loanshark

Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $44.00 Subtotal: $44.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.25 Total Charges*: $57.25 Hotel is also available on Hotwire at $49 ($62.56 after taxes), while the Radisson website rate is $225. Bid history as follows: 1. Bid Downtown only, $40 - countered at $52 2. Added N Miami, Bid $42 - rejected 3. Added SW Miami, Bid $44 - accepted Linked through Savings Barn.

The Aladdin is available through the Sheraton site for your dates for $88 per night (prepaid) or $89 per night (cancelable), so you wouldn't have to switch hotels. There is a Sheraton link available on the this website. Look at the top of the page where it says travel links to support Better Bidding.

Check-In Date: Wed, Jan 10, 2007 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Thu, Jan 11, 2007 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $49.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $49.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.35 Total Charges*: $62.35 *Prices are in US dollars. Used Savings Barn link. Started several days ago @$40. 1 free re-bid available. Increased $1 per bid each time. Was countered @ $59 when I made a bid at $46, countered again at $59 when I made bid of $48. The hotel's website advance-purchase rate is $86.00. Hotwire had a 2.5* at $75, a 2* at $59, and a 1* at $55. Also, this hotel is rated as a 3* on the hotel list.... It has obviously been downgraded to a 2.5*.

This one wasn't booked thru HOTWIRE or Priceline, but it is a great weekend rate. I used the BetterBidding support links to book thru Sheraton/Starwood website. For some reason, the Sheraton website seems to be giving the weekday rate ($89 - if booked directly thru the casino website) for every night of the entire stay right now. Details: Check-in Check-out Jan 11, 2007 - 03:00 PM Jan 14, 2007 - 11:00 AM 1 Room, 2 Adults per room Room Features: Deluxe Room, Rm Assigned At Check-in, City View, Highspeed Internet For A Fee, Separate Shower/bath Rate Information Rate Description: Daily Rate per Room: USD 89.00 Total Room Rate: USD 267.00 Taxes: County Room Tax of 9.00% Per Room / Per Night is not included in the rate. ($291.03 after taxes) Terms & Conditions Cancellation Policy: Cancel Before January 09, 2007 6 Pm Hotel Time To Avoid A 1 Night Penalty. Rate Plan Description: Best Available Rate GTD/Deposit Policy: 1 Night Deposit Charged On December 27, 2006. For reservations guaranteed with a form of payment at time of booking, rooms are held until hotel check-out time the day following arrival. For reservations not guaranteed with a form of payment at time of booking, rooms are held until set cancellation time per the rules of the reservation. In the event more guests arrive than can be accommodated due to hotel overbooking or an unforeseen circumstance, and hotel is unable to hold rooms consistent with this room hold policy, hotel will attempt to accommodate guests, at its expense, at a comparable hotel in the area for the oversold night(s), and will pay for transportation to that hotel. For those wanting to do some gambling before the trip, :) HOTWIRE has what appears to be the Aladdin right now for $143 per night for the same dates. Double the difference $143-$89 would bring this deal to $35 per night if it is indeed the Aladdin.

Nice lobby, but incompetent staff.... I checked in online before arriving through the hotel chain's website/Gold Points program. Despite the pre-checkin, it took 20 minutes to get a room key after arrival, even though there was not another customer in the lobby. The hotel has two buildings... a "Deluxe" tower which is a typical Priceline three star hotel, and a "Resort" tower, which appears to be a property next door that was purchased by the hotel. The carpet in the room was filthy. I have stayed at Priceline 2* hotel rooms that were cleaner than this room. Priceline normally offers nicer hotel rooms at the 2 1/2 star level than the "Resort" tower rooms that are obviously assigned to Priceline guests.

Check-In Date: Wed, May 3, 2006 Check-In Time: After 04:00 PM Check-Out Date: Thu, May 4, 2006 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $35.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.60 Total Charges: $46.60 Started @ $32 - 2.5* Universal - Received counter offer for $40. Added Free Rebids @ $33, $34, and finally hit @ $35. Linked thru Savingsbarn. This appears on the Hotwire list, but I did not see it on the Priceline list.

