Ringman

:) Finally!! a fellow gymnastic fan on BetterBidding!!! At $65 for the Omni-- you did well-- Your other option - the gymnastic org would sell you rooms at Westin or Marriott for $129/night.!!! I haven't got my rooms yet... have to wait and see if my son is planning on going (I think he's pre-qualified already...)-

Congratulations, you got your price of $46 for a 3-star hotel room Doubletree Hotel Austin Your Offer Price: $46.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $46.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.32 Total Charges: $60.32 Check-In Date: Friday, April 8, 2005 Check-Out Date: Saturday, April 9, 2005 Austin North 6505 Interstate Hwy 35 North Austin, Texas 78752 512-454-3737 I was looking for a Round Rock 3*- but after multiple bids- ended up in Austin North-- only about 10 miles south on IH-35... spending a little more than I had wanted to.... This Doubletree is fabulous!- much better than the one about 3 miles south- nearer to UT (that one is always seething with college kids and the like---with fairly plain rooms) - Beautiful open balconies (more like inside walkways) circling and overseeing the center courtyard/pool/jacuzzis.... I booked the one Friday night 'cuz the Saturday night was dependent upon my sons soccer team advancing to the finals on Sunday... They did, and I couldn't get a $39 2, 2/12 or 3 star in Round rock or Austin North-- so I settled in on a Round Rock Holiday Inn (by Holiday Inn reservations) which is where many of the parents from the tourney were also staying....($72 though...)

:) Dagnabit!! Did I miss out on a Visa 20% off deal? wats the scoop-- is it tied to the Venetian?? My $299 saturday night would have loved the 20% discount!!

Which is why, over time, I have "trained" my family and friends to expect to be flexible on all our PL traveling!! With that in mind, it seems like I have been hugely succesful at getting the the specific hotel (when I have one in mind), due entirely to the information on these PL boards!!! Now, on occasion, I have had to break up a one week stay into say, 5 days in a Hilton and 2 in a Hyatt- or something similar-- and often have had to break up my bids into several segments to get my targeted prices- (Mon- Wed, Thursday-Friday, Sat- or some other configuration) - even when staying in the same hotel (usually allowed to stay in the same room, but not always!!

Sorry--- my coffee cup hit my mouse and prematurely posted the last msg!! :) To continue-- Had I waited to bid on the Venetian website until Tuesday or Wednesday-- If I recall correctly (I didn't print it out!)- the 3 nights would have been $683.43- ($209 avg/nite + tax)- So the lesson is-- you can save money at the Venetian-- under certain circumstances (early booking- or breaking up your nights)- - Also we got 2 airline tickets on Hotwire- within 2 weeks of departure- ended up on AA and saved $160 by flying out of Austin instead of San Antonio (1.5 hour drive)-- total $494- total PL/Hotwire trip = $1121.92 (pleeze don't check my math!! :) PL vacations had a 2- night package for $1260 at the Venetian-- for thursday and Friday nite--- and other packages for 3 nites (NYNY) elsewhere were in the $1100-$1200 range- The kicker to the story is-- I couldn't miss Thursday and Friday from work (appts etc)-- Then- while driving to the airport- I get on a conf call when the announce our company has been bought out and closed by the manufacturer and we cease sales operations as of now...... I was thinking of jumping on an airport computer (do they have public ones in Austin?) and PL'ing or Hotwiring a last- second ticket (as opposed to last minute!)-- but deferred to my basic instinct of not making kneejerk reactions!! oh well--- I know my wife will have a blast in Vegas- she's with her mom going to the gymnastics meets- so at least she'll be out of the house whilst I clean up by home office!!!

