TBQ

Accepted on the first try: Le Meridien Parkhotel Wiesenhuettenplatz 28 38 Frankfurt, Germany 49-69-26970 Check-In Date: Sat, Feb 26, 2005 Check-Out Date: Sun, Feb 27, 2005 Your Offer Price: $55.00 Number of Rooms/Nights: 1 / 1 Subtotal: $55.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.36 Total Charges: $71.36 55 USD seems to be the "base" price for 4* winning bids in the Frankfurt East zone. This was for a weekend night, which I think worked in my favor. I've noticed that the amount needed to win in this area can go up, depending on whatever else is going on in the city (it's worthwhile to note that the Marriott, the other PL 4* hotel in this area, is across the street from the Messe (covention center) and can fill up when there's a fair or trade show going on),. The best web rate at Le Meridien was EUR 125,-- (about USD 163.32, which includes the VAT), so this is a substantial savings :) BTW, as a comparison, I checked the Marriot website, and their best rate was EUR 129,-- (I wonder if the fact that the ME was lower determined the selection of the ME).

The building housing the Westin was an existing building, but it was gutted down to the exterior walls and re-constructed. I drive by many times during its "transformation" period (which was well behind schedule, BTW)....

The winning thrershhold for this CY (on Century Blvd, very close to the LAX entrance) is usually between $35 and $38 per night. Courtyard By Marriott Lax Century Boulevard 6161 West Century Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90045 310-649-1400 Check-In Date: Sat, Feb 5, 2005 Check-Out Date: Mon, Feb 7, 2005 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $70.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $17.65 Total Charges: $87.65 Tax rate is 14.00% Lowest rate on courtyard.com was $89 per night (weekend rate) So I will be ensconced in my room on Sunday as I watch the Patriots pluck the Iggles by a score of 44-21 :)

Yes, this was a first-bid acceptance. I look at histories here and on TOBB in order to arrive at a first bid amount. BTW, in looking over the hotel listings for this area here on BB, I notice that there is a "DCA (Airport)" zone mentioned. Something must have changed, as there is now not a separate zone in Priceline's system. Even looking at Priceline's crummy map, you can tell that Crystal City is the closest zone to the DCA terminal itself. The CY is definitely in Crystal City, as is the Hyatt, which is right next door. Compuunding matters even more, there are two full-service Marriott hotels (Crystal City and Crystal Gateway) located on the same street, three blocks apart. :) The Arlington zone is on the other side (to the north) of I-395, and is a little farther out from the airport. Caution should be used if you are not driving or renting a car, as not of the Arlington hoteld offer airport shuttles. One of the reasons for all the confusion is that all of the hotels in Crystal City have an Arlington street address (Crystal City is not a legal entity).

(Note: This is specifically the Crystal City zone, not the Arlington zone). This hotel is perfect for my needs, with its free airport shuttle and the free highspeed internet access. Note, however, that their restuarant is closed (I assume for remodeling) until the first part of 2005. Courtyard by Marrriott Crystal City 2899 Jefferson Davis Highway Arlington, Virginia 22202 703-549-3434 Check-In Date: Fri, Nov 26, 2004 Check-Out Date: Sat, Nov 27, 2004 Your Offer Price: $41.00 Number of Rooms/Nights: 1 / 1 Subtotal: $41.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.89 Total Charges: $53.89

Please note that the resort fee at this property has been raised, as of September 2004, from $10 to $15 per day.

I'm also interested in hearing your report. The location doesn't look too bad: http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr...CityCountry=EUR I wish the hotel site was more informative: http://www.topinternational.com/site/Prope...it=&LandCode=DE Bottom like - it looks like TOP and GOlden Tulip are expanding their participation in Pricelne (I hope that's a good thing).....

I **think** that these dates overlap the Peaditrician's (sp) convention that we discussed in a prior thread ....

This hotel should be in good shape. After 9/11, one of the Wall Street brokerage firms took over all of the rooms while their building was repaired. When the brokers left, the hotel was remodeled (also in anticipation of the Republican Convention). One nice thing is that they have the new "Sheraton Sweet Sleeper" beds (a really nice pillow top matress with lots of pillows and a duvet). Before January 1, 2004, you were able to earn Starwood points on incidentals, and also receive elite benefits. Unfortunately, as of 01/01, you can no longer do so.

There is a 20,000 delegate AAPR convention at the Sands Exposition Center from 10/14 through 10/16. The Venetialn and the Sands Center are next door to each other (and are owned by the same company) and are connected by walkways etc. Plus, 10/15 is a Friday, and some hotels don't favor single-night reservations for Friday (I'm not sure about the Venetian). I'm not saying it's impossible, but please do consider these factors as you make further bids. Best of luck and safe travels!

broadwayblue - congrats on your success. Another advantage to the HY Regency is that you're just a block or so from the Ferry Building Marketplace - but I warn you, I'm not responsible for damage to your waistline :) http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

This seemed to be the prevailing rate for a 2.5*, and I was hoping for either the CY or the Hilton Garden Inn in order to get free highspeed internet access :) Details: Courtyard By Marriott Lax Century Boulevard 6161 West Century Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90045 310-649-1400 Check-In Date: Sun, Sep 26, 2004 Check-Out Date: Mon, Sep 27, 2004 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Number of Rooms: 1 / Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.07 Total Charges: $46.07 This was an especially nice bid win, as the CY website lists the lowest available rate at $149 :)

I bid a couple of dollars above what seemed to be the 'de-facto' rate, in an attempt to secure the HY and to avoid the other 3* properties, the Miyako and the Radisson (which is miles away in the Mid-Wilshire area, not downtown). It seemed to work! This stay will finish off a Faster Free Night for me (the current FFN cycle ends on 9/30/04). Details: Hyatt Regency Downtown Los Angeles 711 South Hope Street Los Angeles, California 90017 213-683-1234 Check-In Date: Sat, Sep 25, 2004 Check-Out Date: Sun, Sep 26, 2004 Your Offer Price: $48.00 Number of Rooms: 1 / Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $48.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.06 Total Charges: $61.06 Hotel website was offering a weekend non-cancellable webrate of $109.00

Actually, I confused the two myself, and had to stop and go back and re-read the threads :) Hopefully the fact that the HY Regency is a bit farther away from the Moscone Center will allow doppelg to snag a room.