Shouldn't this thread be in the Priceline - Illinois section, and not the Hotwire - Illinois Section? I believe Priceline has the Sheraton listed as a 4* hotel, and Hotwire assigns 3.5*'s to this property. Thanks!!!

Your Price Has Been Accepted Congratulations, you got your price of $40 for a hotel room, and we've upgraded your hotel quality level to a 3-star hotel! Save even more when you add a rental car below. Check-In Date: Thu, Jul 6, 2006 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Fri, Jul 7, 2006 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $40.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $40.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.01 Total Charges: $53.01 Bid History: Bid up to $50 at the 2.5 and 3* levels in the downtown area with no success. (Summerfest will be going on at this time). Closed browser and bid $40 for a 2.5* in the South Zone, knowing I would probably get the upgrade to a 3* as opposed to winnning the 2.5* Amerisuites at that price. The lowest web rate on Sheraton's site was $95.00 (pre-paid) or $105.00 (cancelable).

First Bid - $43 - 2.5*, Elizabeth area only. Received a counter offer for $55. Second bid, added Newark Airport area - $45 / Accepted Total is $58.91 after taxes and fees. I was targeting this hotel, which is being used as a layover for a flight. Countryinn.com rate was $104. Hotwire had what I believe to be this hotel (with matching amenities) for $64 + taxes, close to $78 total. Used SavingsBarn to bid.

Bidding was done today - Wednesday, 11/23/05 Bid Downtown Only - $40 - Rejected Added 1 free zone - $42 - Rejected Added 2nd free zone - $44 accepted, Hyatt Regency downtown. It comes to $57.27 with taxes and fees. This is Thanksgiving night, so I don't expect the hotel to be very occupied. Hotel web rate is $119.00.

I'm glad you got a decent hotel. Even if it is about $10-$15 more than what you were expecting to pay, you still got a great deal. I think hotel rates in Miami have gone up due to the hurricane as well. Enjoy your stay and your cruise.

I received the same email....and yes, I want to beat the #$%^ out of him too.

Try 3* Miami - Downtown only for $40. If it doesn't hit, up your bid to $44 and add North Miami. If still no hotel, up your bid to $47 and add S.W. Miami. Finally, add Key Biscayne and up the bid to $50. Normally, using the above strategy, you will win either the Radisson or Marriott. (You used to be able to get the Hyatt or Sheraton as well, but the Hyatt has been upgraded to 4*, and the Sheraton has closed.) If all else fails, you can bid $46 at the 2.5* level and get the Marriott Courtyard. You can search my previous posts for wins at this hotel for 11/26/05 and 12/03/05. $46 is the minimum this hotel seems to accept, as $45 resulted in a failed bid. I do not know of any other existing 2.5* hotel in this area, but there is always a possibility that something else can come up.

Fri, Oct 7, 2005 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sat, Oct 8, 2005 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $40.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $40.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.92 Total Charges: $52.92 Linked through SavingsBarn / First Bid was accepted. Will not be staying there personally as this bid is for relatives flying in from Europe who have an overnight layover in Atlanta.

I had a reservation at the Miami Downtown Hyatt during one of last year's hurricanes. I was chit-chatting with a Priceline rep when I was trying to cancel the reservation. She told me that they had a policy in place that all Florida hotel reservations, and all residents of Florida who had reservations anywhere could cancel as long as they stated it was due to a hurricane. Kind of makes you wonder why their travel insurance is necessary! :)

