daveh

Used structured bidding starting at $160 using TS, MTW, CPS & MTE zones for a weekend of Broadway (we don't mind walking). When I got to the last step with all 4 zones I got the W Hotel. We were at this hotel in March of 2014 and it was very good. BTW, we paid the same price that time to. :)

I agree with you on Broadwaybox.com. The original poster is likely not familiar with te discont theater scene for Broadway, so let me elaborate a bit: First, you can find the latest show listings at Playbill.com. One of he features on this site is Broadway Groses where they list how well the various shows did in the last two weeks. Generally those above 90% are not available at a discount (the one exception is TKTS, which I will discss below). Newer shows (such as the upcoming "Violet", "Rocky" or "If/Then" are looking for advance bookings and are often available at a discount (that's where BroadwayBox.com comes in). Basically, BroadwayBox links yuou to the regualr ticket (Telecharge or Tickmaster) website and provides a discount code. TKTS is a stand in Times Square that sells last minute tickets at deep discount (used to be 50%) for shows that day. Even the most popular shows will show up here late in the day. These are the tickets that the theater has not sold. At times you can get really great seats there as theaters generalluy hold their best )"house" seats till around 5 and then send them over to TKTS. BUT if you really want to see a specific show, the odds probably are not in your favor. Besides, the lines there can be long, and by the time you get to the window the pickings can be slim. My wife and I generally go to NYC yearly and do a show intensive weekend (with planning, you can do 5 shows on a weekend}. We are going this May and want to see "Book of Morman", "Kinky Boots" and "Pippin". These are all popular shows and discounts are generally not available - so we booked those tickets directly through ticket master. The other two shows will be fdiscount shows (likely "Violet" and "IF/Then")those we will buy later. For the popular shows we bought the tickets early in order to get the best seats (you get to pick the seats that you want} (we decided when we wanted to go based on when we could get decent seats to "The Book of Morman"). Enjoy the show! :)

Really nice price for a Hampton.

Used structured bidding approach starting at $40 for 3* in Naperville, then $37 for 2.5* there. That failed, so I logged off then logged on again, this time for Oakbrook and again bid $40 for 3*, when that failed, I lowered * requirement to 2.5 and bid $37. That was accepted. If it had failed I would then have repeated the same process for Bolling Brook and then added Naperville and Oakbrook going to $40 and $43 with each added zone (but I didn't get that far). This is for an overnight stay on our way to Minnesota - so the exact town was not important. We just wanted to stay in the general area and close to an Interstate. Also wanted to avoid 3.5 star (or better) as many of those do not have free WiFi in the rooms.

(Sorry for posting after we stayed there (just "catching up"). At least I can report on the property. NOTE: There are 2 Country Inns in this Zone. One is near the Airport, along with several other hotels. This one is a bit further away, on East Broad Street. I guess it is the luck of the draw which one you get. Both are pretty equivalent. I had started bidding several days in advance - startind at $40/night. I eventually bit at $66 they day before our stay this was finally accepted. My "back-up" plan was to go with Hotwire - they listed a 2.5* in that zone for $82. Apparently there were High School Girls Soccer matches in town (or something) that increased occupancy (and the prices as well). The girls were a bit noisy in the evening, but fortunately quieted down at 11 PM.

(Sorry for posting after we stayed there (just "catching up"). But, at least I can report about the stay. Bid accepted first time. Guess I started a bit high. This hotel was a bit "worn" but it did have a new HD TV that actually received HD stations (not just "stretch-O-vision". Unfortunately, the printed channel guide in the room said nothing about the HD stations. On the other hand, the bed was pretty substandard. Too soft and OLD - big depression in the center. Definitely needs upgrading (I would expect this in a 1*).

Started at $35, received counter offer of $42. Logged off and made new bid (at $35) for Mishawaka. That was not accepted. Added South Bend & raised bid to $37 - that was accepted.

Looking for room in Times Square, Midtown East, Midtown West, or Central Park South. Started structured bidding at $98 in each zone for 4* property. Added UES and Queensborough Bridge for free bids. My $104 bid (for TS, MTE + CPS) was accepted for this hotel. My general strategy was to bid for up to $110 till we got closer to the travel date, and then ramp up the bidding. Guess I don't have to continue with that. I checked reviews on Travel Adviser and I am sure that this will be one of the Pod rooms. We shall see what it really is like.

Started out at $51 and bid immediately accepted (guess I started a bit high).

