hilltopfamily

continued excellent advice from you both! thanks! Great points about parking, even if we had in/out privileges.....it would still be horrific and stress that we'd rather avoid for a few days! Our car will enjoy sitting for a few days and we'll enjoy not being bothered with it. I just looked at Wildberry---looks wonderful! Thank you for the recommendation and we will definitely heed your advice and try it out!

Thank you both for the info and input. I used the link here and booked and It IS the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Yay! used your code and saved a few extra bucks, too! thanks! I appreciate all the input on location, and now for parking: AaronJB mentions the Mellenium Park lots nearby? would my best option be to use a parking app to find that location for multiple days? doing that, I think pricing is better, but I won't have any in/out privileges, if I understand things correctly? We will do as you suggested, thereuare, for dropping off, then the reverse when we leave for bags/checking into hotel. (thanks for describing that process to me! BTW: It's been a few years since I've gotten to travel and use BetterBidding, Priceline, and Hotwire, but love you guys and really appreciate that after these years you all are still here when I need you! Thank you!

4-Star Express Deal Hotel, Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park Area. July 8 - 11, 2017 $126 per night. Business center, fitness, non-smoking, free internet. Research here leads me to think it's the Hyatt Regency, on Wacker? If so, I'm debating between getting that or staying with the reservation I already have with Best Western River North Hotel. We will have a vehicle with us that we'll have to find parking for, which is what led me initially to the BW River North, since it appears their parking is $35 a day. We're not terribly high-end people, but would certainly enjoy a lovely experience. Is one better suited to the El or other public transport? (so we can just park and leave our vehicle for the days we're there) Also, the 4-Star Express deal would be a savings of $75 over the BW River North. Thanks for thoughts/advice!

Did you find this hotel/motel to be suitable? any problems with it? did you use the shuttle? was there convenient transportation options for getting into/out of San Fran? thanks for your input! I"m strongly considering this choice for my upcoming trip....and am very interested in options for in/out of San Fran tourist sites combined with staying at an SFO area motel/hotel. (would rather not drive myself if poss.)

Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport (Kenner, LA) Amenities: Shuttle, Fitness Center, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, Hi Speed Internet, Golf Nearby ! night (a Saturday night) at $53 with fees ended up being $65.72 Great hotel, great service, shuttle was efficient and quick plus the driver even offered and took us to Wendy's (no fee for this other than we tipped nicely) on our way to the hotel from the airport, since our flight got in late and we wanted something quick to take with us to eat after getting settled in. Pool is very nice, heated, outdoor pool with a hot tub, plenty of towels and chairs avail. Fitness center nice and well equipped. Business center was great, never busy, had 2 fast computers, but I wasn't able to get anything to print off.....probably my own fault as I'm not savvy and I never asked for help since the item wasn't necessary. The room was very nice, and my kids called it "very fancy" (their term!) I just wish our next two nights that we spent in the city itself (at the Holiday Inn Superdome) had been as nice as this place (at double the cost of the Crowne Plaza!) And I did book this through the HOTWIRE link on this site. Continued thanks for the existence of this site......I use it frequently!

Sorry if this shouldn't be a separate post....I didn't know whether to make this or add to my other post. We decided to add a night to our booking after getting here and having so much fun for the past 3 days. Again, I booked through the HOTWIRE link on this board. The rate was a bit lower this time around (was $139 with prior booking) Amenities: Near Beach/fitness/pool/restaurant/laundry/high speed internet Listed as "lowest price guarantee" and "best value" and "hotwire limited rate" 3.5 of 5 on tripadvisor, based on 120+ reviews, last reviewed Oct. 08 Total costs: $114 plus 22.88 taxes/fees for total of $136.88. Room rate on Holiday Inn website was $219 so we got a nice savings again. Thanks!

Darn! I booked a day too early! Today they have the same place for $126 instead of the $139 I just paid yesterday! :) Not a lot of money, but adds up to about $40 for our 3 day stay! Ah well, that's how it goes!

Booked through HOTWIRE link on this board. 3 of us going (1 adult, 2 kids) so I opted for hotwire instead of PRICELINE (assured of enough beds this way) Property is Holiday Inn Santa Monica @ the Pier will be a great place for us! Amenities: Near Beach/fitness/pool/restaurant/laundry/high speed internet Listed as "lowest price guarantee" and "best value" and "hotwire limited rate" 3.5 of 5 on tripadvisor, based on 120+ reviews, last reviewed Oct. 08 Thanks as always for helping ID hotels prior to booking. This property is going for $100 a night more on other sites. Total cost with fees for 3 nights was $485.03

From personal experience, I know that there is a very large cruiseship (Carnival Conquest, we've been on it and will go again soon) that sails out of Galveston on Sundays carrying lots of people for the Caribbean, so many folks come into Galveston and stay overnight on Saturdays, leaving on Sunday. This would drive up the hotel prices.

