Started at $35/night, then increased in small increments using free rebid zones. Finally got a hit at $64 for the Country Inn and Suites Salt Lake City-South Towne. Looks like a nice place from the hotel's website, claiming they have new bedding with free breakfast and wireless included. Their best posted rates were $88 prepaid or ~$100 with a normal reservation, so I think I did OK. Of course, followed link to PRICELINE through this site!

The highest rating I see for Galveston on Priceline bidding now is 3*. Was it just a typo, or is it possible this hotel has been downgraded from 3.5* in the 2 weeks since you posted your results?

Using multiple rebid zones I started bidding IAH-3* quite low, increasing bids in $2 increments, and hit this hotel at $46. The lowest posted weekend special rate at the time was about $82, and this hotel is a very good value even at that rate. They have just finished a complete renovation of this property, so all room furniture, carpets, beds, linens, etc. are brand new and very nice! Very friendly staff, too. The evening manager checked us in, and commented, "Wow! You got a great rate. Better than the employee rate..." :) Crowne Plaza Houston North-Greenspoint 425 North Sam Houston Pkwy E Houston, Texas 77060 281-445-9000 (Of course I used the PRICELINE link above...)

Nice deal! You should read through this thread to learn about using free rebid zones: Rebids within 24 Hours The concept works great in large metro areas like Houston, and it allows you keep bidding while only allowing successful bids in the zone you actually want to stay in. Very worthwhile to learn the method!

I always do! And thanks! :)