Just to finish--- The Venetian on 2/5 dropped on their site from last week, I think as high as $635- to599 - then starting Sunday it was $499 - then on Monday $399- then from Tuesday til now $299. The PL suggested 5* price (a joke usually) was usually approx $499 (on the bid screen) but actually dropped to $251 on a couple of occasions--- at that point I was bidding low $200's - so I rebid $252 immediately--- No go!! My wife checked in last night (Thursday) and since I had bid all the way up to $279 for the Saturday night (2/5)- and the website was now @ $299-- she went ahead and booked the third night (saturday) at the front desk for $299-- Thursday 2/3-- $99 + $18.04 (tx/fee)= $ 117.04 Friday 2/4- $159+$24.88(tx/fee)= $ 183.88 Sat (nonPL) 2/5 $299 + $27 (apprx tax)=$ 326.00 Total $626.92 Venetian online- had I booked last week (1/25) = $987 (avg'd @329/night)

Friday night- second of 2 nights at Venetian (saturday night still to be determined)- Put in the $159 after numerous rebids starting at $99 over several days etc. (super bowl weekend- Saturday rates were up to $599- $635 when I got this Friday night - bid accepted on 1/29) Check-In Date: Friday, February 4, 2005 Check-Out Date: Saturday, February 5, 2005 Hotel Name: The Venetian 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Summary of Charges Your Offer Price: $159.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $159.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $24.88 Total Charges: $183.88

Thursday night- first of 2 nights at Venetian (saturday night still to be determined)- Put in the $99 and got first time- after trying all combinations of thursday. friday and or Saturday nights... (super bowl weekend- rates were up to $599- $635 when I got this night - bid accepted on 1/26) Check-In Date: Thursday, February 3, 2005 Check-Out Date: Friday, February 4, 2005 Hotel Name: The Venetian 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Summary of Charges Your Offer Price: $99.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $99.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $18.04 Total Charges: $117.04

The only reason I was interested in the Tropicana was that my son's team would be staying there- giving my wife a better chance of actually seeing him- even if just in transit...... (recall that my wife or I follow him around the country to his gymnastics meets!!- good excuse for impromptu vacations!!)-- So.. she's already set at the Venetian 2 nights-- and unless it comes down on PL- she's changing to a second hotel on 2/5 anyhow.... which she's used to doing since I do all her hotels on PL in the most economic manner (3-5*'s).... If there was a chance that Tropicana would be a PL-- I wouldn't even mind throwing away a night if I got burned into another 3*- I could always go back to Hotwire or EasyClick if she really wanted the Tropicana! But- if Tropicana has never come up on PL-- well that would push me to Hotwire !!

I know the Tropicana shows on Hotwire as a 3* Resort... but have we ever seen it on PL?? planning on completing a 3-night stay there 2/3 - 2/6- My son's team will be there for a meet this weekend-- I got the Venetian the first two nights (will attempt to post soon) 2/3 @$99; 2/4 @ $159 (plus fee/tax) But Sat 2/5 is not coming along for up to $259---- so fall back is Hotwire Tropicana (now at $139)-- but sure would like to go PL for that!!

Aladdins pool is closed- per description on PL of vacation package with Aladdin:

Am I correct that i'm screwed in this strategy? :) Las Vegas in particular- There are 2 zones listing Resort- with no 5* or even 4*'s in the zones... Do I therefore surmise correctly that I cannot use those zones if I'm looking at them as rebid zones for a 4 or 5* hotel (in the strip- in this case)? Thanks in advance.... :)

Unfortunately, the Westin La Cantera (previously a Resort on PL-) seems to have either taken itself off PL, or wedged its price in above the much denigrated 4* Omni so as to be too risky to bid for-- Omni goes for between $50- $75, and the Westin La Cantera seems to have been in the past between $75- $90. But- please look in HOTWIRE, Six Flags area, and a 4-1/2* Resort comes up for $86- $106 over the next month or so-(well- and actually up to $271 once you try to reserve more thanabout 45 days out, it seems...) Don't know if this is an appropriate post for this forum... but I do know of the consternation this Omni-Westin La Cantera knot has caused among bidders!!! Most of whom would be satisfied with the $86-$90 bid, if accepted on PL----!! BTW- don't forget on Hotwire it is a Resort-- and might charge $10 or so for the big R !

