Gopiku

Palmer House Hilton, 07/25-07/28, $90 through Priceline. I had read mixed reviews of this hotel and I felt the hotel left me a little wanting too. I had put in a request for two beds, however, it wasn't granted in the end. The lady at Registration told me with a big smile and without investing a second looking into it that they didn't have any [for me]. I asked about a rollaway bed, and she said I could have one for $30 (asked me twice, for whatever reason). I didn't realize it at first but then I thought about it and it seemed she probably meant $30/night. The room was suprisingly very small. I had read that people were getting small rooms but I didn't think a 4* would have rooms that small. I didn't even think that a rollaway bed could fit somewhere in there (it did). No bar fridge - I would have liked that. I didn't think the bathroom was too small but nobody could accuse them of oversupplying toiletries. Disappointed with the bed too - have had much better ones at Hampton Inn. I think the location is pretty decent although it goes downhill pretty fast in one direction - complete with many homeless people after you for change. They provide you with every option to check out without coming down and interacting with a person. The final status bill they delivered on the morning of the checkout had not one character printed on it. I would have liked to see at least $0.00 written on there for a prepaid stay. But wait, what about the rollaway bed? I checked the account info on the TV (not too many cable channels, BTW) and it said zero without any info either. At checkout time, I went to the desk and raised the issue of the rollaway bed (I figure they have my credit card #, so might as well settle it properly). The bed never made it to the account. So the lady just told me that that was it. I would have never expected a top chain to forget charging somebody (complimentary waiving of a charge is a different matter). All in all, I didn't think it was too bad. But it just didn't give a 4* feel. I'd be a lot more upset if I had to shell out $200/night for this. Not sure if I had a "priceline room."

Are you looking for a flight too? If so, I think you can shop for vacation packages, which offer substantial savings over buying individually. Even so, I just saved a little over about $225 buying air ticket separately and getting a hotel through Priceline (verus the 'cheaper' vacation package). If you're looking for a good hotel, I'd say Priceline is worth it. Though not a rule, but you can often save upto 50% or more off published rates on the hotel website or the travel websites. The good thing is that you're the one bidding so if you think the saving is not enough, you can restrict your bid. Of course, the whole catch is that you don't know what hotel you will get or where exactly it'll be in a defined region. If you definitely need to be at, say, the Hilton, then Priceline is not the way to go. I read on another thread on this board somewhere that Priceline is for when you want to stay at 4* hotels for a motel price. I liked that explanation. But it does take a bit of time and planning. And if you want a number of different reservations, then that means more of it!

Yay, got my conference hotel! Region 3, Bid $45, Rejected Region 3, 1 Bid $50, Rejected Region 3, 1, 2 Bid $55, Rejected Region 3, 1, 2, 4 Bid $60, Rejected Region 3, 1, 2, 4, 5 Bid $62, Rejected Region 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 Bid $64, Rejected Region 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 Bid $65, Rejected Region 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 Bid $67, Rejected Region 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 Bid $70: ACCEPTED. 4* Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel 08/13/08 - 08/17/08 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: US$70.00 Subtotal: US$280.00 Taxes & Service Fees: US$48.59 Total Charges: US$328.59 Thank you for all your help, thereuare! I used BB's PRICELINE links.

I think I'll try the 4* first and see if I can get a good deal. If not, I'll try 3* after that. I think based on the many successful bids for 4* in downtown, I'll want to pay $70/night max to feel good about it :-)

What would be a good starting bid 4* considering some people have got it for $65 (on different weekends though)? Is the starting bid just a function of how much time one has? So the lower you start the more time it is going to take considering the 24 hr limit? Thanks! G.

Wouldn't that just mean that they don't have any hotels at all in that region?

Thanks for your advice, slick_gd. Congrats on the deal you got! Just out of curiosity, if I want to go for a 3* in the Toronto downtown area, am I right in saying that we don't have much of a choice in rebidding because just about every zone (except one I think) has 3* hotels in it? I'm evaluating whether I should downgrade my stay to keep in budget. Thanks, G.

