Aprilmay

Hey Guys!

I've read through this entire thread, and didn't find an answer to my question. So, forgive me if I missed it.

I have never bought an Entertainment Book, but this discount would make it beneficial. If, for instance, I needed a hotel for three nights. Could I book in three separate transactions at one night each, and apply for the $30 discount for each transaction? This would obviously be a huge discount for somewhere like a 5* Vegas hotel, which would be over $100/night. Nowhere in Hotwire's terms does it mention a limited amount of discounts in a specific time period.

Anyone have any idea?

Thanks,

April

I pulled this directly from Hotwire's Hotel Customer Care page........

"Q: How many beds are in the lodgings?

A: All rooms booked on Hotwire will accommodate the appropriate number of guests in each room, based on the total number of guests you provided and the number of rooms you requested. While we cannot guarantee the number of beds in a property room, some properties may offer pull-out couches or cots. If you have specific needs, please contact the property directly. Our partners will do their best to make your stay as comfortable as possible."

Although I have not been to Vegas, I know the number of different answers you get will be directly proportional to the number of people who answer your question. I think your best bet is to go to TripAdvisor.com and read the many reviews for each of your hotel options. Sometimes you get a good idea of the quality of the hotel just by looking at the overall star ratings on Trip Advisor. The written reviews give you really great "pluses and minuses" for each hotel. Just my two cents.

April

I'm working on a trip for my parents for Wed, March 23 thru Sat, March 26. Venetian's website gives rate of $209 for each night of this stay. Hotwire shows 5* for $161. Bellagio has a promotional rate (available only by phone) of $159 for 3/23-3/24. The 25th is $199.

My bidding history follows:

Started at $99...........rejected. Counteroffer.....$186.

Added free rebid........$109........rejected. Counteroffer...........$186.

Added free rebid.........$119.......rejected. Counteroffer..........$186.

I stopped here, since I have so much time before this trip. Judging by the above rates, how high do you guys think I would've had to bid to hit this time?? I'm shooting for under $150, which I believe is definitely attainable at some point.

Thanks for your help. Neither myself nor my parents have ever been to Vegas, so this is a learning experience for me.

April

keyess,

I think you will be quite pleased with the helpfulness of both the moderator and members of this board. They are endless sources of information, not just bids but actual destination suggestions, tips, etc. Thanks to Thereuare as well as the other board members.

I am fairly new here, and now that I've found it, I can't imagine ever traveling without the help of the board again. When doing my research, I sometimes check the information on TOBB (the other bidding board) for extra reference data, and am constantly amazed at the demanding, sometimes rude responses. I often wonder, what is in those secret emails from the moderator?!?!? :)

My husband and I stayed at this hotel for one night only after arriving on a 9:30 pm flight. We phoned the hotel from the courtesy phone at baggage claim, and their shuttle picked us up outside baggage claim in five minutes. Upon arriving at the front desk, I was unusually friendly to the clerk, trying to score a king bed! :) To my surprise, she put us in the Crowne Suite on the hotel's executive level! This included a free continental breakfast the next morning. Priceline was never mentioned.

The room was enormous. There was a separate living room with a couple of sofas, a coffee table, a desk, and TV entertainment center. The bedroom also had a large sitting area, and the bathroom could be accessed by both rooms. The room and furniture definitely showed some age, though. The drain in the shower was broken, and the carpet had some wear. I was still pleased, as this room averages twice the price of a standard room.

The next morning, the gentleman at the front desk called a car for us. The cost is a flat $40 for anyplace in Manhattan.

Overall, we were entirely pleased with this experience. The service was friendly, and the accomodations adequate. Although I would not want to spend a week at the Crowne Plaza Laguardia, it was perfectly fine for our short stay, and the courtesy shuttle is a huge plus.

Just returned from a two night stay at the Jersey City Hyatt. I could not have been happier with our experience at this hotel. We arrived quite early, about 8:30 am, to check-in. A gentleman at the front desk apologized because our room was not available yet, which we expected, but did a "pre-check-in" so that when we returned we would only need to pick up our key. I asked him if he had us in a double or a king room, and he told me that I could have whichever I preferred. We checked our bags and headed for the city. At 3:00 pm, we returned and picked up our key from the same gentleman.

The room was above my expectations. It was clean, modern, and spacious. The king bed was super-comfortable, and the giant desk was also a plus. (High speed internet is available for $9.95 for 24-hours.) The city view was especially beautiful at night. I was also quite pleased with the size of the bathroom, which was large by any hotel standards.

The PATH station is literally twenty steps from the lobby door. Another 6-7 minutes ride to the WTC station. This was actually more convenient than I expected, except the morning that we had to catch a 7 am plane at Laguardia. We must have arrived at the PATH station just minutes after one train left, because we waited twenty-five minutes for the next train. I was halfway expecting the wait, though, since I had read several posts addressing this. In my opinion, no big deal; a small price to pay for my $38 room.