Pls. keep in mind that these dates overlap the Academy of Pediatrics convention that we discussed in a previous thread (although the HY Regency is not on the official list for the conference, overall SF room availability may be tighter).

Maybe the website of the Graph Expo is offering some advice that needs to be heeded: ALERT: Book Early, Chicago Marathon Taking Place During Show ----- We want to alert you that the yearly Chicago Marathon kicks off on Sunday, October 10, which is also the first day of GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2004. The Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) has made every effort to protect hotel rooms at last year's rate or with only a slight increase. It is more important than ever that you take advantage of these rates we have negotiated on your behalf. Book your rooms before the cut-off date of September 10, 2004. Please know that due to the demand of the Chicago Marathon, which is a very popular activity in Chicago, hotel rooms will quickly become unavailable. ------ In addition, the Graph Expo is not the only show in Chicago during your dates - there is also a Remodeling industry show that ends on the 9th, and a number of other, smaller shows. My advice is to have one or more cancellable backups in hand. Booking via PL around the time of a moderate/major convention is not impossible, but you also need to carefully analyze the entire situation before making your lodging decision. As you may have read in the NY threads, some NYC hotels released unsold rooms not claimed by Republican Convention delegates. Again, with a cancellable backup in place, you could position yourself to try to take advantage of this potential opportunity (but again playing devil's advocate, those marathon runners are the exactly the type of group that rarely changes its plans (since they've trained so long to qualify for entry into thj marathon itself).. Good luck and best wishes in your quest!

The Fisherman's Wharf zone might be equally appropriate. The SF crusie terminal is at Pier 35 - if you look at Priceline's FW Zone map, locate Pier 39 and count down two piers to the right of 39 (the piers are odd-numbered on this side of the Ferry Building).

Hi dearjim - another factor is that the Oracle users group is meeting in SF beginning on the 6th (arrivals probably on the 5th). 16,000 pepole will be arriving to hear Larry Ellison pontificate on the evils of Redmond :) Because the PH is not immediately adjacent to Moscone, and because it probably isn't on the official list,, it probably doesn't sell out. But higher occupancies at hotels close to Moscone probably has a "domino" effect and tightens up supply at other locations (plus, given PH's priximity to Embarcadero Center shopping, the PH may be able to move more rooms using their "Xmas Shopping Specials" .....

Thanks to all for the info. Althoughh the HGI was available at a points-earning rate of $59, the chance for another FFN credit was even better :) SO I just booked for a Saturday night in September! And since I needed an Entertainment Book, I picked one up using the Better Bidding link - easy as pie (or is that PI ) ???

Beav - I apologize for not being more specific - the pediatriicans meeting starts on the 9th - it may explain how your friend got in "under the wire". There were a couple of smaller conventions as well, which could be conributing to the moderate supply in the days before Oct. 9... Here's the site to search for convention dates in SF: http://www.sfvisitor.org/convention/html/c...lsearchform.asp

The convention that is coflicting with your dates is the American Academy of Pediatrics 2004 National Conference & Exhibition (about 11,000 kiddie docs will be in town alongside you - plus exhibitors and vendors at the trade show, etc). As you can see from their hotel list, many of Priceline's "usual suspects" are on their hotel list: Headquarters Hotel San Francisco Marriott Additional Hotels Argent Hotel Crowne Plaza Union Square Courtyard by Marriott San Francisco Grand Hyatt San Francisco Handlery Union Square Hilton San Francisco Hotel Nikko Renaissance Parc 55 The Palace Westin St. Francis One thing to keep in mind is that hotels *might* release unsold rooms as the meeting date gets closer. I assume you have a cancellable backup hotel already in hand :)

Hi char540 - your dates overlap a convention of about 10,000 ear/nose/throat doctors and exhibitors at their trade show. While that number is not huge, the Marriott Marquis is the headquarters hotel and the Sheraton and NY Hilton are also on the housing list. The fact that these hotels are involved with the medical meeting could make it less likely that PL has lots of rooms available at these properties on these dates. As you noted above, sometimes rooms that are being blocked off for the meeting attendees get released as the convention date approaches, but there's no telling whether this will happen in your case. Best of luck in securing a good rate!! (PS, in your list in the first post, the Millenium Hilton is downtown, scross from the World Trade Center site - the NY Hilton and Towers, at 6th Ave and 53rd Street, is in Midtown West).

Last-minute trip (I will also be staying here next week). First bid in the FLL West - Plantation zone accepted! Hotel website has a weekend rate of $69 Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Weston 2000 N Commerce Parkway Weston, Florida 33326 954-343-2225 Check-In Date: Fri, Jul 30, 2004 Check-Out Date: Sat, Jul 31, 2004 Your Offer Price: $27.00 Number of Rooms: 1 / Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $27.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $9.24 Total Charges: $36.24 As long as you already have a rental car, this is one of the better bargains in the FLL area,

Hi maxwell and welcome to the board! (I'm fairly new myself) Unfortunately your 8/23 date is right in the middle of a trade show called the Seattle Gift Show, at the downtown Convention Center. The convention website says 14,000 attendees are expected (August 21 through 25). http://www.weshows.com/sgs_new/index.html

It looks like the Convention Center zone has been folded into the Union Square East zone :)