davdaven

80% recommended Amenities: Free Parking, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s) I monitored Hotwire for the past week and made several unsuccessful Priceline bids (on and off the Strip) before choosing to book this property. The room rate of $49/night for 3 nights had been $50/night prior to this morning. FYI, the resort fee is $10/night. I used the HOTWIRE link. Thanks!

I was hoping to win a hotel in Coral Gables, but Coconut Grove is good too. I stayed at the Mayfair 2 years ago and didn't like it, so I steered clear of the 4* category this time. Bidding summary: Tried bids in this zone and Dadeland for 2.5* and 3* hotels for $60, $65, and $70 yesterday and failed. Bid $75 today and was given a counter-offer for $91. The Express Deal for what appeared to be the same hotel was $87. I added Dadeland, increased my bid to $79, and won the Residence Inn By Marriott Coconut Grove. Total is $97.47 with taxes and fees. The Marriott website lists a studio room for $149 advance purchase, $169 regular price, and $135 AAA. Wi-Fi and breakfast are free, but parking costs $15/night. The nearby municipal garage is much less expensive.

I won the Fairmont hotel for $60 per night for 2 nights. $145.06 total. Bidding was done on Wednesday the 22nd. My goal was to get any 3.5* or 4* hotel in the San Jose, Milpitas, or Santa Clara zones. Bidding order was 4* $50, 4* $55, 3.5* $45, 3.5* $50, 3.5* $55, and 3.5* $60. I was upgraded to a 4* when I won with the $60 bid. FYI, the Santa Clara and Sunnyvale zones are now separate, which helps with rebidding.

Bid $54 for a 2.5-star hotel in Yucca Valley (near Joshua Tree National Park) and won the Best Western Yucca Valley Hotel & Suites on my first try. Total is $124.98 for 2 nights with taxes and fees. This is a "guaranteed amenities" listing with a pool, fitness center, free parking, free breakfast, business center, and 8.0+ guest review score. The lowest advertised price on the Best Western site is $72.24/night, and Hotwire appears to list this hotel for $71. This is a new win and should be added to the list. I used the PRICELINE link. Thanks!

Bid for a 3.5-star hotel in Mission Valley and won the Hilton for $59/night for 3 nights this December. Total with taxes and fees is $208.98. Started at $50 and added free re-bid zones in $1 increments until reaching $59. The Hilton website has rooms listed for $81 advance purchase, $94 AAA, and $109 regular.

My stay is upcoming. The $55.99 rate on the BW website is if I book a prepaid room at least 2 weeks in advance. I ended up paying $4 more using Hotwire, but at least I've gotten some other great deals on my upcoming trip to Texas!

Amenities: Resort Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Golf Nearby Tennis Nearby Spa Services Total is $201.88 with taxes and fees. There is a $20 resort fee. The Westin website lists rooms for $259 regular or $209.25 AAA. Used the HOTWIRE link.

Bid for and won a 2-night stay at the Marriott San Antonio Plaza. Started with $70 and added free re-bid zones at $75, $80, and $85. Total with taxes and fees is $207.66. Parking and wi-fi are not included in the price. The Marriott website has the property listed as $119 prepay, $132 AAA, and $139 regular. Used the PRICELINE link. Thanks again!

3* Port Aransas area hotel $54, $67.22 with taxes/fees Amenities: complimentary breakfast, pool The BW website has rooms available for $70 regular, $63 AAA, and $56 prepay on the night of my stay. With taxes and fees, it would have been cheaper to book using the Best Western website. I am very disappointed in Hotwire and the fact that its low price guarantee does not apply in this situation. I recommend using Hotwire with caution for this hotel class in Port Aransas. This hotel is a "new" win and should be added to the Hotwire list. Used the HOTWIRE link. Thanks!

Bid for and won a 3-night stay at the Wyndham Austin and Woodward Conference Center for $52/night. Hotwire had a 3.5* hotel in the same zone for $59. I was expecting the Omni Southpark, honestly, but the Wyndham should be okay. Total stay is $188.46. Started bidding at $45, received counteroffer for $60, and then added free re-bid zones at $49, $50, and $52 before winning. Have attempted to win a 3.5* or 4* hotel downtown several times over the past week, bidding as high as $112/night, and had no success. (Hotwire rates have been $117 for 3.5* and $144 for 4* hotels downtown.) Decided to expand my geographic search today and saved a lot of money as a result. The Wyndham website has rooms available for $118 (AAA), $125.10 (prepay), and $139 (regular). Used the PRICELINE link, as always.

Won one night at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa for $109. Started bidding at $89 and used free re-bid zones, adding about $3 per bid, until reaching $109. Total with taxes and fees is $135.55. There is an additional $22 resort fee. The property is listed on Hotwire for $113. The Hyatt website lists the stay for $189 (regular) or $170.10 (AAA). Used the PRICELINE link. Thanks!

Better late than never... Wanted to follow up and say that it was possible to use free on-street parking for the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. Spots were always available within a block of the hotel at all times during my stay. Also, this is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed at--beautiful property with great amenities and without the snobby atmosphere of some high-end hotels I've stayed at elsewhere. It was worth every single penny of the $85 I paid! I'm sure I'll be back!