On Monday, Dec 20, NYC experienced their coldest day yet this winter. The wind chill factor was -3 F. Wow, being from Atlanta, my husband and I have never felt cold like this!! We were literally numb from head to toe! But you guys have a beautiful city, and I am so glad I was able to take advantage of such a bargain at the Jersey City Hyatt. I would totally recommend this hotel for couples, singles, and families who want to visit the city without going broke. The room was great, the service was friendly, and the view is stunning. We enjoyed our trip, and look forward to visiting again very soon.

We leave for NYC tomorrow and it just occurred to me that I know absolutely nothing about the subway system. Since this will be our main source of transportation, could any of you residents or regulars give me a quick tutorial? I understand the way the streets are setup.

We have the following locations on our current itenerary... (in no particular order)

Times Square

Rockefeller Center

Staten Island Ferry

The Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien

Empire State Building

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Grand Central

Central Park

Museum of Natural History

Also, does the PATH run all the way into Midtown from outside the Hyatt, or must you switch to the subway at the WTC?

I appreciate any assistance you guys have to offer! Can't wait to see the city!

April

My appreciation to all three of you for replying so quickly. As soon as I settle on dates, and find cheap enough airfare from Atlanta, I will request bidding help. One additional question, though. Are weekend nights typically less expensive than weekdays? Or vice versa? I am planning a four-night stay, but if the weekend is significantly cheaper, I'll include a couple of weekend nights.

Thanks again.

April

My husband and I are planning a four-night Spring Break trip to Washington DC in March. We have never visited DC, and have no idea which part of town to look at. Which are the best zones for the typical tourists(Hotwire and Priceline)? We would like to see the White House, Arlington Cemetary, Smithsonian, etc. Also, is the considered a busy time of year for tourism in DC?

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

April

You are going to love the Omni. It's beautiful, and perfectly located in downtown. I'm planning another night there next month to enjoy the Christmas happenings across the street at Centennial Olympic Park and the World Congress Center. Enjoy your stay.

Tried $40, $43, and finally $45 using free rebids.

Thanks!

I do have a question. Our flight lands at LGA at 9:00pm on Saturday night. I have reserved a room through priceline at the Crowne Plaza for that evening. What is the easiest/quickest/cheapest way to get to the Hyatt from LGA on Sunday morning? I'm sure there are several options, but I'm just not sure what they are!

Thanks!

April

Wow..........What a day!!!!!

To make a very long story short, my husband's wallet was stolen out of his truck today, $320 taken, and the wallet returned to the Vet's office where we had taken our dog. So in order to recoup some of our loss, I rearranged our accomodations for our NYC trip this Christmas to include this steal of a deal in Jersey City. I had cancellable reservations at The Belvedere in NYC, and booked the following via Priceline:

Your Offer Price: $38.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 2

Subtotal: $76.00

Taxes & Service Fees: $18.40

Total Charges: $94.40

The total for two nights at The Belvedere was $303, so I've saved quite a bit!

Without this site, I would never have known that such opportunities exist. A sincere thanks, Thereuare.

I bid twice before up to $70 (using all free rebids), and was denied each time.

This time, I bid.................

$65.........denied.

$75 (w/free rebid)..............accepted.

Thanks so much!

April

After watching prices on Hotwire increase significantly over the past month, I decided to begin bidding on Priceline about a week ago. I hear NYC is quite busy the first 2-3 weeks of December, so I am happy to have all of my reservations nailed down now. I know I probably could have bid closer to my arrival and possibly gotten a better price, but for such a busy tourist time of year, I felt that the peace of mind would be worth an extra buck or two.

Specifics................

Your Offer Price: $75.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 1

Subtotal: $75.00

Taxes & Service Fees:

$18.33

Total Charges: $93.33

The lowest price on the hotel's own website is $112/nt, so I am pleased with this price.

Thanks for a great site and lots of useful info!

My husband and I stayed here for a single night on October 17, 2004. I was attending a seminar in a nearby section of town, and bid $40 for 4* Downtown Atlanta. We happily won the Omni Hotel. The lowest posted rate on the hotel's own website was $129.

Immediately after booking this room, I registered as a Select Guest on the Omni Website, and was asked to choose certain room particulars for my profile (i.e. high/low floor, feather/foam pillows, king/double bed, etc.). This program is free. Upon arriving at the hotel, my key was waiting for me. We were granted each and every request, and more. I received a card to hang on our door that specified our choices for a complimentary morning beverage and newpaper. We were also able to choose what time we would like these items to be brought. (I asked for a 7:45 am delivery, and the knock came at precisely 7:45 am!) We stayed in the North Tower, the newer of the two towers of the Omni. This 28 floor building is beautiful inside and out. Our room was on the top floor with a beautiful view of the city. It was nicely decorated and had a gorgeous bathroom that any girl would love. I could find nothing wrong with the room, and I was searching! The bed linens were incredibly comfortable, I would guess 300 thread count.

Each employee that we interacted with was unusually professional and courteous. Priceline was not mentioned at check-in, only that our reservation was prepaid. Be aware, though, that valet is the only parking option offered by the hotel, and a $20/night fee is charged to your room. If you are interested, there is a parking lot located down the street for $8/night, but we opted for the safer valet.

