MitchB

Bid history: 3* Vancouver (Airport YVR) Bid $50-Denied-(Priceline counteroffer for additional $12) - Refused Added Vancouver (Downtown)-Bid $53-Denied Added White Rock-Bid $56-Accepted Details: Four Points By Sheraton Hotel Vancouver Airport 8368 Alexandra Road Richmond, BC V6X 4A6 604-214-0888 Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $56.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Guests Per Room: 2 Number of Nights: 2 Room Subtotal: $112.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $25.70 (USD) Total Room Cost: $137.70 (USD) Very happy with this result. As always I used the PRICELINE link for my booking. :D

Bid history: 3.5* Surrey-Pitt Meadows Bid $62-Denied-(Priceline counteroffer for additional $11) - Refused Added Langely-Bid $64-Denied Added City Hall-Bid $66-Accepted Details: Sheraton Guildford Hotel 15269 104Th Avenue Surrey, BC V3R 1N5 604-582-9288 Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $66.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Guests Per Room: 2 Number of Nights: 2 Room Subtotal: $132.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $28.84 (USD) Total Room Cost: $160.84 (USD) Very happy with this result. This is the best site for hotel booking! Thanks guys!! As always I used the PRICELINE link for my booking.

Bid history: Bid for 2.5* Vancouver (Langley): $61 Denied (Priceline counteroffer for additional $15) - Refused Added Vancouver (Surrey-Pitt Meadows): $66-Accepted Details: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Surrey East - Cloverdale 17530 64Th Ave Surrey, BC V3S 1Y9 604-576-8862 Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $66.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Room Subtotal: $66.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $17.78 (USD) Total Room Cost: $83.78 (USD) As always I used the PRICELINE link for my booking.

Bid history: Bid for 2.5*: $45 Denied (Priceline counteroffer for additional $17) - Refused Added Re-Bid Zone: $50-Accepted Details: La Quinta Spokane 3808 North Sullivan Road #34 Spokane, WA 99216 509-893-0955 Check-In: Sunday, January 2, 2011-03:00 PM Check-Out: Tuesday, January 4, 2011-12:00 PM Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $50.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Room Subtotal: $100.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $23.34 (USD) Total Room Cost: $123.34 (USD) As always I used the PRICELINE link for my booking. I do have a question. My bid zone had up to 3*, but I only wanted 2.5*. When I refused the counter-offer and went to add my re-bid zone, Priceline automatically added the 3* in my original bid zone, and I couldn't un-select it. Because I didn't want a 3* hotel, my only option was to close the browser and open a new one. Then I put in my original bid zone (2.5*) and added the re-bid zone (2*). I was then successful. I don't ever remember this happening. I have only used Priceline a few times, but maybe I have always tried for the highest star level in the zone that I want. So my question is what do you do in this situation? Was closing the browser to add the re-bid zone the right thing to do? I tried looking on the forum for an answer and was still confused regarding this scenario. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry, I should have posted this as soon as I got it. Bid history: Coquitlam-Burnaby-Bid: $60 Denied Added Langley-Re-Bid: $65-Denied Added City Hall-Re-Bid: $67-Accepted Details: Hilton Vancouver Metrotown 6083 Mckay Avenue Burnaby, BC V5H 2W7 604-438-1200 Check-In: Friday, June 25, 2010-03:00 PM Check-Out: Sunday, June 27, 2010-12:00 PM Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $67.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Room Subtotal: $134.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $29.40 (USD) Total Room Cost: $163.40 (USD) As always I used the PRICELINE link for my booking.

I got the Delta Burnaby Hotel And Conference Centre-3.5* for $60. Here's my bid history: Bid: $55 (Coquitlam-Burnaby) - Denied (Priceline counteroffer for additional $15) - Refused Re-Bid: $60 (added City Hall) - Accepted Here are the hotel details: Delta Burnaby Hotel And Conference Centre 4331 Dominion Street Burnaby, BC V5G 1C7 604-453-0750 Check-In: Sunday, November 8, 2009-03:00 PM Check-Out: Tuesday, November 10, 2009-11:00 AM Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $60.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Room Subtotal: $120.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $27.74 (USD) Total Room Cost: $147.74 (USD) As always I used the PRICELINE link for my booking. This is the best site for hotel booking! Thanks guys!!

