CycleGirl

I was unsuccessful on a few attempts for 4* downtown up to $95. I then switched to 3.5* downtown and bid up to $85. I finally added Bellevue, but lowered my bid to $75 and won.

Oops! The dates should read 10/09/2009 - 10/10/2009. Also.... Subtotal: $38.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $12.17 Total Charges*: $50.17

I needed to stay in the PDX area due to a very early flight. I would have accepted either a 3* or 2.5* . Bid $30 @ 3* waited 24 hours Bid $32 @3* added 2.5* Bid $34 waited 24 hours Bid $35 @3* added 2.5* Bid $38 I used the PRICELINE link from this site.

I put in about a dozen bids in in the Sea-Tac / Tacoma / Renton-Kent regions for 2.5* in the $38 to $48 range with no success. I finally downgraded to 2*. Bid 2* $28 Sea-Tac FAIL RESTART Bid 2* $28 Renton-Kent SUCCESS Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $28.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $11.10 Total Charges*: $39.10 Thanks to everyone for posting their winning bids! I assumed that this hotel would be available at about this price thanks to this board. :)

Target was to stay in Tigard - Lake Oswego. Second choice was Beaverton / Hillsboro. NW Portland is a free rebid zone up through 2.5* $42 3* Tigard - Lake Oswego FAIL $45 3* Tigard - Lake Oswego + NW Portland FAIL $42 2.5* Tigard - Lake Oswego FAIL $45 2.5* Tigard - Lake Oswego + NW Portland WIN Crowne Plaza Portland Lake Oswego 14811 Kruse Oaks Boulevard Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $90.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $19.64 Total Charges*: $109.64

:) the light has come on now. tilepusher, Thanks for explaining. I didn't realize that I could start a new bid with each new area. Also, I appreciate the way that your method moves from the more desirable prices and areas to the less desirable prices and areas, thereby getting the best value. I will use it from now on. Thank you! CycleGirl

I had really hoped that the $50 bid would succeed. When it didn't, I needed to either add an area or wait 24 hours since there were no "free rebid" areas at the 2* level. I added Bellevue, because I figured that I could live with the 15 minute drive. Also, of all the areas that I could have added (Bothell, Lynnwood, or Airport), I expected Bellevue to be the most expensive and therefore the least likely to give me a room rather than my preferred zone. Was there another bidding option that I'm not aware of? CycleGirl

Bid price $56 Taxes and Service Fees $15.55 Total Charges: $71.55 My goal was a room for <$61 before taxes. Low price was my priority. I really wanted a room in Lake Union or UW / Northgate but was willing to move outward if needed. Started with 3* and used free rebid zones (Everett, Bothell, etc.) for $45, $55, $61 . I didn't expect to get a 3*, but these bids have to be done first. Bids 2.5* UW/Northgate $48 FAIL 2.5* UW/Northgate + Lake Union $55 FAIL 2.5* UW/Northgate + Lake Union + Everett $61 FAIL (Everett was the only free rebid for 2.5 stars) 2* UW/Northgate $42 FAIL 2* UW/Northgate + Lake Union $46 FAIL 2* UW/Northgate + Lake Union + Downtown $50 FAIL 2* UW/Northgate + Lake Union + Downtown + Bellevue $56 SUCCESS The Internet price for the Extended StayAmerica Seattle-Bellevue is $129.99, so I guess that this is a pretty good price. However, I didn't really get the ideal area I wanted and I didn't sneak up on the price for the area I ended up with. It's possible that the room I got might have been offered for cheaper than I got it for. Is there a way that I could have known that the cheapest property in an acceptable area was in Bellevue? How did I do? Any advice for better bidding in the future? CycleGirl