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Romelle, GREAT insights - thanks! That is exactly what I needed. I have a much better sense of the areas and feel I can bid with more confidence. I just realized that my dates overlap with the All-Star game so that might explain why prices are high. I will be there 7/10-14. I will probably bid sooner rather than latter because I doubt that last minute prices will be a bargin around All-Star time. Thanks so much for this helpful overview. I WILL use the Better Bidding PRICELINE link. This forum is always a positive experience for me.

I prefer 3* or higher, and would do $90 If I had to but I would go 2 1/2* for a lower price if I *knew* the area was ok. In my regular hotel towns I know the area so I am safe playing with 2-3*; I know the areas so I bid with more confidence. If you or someone have tips on neighborhoods to avoid or neighborhoods that easy going, I would really appreciate the advice. This is for a trip in midJuly so I am just starting to gather my facts. Thanks again!

I will be in Kansas City, MO next month, on my own dime. I don't mind staying downtown, by the airport, some other neighborhood, but I have never stayed in the town. Any tips on areas to avoid? Areas that are fine? I will be there 4 weeknights, have a car, and plan to do museums, historic sites, and BBQ. I am willing to drive so proximity to these things is not ctritical. Of course I will use this Better Bidding site when I finally do make my reservations. Thanks in advance.

Most of the time it is great, at other times not so much. I have spent a month working on this bid, playing low, watching ads, gathering info, etc. I know that it is a smallish city so the deals are going to be few but I have stayed on Michigan Ave for half this amount so now paying $95 to stay in Peoria is less than satisfying. But it is still a lot cheaper than the conference hotel/rate, and I know I tried all the tricks before increasing the price high enough to get a nibble. Have been working this bid for about three weeks. 3-star hotel, started around $40, increasing at $5 until I hit all 5 bidding zones in Peoria Did that everyday until I hit about $70, still no hit. I kept working that way for about 2-3 weeks, staying low, hoping something would finally open up. Finally I gave up hoping to find a three-star on the low end. I kept the same strategy but raised bid to $80, 85, 90, then finally 95. Got the Staybringe for 16% off their regular price. So final play today: 3star, East Peario 80 3star, add one re-bid zone 85 3star, add second rebid zone 90 3star, add third rebid zone 95 Got the Staybridge and glad it is over. I used the link on this site. Thank you Better Bidding - at least I feel like I fought the good fight

I started at $65, increased the bid and added a few other bidding zones then finally got a hit. Used this PRICELINE link, of course. Thanks again!

Using Better Bidding PRICELINE link: 1st bid 3 1/2* Minneapolis-St. Paul (Bloomington West-Mall of America) $41, failed was offered $49 instead added Fridley, bid $43 - success with Doubletree South Thanks to all the other bidders posting their Doubletree MOA wins, I knew this would happen and am 100% satisfied. I know the reviews on rooms are mixed but this is the perfect location and price for my stay at this time. Thanks!

FYI regarding 4* Chicago (Loop) for those dates: Priceline is showing a special deal listed in the Last Minute Pricebreaker Deals section. This offer is only available for one more day. It offers a 4* hotel in the Chicago loop area for $67 with a stay required between Sept 26-Oct 10. I was tempted by this because I was looking for a hotel that fit the area/dates but I was too timid to pull the trigger. I am used to blind bidding in PL but have never tried one of the special deals. It may work for others, though.

My second attempt to secure a reservation for these dates (see my failed bid posted yesterday). 1st bid 4* $95 NMich 2nd bid, 4* 95 added Millenium-Loop 3rd bid, 4* 100 added Franklin Park Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel One West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601 312-372-7200 Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $100.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Guests Per Room: 2 Number of Nights: 2 Room Subtotal: $200.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $39.66 (USD) Total Room Cost: $239.66 (USD) I am very happy with this deal because prices are running so high in Chicago right now. The hotel site says no rooms for that day but I called to confirm and all is well. Linked to PRICELINE through Better Bidding. Thanks - this was a tough one for me!

I am looking for 4* or 3 1/2* in either NMA or Millenium Loop. I have noticed that the rates have been trending high and that seems true for my dates as well. I will keep trying. I used the Better Bidding PRICELINE link and will post any future activity. 1st bid 4* 70 NMA 2nd bid, 4* 75 added Millenium-Loop 3rd bid, 80 added 3 1/2* 4th bid, 85 added Franklin Park 5th bid; 90 added Midway North 6th bid; 95 added Hyde Park

I need to change hotels for the last night of a 5 night stay. NMA would be great but also like some of the hotels in Loop area (some walking distance to Amtrak). I might have gotten the Hyatt at a lower rate but bid *backwards* this time. I am happy though. The Hyatt is reliable and always treats us well. Used the link in this forum as usual. Thanks again for all the good info and for the support. First bid 4*, NMA $80 rejected Second bid, 4* NMA AND added MPark-Loop-Grant Park, $85 accepted Hyatt Regency Chicago Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area 151 East Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60601 312-565-1234 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $85.00 Subtotal: $85.00 Taxes & Fees: $20.76 Total Charges*: $105.76

I got this hotel with my first and only bid of $65. Total for the purchase: 130.00 (2 nights x 65) 28.18 taxes and fees 158.18 total I don't know anything about the hotel but it is only 4 blocks from where I need to be and much less than conference hotel rate. I used the PRICELINE link on this site. Thanks again for your help!

I have always wanted to stay here so I am very happy with this win. $75 was my first and only bid, limited to only the Downtown-Pike Place area. I appreciate being able to check out the various features on this forum (the calendar, the latest wins, etc); I am a much more confident bidder. I used the PRICELINE link. Thanks and see you next time!