Austin (downtown) 4* Hilton Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $65.00 Subtotal: $195.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $39.28 Total Charges: $234.28 Bid one time @ $65 accepted (helping friend do his first PL- he was about to purchase the Radisson- a 3* downtown for $129-$139 a night from Orbitz!!)

I actually had him "overbid" by $5 ($15 for the three nights) for the Hilton--- Had I been bidding for myself- I would have bid starting down around $40 ish-- and been pleased with the Hyatt or Omni when I hit it... But in this case- he would have been thrilled with $65- an apparent $20 ish over bid- to have received the Hyatt or Omni- looking at he was at purchasing 5 minutes later in the $129 range..... So, for him, it was a no loose proposition--- For myself... if i really wanted the Hilton--- the only way I could have a shot at it would be to risk the overbid if I received the Omni or Hyatt- tempered by the knowledge that there were rooms at the Hilton currently available elsewhere, as well as recent data to show Hilton "wins" @ $60. I just relay this transaction as further "evidence" that PL does indeed match the bids to available higher priced rooms(Hilton), rather than taking the immediate higher profit match to a lower priced room (Hyatt, Omni).

Oh yeah.. definitely methinks cakobau--\ Every Vacation hotel i've seen , seems available in the general hotel only category- via empirical and actual evidence (reported wins...) By the way-- on this same thread... I just had my friend book three nights at the Austin Hilton--4* downtown- i knew this: 1. there are three reported winnable downtown 4* 's a. Hyatt avg price $47- $50 b. Omni avg price $47- 50 c. Hilton - lowest price $60 2. availability through multiple travel sites for all three. 3. His immediate intention of paying for a 3* Ramada on Orbitz for $129-$139 a night. We put in one bid (him being a PL virgin)- and had him bid $65- guaranteeing him that if he would get the Hilton..... (not wanting to go through the intricacies of rebids, etc over the phone with him... and keeping him in a relative "comfort zone" of a single bid...) Now.. to prove the theory.. I would need to go bid /rebid from $45 + til I get the Hyatt or Omni.... Anyone like to kick into the kitty for the sake of research!! :)

Your Offer Price: $57.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Check-In : Wed, Jul 28, 2004 Check-Out Date: Sun, Aug 1, 2004 Subtotal: $228.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $40.29 Total Charges: $268.29 Oh foolish me..!! I saw lots of higher prices ($100 +) being accepted for the Omni this summer, than a recent one that was rejected at $80 and accepted at $85... so I figured I'd lowball about where I got this hotel at 2 years ago!! Bid $57 first time and accepted! This works out well though... I'm in Corpus on business wednesday and thursday, and my wife and 1 or 2 kids can come down for the weekend!! (gee.. maybe I'll bid even cheaper for a 2nd room!!)

Agreed... My particular experience is with what i would consider "medium" size convention-like events (national gymnastic meets) in mostly "secondary" cities -San Diego, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Savannah, Minneapolis, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Nashville (no offense Leo)... It has worked well for me with two different approaches. I know when the cut-off date is for the "official" block of rooms is at the official hotels (usually 2-4 hotels connected to or nearby the events). Cut-off normally is about 2-3 weeks in advance of the meets. Up until that time, I usually don't have the greatest success in getting historically low bids. Once the block is released though, I can normally do at least as well as other posters have reported. However, in several instances, I make use of my "way early bidding" strategies. (like 3-6 months and once, even 11 months in advance!!... really!), using my coveted, patented, copyrighted (am I usually this obnoxious??) RLB TACTICAL approach... Ridiculously Low Bidding, that is... It helps of course, to know the event dates way, way in advance.... and to have a son for whom you have a full confidence in his athletic abilities (in order to qualify to compete at those meets!) RLB has me going for 4* first, but I often lapse into the 3* arena rather quickly (usually ending up 25-50ish% less than 4*- based on actual posted "wins")- with which I have almost always been perfectly happy! But, seriously, I think that nearly every "win" I have, has beaten (or lately, equaled) the lowest reported win posted, using one or the other strategy... :)

