DDSeeker

Failed at $53 yesterday. Began bid with BB.com's PRICELINE link.

Pool, Laundry, Internet New one for the boards, thereuare!

Began bid at BB.com's PRICELINE link. I know many people have given poor reviews to the Tremont, but I'm not sure I'm as picky as most. I knew going in that the Tremont was the most like win for me. Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $75.00 Subtotal: $225.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $43.50 Total Charges*: $268.50

Accessed PRICELINE through BB's link. Thereuare, I think this is a new hotel for the hotel list. Failed at $51, so this is the lowest price possible for the Bricktown Hotel for my dates. Saw a $13 counteroffer at $45 and a $14 counteroffer at $51. For reference, I also failed on $50 bid for a 2.5* hotel in the Crossroads zone. Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $52.00 Subtotal: $52.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.83 Total Charges*: $66.83

First of all, Thereuare, I want to say that the new PRICELINE link on BB.com is sooooo convenient. I like to use the permutation strategy. After a failed PL bid, that requires me to close the PL window and start over. With BB.com's PRICELINE link, I know my city and dates are aways right (a common fear I have when using PL). Starting a new bid is just a click away. This stay is just for a bed and shower on I-70 as I drive through Denver. I was actually bidding for a 2* hotel, but got upgraded. Yippee! Failed at $39 for a 2* bid at Stapleton. Failed at $40 bid for 2* at DEN and DT, but saw a $12 counteroffer. Note: It is possible that this hotel may be won with a $40 bid!

I'm hoping for a little clarification on this thread. The title indicates that this is a $69 win for a 3* on Priceline. My understanding of the thread says it is a $71 win for a 3* on Hotwire. Can someone clear this up for me?

Amenity Icons: Fitness, pool, restaurant, business, internet Used BB.com's HOTWIRE link. Tried to undercut this price at Priceline. Bid up to $85 without success, though I did see a $22 counteroffer at $80. At Priceline, I only bid 3* in downtown (with free rebids). Special thanks to BB.com and its users for pointing out this deal. I love this site ... and its willingness to consider both opaque reservation services. You know, you just don't see that everywhere. :)

D'oh! Got a $106 Best Price Guarantee Refund. In my panic, I overbid. Didn't check the Hudson. Not on Sidestep. I still love Priceline and its guarantee!

Panic! Easyclicktravel crapped out on me. I made an "on-request" reservation Thursday. They were supposed to get back to me within 48 hours. 96 hours later, they tell me I don't have the room. Access Priceline through BB.com. Start bidding for 3* in midtown at $350. Increase at $25 increments. Got Hudson at $450. Wanted Midtown East, but Hudson will be fine. Highest rejected bid MTE: $425. Highest rejected bid UM-CPS and MTW: $400. Normally I bid in tighter increments, but I was in panic. The best alternative I found through traditional booking was $605 for the Kitano at 38th St. While I'm sure the Kitano is a first class hotel, my meeting is on 62nd St.

Only bid for 3* in Beverly Hills - West Hollywood. Would have preferred more Beverly Hills than West Hollywood, but at $108 per night, who am I to complain? Saw a $22 counteroffer on a $95 bid on Thursday night. Saw same $22 counteroffer on $100 bid today before adding Lawndale free bid zone and bidding $108. There is a little room to play with in between my highest rejected bid ($100) and my winning bid ($108). I'm sure some Better Bidder will find it! :) As always, accessed Priceline through Savingsbarn.com. After the fact, I noticed PRICELINE links directing on BB.com. Is that new?

I must not be very smart. I didn't see Hotel Angeleno on the Hotwire hotel list for this zone. How much confidence do you have in this ID?

Looking to stay Friday, February 15. 4* Pool, Restaurant, Business, Internet, Tennis -- Hotwire price $109 STRONGLY PREFER one of the Westins (Westin Galleria or Westin Oaks). This doesn't appear to me to match anything in the hotel list or the vacation list. I'm not the smartest person on the planet, though, so I could be making a mistake. Both Westins offer a rate of $221 all-in (taxes included) through their websites. Hotwire would be $131 all-in. I'm looking to book 2-3 rooms, so this potentially could save me $270. But if it is less than a 75% chance of being either one of the Westins, I'd go ahead and book directly. Thanks in advance for all advice! DDSeeker