I have been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks now, but we have been busy working and getting ready for out trip. I just wanted to post that Hotwire contacted us and gave us the opportunity to upgrade from the 3.5* to 4* because the Chelsea Doubletree wouldn't be open for our stay. They gave us the choice of a few areas in NYC and we chose MTE. It turned out to be the Grand Hyatt. So Hotwire refunded the original purchase price, and booked at the Hyatt for the exact price using Hotdollars to show the credit on our account. So in the end they credited us and then re-charged the same on Visa so we weren't out of pocket. Here are the details: Grand Hyatt New York-4* Park Avenue at Grand Central, New York City,NY,10017 (212) 883-1234 Check-in Sat, May 16, 2009 Check-out Fri, May 22, 2009 Amenities Fitness Center Restaurant(s) Business Center High-speed Internet Access Tennis Nearby Hotel Hotel rate per night - Hotwire hot Rate: $179.00 Nights: 6 Rooms: 1 Subtotal: $1,074.00 Tax recovery charges and fees: $165.86 Total price: $1,239.86 HotDollars and gift cards**: -$531.75 Total charges to your credit card $708.11 We are very pleased with this, as the Hyatt is close to so much. Can anyone give us any ideas of places to eat close by that are somewhat reasonably priced?? Thanks.

The rep said that we would re-book at the current rate, we pay difference on our credit card, and then they credit us that difference in Hotdollars. I did some checking on Hotwire's site and the Hotdollars are only good for a year. That's a lot of Hotdollars to use in the next year, especially since we aren't planning any trips in the next year. I'm now leaning toward the full refund and then bidding on Priceline.

I did some calculating with regard to re-booking with Hotwire. At this stage in the game, Hotwire is offering a 4* in MTE for $199. Over the course of our 6 day stay, that is a difference between our Doubletree booking of roughly $650. So I guess we would get $650 in Hotdollars?? We don't travel that much. Does anyone know how long these Hotdollars are good for?? I guess I could just ask Hotwire, but I'm interested in some feedback here before I make a move with Hotwire or just go with the full refund and book try Priceline. Confusing!!

Our stay at the Doubletree-Chelsea is for May 16-22. I called Hotwire and the rep told me that they had received notice from Doubletree informing them of the issue with the reservations. I asked about the May 22 date that Hilton is giving out as an opening date, and she didn't really comment on it. All they had been informed of was the July 15 date on the website. I asked her if we should bail and she agreed. So..... She gave me 2 options: 1) Re-book with Hotwire up to .5* star higher (so that would be 4* based on the Doubletree) and any difference in price would be credited in Hotdollars or, 2) Get a full refund on our credit card and do what we please. She said to give it some thought and let them know what is our decision. I think that we are probably going to get the full refund and try our luck though Priceline. Any thoughts from anyone else in this situation?

We also have a reservation at the Doubletree Chelsea for May 16-22. Glad to hear that they will be open on April 30, but my question is what do they mean by "new but not brand new"???

We got the Delta Vancouver Suites for $66 using the Lower Mainland re-bid zones. Bid history is as follows: Bid 4* Downtown Vancouver $60 rejected-added City Hall $62 rejected-added Coquitlam-Burnaby $64 rejected-added Langley $66 accepted Delta Vancouver Suites Hotel 550 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1L6 604-689-8188 Check-In: Saturday, April 18, 2009-03:00 PM Check-Out: Sunday, April 19, 2009-12:00 PM Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $66.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Room Subtotal: $66.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $18.24 (USD) Total Room Cost: $84.24 (USD) We are very happy with this hotel, as it has great reviews. I used the PRICELINE link for the bidding.

Thereuare, thanks for the re-assurance. I got a call this morning (Sunday) from a gentleman who indentified himself as the General Manager of the Doubletree-Chelsea. He indicated that the soft opening in April and a May 1 official opening is still a GO!! He said he's not sure why the website was changed to May 15, because as far as he is concerned, everthing is still on schedule. He also said that if anything were to happen, they would transfer our reservation to another property. Pretty impressed he returned my voicemail message in one day, and on a Sunday. I feel much better about things and now we can focus on planning the rest of our first trip to NYC!!!