Okay, now I'm on a roll! I'm really starting to like Betterbidding, Priceline, and Hotwire. I got help here for booking a Niagara Falls hotel so I tried same approach and got a great hotel in Rochester. I had booked this same Radisson hotel in Rochester via hotwire (had 3 people going and didn't want to risk not enough beds for us) for a stay a week earlier....hotwire price was $88 and we really like this site. Decided to try Priceline this time for same property as it is the only hotel listed as 3* in that region and we now had only 2 people going. Started with $72 bid for Roc north/airport region for 3* which was rejected, then Priceline countered with increase of $22 which I did not do. I added Roc. south/henrietta region (no 3*'s in this region----continued thanks for rebidding strategies here!!!) and increased bid to $78, which was accepted. This is a $10 savings from Hotwire, which has this property still for $88. So, thanks again for the help~~~~I got the hotel I wanted at a great price~~~the Hotel website lists prices from $132-149!. As always, used the savingsbarn link to access priceline. thanks!

Reread the rebidding zone thread (had done so previosly as well....just confused I guess!). Though savingsbarn tried 3* bid again in Niagara Falls NY for 8/9/07 to 8/10/07 for $80 since it had been a couple days since my earlier try. Rejected at $80 so added East Niagara region and increased bid to $90, which was successful. Got Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls, on Third St Total with fees ends up at $110.37. Crowne Plaza website had rooms starting at $160 plus fees/taxes, so I'm happy with $90! Thanks, as always, for assist.

Tried (through savingsbarn link) $85 for 3* Niagara Falls NY (only want to stay in Niagara falls area). They rejected and countered with $22 more, which I did not do. Closed out window, reopened again and tried to bid (again through savingsbarn link) $90 but got message that it was a duplicate request so they didn't process (understand they usually do this unless you wait 24 hours, which I don't want to do!) I've read about rebidding zones, etc. but would like advice before I try this (afraid I'll goof up and end up badly). What I want is: 3* only in Niagara Falls area (NY) for only the date of 8/9/07 to 8/10/07. Thanks for any help!

Have been lurking, scouring, and now, finally, attempting to bid through savingsbarn.com link to PRICELINE for one night Niagara Falls stay on 8-9-07. Bid $55 for 2.5* Niagara Falls, rejected. (couldn't rebid at 3* level as it was already marked as well) Closed out, then went back in and bid $65 for same, again rejected. Closed out, then went back in and bid $75 for same, again rejected. Now I'm back to looking around, deciding if I want to keep with it or just book direct with a hotel. I see the Fallsview Inn is listed online for 101.04, or the Country Inn & Suites (which is supposedly brand new & quite nice) is $129 canadian with free high speed internet and breakfast.....may go with that one if this doesn't pan out. Just wanted to pass on my bidding history.

Oh No!!! I just realized I posted this under the Priceline forum.......I booked this via Hotwire and thought I was on the hotwire forum when I posted this. I'm so very, very sorry! Can this be moved? Again, apologies offered :) Penny

Just booked (through the link on this site) 3* in Rochester, NY. Is listed under West Rochester/Airport region. Got the Radisson for Aug 4 2007 through Aug 5, 2007 for $88 a night plus taxes/fees for total of $105.52 Icons were: Shuttle, Fitness Center, Pool, Restaurant, High Speed Internet. Thanks, as always, for this site and all the great help it provides in travel planning!

thanks for the information! as a Lincolnite, I like seeing what is potentially being offered here in my town for incoming guests/visitors. thanks again!

well, thank you again to all who helped me out with this difficult decision! I decided against Priceline bid as I checked the 3* sites in Crystal City (what a terrific priceline map you made, thereyouare!) and one of them that was coming up with winning bids had no double-bedded rooms avail so I just didn't feel that priceline was a good choice for the 4 of us (not that much of a gambler, I guess!) Took to heart the advice on Tysons corner not being good for metro travel, and couldn't see paying the high rates for 3*Crystal City sites via Hotwire (they were like $179 a night I think!) so ended up deciding against both Priceline and Hotwire for this trip but definitely will continue trying to find a match for us with them in the future! I ended up finding the Holiday Inn Telegraph Road in Alexandria (1/2 block to metro, indoor pool, free breakfast to priority members) at fairly good rate ($133 per night average) and it meets all my criteria for this trip (2 beds, close to metro, pool, great reviews on tripadvisor). Disappointed that I wasn't able to "get a great deal" this time around via Priceline or Hotwire, but guess I got tired and felt the "safe bet" was probably prudent at this point. I used the "Travel Links to support BetterBIdding" to book this hotel stay :) Thanks again, everyone!

