Welldone Rumproast

This generally well-kept hotel is a good choice if you need to be in the St. Paul area. The 17-story structure is connected by climate-controlled Skywalk walkways to many downtown-area office buildings and attractions - I was able to easily reach the Xcel Energy Center (hockey arena) and Ordway Concert Hall (nice since one day was rainy). The hotel looks to be maybe 20-25 years old, but the rooms are in good condition. I was given a good-sized room on the seventh floor with two doubles. There is a desk with data port integrated into the desk lamp, and phones are placed at both desk and bedside. An oversized wing chair near the window is perfect for reading. The windows open a little (safety bar is in place) for ventilation. A coffeemaker is in the room as well. The TV has about 22 cable channels, including HBO and both ESPN and ESPN-2 ("the Douche") :) for you sports mavens. Internet access (the web-tv-style with infared keyboard that works through the television set) is available for $9.95 for a noon-to-noon period. The bathroom was spotless and had plenty of towels and most importantly, very good water pressure :) I had breakfast one day in the second-floor cafe, and it was fine. $8.95 provides a buffet which includes to-order omelette, breakfast meats, oatmeal, cold cereal toast/bagels, and good strong coffee/tea and juice. The staff was friendly and efficient. Note: When I checked out, the desk had a sign telling about a $20 per night "upgrade special" they had just started. The special provides 2 buffet breakfasts and an in-room movie, plus a room on the 15th floor with refrigerator and microwave. I asked the clerk whether prepaid (PL) rates could use this special and she stated "I think so" (you could always call the hotel to verify if you were interested). Tips: When you leave the hotel and enter the Skywalk system there are many food and beverage outlets (sort of like a food court - but many are NOT open on the weekends). Caribou Coffee, a sandwich shop and a Chinese fast is just outside the hotel elevator area, two Mickey D's are just over a block away and Starbucks is just across the street in a corner of the Marshall Field department store (open Sat. and Sun. and opens before the department store opens). Even better, try a restaurant called KEYS on Robert Street (three blocks away, two of which you can walk via skyway) open only for breakfast and lunch - I had the most gargantuan (and tasty) omellete I've had in a long time, the "Everything Omellete" with bacon, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, cheese and god knows what else. Also a few blocks nearby if you get the late night munchies is Mickey's Diner, open 24 hours and with great homemade bean soup.

I used the April post by drofsnal as a guideline (thank you for your help BTW) :) First bid @ $37 rejected, second @ $40 successful Bid Details: Offer Price: $40.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $80.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.75 Total Charges: $96.75 The hotel website showed a split minimum rate as follows: Saturday 5/17 - $79 Sunday 5/18 - $149 Hotel tax rate is 14% I used the SB link - I assume that when we re-bid, the link information stays intact (hopefully).

Check In - May 10th 2003 Check Out - May 12th 2003 Your Offer Price: $33.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $66.00 Taxes: $7.80 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $79.75 Lowest hotel website rate was $79.00 for 5/10 and $90.00 for 5/11 (or $89.00 each night for both 5/10 and 5/11 including breakfast) The SB Link was used :)

This is strictly a guess, but the ability or inability to join mutiple reservations may depend how flexible the hotel's software package is. Recently at a Sheraton in Europe, I had two separate reward stays on consecutive days (booked as two stays because of different point levels needed for each day) and the clerk was able to join them without any problem.

The Westin Grand is a modern hotel in arguably the best area of Berlin. The rooms are average-size based on European standards and are very well-equipped. By showing my Starwood Gold Preferred card I was upgraded to a "Westin Office" - although the room was not any larger (not a problem) the Office rooms have a fax machine (I didn't use it), an in-room safe and, best of all, the famous Westin Heavenly Bed :) The rooms have beautiful dark wood baseboards and doorframes and excellent light-blocking drapes. Housekeeping was impeccible, water pressure in the shower was nice and strong, and two types of robes are provided (terry-cloth and a less-heavy, sort-of weave fabric one). TV has over 20 stations including CNN and BBC World (very handy during the Iraq war). Staff was warm and friendly, and seemed to appreciate my comical attempts to speak German. The best thing about the Westin is the location. There are lots of attractions within easy walking distance (Brandenberg Gate, the Reichstag with its glass dome) and the twin cathedrals of the Gedarmanmarkt square. There is a U-Bahn (subway) station across the street from the hotel's door, giving you fast access to almost any part of Berlin. And the express bus to and from Tegel airport stops one block away. A hint: There is a gourmet market in the basement of Galleries Lafayette just one block away from the hotel - you can easily put together a tasty meal or picnic for a very reasonable price. There are numerous other food options nearby, including a Starbucks a quick 3-block walk up the street, just before the entrance to the Friedreichstrasse U-Bahn / S-Bahn station if you need your Grande Latte fix :)

Sorry about the omission (insert emoticon for "embarassed") As Sam guessed, this bid was definitely in the Tiergarten - Kufuerstendamm area. Although on the map it is technically just over the line in the East, Priceline counts it in their Tiergarten-Kur'dam regoin. The area where the hotel is located is called "MITTE" and is just east (two ro three blocks or so) from the Brandenberg Gate, the Reichstag (with the famous glass dome), and many other attractions. Public transport access is outstanding (the closest subway station is across from the front door of the Westin and the airport express bus stops just one block away).

For the three nights, taxes were $33.00 and the PL fee was 5.95, for a grand total of $251.95. The hotel site's lowest rate was