This hotel is literally attached to the massive CNN Center, which is also across the street from Phillips Arena, Georgia Dome, Centennial Olympic Park, and the World Congress Center. The atrium at the CNN Center houses many dining options, mostly fast food. We took advantage of the Taco Bell for a late night snack, and Chick Fil'a for breakfast.

Overall, I would rate this hotel a 5 out of 5 stars. Fantastic service, accomadations, and location.

April

Here's one for the list, Thereuare!

Accepted on my first attempt at $40.

Downtown Atlanta

100 Cnn Center

Atlanta, Georgia 30335

404-659-0000

Your Offer Price: $40.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 1

Subtotal: $40.00

Taxes & Service Fees:

$12.33

Total Charges: $52.33

Going to a seminar in a nearby area of town, and wanted a decent place to stay! I am very happy with this, as the lowest rate on the hotel's website is $129 + tax. I'll take a $90 savings anyday!! I'll report back after I return. Rumor has it they have valet parking only, for a whopping $20/day.

Thanks for a great site and source of info.

April

Just trying a few lowball bids since I have so much time!

Here's what I did...

Chose LGA 3* at $45.....rejected.

Added free rebid Long Island City at $47....rejected.

Added free rebid Elmhurst at $49.....rejected.

Accessed Priceline again.

Chose LGA 2.5* $40.....rejected. No free rebids for 2.5*.

Will try again soon! Thanks for all the info I get from this site!! :)

April

KatiesMom,

Thank you for a brief, but comprehensive, guide to New York City for all of us "first-timers." The city can be very intimidating when planning your first trip, and I will print and utilize this wonderful information.

Thanks again!

April

Wow! You guys are an unending source of information, and I really appreciate it.

The Staten Island ferry is a great suggestion, as we don't so much want to go into Lady Liberty as to see it. I just hate to leave NYC without seeing such an important symbol of our nation. The Museum of Natural History is also something that my husband may be interested in. I'm very into the "Celebrity Scene," so the wax museum is something I really would like to visit. We also adore the Christmas season in general, so the big tree and the window displays will be great for us, too!

My husband and I are not into the bar scene, and we certainly don't want to waste our two days with a hangover! And live music isn't really our thing, either. We would love to visit Grand Central, though, and I had not even thought of that. And thanks for the dining suggestions. I really had not planned on eating at the chain restaurants, but I feel like I would not be able to pick the good local restaurants from the bad. So I will keep up to date on your suggestions, so as to be prepared when we get there.

As for our schedule, we arrive at LGA at 11:41 Saturday night, and we depart LGA at 7:00am on Tuesday. I would have liked to have had a little less extreme flight schedule, but we bought our tickets for $49 each way to/from Atlanta, and this was the only flight available at this price. And we are on a pretty tight budget, so this just worked out! I check Hotwire daily for hotels around LGA for our first night, since our Belvedere Hotel reservations (at $130/night) are only for Sunday and Monday nights. I saw what I thought was the Belvedere on Hotwire about a week ago for $99, but I missed my chance, as later that day it was gone! I will continue to do my research, though.

I really do thank you guys for your help. We live in a small town, and have never done much travelling, other than to Florida to the beach each summer. I have wanted to visit NYC at Christmas for a long time, and when I found $100 roundtrip tickets, I jumped on them. Now I just need to figure out what to do when I get there!

April

I booked this hotel on July 14, the day we needed to check in. Very sorry for the late post! I just found this wonderful site. I got it on my first try. Maybe I should have bid lower to start???

Holiday Inn Select

Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody

4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Atlanta, GA 30341

Check in: Wed, July 14, 2004

Check out: Thurs, July 15, 2004

Your offer price: $40.00

Taxes and Fees: $11.75

Total Charges: $51.75

Hey guys!!!

First, thanks for a friendly, informative board. I check here almost daily now that my husband and I are planning our first trip to New York City in December.

I have cancellable reservations at The Belvedere Hotel for December 18-21, Saturday through Tuesday. I have heard great things about this little hotel. But I check Hotwire often for a better deal. Priceline, on the other hand, makes me a little nervous. :)

So here's the deal. My husband and I are in our early 20's, both full time med students who will need a break after finals. We only have two FULL days in the city, since we will be flying on our first and last days. We plan to take in as much as we can while we are there, but have no idea what to do on which day, considering location of the sites, etc. The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and Rockefeller Center ice skating are the things we definitely want to do and see before we leave. (I know our two days will be PACKED!) We might even sleep and eat while we are in town!! :) So, does anyone have any suggestions for where we should go in what order?? Or are there any other sites we should not leave without visiting?

Also, I have seen ads in guide books for "The New York Pass." It is about $70/person for two days, and you use it to gain admission to most tourist sites as well as discounts at restaurants, shops, etc. Has anyone used this, or have any pros or cons to share?

Thanks for listening to my rambling questions, and we appreciate any help you have to offer. We live in Georgia, and have never been further north than North Carolina, so we look forward to December with great anticipation!

April