Looking for 2.5* or 3* in either Maumee or Holland. First bid $45 for 3* Holland - not accepted, lowered both star rating to 2.5* and price to $40 - also not accepted. Started a new bid for Maumee 3* at $45 - not accepted, again lowered rating to 2.5* and price to $40 - this one accepted. If that had failed, I would have opened new bid for both Maumee and Holland for 3* at $50 and if that failed I would have lowered rating to 2.5*, keeping $50 bid. I did this yesterday, so if that had failed, I would have repeated the sequence today (after 6pm), raising the amount by $10 or $15 (bid $50 to $65). We've stayed at Country Inn & Suites often before (though not this one) and have been very satisfied with them. :)

I have been bidding for several days and got up to $52 for a 2.5* in Joliet. Priceline countered this bid with a try again offer of $61, which I accepted. We previously have stayed at this property and found it OK - but a bit old and worn. Back then it was rated 3* and that was really overrating it. We have also stayed in the Wingate Inn in Joliet and found that a better choice. As the Wingate was rated 2.5*, I concentrated my bidding on 2.5*. I noticed that when I started bidding for this trip that Priceline no longer had a 3* in Joliet - so I was a little concerned that Priceline may have adjusted the Holiday Inn rating downward. But I took a chance anyway, hoping that we could still get the Wingate. Oh well! :) As a side note: I note that today'sHotwire listings does have a 3* property (at $70) that looks like the Holiday Inn. A 2.5* property that looks like the Wingate, is $79. The Priceline hotel list should be adjusted to reflect this rating change.

Was looking for something in Scranton area along I-81. Started at Wilkes-Barrie at $50 and then added areas, increasing bids by $5 each time. After I got to $60 I increased bid to $70, which was accepted. Hotwire price in that area for 2.5* was $93. Prices had been lower on Hotwire a week ago. Wonder if this (increase) was caused by Irene or something?

You are right, I left out Kitchenette and (important for many) a POOL. Long list of amenities with this property. Easy to skip an item or two.

Was hoping for a Country Inn & Suites near Columbus Airport. There are two of them in the zone and we have stayed at both before. Was willing to take several days to get a good price. There was an earlier successful bid for $37, so I decided to start there. I was happy to find that my first bid at $37 was accepted and iit was for the Country Inn & Suites near the airport (as opposed to Broad Street, which would be fine too).

3* Springhill Suites in Eagan, MN. $58/night for 10/6-10/9/11 Amenities: Suite/Complementary Breakfast/Business Center/Airport Shuttle/No Smoking/Fitness Center/Laundry/High Speed Internet

Heavily structured bidding involving TS, MTW, MTE, CPS for 4*, using UES & QBB for free re-bids. Started at $125 and worked up to $185 when I got a $225 "suggestion. I passed on that I upped to $195, which was accepted. That was right at the limit of where I would go.

Bid $55 for 2.5* in Joliet yesterday - received $70 "bid again" offer which I passed on. Waited 24 hrs and bid again at $60, this one accepted for the Wingate. We've stayed there before. Nicer (less worn) than the 3* Holiday Inn Convention center in Joliet that we have stayed in before. Noted that the HOTWIRE prices for 2.5* in Joliet is $96 today. Not sure it is the same property (but I suspect so).

I haven't seen Hampton Inn Champaign on the Hotel List. I bid $49 for a 3*. That bid was not accepted. I lowered quality rating to 2.5*, keeping the $49 bid. That was accepted and the hotel was Hampton Inn. My experience with Hampton Inns would usually place them as a 3*. There has been ratings creep lately with Prceline & Hotwire, so I am a bit surprised with this.

Country Inns & Suites $47 each night for 2 nights. Previously bid $45 then $47 for 3*, lowered star rating and bid $47 which was accepted.

(Sorry for the postdated listing, but I wanted to provide a reference and surface an issue) Hotwire listing: Complementary Breakfast Laundry Internet connection Golf Nearby $44. Turned out to be the LaQuinta in Matteson. We've stayed in a LaQuinta in the area (Huffman Estates) before and found it quite satisfactory - so this initially looked good. Property was definaly not 2.5* quality! Musty oder in hall, wringled carpet on floor, sticky bathroom floor, showerhead falling apart, very dark picture on TV, no sound at all on 1/3 of channels, sound very high on others. However, the bed quality was top-notch and very comfortable. Breakfast room was clean but not very good selection of breakfast items (OJ only slightly diluted). Really don't know how I can trust HOTWIRE ratings when they rate, what should be a 1* property, a 2.5*.

This property was listed as 2.5* by Hotwire. It was a multi-story structure located at the end of a deserted road (behind a shopping mall). Friendly greeting at the front desk. As only staying overnight, I accepted offer of first floor. Musty oder in halls did not bode well. Room appeared well-worn. Dark carpet as wrinkled (perhaps it had been flooded). Bed had good qualety linen and was quite comfortable. Unfortunately, the TV was old and very dark (of course there were no user accesable adjustments to allow correction of the problem). There was no sound on about a third of the channels and the sound level was way high on a couple of channels (makes it difficult to surf channels without disturbing neighbors). Free breakfast was sparse but breakfast room appeared clean. Fact that this was rated 2.5* really makes me wonder about Hotwire ratings. AT BEST, this was a 2* - but a 1* really would be more appropriate.

Holiday Inn Joliet Conference Center Amenities: Fitness Center High Speed Internet Pool Restaurant Tennis Nearby 6/16/09-6/17/09 $62 (plus $14.69 Taxes & Fees

The dates of stay are 5/8 to 5/9/2009.

South Bend, IN - 2.5* $39 on Hotwire, turned out to be Jameson Inn. Stayed at one of these before (in NC), OK, but would rate more as a 2* than a 2.5* Complementary Breakfast, Fitness Center, Pool, High Speed Internet