jedikiah

Free breakfast, free coffee, free WiFi, and free parking are rarely found at 4* hotels; much more likely at 2-3*. I can understand why the Emily Morgan in general might appeal to some and not others (pool and fitness facilities for example are poor) and Priceline is always luck of the draw. Have been there myself on Priceline and although it wouldn't have been my first choice it was OK enough for me. Then again I was given a room upgrade free from the 'Business Queen' to 'King Room', and didn't have any cleanliness or smells issues.

$90 was my second bid - $85 had been rejected. Two weeks ago had bid up to $100 without being accepted.

Priceline UK information: Your Offer Price:

It is rare in the UK for people to have insurance for car rental liabilities although can be purchased as given above. It is far more common in the USA for this to be bundled in either with regular car insurance, or a credit card benefit. These 'package' rates developed I would imagine because the rental companies had to chase individuals to pay bills etc (after trying to charge maxed out credit cards) and this would be difficult with overseas tourists, even if they had the money available. Selling the package is in some ways an advantage and convenience to casual UK renters, but now it is difficult to get from websites unpackaged rates with a UK address. Platinum and Centurion Amex charge cards issued in the UK incidentally do include car hire insurance.

Le Meridien San Francisco 333 Battery Street San Francisco, California 94111 Your Offer Price:

HM Customs and Revenue assumes that cab drivers get an average of 10% over their fares in tips, at least in London. Most restaurants, especially the cheaper ones, do not include a service charge but many do. Don't tip directly with money in a bar/pub. The traditional way if you want to do so is to finish ordering a round with 'and one for yourself', and he/she will take the cost of a drink (but not necessarily the drink itself). However, this is done more by regulars so don't feel that there is any obligation to do this, and certainly not each for each drink you order!

The Priceline UK retail side sells guest houses as well as hotels. The classification scheme for guest houses in most of the UK was diamonds until January 2006. .Now everything is stars, although of course a 4* hotel is not the same as a 4* guest house. The same scheme is now used by the AA, RAC, VisitBritain, VisitScotland and Wales Tourist Board but until all properties have been assessed the old diamond ratings linger on. However, it seems that already a 4* guest house has 'leaked' into the name-your-own-price side as a 4* hotel, from a post elsewhere.

Having been there last month I can tell you that the main restaurant was closed then for rennovations. I believe they are working their way around the rooms as well but I definitely got one of the 'old' ones.

The Romper mentioned above seems to be some miles away in Stockport - this is the one I think must be near by as the airport is specifically mentioned: http://www.pub-explorer.com/lancs/pub/romperringway.htm Children still welcome though ...

Whoops. Shouldn't post too late at night ... dates should be 6/30-7/2

Won at

First bid was a win at

Realise this might well not suit you in particular, but there is a variety of short stay and holiday accommodation at the University of York - ranging from a single rooms to 10 bedroom houses. Some available throughout the year; others out of term time.

Stayed at this hotel for 6 nights n late November 2005 (Hotwire - USD 87 per night). Really there wasn't anything I can think of to fault this hotel. Staff were pleasant and the service was outstanding with attention to detail despite the hotel being nearly full the whole time (Grey Cup week). As an example turndown service was standard in the evening but if you had the privacy sign on the door they pushed a note under to say they had come but because of that they left you alone. Was given a corner room on the 12th floor which I guess has the best view available from the hotel over Robson Street and beyond, but it was misty almost all the time I was there. Didn't use the restaurant - there are many alternatives around. Interesting that there were queues out of the door at the Denny's across the street though for breakfast. (Also there is a supermarket just one block to the right of the hotel.) Unlike many hotels these days there isn't an attempt to make as much as possible on room amenities - free coffee / tea supplies each day for example. Other chargeable things in the room were I'd consider at the low end of average for a 4/5* hotel.

Remembrance Day itself is the second Sunday in November, ie 13 November - look out for people wearing poppies. 14 November is not a holiday but a normal working day.

It is on quite a useful bus route (number 3) though. See the local spider bus map for details. There is an ATM within 300 metres of this hotel - but it is in St Thomas Hospital!

At 46 UK Travelodge hotels there are some rooms available between Sunday 4th September and Saturday 17th December 2005 at only

Grey Cup week(end) in Vancouver, so many hotels have raised their regular rates in anticipation or are already sold out, including some Priceline 'regulars'. Bid up to $85 on Priceline without success then saw this on hotwire - cheaper than anything else above 2* there. Amenities listed are Restaurant(s), Pool(s), Fitness Center, Business Center, Golf Course Nearby, Spa Services. Sutton Place's own website lists a pre-pay non-refundable price of approximately USD 140 for this period.

Just a few points to add from my recent stay (23-29 Apr 2005). Room was exactly as described above regarding fittings - but some items are now starting to turn just a little shabby through wear & tear in places (eg the bed covering had three small holes that looked like they were probably cigarette burns). This room was on the second floor, with the Midtown view. Reservation was described as pre-paid at check-in, not Priceline explicitly. Only ate breakfast in the restaurant - yes the buffet is a bit overpriced at $16.50, but there is enough there to stoke up for most of the day. This price looks a bit lower than some other reviews I've seen, but this may either be a genuine reduction or the others were considering the total price. Staff very attentive in the restaurant and elsewhere. Wired internet is still $9.95. I could also pick up the wireless network from the lobby one floor up. Daily rate is the same, but there is an alternative plan of $3.50 for 15 minutes and 10c per minute after that. Might suit people just doing a quick e-mail check etc. Wireless reception varied from good to weak so probably wouldn't be available in a floor further away from the lobby. All in all a steal for $51 a night - a price that may now be in the past, but may yet come back.

Having just come back from a week there (one of the last on a ~$50 per night Priceline bid) I'd say on circumstantial evidence that occupancy rates are moderately high but by no means full. Lots of conference business and group travel, for example there was a youth orchestra in one night and a WNBA function another..

priceline.co.uk bid of

I agree with the comments given above - room sounds just the same. I sayed at his hotel for 4 nights in mid August 2004, price was also $60 (equivalent). I had booked through Priceline UK, which does not have the 'extra night' feature, so I had 2 separate bookings for this period. At the first check-in I was told that I would need to check in again the next day - but when I did go to the desk the second time everything had already been done and my new key was waiting for me to pick it up.

You should have one more free rebid location (Pointe Claire) but please check this is still the case .... I had similar problems with dates the week before yours, and in the end settled for the Sheraton through Hotwire which was $86 per night.

Bidding detail below is in GBP since I use Priceline UK. Bid 4* Toronto Downtown

To illustrate the 'randomness' of the counter offers, here's what happened in a series of recent Priceline UK bids I made on 4* hotels in Montreal, using free re-bids: