Canes98

I won this hotel on my first bid. I started bidding relatively high due to the fact that I was bidding a day before the stay (upon a last minute plea for help from a family member) and also because the conventional rates were sky high. The conventional rate through the Sheraton's website for this one night stay was $269. I haven't bid in Chicago in about 3 or 4 years, and I was amazed at how they basically elimimnated a lot of the zones that used to allow for plenty of rebids. Had Chicago's zones been as numerous as say San Diego or Orlando's, I certainly would've started bidding much lower, but due to only one freebie zone at the 4* level, the high conventional rates, and no chance to wait 24 hours, I felt that I had to start at $110. The person for whom I bid was ecstatic with the result, both the hotel won and the price. Total prices with taxes and fees was between $134 and $135. I used the savingsbarn link to start my bid.

Yes, my winning bid was for the Sheraton Suites at Symphony Hall.

Thanks for the feedback. I wound up getting a hotel downtown through Priceline. A buddy and I needed a hotel for 2 nights in San Diego. We decided to extend our annual Las Vegas trip by a few days and go to San Diego to see our beloved Chicago Bears....defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears...take on the mighty Chargers on opening day in San Diego. I was only looking in the Downtown-Harbor Island zone and was unsuccessful bidding 4* up to $96. I started bdding 3* at $55, and increased in $5 increments until winning the Sheraton Suites downtown for $80 per night. There was a 3.5* hotel that matched the amenities for the Sheraton Suites going for about $94 on Hotwire that I was inclined to purchase if I couldn't beat that price using 4* or 3* bidding on priceline. I wound up winning the same hotel that was likely being offered on Hotwire for $14 cheaper a night. Also, a day after I won this hotel (I bid earlier this week) the same 3.5* on Hotwire went up to about $130 a night, so perhaps I won the last room the Sheraton Suites was offering at such a deeply discounted rate through the opaque sites. The lowest available rate for my dates for the Sheraton Suites through its website is $179 per night. I used the savingsbarn link for my bidding.

Bump. This hotel is still showing up. Anyone have any ideas?

I found a 3* San Diego Coastal hotel for $104/nt, with a check-in on 09/07/07 and check-out on 09/09/07. Amenities are: Complimentary Breakfast Pool(s) Laundry Facilities High Speed Internet Access. I didn't come across this hotel on the lists and I did some vacation package searches that also did not come up with any matches. Anyone have any idea what hotel this could be?

This hotel used to be a Wyndham, and it also used to be a 4* hotel on Priceline. It appears it has been downgraded. I was only willing to accept the Coral Gables-Coconut Grove zone, and 4* bidding was unsuccessful up to $70. So I started bidding 3* and was willing to go up to $65. I won this hotel at $60. The last bid rejected was for $55. Total price for one night with taxes and fees was $75.54. I used the savingsbarn link for all of my bids.

Going up to Gainesville this Thursday night for the Tom Petty "homecoming" concert. I started bidding relatively late, but still got a good deal winning the Paramount Plaza for $44. Second time I've won this hotel in 6 months, though this time I was initially trying for a 2*. Here's the bid history: Bid $30 for a 2* denied 24 hours later: Bid $32 for a 2* denied 24 hours later: Bid $35 for a 2* counteroffer of $44 24 hours later: Bid $40 for a 2* counteroffer of $52 By this time I was feeling confident, based on bidding this area a few times in the past, that there was no 2* available and they were going to upgrade me to a 3*. Time was running out, so 24 hours later (i.e., TODAY): Bid $42 for a 3* counteroffer of $48 Immediately bid $44 for a 2*, and I won, with the upgrade to the 3* Paramount. I was tempted to make my last bid $43, as the first counteroffer I turned down was for $44, so I wanted to beat that price, but with time running out, and the Tom Petty concert going on the night of my stay, and hotels being full over the weekend for the Gator game, I was worried about inventory concerns, so I splurged the extra buck, and made the $44 bid. I used Savingsbarn.com for all of my bids.

Well I got banned. On a thread that's been running for the past month or so on that site about updates needed (because the admins over there have been absent) I suggested a specific update: removing the bidding assistance form because no one gets assistance anymore. My post lasted a good week at least (and may still be up there). A few days ago on the Flyertalk.com messageboard (Travel bidding forum) someone referenced my TOBB post and said it was very amusing. Yesterday, I replied on the flyertalk messageboard that I was the one who had made the original TOBB post. Today I was banned from TOBB. I guess I was a smart@ss, and others have been banned for much less, but I don't think I should have been banned. No biggie though, I've posted winning bids exclusively here since early 2005 and have used Savingsbarn for my bids for over a year also.

Does your flight from ORD to ORF make a stop in ORE? Your price sounds like a good one. It's tough to get good air fares on Priceline these days.

Won this hotel on a same day bid. First bid of $51 was accepted. Very nice hotel. I used the savingsbarn link.

The Radisson on Marco Island is closing. I'm almost positive it has participated with both Priceline and Hotwire. Here's an article on the topic. Marco Radisson closing

Bid for one night. Started at $50 and was rejected at $5 intervals. $70 was going to be my last bid at the 4* level before trying 3* from $45 up. I used the savingsbarn link for my bids.

While these specific dates are gone, do check out this airline's website as they have great budget fares from Orlando to Glasgow.

