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Tried for the $35 3.5* Morristown Hyatt - failed Tried for the $40 3* Morristown Summerfield - failed Added Parsippany and tried $43 to get the Whippany Summerfield, but instead got the Embassy Suites Embassy Suites is a new win for me in this area, I have not seen it before. 909 Parsippany Blvd Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 973-334-1440

Sorry, I was in a hurry. Here is the info: $109 bid price. 129.91 total 3* Boutique Hotel Near Beach Restaurant(s) Business Center I didn't see any business center. the beds were hard, and the decorating strange, but the rooms were clean and reasonable in size (considering the hotel type and location)

First bid at $45 based on earlier successful bid at that price

Since the rennaisance was previously successfully bid at $45, and no other 3.5 or 4* hotel has recently been accepted at that price, simply bid $45 and you will probably get the Rennaissance. If you have to rebid, bid up to a little less than the highest unsuccessful bid (or a few dollars below the highest successful bid) for the next higher priced hotel in the 3.5* or 4* category. Since the Rennaissance is the cheapest in the area, I think PRICELINE will fill it first, even if people pay more than the requested price. I am assuming that PRICELINE keeps the spread, but maybe I'm wrong, maybe they only get the $7 fee.

436 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL, 33139 (305) 532-7093

Prime time is on weekends, around holidays, and during spring break weeks. Spring break season is a little different every year. Try entering your dates in a standard booking site and see what the rates are. compare them to rates on other weeks, or on other days of the same week. That will tell you if you are hitting prime days or prime weeks.

Ruffles, I was looking at these today: 1) $75 seems to be the absolute minimum for the 4* beach hotels 2) Only a few zones in FLL area have 4* hotles. At least 6 zones do NOT have 4*. By CAREFULLY (no mistakes) adding one zone at a time and keeping your bid at 4*, you can repeat your bid each day numerous times.

60/65/68/71/75 Started in downtown and added other areas at 4* until we got one in our target area.

$44 @ 3* failed in morristown, priceline offered $12 increase Unable to bid 11/15 so bid 11/16-11/21 instead in parsippany/morristown at $49.00 Won Whippany Summ Suites at $49.00 Extended same hotel to 11/15 check-in at same price (even though previously told could not bid 11/15 - Was bidding after 9pm same day) In retrospect, I probably overpaid. I probably could have had it at $44, I really wanted the MORRISTOWN suites, but am happy to pay $49 at Whippany location.

4*, 3.5* failed at $45 in Morristown and Parsippany. Bid 3* at $51 to get the Staybridge, which can usually be had at $45 on same day. Oh wait... I think i bid wrong... I thought Staybridge was a 3* Oh well, staybridge is not my #1 pick but it is fine. Probably overpaid by $6.00

Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe 1600 South 52nd St. Tempe, AZ, 85281 (480) 967-6600 Airport Shuttle Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) High-speed Internet Access

Failed at: 3 1/2* at 41 3 * at 45 Bid 2.5* at 51 to capture the 3.5* Marriott Hanover on Route 10

The ramada inn is not a horrible place. The rooms were cheaply decorated, and the carpets old and worn as expected. However, they were nicely outfitted, as clean as anyone could expect, and the staff friendly and helpful. I haven't eaten at the restaurant, but there is a sports bar and restaurant on premises, a Baja Fresh across the street, and decent selection of other restaurants in the area. Access is relatively easy once you figure out how the jug handles work. getting on the freeway is easy and quick. Free breakfast, no evening reception, I never asked about a pool but I didn't see one. The hotel does a steady business in corporate events, and parking was tight all week. Parking at the back doors was always available though you must have a room key to use them.

Didn't do well in Parsippany this week, - tried to get the Morristown Hyatt 3.5* at $35, no luck, - tried 3* at $45 in all three areas, no hits again - tried 2.5*, then finally 2* at $50 hoping to get the Holiday Inn in Parsippany Instead got the Ramada in Hanover :)

As info, i've tried to duplicate this several times with no luck I have gotten this hotel at $40-$45 several times.

I just now duplicated this priceline win. Will also try to call to verify the location of the room

Tried $35 for 3.5* in morristown, no good. $41 for 3*, no good Added Parsippany @ $45 Got staybridge on date of stay

First bid at $12 on economy. $129 for the week, all taxes and fees How much cheaper could I have gotten it?? :) Still an excellent price by any measure

Bid $32, was suggested to bid at $40, which I did. This is the price I usually pay for this hotel, but now am wondering if it can be gotten at a lower price. Last week was the first time this hotel has come up at this price since last Spring.

I believe this is a HOTWIRE win, not PRICELINE.

First bid

www.sanibelcollection.com, Sunset Beach property Our friends know and love this place, so a deal would have to be outstandingly good to convince us all to change to a different property. The web deals are much better than I anticipated. This is the best booking website I've ever seen, and they have fantastic promotions. 4th night free, reduced rates for 3 or more nights, Florida resident discount, and others all automated through their flash application. Their base rate is $149, discounted to $129 for 3 night stay. We will be staying at the Sunset Beach property where (I am told by my friends) we will get free continental breakfast and very easy access to the beach, as well as free use of the resort amenities and access to the other Sanibel Collection resorts. Another property I looked at has 2 BR residential suites for $189, 4th night free, many discounts, free kids breakfast, and a coupon for a future free night - fantastic promotion for a large family or several families traveling together. I will be flying into RSW airport for less than $200pp roundtrip, one of us from LGA and the other from ORD. None of this was booked on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, but mentioning it for the benefit of others considering the trip. I'll probably be bidding a rental car, though.

Hi, would you mind telling us which resort you booked, and what you did to get that price?

I've been pricing airline tickets from Chicago to Fort Myers, the prices are pretty cheap. I can't imagine that you'll save a lot of money over that. Here are some alternatives to consider: Southwest airlines to TPA or FLL. It is nearly a 3 hour drive from either destination, but airline tickets are cheap, less than $100 each way and 100% reusable or changable with no fees. Since your dates are locked down, though, it would seem to make more sense to take one of the commercial airlines at less than $200 RT (prices I am getting on Kayak for multiple airlines and United). It might make more sense to drive to Chicago and fly directly into Fort Meyers, than to fly into TPA or FLL and drive from there. Have you used PRICELINE for airline tickets before? They can really screw up a weekend. It rarely pays (IMO) to bid on airfare because they will give you the crappiest flights at only a small discount. For example, on a Friday-Sunday trip, your plane might depart at 11:39pm on a Friday, then return at 5:50 am on the Sunday. Now your 3 day trip is a 1-day trip. Or, you might have 3 connections on the Friday, starting your day at 6am and arriving at your destination at 11pm. GOD FORBID that you have a cancellation or delay on any of those 3 connection, you will not arrive until Saturday or Sunday, then you will be getting on a plane home. I know your trip is longer than a weekend, so maybe this isn't a concern for you, but do think of the potential inconveniences you will be taking on for a $30 savings.

Any hints or suggestions for getting a great hotel or resort in Sanibel Island at a great price? Our preference is usually to get something on the beach or at least with a view of the water. Balconies or beach walkouts are great. The hotel should be clean and modern, ideally with a nice poolside bar and a good beach-style restaurant. We'll be traveling with some friends, I need to find out what plans they have for that weekend.