Desirees

Hi Blueskies, Thanks for the prompt reply. But, my fellow traveller was even prompter and she insisted we go ahead and get it. So we are now staying at the De Roode Leeuw in Amsterdam. I kinda freaked out when I saw the name of the hotel thinking we have ended up with a dump, however I then went to Trip Advisor and there are some pretty good reviews of the place and apparently great location too. So, feeling ok about it...though I was hoping for a Marriott or a Renaissance. But I had been checking prior to bidding, and when I would put in three rooms at the Marriott website, it was giving me club level or suite options only. Anyway, will definitely post a review when I get back. Thanks again, D.

Looking for three rooms 9/25-9/29 in the City Center and i bid $110 for three rooms each, and it has given me a rebid offer of $160. I looked at the 4 star hotels in the area and all of them are way over 150 Euros which is like $196. Should I accept the rebid offer? My concern is that since I am bidding for three rooms, I am not sure whether I will get this later on, since it might be hard to get three rooms together. Any ideas, anyone? I know I have a lot of time, but is September a busy time in Ams? Thanks, D.

I have been going to this website regularly for the last year and drooling over them. And then I realized that the deals they offer, one can simply book independently and get a better deal. For example Las Brisas in Acapulco, I booked through another site and got a much better deal booking a club level room, however I saw the picstures of the place on Luxury Link which sold me the place.... Just an idea if you are planning to use Luxury Link... D.

New Question on bidding for multiple rooms via Priceline... Trying to bid for three rooms in Amsterdam in September, does it reduce one's chances to get bids because of the number involved? Also, is it advisable to book early since there might be an issue of not getting all three rooms in the same hotel? Thanks, D.

Hello all, I am pricing tickets and of course the prices are expensive due to you-know-what...anyway, AA has a direct flight from RDU to LGW leaving RDU at 6pm and getting there 6am and the return flight gets back here at 4:20p , leaves from LGW at 1pm. Well, I priced Howire and they are giving me an option for $712 pp which is $179 less that aa.com, and it says it is an overnight flight and the return flight is in the afternoon, also that has 0-1 stops. What are the chances it is on AA? Any ideas anyone? Thanks, Desiree

Another good report about the hotel... I had booked two rooms for a two night stay there, and had called the hotel at the suggestion of Thereuare to ask for connecting rooms. The person who answered the phone said that the hotel does not have any connecting rooms. My husband called the night before we went, and another lady who answered said that she will make a note that we are looking for connecting rooms but she will not be able to confirm anything since we have PL booking. When we reached the hotel, the bell hop met us and escorted us to the reception where the check in agent was very nice. He told us he had given us connecting rooms on the 4th floor. We asked if there was anything available on a higher floor and he said he could give us room on a higher floor but they would not be connecting. Since we had two small kids we chose to take the 4th floor connecting rooms. The luggage came up with us and the bell hop brought in ice for us for both the rooms. The rooms were really nice, the beds were extremely comfortable. One had a king and the other had two queen beds. Minor gripes were that the bathroom was really small. The shower head was set at such an angle if you were not prepared water would shoot put past the shower curtain and hit the door and then the floor. That area on the door where the water hit was all bubbly and the paint was peeling with water hitting it so often. The carpets also seemed to be a little worn. I really like the toiletries - they had mint and thyme shampoo, cr

Hello, Hope this is the right forum, Does Htowire offer low price guarantee for rental cars? D.

Dates of stay are for one night on the 9th of October. If I bid, it will probably be through Priceline for their Le Meridien for that is where i want to stay since the next day we have a 10am flight and want to be as close to the airport as possible. THanks, D.

Just checked Hotwire for hotels in Gatwick and see a three star hotel come up for $68 a night, any idea what it might be? I know the Le Meridien comes up in PL as a four star, could this be the Copthorne? Amenities are restaurant (s), tennis nearby and business center. Thanks, D.

Hello, I am looking to rent a minivan for three days dates being 9/9 - 9/11 (pick up at noon and drop off at 5pm) in Raleigh. Hotwire gave me a quote of $60.99 per day, and Dollar gave me a rate of $37.99 ( with taxes and everything it is coming to $144) so I have gone ahead and reserved it. There is no penalty for cancelling. Can anyone give me ideas or sites or codes I can use to make it cheaper? How about Priceline? What price should I start bidding at? I am up for any anthing

Your Offer Price: $60.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 2 Travel Insurance: $20.00 Subtotal: $260.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $38.02 Total Charges: $298.02 This was my first bid, pleased with the price. Hopefully, the hotel will assign us connecting rooms. Now I am going to try my luck at renting a minivan for those rates. Any ideas anyone? Thanks, D.

