lfras

Hotwire has a 3.5* hotel listed in June in Napa. Can't figure out what hotel it is because there are no reviews. Anybody got any idea? It's priced at $115/nt.

Bid and won at $89 for 4/2011

For one night -4/20/11

I have stayed at this small hotel several times. The rooms are fairly small with few frills, but the hotel is clean, quiet, ocean front with generous free parking, free wi-fi, and a couple of very good restaurants with great happy hours next door (Sarento's and Five Palms). I am staying in Maui over the long Easter weekend to visit my grandkids, our flight is arriving in the evening, and this hotel is an economical way to spend our first night(s) before moving into a condo. Most of the hotels are booked solid for this time period.

Bid many times for resort, 4*, during this very busy holiday weekend. Know all of the hotels and resorts well on Maui as we visit family there 3-4 times a year. Easter weekend is always busy. Like this resort as it is beach front, easy parking, and low resort fee compared to other Wailea hotels. Used to be a Prince Hotel. Very helpful and congenial staff. Grandkids love the koi pond and feeding fish during breakfast.

Won Priceline bid at $99 for Sheraton Carlsbad (Legoland) for 9/6/10. Added the previous day for a little more in order to take grandsons to Legoland. Resort has private entrance to park, so you never have to move your car once you check in. Close to water park, too.

Bid and won Sheraton Carlsband (Legoland) for 9/6 at $99. Added 9/5 for a little more, but it's Labor Day weekend, and we are taking the grandkids. Sheraton Carlsbad is adjacent to Legoland, and it has a private entrance at the rear of the park. Just walk to the park from the resort. Don't have to pay to park or hassle the front entrance lines. It's also closer to the water park.

Started out at $70 several days ago. Ended up getting one night at $91 on 6/1/10, and added another night 5/31/10 at same price at the 4* DTW Westin. Rental cars are pricey at the airport, but I got one day full size for $47 on 6/1/10. Using Detroit as our stop over hub on a trip to Italy from Los Angeles on frequent flyer miles (1st class).

Anybody got any winning bids for the Wailea/Makena area of Maui for the period 1/12/10 to 1/25/10? I need to book a couple of rooms for a family event. Thanks

Makena Beach and Golf Resort used to be the Maui Prince Hotel. Right on a very nice beach with excellent snorkeling. Stayed there many times. Used to be 'resort' on Priceline. Hope it hasn't dated too much since we're staying there the second week in January. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have in the past. Try the Seawatch Restaurant for Happy Hour at the Makena Golf Course. 2 for 1 appetizers are delicious.

Just checked pleasantholidays.com for their fly/drive package RT to Maui 12/9 to 12/16, and it was $669 for two people including airfare and car. Since people have been getting the Maui Marriott on Priceline for $93-95, that would be a very inexpensive week. Unfortunately for me, I have jury duty. Good luck!

How are 'wins' posted on the calendar? I just won a bid for the Makena Golf Resort in Maui (formerly the Maui Prince, Priceline rated 'resort'). It is now a '4 Star' rated hotel by Priceline. I got it for $115/nt. plus fees and taxes for seven nights 1/14/10 to 1/21/10. The other resorts in Wailea/Makena start at $299/nt. (Maui Marriott), and I was not successful in bidding up to $140/nt. before I realized that the Maui Prince had changed its name and Priceline had re-rated it. We've stayed at this hotel several times in the past and have not been disappointed. Can members post the wins on the calendar? Mahalo, Cap

Have been bidding for Wailea/Makena 'resort' with no success for several days for 1/14/10 to 1/21/10. Noticed on Priceline that the Makena Golf Resort is a Four Star. It was formerly the Maui Prince Hotel and listed under 'resort' by Priceline. First Bid: $110 Priceline reply: You can have it for an additional $22 (I'm feeling better now). Second Bid: $115 with one less night. Accepted by Priceline Added the additional night at the same price. We've stayed in this hotel many times. It was resort quality before, and I'm sure it will be in January. It's right on a beautiful beach, right next to great golf courses, and it has beautiful gardens. I'm counting this as a win/win. Aloha and Mahalo, Cap

