josie105

This inn, which is located next to the famous "The Manor," (VERY elegant restaurant) was the setting for a get-away weekend for hubby and me. The gated entrance and Old World plantation decor were breath-taking, the luxurious upgraded amenities including fresh flowers and thick bathrobes were beyond numerous, and I wish I could live at this place. Immaculate.... with friendly personalized service 24/7. I've never experienced anything quite like it, and think everyone should visit this place (and The Manor) at least once in their lives. You'll feel as if you are visiting a mansion. Truly a treat!

This morning I checked several car rental web sites, along with Orbitz, Expedia, Overstock, Travelocity"]Travelocity, BJs, Costco, AAA, AARP etc....to get a decent price on a luxury rental car for my trip this weekend to Dallas. Some reps said I'd have to pay full price because of the "holiday" on the 14th. A few told me I couldn't use any discount or promo coupons for one reason or another, mostly having to do with this "holiday." lol With all the taxes and fees tacked on, I could have paid close to $400. Until I came to the HOTWIRE site. Through Hotwire, I got my WOW-Ya-Only-Live-Once transportation from BUDGET RENT A CAR for $222 total, a HUGE savings. Hotwire doesn't always beat the competition, but it sure did today! Thanks Hotwire!!!

Initial $50 4* bid rejected. Added $2 and 3*....then bid was accepted. 11/15/03 One night Subtotal $52.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.60 Total: $65.60 Expedia rate: $105 Orbitz: $114 Hotel: $89-239 Special note: This recently renovated hotel offers quite a few amenities including room service for those lazy Sunday morning getaway weekends. A brand new casual yet elegant restaurant just opened, called the Old City Grille; every entree has a classic version and a contemporary rendition.

Priceline didn't cover this gorgeously colorful area, (home of quaint Cranbury, home to the huge Lenox warehouse sales, and located a stones throw from NJ Turnpike exit 8A) and Hotwire had only 2 properties available in the nearby Princeton location, one at $100+ and one poorly reviewed place @ $66. So I opted instead for the Hotwire companion website, Orbitz, and was able to tap into a really nice accomodation at the Courtyard@Marriott Cranbury for $88 (all the discount web sites were offering $169 for the same room). The room was exceptionally clean and regally appointed with every amenity, right down to having a cable modem. They even have room service for lunch & dinner. I give this place at least 4* The Cranbury Inn Restaurant nearby (in operation since 1780) provided the perfect setting for our wedding anniversary dinner. Sat 10/11/03-10/12/03 $88 non-smoking studio suite with king size bed

Here is a basic Inn description: Quiet, rural location on 11 grassy acres. Across from Landis Valley Museum and Museum for Children. Shenanigans Restaurant and Lounge on property. FREE continental breakfast at Shenanigans. FREE local calls. Seasonal outdoor pool, FREE local newspaper, and USA Today. Rooms include cable TV, in-room coffee maker and FREE Maxwell House coffee, hairdryer, and iron with full size ironing board. Jacuzzi suites available. We found the room to be spacious but "older" with holes in the furniture. The TV had very clear reception with many cable stations, yet the air conditioning worked only intermittently. The bathroom was clean with a slight odor, but there was a loud persistent buzz whenever the light was turned on. A good 2* Priceline deal but definitely not worth the usual rates.

Currently Priceline has 1* & 2* accomodations in the Lancaster County Pennsylvania area. I placed a single bid of $30 for a 1* motel, and was immediately accepted for an upgraded 2* hotel, the Quality Inn & Suites on Oregon Pike in the heart of Dutch Country. (Rooms are going fast for this Mothers Day weekend, and the cheapest rate I could find for this and similar properties was $76.) Inn Description: Quiet, rural location on 11 grassy acres. Across from Landis Valley Museum and Museum for Children. Shenanigans Restaurant and Lounge on property. FREE continental breakfast at Shenanigans. FREE local calls. Seasonal outdoor pool, FREE local newspaper, and USA Today. Rooms include cable TV, in-room coffee maker and FREE Maxwell House coffee, hairdryer, and iron with full size ironing board. Jacuzzi suites available. Number of rooms: 1 Number of nights: 1 Price of room: $30 Processing Fee: $5.95 Local Taxes & Fees: $3.30 Total: $39.25

Point of clarification: If memory serves, at the time I was researching 4 to 5 star properties in Center City Philadelphia in early October 2002, Hotwire gave this hotel a 4.5 rating, while Priceline set the quality level at 4.

I used Priceline via Ebay on 10/3/02 to purchase a hotel accomodation in Philadelphia for Friday night October 11, 2002. I requested a 4 Star or better hotel in the center city area only. Priceline then advised me I could either accept their super low price of $154.00 or make an offer of my own, with a minimum of a $73.00 minimum bid. Since I had previously visited several discount travel web sites which offered special weekend rates of $250 per night for Philadelphia luxury class hotels, I figured it was worth a shot to lowball my bid. I bid $75.00 AND GOT IT!!!! A night at the 4.5 star luxury Park Hyatt Philadelphia At The Bellevue for a mere $75.00. The regally appointed room was palatial in every sense of the word. With the money we saved, we enjoyed an exquisite dinner and "live music" dancing in the Founders Room, and capped our adventure off with a grand breakfast in bed the following morning. I highly recommend this hotel for a special occasion.