I live in Panama City Beach, and can offer you the following about the area: If the wedding is 15 miles west of PC Beach, you will want to stay in the PC Beach zone and not the Panama City zone. The Bay Point Mariott offers rooms at the 3* level in this zone. However, the Marriott sits on a golf course, and not on the beach. The Howard Johnson is directly on the beach, but kind of run down, and offers rooms at the 2* level. Someone at my office used to work at the Mariott until about 1 year ago. If school is already in session, you should be able to get the Marriott pretty cheap ($40-$55). The other properties that I can think of that would come up in this area that are directly on the beach include the Holiday Inn Sunspree, a Ramada Inn, and a Days Inn. There is also a Hampton Inn that is a 2 minute drive from the beach. All of the hotels in the Panama City zone will be an extra 15-30 minute drive time depending on traffic, and which hotel you get. This zone offers 1,2, and 2.5 star bidding. The hotels that I can think of they would be 2 or 2.5 stars are a La Quinta, Hampton Inn, Comfort Suites, and a Holiday Inn by the mall. There are also 3 different Days Inns in this area that could appear at the 1 or 2 * level. All of these properties except the Holiday Inn and 2 of the 3 Days Inns are fairly new.

I read that the Hyatt Regency Downtown Miami was upgraded by Priceline from 3* to 4*. I plugged in random dates in their package section to confirm. The hotel has indeed been upgraded.

One night post cruise....Pre cruise info is already posted. Bid 3* up to $50 in Downtown, S Beach, and Miami Beach areas + used all free rebids. Bid 2.5*, Downtown only, $45. This was rejected. I received a counter offer for $58. Rejected counter offer, and added N. Miami (free rebid), bidding $46. This was accepted. Results as follows: Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Check-In Date: Sat, Dec 3, 2005 Check-Out Date: Sun, Dec 4, 2005 Your Offer Price: $46.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $46.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.51 Total Charges: $59.51 My question in the post for my pre-cruise stay is now answered....$46 does work. Having won the Hyatt in this area a little over a year ago for $38 makes me wonder what has happened to the good deals for 3* hotels in this area. Perhaps the Priceline rates for the Hyatt, Marriott, and Doubletree have gone up due to the closing of the Sheraton???? Either that or the rate difference is due to high/low season or lack of inventory give to Priceline??? :)

It happens all the time, especially at the 2.5 to 3* level. It is also stated on several Priceline pages that your bid could be upgraded. Be thankful that your bid did not get upgraded to a resort that charges a resort fee. By the way....Could you please post your bid history/winning hotel info so that your experience can help others? Thanks!!!!!

The Sheraton Biscayne Bay is closed as of 06/17/2005. It is being torn down to build a multi-use condominium. A press release can be found here: http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2004_4t...onBiscayne.html Doing a google search for the address 495 Brickell Ave, one can follow this link to see what is being buit at the property site: http://www.miami-realestate.net/icon_brickell.htm It's a shame, as the Sheraton offered great Priceline deals. :)

1 Night pre-cruise Bid 72 hours ago as follows: Started 3*, D/T, $40, failed Added S.Beach, $43, failed, Added Key Biscayne $46, failed (Yes, I realize I could have ended up in a Key Biscayne report, but very unlikely!) Added N Miami, $48, failed Added SW Miami, $50, failed 2.5*, D/T $42, failed, counter offer for $54, ignored counter offer Added N Miami, $45, failed....Here comes the 72 hour wait :) Bid today for 3*'s, same as above, all failed At this point I'm thinking Courtyard :) 2.5*, D/T, $44, failed, counter offer for $56 Added N Miami, $47, Results as follows: Courtyard by Marriott Miami Downtown Your Offer Price: $47.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $47.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.65 Total Charges: $60.65 What this tells me is that 3*'s have no inventory released to Priceline yet, or that the minimum is at least $51 for Thanksgiving Weekend. Not sure if $46 will work for the 2.5* Courtyard, but $47 definately works. :o

Memorial Day Weekend / Saturday Check-in Bid multiple times 4* in FQ/Conv Cntr/CBD, using all free rebids up to $70. All rejected....I was suprised at this because the Marriott FQ was $119/night on Marriott.com. Might have been a Saturday check-in problem. Went down to 3*, bids in $50-$62 range rejected, finally hit @$64. In addition, Hotwire had what I believe to be the Hilton Riverfront for $74, and this hotel for $77. Unfortuneately, this bid was for a friend, and I will not be going on the trip. :)