Congratulations, you got your price of $39 for a 3-star hotel room. Sheraton Nashville Downtown Check-In Date: Friday, June 4, 2004 Check-Out Date: Saturday, June 5, 2004 Downtown - Vanderbilt University Your Offer Price: $39.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $39.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.90 Total Charges: $50.90 Actually came back and got a second room on this same basis. (cuz i couldn't get the previously mentioned doubletree for friday night this week) Go Texas Gymnasts!!!!!

Congratulations, you got your price of $36 for a 3-star hotel room. Doubletree Hotel Nashville Check-In Date: Thursday, June 3, 2004 Check-Out Date: Friday, June 4, 2004 Downtown - Vanderbilt University Your Offer Price: $36.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $36.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.43 Total Charges: $47.43 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Congratulations, you got your price of $36 for a 3-star hotel room. Doubletree Hotel Nashville Check-In Date: Sunday, May 30, 2004 Check-Out Date: Monday, May 31, 2004 Your Offer Price: $36.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $36.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.43 Total Charges: $47.43 I went back and got sunday night and thursday night- but couldn't get Friday night at DoubleTree so I ended up at sheraton for that one night (following post) I also came back and got the doubletree and Sheraton for a second room from tuesday thru friday night.

My wife and son stayed here for his gymnastics meet the first week of May ($41 anight). they have the Parking lot roof view, but could still see the marina. Rented a car the first day after scoping out the scene!! Talked to "Steve" the bellhop/Airport Limo driver etc.. real nice guy- got her a rental car lined up at pretty good rates (although she declined 'cuz I had hertz/avis through USAA)! No sign of "Kevin".. My wife thinks he's not there anymore. She loved being on the Harbor Island though... much nicer ambience than being downtown (they stayed at the Wynham Emerald Plaza two years ago). Beautiful weather helped, but being on the bay with the sea breeze and beautiful view made the trip!! I will note that parking in downtown was a pain.... she opted for hanging out at the mall (free parking @ 3 hours a whack) while my son was at the convention center in workout sessions. - don't forget- $12 or $13 a day parking fee at the Hilton!! They did room service a few times for breakfast- both approved of the selections mightily, about average cost for Hilton I guess ($10- $15 a person) Overall- she liked the Hilton better than the Wyndham and especially the Island!

Your Offer Price: $36.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $108.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $22.90 Total Charges: $130.90 :) gave up on 4*'s downtown for the full week after about 40 rebids.. (just cuz I'm cheap and wanted it for under $60!!) might go back and pick up two or three more nights, and possibly a second room!! $36 is the cheapest I've seen on this hotel- most bids being accepted $37-41 up to $50..... :)

:) dagnabbit!!

What i found interesting (perhaps because I've never really researched or had need...) was PL's policy on adding extra rooms to the existing "won" PL room.

Your Offer Price: $178.00 (per ticket) Applicable Taxes: $27.30 (per ticket) Ticket Cost: $205.30 (per ticket) Processing Fee: $6.95 (per ticket) Subtotal: $212.25 (per ticket) Number of Tickets: 2 Total Charges: $424.50 Total You Saved: $168.08 Compared to the lowest published fare available (at the time of booking) for the itinerary and airline shown above. Used $10 in "Bonus" Money per ticket which supposedly had them find, or look for tickets based at $188? This, after numerous rebids and counter offers (I think PL even let me go back and forth a couple of times on Jet aircraft, then back to non-jet, then back to just Jet aircraft again.... all the while throwing me back counter offers..... Actually hovered my bids around $150 - $162 (total =$392.50 for 2 tickets) with their counter offers at $220- $235 ish.....(plus fees tax etc.) right where Hotwire beat them by $20 or so..