as an update to my earier postings: I ended up having to change our dates to July 19-25th (airfare is booked) and I added my 15 yr. old daughter (who is partially disabled and will use a wheelchair for longer mobility needs) to our trip so I've been looking at different times and properties. I really have to narrow it down to one close to metro for our needs, so I've started a new thread requesting info on a site in Tysons Corner. I hope I was right in starting a new thread since I had changed aspects of this? I did end up bidding 3 different days on Priceline for the 4* in Arlington but was not successful getting it, even with 3 rebids each time. (BTW, would this warrant a thread on the priceline part of this board regarding my unsuccessful attempts?) Thanks everyone so very, very much for all your help....this board was absolutely invaluable last summer when I took the same kids and made the journey to Chicago. We got a GREAT hotel there via Hotwire and this site! Ended up with big family suite at the Palmer House Hilton for great price. Guess I'm just trying to recreate that same great experience this time around with our trip to DC. Hope I end up doing it!!! :) Thanks again!

these are now firm dates and airline has been booked (different from earlier dates I looked at) and I have added another child to the plans, so have been looking and looking at properties that will accomodate us at this different time and with different needs. (I will now be bringing along a partially disabled daughter who will use a wheelchair part of the time, so I'm especially looking at properties close to metro sites, thus the need to check into as many possibilities as possible prior to my final decision and booking). Thanks.

3* in Tysons Corner Sorry, but I'm not able to find any Hotwire hotel listings for Tysons Corner area. Am I not looking in right area/place? Anyway, I see a 3* with fitness, pool, restaurant, business center for $121 per night for July 19-25th. Anyone have ideas on what it would be? thanks! :)

hmmm. Then I'd appreciate everyone's thoughts on this: what would you say the likelihood is that I can and will get a room with 2 beds if I request this after winning the bid? Sounds like a good chance of it??? Thanks very much for your thoughts on this!

Any input on how the stay at this hotel went? I'm *this close* to bidding on this. Wondering specifically if most people are able to get rooms w/2 beds, as this is what I would be requesting if I bid on this property. (solo parent taking the kiddos and don't want to have to share a bed if I don't have to!). Thanks for any input you have on your stay at this site. :)

thanks for posting your info....very seriously considering a bid for *hopefully* this hotel. Can you tell me.... Did you make any requests directly w/the hotel after getting your PL bid and if so, how were you responded to? If I get this bid that I'm considering making, I'd be calling and requesting 2 beds rather than 1 king....so I'm looking for input on if you had any experience w/this. thanks!

great info, Travelguy! I'm convinced~~~thank you so much! I'll either bid on the 4* in Arlington or go w/a 3* in Crystal City. Looks like a great deal either way. I've just got to firm up the dates for certain, since there is no backing out once I bid. I'll make sure to use the links here on this site when I do and I'll post back with what I end up getting. Thanks again for all the help :) It's much appreciated!

So I could feel safe in bidding priceline for a 3* in Crystal City, getting a hotel with a pool and close to the metro? Just seeking clarification (and reassurance I guess, seeing as how I'm not much of a "gambler" by nature :) ) The 2.5 * listing for Crystal City looks like it would be the Courtyard by Marriott and reviews of that property say it is NOT convenient to metro, so I'm thinking that wouldn't be a good one. Or here is another thought--- it looks as if there is only one 2.5 * property in Convention center/Capitol hill area: The Courtyard Conv. Center. It states it is quite close to metro and has a pool. Might this be a better overall plan for a mom taking her 12 and 9 year old kiddos to DC for the first time ever (not planning on getting a car). Overall, I am mainly looking for the best deal on place that has a pool and is close to metro for July 13-18 for mom and 2 kids. I would bid 4* if I knew I would have a pool, meaning I'm not adverse to bidding higher stars, just gotta have the pool for the kiddos after a day of siteseeing! As always, thanks for any light you can shed on the overall strategy for getting this! (Guess I'm now looking closer at using Priceline than hotwire for the potential savings of $$$.)