This is a modern high-rise hotel located next to the Montparnasse train station. Due to this location, there are plenty of bars/restaurants within walking distance. It is a five minute walk to the metro station (Montparnasse-Bienvenue or Gaite). The lobby/rooms are small compared to a US 4-star hotel, but in line with European standards. In addition, the lobby and rooms are well maintained. We actually had 2 separate reservations (one for Tue night, and one for Wed-Sun nights) and the hotel had no problem connecting the two reservations at checkin. The front desk clerk was extremely friendly! The view from the room (19th floor) was to the Southern part of the city. Most of the Parisian monuments are to the North. Thus, most of the view consisted of residential buildings and the train tracks leading from the Montparnasse station. The restaurants were overpriced, as the prices at the neighboring restaurants were approximately 1/4th the prices charged at the hotel. Because of this, the hotel lost additional revenue from us, as the excess prices outweighed the convenience of eating at the hotel. I would have had breakfast at the hotel if the prices were in the 12-15 Euro range, versus the 22 Euros charged for a European Continental breakfast. (Local restaurants were charging 6-12 Euros). I do understand the need for the hotel to charge a markup on their services, but 22 Euros for a croissant, juice and coffee is a bit outrageous. Overall, the stay was a pleasant experience. I would definitely consider staying at this hotel again the next time I visit Paris.

If you are travelling alone, I agree with WillTravel about the Eiffel Zone...You could very well end up with the Sofitel - Pte de Sevres. The hotel is on the outside of the Peripherique and a decent walk to the metro @ Place Balard. The Eiffel Tower Zone mainly comprises the 15th district, and parts of the 6th, 7th, and 14th....generally some of the quieter neighborhoods of Paris. I've also used the following link for hotels in Paris: http://www.hotels-paris-hotels-france.com/ You can sometimes find some 3* hotels on this site at some pretty decent prices. These tend to be independently owned hotels that have a much more European flair. The homepage has a map that shows the various districts of Paris. To help determine which area a hotel is located in, use the last 2 digits of the hotel's zip code. All Paris zipcodes are numbered between 75001 and 75020. Example: if a hotel's zip code is 75008, the 08 means it is in the 8th district, also known as the the "Elysee" district. This neigborhood is bordered by the Arc de Triomphe on the West, and the Place de la Concorde on the East, and includes the Avenue des Champs Elysees, easily the most well known street in Paris. Other well known attractions include: The Louvre, Pont Neuf (1st) La Bourse (Stock Exchange) (2nd) Notre Dame (4th) Pantheon, Sorbonne (5th) Luxembourg Gardens, St Germain des Pres (6th) The Eiffel Tour, Invalides (7th) The Palais Garnier Opera House (9th) Gare du Nord (10th)....I mentioned this, as if I remerber correctly you mentioned you will be taking the train London-Paris....This is the station for the Eurostar. Place de la Republique, (11th) Opera Bastille, Place de la Bastille (12th) Montparnasse (14th) Parc des Princes, Roland Garros Stadiums, Bois de Boulogne, Radio France Headquarters (16th) Palais des Congress (17th) Pigalle, Sacre Coeur (18th) Pere Lachaise Cemetary (20th)

I will be staying at the 4* Le Meridien Montparnasse approximately 3 weeks from now....this was won @ $113/night. ($110 was rejected). I used to live in Paris, and the areas I am most comfortable staying in are Opera West/St Germain/Eiffel Tower. La Defense is more of a business district (and outside of the main tourist areas), thus its hotels tend to be a little cheaper on weekends. Some people also advise they like the 4* Novotel Les Halles, but the surrounding area can be a little seedy at night. At the 4* level, Batignoles is your only free re-bid. I would start @ $100 or $105 with your preferred zone, and add $3 to $8 per bid each time it is necessary to add a zone. Also, approximately a third of the 4* hotels are either just inside or outside the Peripherique (the highway that circles the city). Some people complain about this as they have to walk "two blocks" to the metro, but in reallity it is not that big of a deal. It is luck of the draw however, that will decide how close you are to the city center. Even if you get one towards the edge of the zone maps, most attractions can be reached within 45 minutes by metro.