I was at the Knickerbocker in January and everything was fine. Everything seemed clean, quiet, and back to normal. I hope you have a great time!

The room has the basic Embassy Suites layout - separate sitting area, bathroom, bedroom. The sitting area has stuffed chair and pull-out couch, tv, table, sink, microwave, coffee maker, and small fridge. Bedroom also has tv. You can close the door between the two rooms for total privacy. Bathroom is stocked with Bloom Energy bath products. Everything was clean, well-maintained. In-room internet access is $10/day, and not especially reliable. I had one day of service during my three-day stay, and the connection was dropped several times. I complained and was not charged for the service but it made my work time very frustrating. There is free internet service in the lobby but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a great work area in the room. There is free cook-to-order breakfast, cereals, fruit, beverages, and breads every morning, and a manager's reception in the evening. Drinks are free - mixed drinks, not just beer and wine. There is a pool and restaurant on-site. The food was average, not exciting. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There is van service to and from airport or train station. They will also shuttle you to almost anywhere you want to go in the area. This year they drove me the short mile to the Joslyn Art Museum, a few years ago they took a group of us to a hockey game in Council Bluffs. Whether you have a car or not, the van service is the way to go. Parking at the hotel is not convenient. Valet parking is $14/day, self-park is $8/day and is a block away. One of the best things about this hotel is the location. It is across the street from Old Market - old brick streets and sidewalks, trendy restaurants, an art gallery, eclectic stores, etc. The best stop: used bookstore one block off the Old Market. It is also walking distance from the Qwest Center and Convention Center. Trip advisor gives it 4 out of 5 rating. Priceline rates it 3 stars. It is a very good value for 3 stars. The parking and additional internet cost are cons, but the breakfast, manager's reception, van service, friendly staff, great location, spacious rooms and open, airy common areas are solid pros. Good for families with children and for business travelers. It is big enough for everyone to share the common space.

I agree with minnmedia - the Sheridan Midtown is probably the only 3*. If you *need* to be in that area for some reason, it might be ok, but if you don't need to be there I would stay in a different part of town. If you need to be by Abbott Northwestern you would be about 3 blocks away.

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Chicago Loop for two nights in Feb. (2/11-2/12). I didn't know about this site at that time so I didn't book through here, but I did report my PRICELINE bid - $70/night. I got in rather late (about 11:00 PM). I asked for a quiet room with nice view, if possible. Most times people are very accommodating, sometimes not. On this occasion the desk clerk asked if I wanted to upgrade for $20 more per night. I declined, then he upgraded me for no cost. I had a room on the 36th floor - club floor - for no extra money. Believe me, I checked and double checked the room rate to make sure I wasn't charged after declining the offer. It was just a free upgrade. I have stayed at that hotel before and not been asked about nor offered an upgrade so I don't know why it happened on that occasion. Perhaps it was because I was there on a weekday rather than weekend. We saved a little money because we didn't have to buy breakfast - there is contintental breakfast in the club lounge - but overall I don't think it would have been worth paying for the upgrade. I liked the room and the view but am not sure it would have been worth paying $20 extra per night.

Amtrak into Union Station is always fun. Your hotel is a short cab ride from the station. The hotel is on Grand between Michigan and State. There are a number of chain restaurants within a few blocks. They are pretty family-friendly. P.F. Changs, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory, and ESPN Zone are a block or two from the hotel. There is an Uno's Pizza also. There is shopping everywhere in the area. Nordstroms, Crate and Barrel, Filene's, American Girls, - you name it, you can find it. Have fun!

Perhaps this belongs in a different thread, since we are now talking about restaurants in the area (?) but here are a few quick recommendations: There are a few Thai/Pan Asian restaurants on Ohio Street, as you walk away from the lake, toward Michigan Ave. In particular, the Dao Thai is about a block away, and the Big Bowl is about four blocks west. Both have plenty of rice dishes - a great thing for people with wheat allergies.

Are you actually getting the bids accepted at this rate or are you just seeing the page that lists total summary charges? Priceline shows you the total that you are agreeing to pay if your bid is accepted. That is not the same as having your $1 bid accepted. You have to enter all of your credit card info and hit submit before you find out if your bid was accepted. If it was, your credit card is charged and you have bought yourself a trip. Seeing the summary charges for your $1 bid is not the same as actually buying the trip for $1. You're right - that would be a great deal!

How long ago did you secure the bid? I did not know that Red Lion was showing up as 4 stars. Thanks for the info!

Was this Priceline or Hotwire? I was just pricing them today! Oh - I see now that it was Priceline. What price did you start at? Was it the downtown zone?

This makes perfect sense. Thanks for your help. I look forward to booking through this site - it is a great service!

I am new to Hotwire. I have been playing around with different searches to help me get used to the format/options, etc. For each search, regardless of city or date, I never get more than 4 hotels in a particular zone. For example, my Seattle search: I only get 4 hotels in Dowtown - Pike Place, 4 in Downtown Center Space Needle, etc. I change dates, number of people in a room, etc. but it doesn't change the total number of hotels in a given area. Same with searches in other cities - I never get more than 4 hotels in any one zone. Is there a limit to the number of listings shown? Does Hotwire only show a maximum of 4 in any one area? Thanks in advance.

I have never gotten this error on Hotwire but did receive a similar message from a different online travel site. I had just used the card to make a separate online purchase; the credit card company froze my card for security reasons. It took a few days to reactivate the card. I don't know if this helps you in your situation but whenever I have any trouble with online purchases I start with my credit card company.

At what point to you receive the error message? Is it before or after you enter your name and credit card information?