Stayed there for one night, 5/18. Even though checking in was not before 4pm for PL guests, I went in around 1pm and got a room without any problem. No mention of PL was made, I asked for a renovated room but was told the hotel was full. The desk agent gave us a queen bed and I casually made a comment that I was travelling with my brother, so she then asked if I would prefer a room on a lower floor but with twin bed. Agreed to that and got a corner room on the 4th floor, and I really liked the view. The bathroom was kind of small, and the toiletries were in a test tube holder, looked very cute. Ample towels, shower stall was very very small. Ample lightning in the room, complimentary tea and coffee with cookies. Bed was comfortable. Parking was 30 pounds for 24 hrs, however there is a public car park about 600 yards away which is about 16 pounds. Edgeware station 2 mins walk, an adequate Marks and Spencer across the street. Concierge polite and helpful, valet parking means waiting about 10 mins for them to retrieve the car. Over all, a nice hotel, a typical business hotel, no complaints, think I did pretty well paying $82 for one night. D.

We stayed there from 5/6-5/7, checking in around 5pm. When we drove in, the bell hops were really friendly. They were prompt about opening the doors and then took out our luggage, gave DH the valet ticket and then escorted us to the reception. There were two agents there, and when I went up there and gave them my name, the guy checking us in looked at the other agent and gave a smile and said something to him on which the other guy smirked as well. On hindsight, I should have asked what the joke was about, since it was very obvious it was something related to us or our last name. He located our resevation and mentioned that it was a Priceline reservation. I then asked him whether we could have a room with a good view. He said " Let's talk about the room first" ( the tone was kind of patronizing, did not like that at all), " all we have are non smoking double beds or smoking king beds". I said non smoking is preferable, at which point he gave us the room cards and bade us a pleasant stay. The room was on the 5th floor, it was one of the rooms facing the street and we could still see the monument. However the window was angled with curtains that you could not retract. In other words, when you enter the room, you see a room with nice curtains where the window is. When you draw back the curtains, on one side it goes only half coz the rest is the wall. Very wierd. The room was kinda smallish and dark and we were just accepting it, so I took off my shoes and the carpet was moist. Distinctly moist...all over the room. So we called the front desk and they sent someone over with keys to another room on the same floor. Walk in there, the first half of the room was dry, and the portion in front of the windows was moist. So we called down again, and this time they put us in a room on the 4th floor which had a really nice view. It was on the side of the hotel towards the White house, there was a very nice view with the whole wall being a window. It was also larger than the other two rooms we were shown. I dont know if they decided we have had enough of wet carpets and decided to give us a break... The toiletries were the same as in the JW Marriott, Bangkok and we were kind of surprised at that. The beds were comfortable, there were plenty of towels, and there were bathrobes hanging in the closet. They had tea/coffee making facilities. We did not eat in the hotel, however the next day, had coffee from the Starbucks there. We had to waitabout 15 mins for the car, we did call from the room about 10 mins prior to going down. Valet was polite and friendly and overall it was an OK experience.

Hi, I had made a mistake while bidding so I got it for $90 a night, apparently could have gotten it for $75 - $80. We stayed there from 4/1 to 4/6. Another thing, we got there at around 8am and could check in right away, check in time was not enforced. D.

Yup. Read someone had gotten the Renaissance Mayflower for $80 in the same area, so knew that was what I would get. Was surprised I got the JW Marriott, but still very happy with it. Thanks, D.

We stayed there from 4/1-4/5. Absolutely no mention of PL was made at check in, and we upgraded to the Executive floor for about $40 a night which was well worth it, with the free breakfast and the great snacks they served, as well as the amenities. While checking in, my husband had mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary, and they sent us a bottle of wine with a very nice card. The Good - The staff: Everyone was smiling and genuinely courteous. They never ceased to give 110% whenever the opportunity arose. My husband had a ligament sprain and he called the concierge at around 10pm asking for an ace bandage, and within someone showed up with it. They also asked if we wanted a dr to check out the foot, and we were not charged for the bandage. The room: We've stayed in bigger and smaller. The details were tremendous. From the teak wood foyer to the mosaic shower stall. The goose down comforter and ... I don't know what they were made of but I would buy some if I found out.. pillows made sleeping a joyous relief from the days journeys. The restaurants: Whether your tastes are cautiously western or exotically asian (from near to far east), you won't have to leave the hotel or its restaraunts. The main buffet has a plethora of US/European favorites as well as a sampling of eastern dishes. If you want to delve more into the east then the other internal restauraunts can assist you with the same courteousness that is displayed by the rest of the hotel staff. Regardless, all the dishes are as tasteful as they are artful. They can compete with any gourmet restaurant that I have come across. The extras - The executive lounge with complimentary wireless connectivity, breakfast and evening snacks and 24 hour drinks was definitely worth the upgrade. A strong recommendation. The appearance - Luxury.. from the indoor lotus pond to the piano bar, no other words better describes it. The bad - First... I don't work for... nor have any relatives or friends who work for the Marriott corporation. I have traveled around the world and have stayed in places where I would not take my socks off to places that made me call the front desk to make sure they are not mistaking our reservation for someone elses, having said that... not really any negatives. The room: I can nit pick and say that I would have liked the room to be a bit larger but that can be said about any room/suite. The location: It is in the center of everything.. but if everything is spread out over 4 miles... then your 2 miles away from anything. Hope this helps, D.