Hi! I placed my first priceline bid last week and I'm back for more! :) I'm looking to stay in downtown Toronto, ON from 8/13 to 8/17. The conference rate I can get is $200/night (approx. since it's in C$) for the Toronto Sheraton Centre. I was able to find a Travelocity vacation package (airfare + 4 nights) for $890 for the Shearaton Centre. Unfortunately, the mean people at my organization want a per-night rate printed on the receipt for partial reimbursement - so I don't think I can take the vacation package. Separately, I can see a flight to Toronto costing me $617 on Expedia (I don't think I'd like an opaque flight with unsure layover times). This would have meant 4 nights with taxes for around $275. I'd like to get something for around that figure if possible! I realize getting the Shearaton Centre may not be possible and especially since there's a conference on those dates (but how was Travelocity able to offer me a good price?). But realistically, could I make a 4* for around $60-65 in the Toronto downtown area? That'll leave some $40-50 for taxes totaling around $300 I think. Also, I've used Priceline once for the US (thanks, thereuare!) - is rebidding using zones the same here? I see there are lots of zones without 4* in Toronto? I'll appreciate any advice and of course, will continue using BetterBidding's PRICELINE links. Thanks! G.

I had an offer accepted. Here are the details: Day 1 ----------------------------- Select 4* Loop... Bid $60, rejected. Loop & LPA Bid $65, rejected. Loop, LPA, and MAA, Bid $70, rejected Closed browser Select 4* NMA, Bid $60, rejected NMA & LPA Bid $65, rejected NMA, LPA, and MAA Bid $70, rejected Closed browser Select 4* Loop and NMA... Bid $75, rejected. Loop, NMA and LPA Bid $80, rejected Loop, NMA, LPA, MAA Bid $85, rejected. Day 2 ------------------------------ Select 4* Loop... Bid $60, rejected Loop & LPA Bid $70, rejected Loop, LPA, and MAA... Bid $80, rejected Closed browser Select 4* NMA, Bid $60, rejected NMA & LPA Bid $70, rejected NMA, LPA, and MAA Bid $80, rejected Closed browser Select 4* Loop and NMA... Bid $90: ACCEPTED Offer Details -------------- The Palmer House Hilton, 4*, 07/25 - 07/28 Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $90.00 Subtotal: $270.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $51.04 Total Charges*: $321.04 I used BetterBidding's PRICELINE links. Thank you, Thereuare, for all your help! G.

Thanks! Will post results tonight! G.

I tried the entire rebidding strategy from $60 up to $85 using BB's PRICELINE links. All bids were rejected. :) What do you suggest now? Thanks - I appreciate your help. G.

Thanks, I'll try this out (tonight maybe). I see that the two zones that don't have 4* are Midway Airport Area and Lincoln Park. So, I'll try: Select 4* Loop... Bid $60, if rejected: Loop & LPA Bid $65 if rejected: Loop, LPA, and MAA... Bid $70 if rejected close browser and retry using BB link. Select 4* NMA, Bid $60 if rejected, NMA & LPA Bid $65 if rejected NMA, LPA, and MAA Bid $70 if rejected close browser and retry using BB link. Select 4* Loop and NMA... Bid $75 if rejected, Loop, NMA and LPA Bid $80 if rejected Loop, NMA, LPA, MAA Bid $85 I re-formatted a little bit :) I take that, if rejected it'll allow me to rebid on its own (with changed parameters) but when I close the browser, I'll have to log in again. I'll go through BetterBidding's links. If something is wrong in the zones I posted, please let me know! Thanks! G.

Hi! Sorry for disappearing - plans kept wavering :-( I think River North should be okay as well (I just want it to be close to tourist locations). Max about $90-100 per night I think (of course, the cheaper the better, ha!) Can you please help me with a bidding strategy? I've got some days yet... a little over 3 weeks. Thank you - I will appreciate any help I can get. G.

Hi! I would appreciate if somebody could help me with bidding for a room in Chicago downtown area (The Loop, I suppose) for three nights 7/25 - 7/28. I need it for two people, which is to say, I'd like 2 beds but I realize from reading prior posts that that's something that can only be requested. I see that other successful bids have been around $80-90 mark for 4*s. I'm not really looking for luxury but I'd like it to be in the downtown area close to sightseeing places and I'm supposing there aren't too many budget options around there. I haven't bid for hotels before, so I'll appreciate any help I can get. I've read through most of the for-newbies posts I could find on the board. I'll gladly support BB by going through its links (does it have to be only at purchase time or even while reasearching/bidding - or is that one and the same thing?) Thank you! G.