Stayed at the Radisson Lexington MTE one night, Tuesday November 13, 2007. Accepted on first bid for 3* in MTE of $185. Probably overbid. Now for the hotel itself. This property clearly has smaller "Priceline" rooms. I stayed on the 4th floor. I mention the "Priceline" rooms because this information is very important for people who may want to fit four people into a room. As with many star levels and zones in NYC, this is a risky strategy. It may backfire if you bid 3* in MTE. I was staying alone, so the "Priceline" room was still sufficient for me. My room had a shower/bath combo. Linens and decor were solid 3* quality. I wonder how often the room I stayed in is occupied. Daylight Saving Time gave way to Standard time a week and a half before my arrival, but the alarm clock still displayed DST. (It shows Standard Time now.) I had an iron and ironing board in my room. Now for the negatives. I didn't realize it until I tried to fall asleep, but this room was near a service elevator. I'm not one who usually hears such noise, but I certainly did that night and it seemed the elevator was used quite frequently. I also heard what I thought sounded like washing machines in operation. I just turned the radio on low and the white noise drowned out the irritating noises. The room was on the fourth floor and a sign near the elevator clearly stated that the floor was a non-smoking one. I did, however, smell cigarette smoke in the hallway. (I could not smell any smoke whatsoever in my room.) I visited the fifth floor to get a bucket of ice. The fifth floor had no sign indicating that it is a non-smoking floor. As I walked to the ice machine, I detected the unmistakable odor of marijuana coming from one particular room -- it was obvious which one. It seems to me the Radisson would be more vigilant in rooting out both kinds of behaviors. Aren't Radissons supposed to have Sleep Number beds? My room didn't have one. Don't get me wrong, the bed was plenty comfy, I just expected a Sleep Number bed. If you're staying alone and 4* hotels seem unattainable*, the Radisson is an acceptable place with a great location. * I had bid up to $295 for a 4* in all NYC zones without success.

First bid for a 3*: Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $185.00 Subtotal: $185.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $41.77 Total Charges*: $226.77 First, I bid 4* for all Manhattan zones up to $295, rejected. This was my first bid for a 3*, and I only selected MTE because that's where I really wanted to be. Hotwire's best choice was a 3* that appears to be the Paramount for $309 ($362 all-in). My back-up plan was to book with the Mayfair directly at $270 ($312 all-in). Neither the Paramount nor the Mayfair would be considered MTE, so the Radisson is in a better location from my point of view. Now don't get me wrong. I know I should be happy with the Radisson for $227 for a mid-week stay during a tough week. But I don't know how I did on the game of bidding on Priceline. How much money did I leave on the table? The world may never know. (Nor may the world even care.) Accessed Priceline through SavingsBarn.com.

Thereuare, I have a situation I'd like advice on. Priceline has given me a link to use on my next bid that will give me Bonus Cash. I certainly want to take advantage of this offer. How can I earn my Bonus Cash and still give the board credit?

Accessed Priceline through SavingsBarn.com. Targeted 2.5* in Cordova zone. Bid $50 for 2.5* Cordova only; rejected. Bid $58 for 2.5* Cordova + Downtown; rejected. Priceline accepted my first bid in East zone for $46. I could very well have overbid, but since 2.5* hotels in neighboring zones are going for over $58, I don't feel bad at all. Besides, I needed the hotel for my wife tonight, and time wasn't on my side. Thereuare, this hotel isn't on the hotel list. It appears to have recently been an Amerisuites. Judging from what I see on-line, this is a nice property.

I wanted to add a night with several constraints. I wanted to be close to University Park Preferred to avoid parking charge Of course preferred higher quality level over lower quality level Was willing to go down to 2* to avoid Sheraton City Center due to parking fee Consistent with these constraints, I made several bids. Here are the bids that provide Priceline users with the most information: 2* -- $37 -- Airport Zone -- $10 counteroffer 2* -- $38 -- Airport + Downtown-University Park -- rejected 2* -- $37 -- Downtown-University Park + South -- rejected 2.5* -- $39 -- Downtown-University Park + Airport + West Valley (no 2.5* hotel) -- rejected 2.5* -- $40 -- Downtown-University Park + Airport + West Valley (no 2.5*) + South (no 2.5*) -- Upgraded to 3* Sheraton City Center All in all, not so bad. Who can complain about a Sheraton at $40 / night?

