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After reading the post by jwjr316 on April 11/13 about winning a 5* hotel in Paris, I decided to look at the Priceline Express feature for our trip to Paris in October, 2013. Priceline had a 5* hotel in the Arc de Triomphe area for $179/night for my dates. I started the bidding at $120 and increased my bidding in $5 increments using other areas of Paris that had suitable 5* hotels and those areas that did not have 5* hotels (free-bid zones). After 3 series of attempts I won the Renaissance Paris Arc De Triomphe at $160/night to total $537.57 including taxes. Other sites have this hotel priced at more than 3x the amount I paid. Thanks to Better Bidding for their "Hotel Wins" Board, "List of Hotels" Board and bidding strategy. I don't believe I could have made this deal without them. :)

Pick up at Ft. Lauderdale and drop off at West Palm Beach (Palm Beach) airports. Starting bid at $15/day. Response was that I could get the car for $20/day. Waited 24 hours to rebid at $17/day and was confirmed with Alamo. Rental is $153.00 plus taxes and fees of $108.44 to total $261.44 for 9 days. This win was $70 less than the least expensive car rental agency quote even with my AAA discount.

It is a civic holiday on the 1st monday in August for people in Ontario. Many will travel to Montreal. That may be the explanation. Good Luck!

Thanks for all this valuable information. As this is for my first grandchild who will be 7 months old when we will be travelling, this is all new to us, my daughter and son-in-law. He is now in a car seat that is set within a base frame that is anchored into the car. At the time of travelling he will have graduated into a larger car seat that can be seat-belted into place without an anchored base. Based upon the information provided by participants of Better Bidding, the new and larger car seat will be taken on the plane down to Florida rather than renting one from the car rental agency. Again, thanks for this info.

Thanks for the help. :)

We will be renting a van in West Palm Beach and require an infant car seat. Do all car rental agencies have infant car seats available?

Started bidding at $55 and increased to $65 in $5 increments. No surprise at getting the Sheraton for $65 thanks to the Better Bidding site. Advertised rate is $99. I'm pleased.

Topic should read 3/17-3/20.

After seeing some previous posts on Better Bidding it seemed that this week would be more expensive - possibly due to many colleges/universities having spring break. I started at $100 and went up in $10 increments and used the re-bidding zone feature over a few days. I received the bait to increase my bid by $40 when I reached $150 and continued in $10 increments. The $170 winning bid does not include taxes or the resort fee of $20. However, the best room rate I could find on Wynn's website or Expedia was $339/night plus taxes and resort fee. My room rate is essentially 50% of the going room rate. Not a bad deal I think for this hotel. Thanks Better Bidding!

As noted in my previous post I was looking to book 3 rooms in Hollywood for 2 additional nights. I had booked 2 rooms for the 1 night before (Dec 23rd) and was not able to extend the stay and increase the number of rooms from 2 to 3. Yesterday I bid $70 and was told by Priceline to increase my bid to $90 to get the 3 rooms. I waited the 24 hours and bid $72 and got the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa....just down the street from the Crowne Plaza where I will be staying the previous night. According to the Westin website, a room at the Westin Diplomat on the days that I won are going for $320 night. Better Bidding, my family thanks you and I thank you.

From the previous posts I could see that a 4* in Hollywood was going for approx. $65 in December so I bid $65 and received the response that I should increase it by $20 to $85 in order to get 2 hotel rooms. I waited the 24 hours and bid $70 and got the Crowne Plaza. There was another offer given to me to add more nights which I was looking for, however I also wanted to add a room to total 3 rooms for 2 addtional nights. Priceline would not allow me to make that addition because of the additional room requested. I'm glad they didn't. See my next post. Thanks better bidding!

Needed a hotel for 1 night before going on cruise to Alaska. Better Bidding members posted that most priceline wins for 4* were won at Hyatt for $80. Opening bid $75 - rejected and asked to increase by $15 to get room. Did not take bait but waited 24 hours. Bid $80 - rejected and again asked to rebid for $15 more. Waited 24 hours and bid $85 - rejected. Then assumed that Hyatt was not the hotel. Waited 24 hours and bid $90 - rejected. Waited 24 hours and bid $95 - won room at Marriott Pinnacle. Expedia has it listed at $236 CDN ($225 US)./night incl. breakfast for 2. 400 yards from the cruise terminal.

Hi KatiesMom Not that I'm an expert but I was born, raised and have lived in Toronto for 50+ years and if there is something you want to run by me for advice on Toronto.. I'll try to help. Have you had any luck getting a hotel? All the downtown hotels that have been mentioned are within a 10-15 minute walk from the Skydome and in safe areas of the city. Tip..on coming in to Toronto from Niagara Falls consider taking the Niagara Falls Parkway to Niagara on the Lake (quaint town) and have lunch or just an ice cream. When in Stratford we stay at a B & B called Duggan's Place. Laura and Tony Carter are wonderful people and Laura, being a chef, makes a great breakfast.

Thanks for the info. I guess it's just part of the deal when staying at a hotel of this quality.

There have been no recent reports on this hotel that I was able to find so I took a guess at $70 a room for 2 rooms and won right away. Thanks Better Bidding. :)

I bid $110/night to be sure I didn't spend alot of time bidding and was accepted right away for the 4 nights. I'd guess that it could be had for $105/night. Thanks again Better Bidding.

Thanks Wolverine6336 for your posting. I bid $110/night at the same hotel from 07/06/09-07/10/09 to be sure I didn't spend alot of time bidding and was accepted right away. Your posting saved me time.

Thank you Better Bidding for a great deal on PRICELINE. I was bidding for 2 rooms and thereby getting a rebate coupon from Priceline for future purchases. I have yet to see that rebate emailed to me. I started bidding at $135/room based upon info from Better Bidding postings. Each day I increased it by $5 until I reached $150/room but no luck. I continued on a daily basis to increase the bidding by $10 increments and yesterday bid $180/room and did not get it. However. I was advised by Priceline that if I increased my bid by $25 more, then I would likely get a 5*hotel room as requested. I didn't take the bait. Today I bid $190/room and got it. Expedia has it listed at $413/night/room.