I wanted to pass this deal I found today along to any Floridians or anyone else who might be able to take advantage of the following deal during the first weekend of June. For $198 all in! you can head to Scotland for a long weekend. Depart Sat 6/3 from Orlando Sanford Airport, return on 6/5, 6/6 or 6/7. http://www.flyglobespan.com

This is the first reported priceline win in Gent, Belgium. I won the 4* Holiday Inn Expo for $75 a night. I had been bidding in Brussels with no luck. Up to $110 for a 5* and 100 for a 4*. A good deal of hotels in Brussels I researched conventionally were sold out for my dates. I was contemplating reserving the Citadines in Brussels for 100 euro per night. I decided to try Gent, which is half way between Brussels and Brugge. While there are no reported wins for this City, based on my research, I only found 3 hotels that are likely 4* properties. The Sofitel, located in the heart of the historic district, and two Holiday Inns, each on the very edge of the Gent zone. I was of course hoping for the Sofitel, but willing to settle for any 4*. Previous bids of $50 and $65 had been rejected. Finally, at $75 I won the Holiday Inn Expo. The hotel is a bit of an enigma. Only one review on Tripadvisor (positive review but very short). Perhaps it is a newer hotel. On the front page of the hotel's website, they note that it is located 100 meters from a Tram stop that heads to the center of town. So it looks like it has a great public transport connection even though it is over 3m/5km outside of the City center. The lowest conventional rate for this hotel for my dates is 88 euros ($113 at the time of my winning bid). I used the savingsbarn link for my bid.

Started bidding at $60 and was generally receiving counteroffers of $85. A bid of $76 was rejected with a counteroffer of $98. A bid of $77 won the Holiday Inn Kensington. This is for one night. Our last night in Europe. Hotel is apparently 2 minutes away from the Picadilly Tube line, which will take us straight to Heathrow the following morning. I used the savingsbarn link. Now I just have to get a hotel in Brussels. I decided on B&Bs for Amsterdam and Paris, and have won 2 separate hotels through Priceline for separate sets of dates in London at the beginning/end of the trip.

Slowly increased failed bids on this one. Was seeking this zone, or Mayfair or Bloomsbury-Marble Arch. Lower bids were consistently getting counteroffers of $98 in this zone and counteroffers of $110 in the Bloomsbury-Marble Arch zone. The last failed bid I had that included this zone was $87. I also had a failed bid of $90 for Bloomsbury-Marble Arch and Mayfair. Just an expensive time to travel I guess. The lowest (converted) rate for the Copthorne Tara was $184, so I saved 50% off that. This hotel has mixed reviews, but it appears to be a very short walk from a Tube station, which is very convenient, since I'll arrive at Heathrow with a couple of suitcases and a wife who is 5 months pregnant. This'll be the first trip to Europe without the ole backpack. Ah, growing up. I used the savinsbarn link for all my bids.

Amsterdam hotel rates have just been out of control. Priceline deals/steals are hard to come by lately. I just booked a bed and breakfast conventionally for 2 nights in June because of the going priceline rates. Personally, I can accept not knowing what hotel I'll get for 90 a night, but not for 150 a night. Anyhow, if anyone is looking in Amsterdam but having problems with Priceline, you can send me a personal message and I"ll share my research on B&Bs with you.

It may just be a coincidence, but simultaneous with Hotwire's interface change, the hotel reported to be the Paris Hilton in the Eiffel Tower zone of Paris jacked their price up about $30 a night for many different sets of dates that they had been offering a rate of around $100 a night.

I got this on the first bid. The $40 winning bid is consistent with previous wins for this star level in this zone. With no re-bid zones I didn't want to have to wait 3 days if an attempt to save a couple bucks by bidding $38 was rejected, so I started at $40. I used the savingsbarn link. While I would've preferred the Hilton (the other reported 3* in this zone) this hotel is much closer to the downtown area, so a taxi back after a fun Thursday and Friday night out will be much cheaper.

Airfare has now been pulled. Lasted about 48 hours from what I can tell. I got the tip from airfarewatchdog.com. Lowest fare now is over $950 per ticket for these cities on these dates.

I just booked 2 round trip tickets for June travel from MIA-LON for $488 each on Virgin Atlantic. This price was inclusive of the high taxes charged on tickets to and from the UK. The fares can only be found thru Travelocity"]Travelocity. I couldn't find it on Virgin's own website. The source I got this tip from indicated even lower fares are available from JFK, EWR, DC, Boston, LA, and San Francisco to London. Such a low fare during peak travel season is unfathomable. From MIA there was pretty good availability in June and July. The base fare for my deal was $270 RT. I didn't check other cities or dates. Use the flexible dates feature on Travelocity"]Travelocity to find what dates are available.

Won this hotel on the first bid of $40. This hotel has not been reported before, so it can now be added to the list. I used the savingsbarn website for my bid.

I won this same hotel in late September (I posted my winning bid on this board). The 5* bidding option for Brussels was added while I was in a 72 hour lockout. After the lockout I won Le Meridien on a 4* bid. So, just a caution to anyone reading this topic and hoping that Le Meridien is the only 5* in Brussels; based on the fact that I won it as a 4* when 5* bidding was already available, it is my belief that there is (or at least was) another 5* possibility in Brussels.

Had previously bid for 4* at 56, 60, 65, and 69 with no luck. Last opportunity to bid before I leave for Europe, so I upped it to $80 and won the Le Meridien for 3 nights. Hotel is in an extemely convenient location and has had rave reviews on Tripadvisor.com. This is also a new hotel to add to the list. Oh, and an update. Brussels now offers 5* bidding. This was not an option the first time I bid a week or two ago, but has since shown up as an option. I did have an unsuccessful bid at $82 for a 5*, but I wasn't expecting to win at that price, I just bid for the heck of it. After my $82 5* bid was rejected, I bid $80 for 4* and won my hotel.