Here are the details: JW Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue Your Offer Price: $80.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $80.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $18.81 Total Charges: $98.81 Thanks, D.

Was bidding for hotel in Bangkok, my aim was the Shangri La on the river. After trying for several weeks, ( every bid got rejected and even with free rebids I was just not getting it), I was getting careless I guess. So, when after a wait of a few days I went back in and got rejected again, I added Silom and did the rebidding, got rejected and then I thought "let me add Sukhumvit and increase the bid, that way I will get Shangrila". Must have been on dope that day, for what I thought absolutely made no sense whatsoever. So, I ended up with the JW Marriott paying $90 per night where I could have easily gotten it for $75. It still was a great save, and a wonderful hotel and we loved the location and have nothing but good things to say...but I did spend the first few days chewing on my finger nails frustrated at the stupid mistake!!! D.

Tried Mayfair-Soho first, however my bid was rejected. I then put in Regent Park and put in the same amount. It came back with a "price too low" but I went ahead anyway. With taxes and insurance, the total for one night there is $118. Called Hilton hotline just to check and the lowest fare they could find for me was $246 excluding the 17.5% tax. Pretty pleased at the moment, hope it will be a good stay. D.

Thanks for the tip, will get all the needed info once I reach India and send it to them. D.

Hello lwitchel, thanks for your feedback. I would like to stress though that I did not, for once, expected that they would take my word for it and give me a refund. My main point is, different countries have different systems and they just vaguely saying "a police report" or the name and telephone number of a "preacher presiding over the funeral services" does not make any sense based on the current situation. A death certificate will not be issued right now based on the body not being found, and when I asked whether I could send them a card that is usually printed with such information the representative simply repeated "name of preacher and telephone number". At this point, I could simply give them a number of anyone and the name of the priest since in our cultures, priest do not have a telephone number and they usually live in the temple complex itself. So, again, I am not looking for a refund without showing any proof. I just wish they could ask for something more plausible. Also, I told them that I will be in India from next week and can I email them the info. She said no I have to call it in. It is just all these reasons that is making me wish PL was a bit more helpful. D.

So, I called PL and was basically told that they will refund my money only after they get a police report and or information with funeral timings and all. I told them I am not aware of what is happening in India, that I will be going there next week and will find out what is happening, whether they are at all accepting police reports, and how our religion handles the final rites of a missing person. I asked them whether there is any other way of doing this, if there is a memorial service she said she wants the name and phone number of the preacher, when I tried to explain that in our particular religion the priest lives in the temple and is not available for calls, she kind of closed me off with a mechanical "that is all I can do for you, we dont even give refunds but are willing to but you HAVE to provide us with the details". Details of what??? I explained to you how things work in our culture but you still want the "preacher's name and number" when we have a memorial service. At this point, I will swallow the $400+ I paid, but I do wish PL was a bit more receptive to what I was telling them. D.

thanks for the feedback, I will try calling PL today and see what they say. D.

Hello, Am not sure what to do, husband's cousin is missing, we were not aware of it till a couple of days ago (his family did not want to tell us anything until they were sure) and I have purchased a Bangkok hotel room via PL for our upcoming trip in March. I know hubby is not in the mood to go anywhere, I am leaving for India in about 2 weeks and will come back here in March. What should I do? It is about $400 and I did buy travel insurance, however only the death of direct relatives are covered. It is like another thing to handle in the middle of all the grief... D.

I was browsing around and came upon this msg board which is basically Asia PL bidding. And the rates there seem a lot cheaper, for ex, someone got a room at Le Meridien, Singapore for $13 on the 11th of Nov. How can we get access to those rates? Thanks, D.