Accessed Priceline through SavingsBarn.com I had hoped for something more University Park than Downtown. Oh well, I knew the risks going in. Was bidding for 3* and 2.5* in D-UP zone only. Saw a $9 counteroffer when bidding $35 for a 2.5*. Even though I bid at $1 increments for 3* and $2 increments at 2.5*, this is the only time I saw the counteroffer. If I accepted the counteroffer, I suppose Priceline could have upgraded me to this hotel. I was rejected at $40 for both 3* and 2.5*. Fee for parking! Ugh! Still, even with parking, I get a Sheraton for the price of a Motel 6. :)

Stayed June 5, 2007; $40 Winning bid. The renovations seem to be nearing completion. The pool was not yet completed during my stay, but I have no need for a pool. The business offices were also being updated, but I don't care about that, either. I was placed in a double-double in the tower without requesting it. That may be the default Priceline assignment for this property. I'm indifferent between a double-double and a king, but I know it makes a difference to some people. Try asking for a king if you want it -- can't hurt. Staff was friendly and helpful. I arrived early -- around 1:00 p.m. Had to wait 30 minutes for a room. Disappointing, but not unexpected. This hotel has seen better days, but has all the services one would expect from a 3* property. Sleep Number beds as expected in a Radisson. My room had a beautiful view of a nearby freeway, but no noise. Used the fitness room; it certainly met expectations. I like to take a run in the evening or morning. Beware, you can find yourself in a nasty neighborhood in a hurry! The hotel had lots of meeting space, but no meetings the first day I was there. Bottom line: Great location near airport and freeways for getting around. Deserves 3* rating, but barely. If you can win this for $40 / night, know that you have won a decent value.

Kind of concerned after reading the review. Maybe I should have checked that first! :) Desired to be close to DAL airport. Bid History: $39 3* Market Center-DAL --> Rejected, $50 counteroffer $40 3* Market Center-DAL + Park Central --> Accepted --> $53.07 including taxes and fees As always, used savingsbarn.com!

Targetted 3* Downtown. I was hoping for the Park Plaza since I have an event across the street at the Four Seasons. Failed at $69, so this was the best price available for the day I was staying. This is a Monday night stay, and I booked it less than one week in advance. I've learned that waiting until close to the arrival date works in NYC, but I don't know if it does in Boston, too. I've been watching the Park Plaza on Hotwire and seen its price move between $99-102 for the past two week. That is evidence that waiting didn't help, I guess. Taxes and fees: $16.56 Total Charge: $86.56 Used PRICELINE link at savingsbarn.com [FWIW, there is a Hotwire Double the Difference Guarantee opportunity in Boston on 12/04/2006. HOTWIRE has the Langham (formerly Le Meridien) for like $334. Octopustravel.com has the Langham for $219, IIRC. It wasn't worth it for me to pick up this DDG opportunity, but I like them when I see them. :) (Note to administrator: The Hotwire hotel list seems to suggest that the Langham and Le Meridien are separate hotels. My understanding is that the Le Meridien property *is* the Langham, now.)]

Highest Rejected Bids $150 MTS DT $155 MTE MTW CPS First saw $25 counteroffer for MTE at $150 One night only (Saturday Night!). Bid through savingsbarn.com

New Hotel! Failed bid at $37 yesterday. Used "Half Off" link at savingsbarn.com.

Wife grew up in nearby Wallington. We'll have a rental car to show the kids all the sites important to Mom's childhood. Consequently, I wanted a hotel with free parking. I targeted only the Meadowlands-Rutherford and Secaucus zones. I bid $60 for a 2.5* in both of those zones individually. Both times, I received a $17 counteroffer. Bid $65 for both zones simultaneously and won Courtyard by Marriott Meadowlands-Lyndhurst. Free parking. Yippee! (Tip for those of you who, like me, want the lowest possible winning bid: There may be wiggle room between $60 and $65.) Used "50% off" link at savingsbarn.com for easy access to Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" product.

Only bid 3* DT Zone. Failed at $69. 2 nights, $174.01 all-in. Used PRICELINE link at www.savingsbarn.com. Priceline has made some changes, and I often find it difficult to get out of the traditionally-priced product to the name-your-own-price product. I find using the link at savingsbarn.com makes it a breeze to get to the name-your-own-price product.