I bid a couple dozen times over the course of one evening. I focused on 3*, 3.5*, and 4* properties in the San Diego Coastal, La Mesa, and Downtown/Harbor Island zones. I increased bids in $5 increments using a variety of re-bid zone combinations. I was offered a guaranteed room twice if I increased my bid by $20, first for $95 (after a $75 bid) and later for $100 (after an $80 bid). My $85 bid for a 3.5* hotel was accepted, and I was upgraded to the 4* Hyatt Regency La Jolla. The Hyatt website offers a $99 nightly rate for my stay, so unfortunately Priceline is not much of a bargain this time. The Priceline total is $395.44 for 4 nights compared to $446.10 booked directly with Hyatt. The hotel charges $20/day for parking, which is highway robbery in such a suburban setting. It also charges for wireless. However, the business center (with Internet access) is free. Go figure. I used the PRICELINE link. Thanks!

Bid $50 for a 3* hotel in Palmdale only for one night, Friday, June 3. Won on first attempt. Total is $62.80 with taxes and fees. The Courtyard has lackluster reviews on TripAdvisor, so I'll hope for the best. In typical Marriott fashion, the hotel's website is coy about wi-fi fees. However, it does admit to free parking and non-free breakfast. Hotel website lists rates at $105 pre-pay, $108 AAA, and $120 otherwise for the night of my stay. I used the PRICELINE link. Thanks! P.S. This property is not currently included on the Priceline hotel list.

Parking in the hotel garage is $24 per night. I parked in the Miami Parking Authority garage a block away and paid $5 per night. There is metered street parking too, but it isn't any cheaper than the garage.

This most likely is the Chesterfield Hotel. I just booked a room at a property that fits this description, except Internet access was not listed as an amenity. However, the hotel website does include Internet access as an amenity.

Waited until today to book my last night in the area. Chesterfield Hotel has mixed reviews on TripAdvisor, but most of them are from first-time reviewers, which I don't take seriously. Let's hope the rooms are clean! There is a resort fee of $15. The hotel website has rooms listed for as little as $39. Amenities: Boutique, beach, shuttle, restaurant, golf, tennis. Used the HOTWIRE link, of course. Thanks! P.S. I believe this is a new addition to your hotel list.

Finally won this hotel stay after intense bidding over two days. Started on day one with $60 bid in Downtown zone for 4* property, used all free rebid zones, plus Coconut Grove and all three South Beach zones, plus various combinations of zones for 3.5* properties, increasing in $5 increments and topping out at $80. After 24-hour break, started with $70 bid in Downtown zone for 4* property, used all free rebid zones, plus Coconut Grove and two of three South Beach zones, plus various combinations of zones for 3.5* properties, increasing in $5 increments to $95 and then finishing off at $99. The Mayfair Hotel and Spa website had availability Friday night for specific suites only at $999. There was Saturday availability for a regular "deluxe suite" at $289. Sounds like I got quite a deal! No word on how much parking costs. Used the PRICELINE link. Thanks! Note: Property is called Mayfair Hotel and Spa, not Mayfair House. Edit: Misspelled "Grove" in title but I'm unable to fix it. Sorry!

Successful on first try! Bid $60 for 4* hotel in Downtown zone only, for one night only, Thursday night 11/11/10. Total is $74.57 with tax. Marriott website lists my stay for $149, or $129 pre-pay, plus tax. The daily parking charge is $20 ($25 valet). Used the PRICELINE link. Thanks!

Bid for a 4* hotel in this location only. Started at $70, rejected. Raised to $75 and added U. of W., rejected. Raised to $79 and added the airport, accepted. Total is $98.27 with taxes and fees. Westin's website advertises $289 ($334.08 with tax) prepaid, or $299 ($345.64 with tax) regular. Used the PRICELINE link. Thanks!

Amenities: Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access. Actual total cost for two days is $226.25, which is approx. $113.13 per night. Advertised UK hotel rates include all fees, so this is a more accurate figure for comparison purposes. The exchange rate favors the dollar at the moment, so that's less than

A minor correction requested under the Hotwire / California / San Diego (Sea World-Mission Bay-Shelter Island) listing. 3* Holiday Inn Express (DeSoto Blvd) (previously 2.5*) The hotel is located on De Soto Street, not DeSoto Blvd. Although the potential for confusion is slight, this is probably the least desirable hotel location within the zone and it may be easier for tourists to easily catch it on a map. Thanks for splitting hairs with me!

Bid $65 for a 4* hotel in the "Strip North" zone (did not select other zones) and won Treasure Island (TI) on my first try. Will be staying two nights over MLK Day weekend. Total with taxes and fees is $155.00 for two days, excluding the resort fee. Treasure Island is listed on Hotwire for $79/night and the TI website averages $125.30/night, also excluding the resort fee. Used the PRICELINE link. Happy New Year!

Bid $45 for a 3* hotel in Santa Clarita (Valencia) today (for a stay tonight!) and won the Courtyard by Marriott on my first try. Did not select other zones or star levels. Used the PRICELINE link as always. Thanks!

My October stay went well although the hotel is getting quite dated. However, parking is now $12, not $10. Starting to get a bit high for the area! Definitely factor the $12 parking fee into any Hotwire, Priceline, or other special that may result in a Knott's reservation.