Researched the price of rooms in Time Sq, Grand Central, Central Park South, Rockefeller, and Midtown East. Looked closer at the Express Deals and identified which hotel they were (mostly based on rating level / review quantity.)
I found The Premier looked like it was a PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal for 4.5*. Taking another 5% off the express deal price (for the BBJUN17 code), I set my ceiling for bidding.
After the first bid of $140, I was offered the opportunity to bid $191/room/night. I passed.
After many rounds of bidding by small ($2 then $1) increments, I was successful at $156 per night. This was also the 'ceiling' for my bidding attempt.
Summary of Charges / Receipt
Total cost: $1,616.56
Offer price: $156.00/night
Hotel fee: $87.12
Number of rooms: 4 rooms
Number of nights: 2 nights
Room subtotal: $1,248.00
Taxes & fees: $281.44
Total charged today: $1,529.44
Booked last minute room for a colleague to avoid the commute home after an industry social gathering. Probably could have done better price-wise, but didn't pre-plan. Deal Type: Name Your Own Price Room Price: $111.00 /room night Rooms: 1 Nights: 1 Room Subtotal: $111.00 Taxes & Fees: $25.64 Total Charged Today: $136.64 Total Charged: $136.64 Paid in Full
Bid for several days starting at ~$35...eventually one at $46. A few days before the trip, I tried the "Add a Night" options but was unsuccessful. They offered to add a night for a higher rate. Instead, I bid a few more times and won the same hotel at a price slightly below their offer.
Tried for higher star levels at first, then expanded criteria to 3.5* level. Pretty happy since this currently the #1 hotel in the Oak Brook area on TripAdvisor. (Ranked better than the higher star options listed on Priceline.)
Bid Method: Bid 1: $75, 4*, North Mich Ave Bid 2: $78, 4*, North Mich Ave, Franklin Park Bid 3: $71, 4*, North Mich Ave, Franklin Park, Hyde Park Bid 4: $84, 4*, North Mich Ave, Franklin Park, Hyde Park, MDW
Marriott Indianapolis Downtown 350 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225 | 317-822-3500 Check-In: Sat, Nov 17, 2012 / After 04:00 PM Check-Out: Sun, Nov 18, 2012 / 11:00 AM Rooms: 1 room Previous attempts: For a 4* hotel...$45, $50, $55, $60, $65, won with $70
Used PRICELINE link and won with the following. Check-In: Sat, May 12, 2012 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out: Tue, May 15, 2012 / 11:00 AM Rooms: 1 room / 3 nights Offer Price: $95.00 Rooms: 1 Nights: 3 Room Subtotal: $285.00 Taxes & Fees: $ 54.84 Total Charged: $339.84
Used the PRICELINE link and won. Round 1 Attempts: (I was actually aiming for 3*) $40 - Milwaukee Northwest $45 - Milwaukee Northwest, Milwaukee West $50 - Milwaukee Northwest, Milwaukee West, Germantown - Menomonee Falls No Luck. Round 2 Attempts: (Again, aiming for 3*) $55 - Milwaukee Northwest Was told if I raised my bid to $66 I would have a good chance. $58 - Milwaukee Northwest, Milwaukee West Won with $58 bid. Crowne Plaza Milwaukee West Milwaukee Northwest 10499 Innovation Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53226 Check-In: Fri, Nov 11, 2011 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out: Sat, Nov 12, 2011 / 11:00 AM Rooms: 1 room / 1 night
