Latitudes

Trying to secure two 4* rooms in downtown Chicago for the night of 5/22/2005. This is my bidding history on Priceline today: 4* NMA $45. Rejected. Added Lincoln Park $50. Rejected. Added Midway $55. Rejected. Added Skokie $60. Rejected. -- closed browser -- 4* GC $45. Rejected. Added Lincoln Park $50. Rejected. Added Midway $55. Rejected. Added Skokie $60. Rejected. -- closed browser -- 4* NMA/GC $65. Rejected. Added Lincoln Park $70. Rejected. Added Midway $75. Rejected. Added Skokie $80. Rejected. Any suggestions please? (I'm also looking for two more rooms for the return trip on 6/9/2005, but haven't started bidding yet.)

I will be in SFO at this time and am interested to hear your outcome. I'll be needing two rooms in the city for 5/21 and $85 does sound on the high side.

Hi Hooperone, Welcome to the board. AFAIK, you do not need to close your browser to make a free rebid in the situation you describe. Zone A and 4* are grayed-out because they are you selected them in the first (unsuccessful) bid, and are by default included in your second bid. Your second bid must include a higher bid and either another zone or a higher * category. Your strategy to include Zone B with nothing over a 2* is a sound one. When you rebid, Priceline will look for a 4* in Zones A and B for your new bid price. Because Zone B does not have any 4* properties, you can be assured you will get a 4* hotel in Zone A. I believe there are instances when you can close your browser and start again, but I'm not to clear on that one myself. Rest assured though, for the situation you mentioned, you can continue bidding with the same session. Good luck with your bids. :)

Saw that others were getting 3* SEA airport for $35 so I bid $32. First bid of $32 was accepted. I saved three dollars but I wonder what the lowest price is? Congratulations, you got your price of $32 for a 3-star hotel room. Holiday Inn Seatac Airport Seattle Airport (SEA) 17338 International Boulevard Seattle, Washington 98188 206-248-1000 Check-In Date: Tue, Mar 22, 2005 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Wed, Mar 23, 2005 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $32.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $32.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $11.76 Total Charges: $43.76

It's taken me a while since I stayed here last November, but I've uploaded photos of the Hyatt Regency O'Hare to RealHotelPhotos.com. I hope you find them useful. :)

Hardy-Har-Har! :)

Continuation of first post in this thread: Third Attempt: 1/4/2005 Bid 1: 3* SFO for $32. Accepted! I was going to make my first bid at $34 but figured I had a free bid up my sleeve so I went for $32. If that was rejected I would have rebid for $34. I'm paying a third more again in taxes and service fees. :) Thanks for your help everyone. :)

Thanks for your replies guys, I will wait the 72 hours rather than rebid downtown. My flight to the east coast the next morning is an early one, which is why I chose to stay close to SFO Airport. If I were staying downtown I'd have to get going that much earlier; I like my sleep more than an early morning shuttle. :) I'll probably bid $34 straight off next time...

First Attempt: 12/24/2004 Bid 1: SFO for $25. Bid 2: Added Civic for $26. Second Attempt: 1/1/2005 Bid 1: SFO for $27 - was offered a free rebid of a $7 minimum, which would have made the bid $34. Ignored. Bid 2: Added Civic for $28. Q: I see that zbenye was successful for 3* SFO at $34. Should I have just taken the $34 free rebid? Will try again in three days. Third Attempt: TBA Watch this space.

I managed to get the exact same price on Priceline of $95 for the Hawaii Prince and the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. My stays were are week apart. As for the better experience, I'd go with the Hawaii Prince. My reasons being: The check-in staff were fantastic. Very friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The ocean view from the room was amazing. The downside is there are no balconies. At the Outrigger, it was difficult to see the ocean due to the way the hotel is built, with rooms facing North/South, not East/West like at the Hawaii Prince . The bathroom was huge! A bath, a shower, a separate lavatory, plus a large vanity. By comparison, the Outrigger bathroom was small and needed renovating; it looked really cheap. I prefer the location. Yes - the Hawaii Prince is not in the downtown Honolulu, but that is precisely why I like it. The Ala Mona park is just across the canal which is great for walking/jogging/relaxing. The Ala Mona shopping center is a few minutes way away. The main part of the beach is about a five minute walk or ten minute stroll from the hotel. BTW - is there an area on this site, or on RealHotelPhotos.com, to write hotel reviews?

My pleasure. :)

I have uploaded photos of the Hawaii Prince Hotel. Here is the link.

Photos uploaded as requested. :) Here is the link.

4* Waikiki North $90 rejected. Added Executive Center for $95 accepted. Check-In Date: Thursday, November 4, 2004 Check-Out Date: Friday, November 5, 2004 Hotel Name: Outrigger Reef On The Beach 2169 Kalia Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 808-923-3111 Summary of Charges Your Offer Price: $95.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $95.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $18.54 Total Charges: $113.54 I'm happy to get this hotel because will be staying at the Hawaii Prince a week later and can compare the two properties.

Success! 4* ORD $45 rejected. Added Lincoln Park for $50 rejected. Added Skokie for $55 accepted. Hyatt Regency O Hare O'Hare Airport (ORD) 9300 West Bryn Mawr Road Rosemont, Illinois 60018 847-696-1234 Your Offer Price: $55.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $55.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.49 Total Charges: $69.49 Thanks for your help; I just myself saved $34. :)

Thanks for pointing out the re-bid zones issue; I was unaware of that. Am now holding Four Points by Sheraton for $89 as a back-up option and will try for a better deal on Priceline. I appreciate your help. :)

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll take your advice and book a room as a back-up. I'm locked out of Priceline for another 24 hours, at which time I'll try again. Here are my bidding options: [*]If I start bidding at ORD on 2

Can I ask for some help please? I've been forced to change an itinerary due to schedule changes at ORD, and now must layover in Chicago on Saturday 11/13. My flight arrives at 21:00 Saturday and departs at 06:40 Sunday, so I'd like to book something close to the terminals. It looks like the Skokie - Niles -Evanston zone is a bit far away for my needs. Is that a correct assumption? Should I only bid for the ORD zone? I've tried a couple of bids that were unsuccessful. 3* at $40 and 4* at $50 were both rejected. Is there a convention on that weekend? I see that other bids around this price were successful in July. Any help you can afford is appreciated. Thanks.

First bid accepted. Offer Price: $38.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $76.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $16.49 Total Charges: $92.49

First bid of $90 was rejected. Priceline counter-offered with a minimum increase of $22. I ignored it, added the Executive Center area and re-bid at $95. Offer was accepted. Congratulations, you got your price of $95 for a 4-star hotel room. Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki North 100 Holomoana Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 808-956-1111 Check-In Date: Tue, Nov 9, 2004 Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Wed, Nov 10, 2004 Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM Your Offer Price: $95.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $95.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $18.54 Total Charges: $113.54