Just out of curiosity, I checked the Doubletree-Chelsea website to see if there was any new information. I noticed that at the top in 'red' the statement saying reservations where being taken after May 2 NOW says after May 15. We arrive on May 16 and I am a little concerned at this point. I called the hotel to try and get an update, but I just got a voice mail to leave a message. Hopefully they call back and I can get some more information on this.

After another unsuccessful attempt on Priceline up to $130, we decided to book the $99 3.5* Chelsea room on Hotwire. As anticipated it was the new Doubletree Chelsea. Here are the details of the win: Doubletree NYC-Chelsea 3.5* 128 W. 29th Street, New York City,NY,10001 (212) 564-0994 Check-in Sat, May 16, 2009 Check-out Fri, May 22, 2009 Amenities Fitness Center Restaurant(s) Business Center High-speed Internet Access 1 Room 2 Adults Hotel rate per night - Hotwire hot Rate: $99.00 Nights: 6 Rooms: 1 Subtotal: $594.00 Tax recovery charges and fees: $111.11 Total price: $705.11 I'm afraid I don't know how to change the topic of this thread to reflect it as a win. Hopefully someone will help change the topic and enter this win on the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins. Thereuare, thanks for all your help. This win was through the HOTWIRE link.

I tried again last night up to $125 and still didn't get anything. I was wondering how often should I bid? Every day, or every other day?

Well that's interesting, and makes our decision as to whether to book it or not. So now I wonder what happens to the people that have booked already? It is still showing up for our dates in May.

Well, we were unsuccessful on our bidding. As we were going though it, we decided to stop at $125 because that was our original maximum and there is still the Hotwire deal at $99 in Chelsea in the back of our minds. Here is how the bidding went: Selected 4* MTE and Times Square... Bid $90, rejected added Brooklyn Bid $95, rejected added Chelsea Bid $100, rejected closed browser Selectd 4* MTE and MTW... Bid $90, rejected added Brooklyn Bid $95, rejected added Chelsea Bid $100, rejected closed browser Selectd 4* MTE and MTW and Times Square... Bid $105, rejected added Brooklyn Bid $110, rejected added Chelsea Bid $115, rejected added Long Island Bid $120, rejected added MSG Bid $125, rejected closed browser Our main concern about the Hotwire $99 in Chelsea is the potential headaches if, for some reason, the hotel is not ready for our May 16 arrival and we have to get shuffled around to who knows where. I guess this is only our first bidding attempt, and there is more opportunity to try this strategy again. Thanks again, and all bidding was done through the PRICELINE link.

Dahammer, Much thanks for your comments. I will consider this information in my decision.

I looked at the Doubletree site and it does indicate that it is a new hotel taking reservations after May 2. Sounds good and close to transit as the site shows an address of West 29th. Hotwire must have the address wrong. Regardless, my wife brought up an interesting point. If it is new and still under construction, what if it isn't finished by our date of May 16th? Does anyone know what Hotwire would do in that situation or is it Doubletree's problem? Any thoughts appreciated.

Well part of the mystery solved. The Doubletree NYC-Chelsea but I'm puzzled about the address. So this may be a new hotel take reservations for the spring? It still makes me wonder what to expect, especially with different addresses. Even still, like timcanteen said, $99 is hard to ignore.

Hello, 5/16/09-5/22/09 I am looking for some bidding advice for our stay in NYC. Our dates are firm and I thought it best to start now. We would like to stay in either MTE, MTW, or TS. They seem to be the most popular areas and close to all landmarks/transit. I have been studying this site for about a month and I think that I have figured out how bidding on Priceline works. I know about the 5 re-bid zones in NY and will always check before re-bidding. Our maximum amount per night is $130. From the calendar during these dates, this seems like a realistic amount. Can anyone please give me some bidding strategies? Any help would be appreciated. I will of course always use the Priceline and HOTWIRE links.

Hello, This is my first post to this forum. Lots of helpful info here and I have really learned a lot. Looking to ID this location just like timcanteen in a previous post. 3.5* Chelsea MSG, $99 5-16-5/22 Fitness Restaurant Business Center High Speed Internet Looks like there's no info yet on this property. Who is going to take the plunge? $99 seems like a good deal for 3.5* during this time of year. I may try Priceline for a 4* in MTE, MTW, or TS, but if unsuccessful, this might be hard to pass up. I will of course use the HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links.