Need bidding help for hotel for 3rd week in January '10. Last bid at $123 for 'resort' was declined. Anybody know what the 'four star' or 'three 1/2' stars are in Wailea/Makena or Kihei? Has anybody bid successfully in January for 'resort' in January in south Maui (Wailea). Wish the Maui Prince was still part of Priceline's bidding. They made it more competitive. Thanks, Cap

Anybody have any successful bids from the L.A. area to Maui in September or October? Not interested in red-eyes or multi-stops through San Francisco or Salt Lake City. Also, any successful bids for hotels in the same dates in the Wailea/Makena area? I've been successful in the past to Maui through PRICELINE, but it's getting more difficult since several airlines have discontinued flights there, and the rental car companies have sent a lot of their fleets to the mainland. Thanks, Cap

With all taxes and fees, three tickets came to $883 and change. Cap.

You could use the Des Moines, Iowa, airport (DSM) as an alternative for a re-bid, or you can wait the 24 hrs. and try to up your bid from Omaha. Or, you could change dates. When I bid for a trip, I usually start out at about 50% of the published airline's airfare. If I'm turned down, I change airport and/or date. I'm lucky because there are four major airports in the Los Angeles area. If you're turned down on the first try, wait the 24 hrs. and up your bid to 55%; then 60%, etc. I've used PRICELINE many times for hotels including a four star hotel that I got for a long weekend in Napa, Calif. in June at over 50% discount from rack rate. I was in Washington, D.C. for the cherry blossom weekend at a four star hotel downtown at $140/nt. I'm flying to Maui non-stop on 6/29 for $250 RT. If you have some patience and understand what you're bidding on, you can save lots of money on PRICELINE. Occasionally, I use HOTWIRE for certain areas (like Del Mar and Carlsbad, Calif.) because I can tell from the description which hotels they're quoting prices for. Good luck and good bidding. Cap

Didn't have to use multiple dates or multiple airports on my successful Priceline bid for RT LAX to Maui (OGG) on 6/29/09, returning 7/9/09. My first and accepted bid was $250 for three tickets. Both non-stop flights are on UAL. None of the three seats were together, so I went to UAL.com with confirmation number and moved the seats together. I was so delighted that my bid was successful (59% under the published airfare), that I added the 'economy plus' selection, too. With tax and upgrade, my three tickets were under $1200 for both legs. The flights are not red eyes, either. I have used Priceline many times for hotels and occasionally for airfares. This is one of the best deals I've gotten because I could see that there were limited seats to Maui on non-stop flights on those dates. Aloha!

Several months ago, the rental car companies on Maui sent a lot of their inventory back to the mainland. That meant an increase in prices as availability decreased. For a midsize, try starting at around $22 for a full size, then go for your midsize at 23 or 24. Actually, that convertible price is quite appealing to me since I'm going to Maui in June for a week. Aloha and good luck.

Keep trying. I just got LAX to OGG on 6/29 (returning on 7/8) for $883 total for three tickets non-stop on United. I admit I was surprised since the going rate for non-stops was over $720 each. My bid was $250 per. Here's a hint if you're staying in South Maui (Wailea, Makena, Kihei, even Kahalui). Place your bids for 'resorts' only. There are no 'resorts' in Kihei or Kahalui, but there are five in South Maui- Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Ki Alani are not offered by Priceline. The Marriott Wailea and Maui Prince are. I actually prefer the Maui Prince since it's a little farther south, has a great beach, and is quieter and more restful if you plan to spend time around the hotel. Breakfast next to the koi pond in the morning is very nice. The Marriott is right next to the shops at Wailea if you prefer to be closer to restaurants. The 'infinity' pool is beautiful but unheated. Good luck and aloha.

Our stay will be from April 2 to April 7 at the Renaissance, Washington D.C. Let the blossoms bloom.

Just won bid on Priceline for 4* Renaissance Washington D.C. over Cherry Blossom Festival parade weekend at $130. I was pretty surprised since most rack rates are over $300 for a four star (name brand). Good Luck! Cap