taliategan

I have been bidding on 3* in the Secaucus zone for the past several weeks and I am approaching my maximum bid amount for the dates of 5/4/12 to 5/6/12. I currently have a cancelable AAA rate at the Hilton Garden Inn Secaucus for $115 a night I made several months ago when these dates were not yet finalized. My last bid was $ 82 and I want to to beat the Hilton Garden Inn by at least $ 20 a night. (All of the 3* star hotels on this site's Priceline hotel list are showing rooms available, but the Hilton Garden Inn does not.) I have been focusing on the Secaucus zone because I will have a car and want free parking, and also would prefer to use bus transporation to NYC (my wife does not like the subway). Wondering how the Meadowlands zone compares to the Secaucus zone with tarnsportation to and from NYC, as I was thinking of adding this zone to my bidding? Also does anyone have any "reasonable" dining recommendations for families in the Midtown/Time Square areas for lunch or dinner?

A few tips - you should have started this as a new topic, since it is not related to the current thread. The moderators may change to a new topic. Priceline only guarantees bedding for two. Hotwire would be your better option. I would run you searches for both 3 and 4 guests, and the results will guarantee bedding for the numbers of guests you run the searches. The bedding will not necessarily be two doubles or two queens. There could be a pull out sofa or roll away for the 3rd or 4th guests. Priceline tends to be lower in pricing, but Hotwire is less of a risk. (With Hotwire can possibly identify hotel before making purchase and have some idea of amenities provided at the hotel and some Hotwire listing also state its own or a tripdavisor rating.) The flexibility in your dates will help, but a 14 day stay may not get your best pricing. It is possible that some hotels may not have Hotwire or Pricline rooms available for entire length of stay, so those hotels would not show up on a 14 day search. I would also run some searches on Hotwire within your 14 days period for shorter time periods within the 14 days and compare the prices. If the prices are lower for the shorter search period dates, you could consider splitting your stay between two or more hotels. I would also read through Hotwire and Priceline tips on the Home Page of this site before bidding. Since this is your first time using Hotwire or Priceline and you are bidding for an extended stay, you want to to reduce you liklihood for making a mistake with the bidding or purchasing process by knowing as much information about the process as possible. If you make a mistake on a 1 night stay, it's not a big as a problem as on a 14 night stay.

Bid $ 38 and received a counteroffer of $ 46. I had one re-bid zone at 2.5* level, so I re-bid at $ 42 and won. This hotel was listed on the hotel list as a 2* star, but must have been upgraded to a 2.5*. I believe I had identified this same hotel on Hotwire for $ 50, but the listing was raised to $53 today. I tried Priceline rather than making the Hotwire purchase in hopes of getting a hotel with a pool for the kids, but ended up with the same hotel. Still happy with the results and price. I have stayed at the other two hotels in Willamsburg Square, but not the HI Express yet. Used the betterbidding PRICELINE link to make the purchase.

5 days at $ 26.95, plus charges/fees of $ 53.85 for a total of $ 188.60. The Hotwire rates had been in the mid $50s up until I saw this rate today. Regular rates have been in the $80s to $ 90s. I was not sure how the rates would go leading up to March 7 as this is spring break time, so I jumped on this rate.

I have been seeing the amenity icons and/or satisfaction rating pop up on some of my searches over the last two days. They pop up under star selection you select once you click the circle next to the star level of the hotel.

A few tips - the moderators will help you our more: At your selected star level and zone, you only get one bid within a 24 hour time frame. It's possible you can make more bids at the same bidding session or within the 24 hour period if there are other zones in the Orlando bidding area that do not have hotels rated 3* or higher. You have to check each zone of the initial Priceline bidding page and make note of the other zones that do not have 3* or higher listings. After your first bid failed, you can then add these other zones and make higher bids by adding each of these zones. You will not win in these other zones if you keep your star rating at 3* because they have no hotels available that are rated 3* or higher. Also, it is just a matter of chance if you would get the Hyatt Place. The International Drive South zone has many hotels and many reported hotels at the 3* level. You could get any of these other hotels rated 3*, and possibly even a 3.5* or 4* as Priceline can upgrade you to a higher star level if there are no 3* hotels available but there is a 3.5* or 4* available at that price you bid. The upgrading does not happen frequently, but it is a possibility. Have you checked Hotwire? This Hyatt Place is available sometimes on Hotwire - you would need to compare the amenities listed on 3* Hotwire listing for that zone and compare it to amenity listing on this site's Hotwire listing for the Hyatt Place. If you think it may be available, you should confirm it with moderators to make sure it would be a correct match.

2nd bidding session; 1st bid was $ 50 and received counteroffer of $ 64.00. I had 5 re-bid zones in North Shore at the 4* level, so I bid up $ 1 on each bid and was accepted on the last re-bid. I was originally looking at the Evanston area as the location would have worked better for the wedding we are attending. There was no hotels higher than a 3* on either Hotwire or Priceline in Evanston. I believe the Hotwire 3* listing was the Holiday Inn which I believe has received some negative comments on this site. I also thought the Holiday Inn may have been a likely win on Priceline so I decided to bid on the North Shore zone. Used PRICELINE link on this site to make the bid.

Needed this for a sleepover on the way to Evanston, Il for a wedding. Purchased for 2A/2C, but the same listing and price was available 2A/0C. Not sure if I have the captioned listed correctly - I searched for South Bend - but this listing was only labeled "Mishawaka". Amenities were - Smoke Free, Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness, Pool, Business Center and Internet. At time opf purchase - early last week - listed 100% Hotwire approval and 4.5 Tripadvisor rating. Used betterbidding HOTWIRE link to make purchase.

This may have been only the second time I was looking for a hotel on Priceline and Hotwire and was not successful. Although - what I was looking for at the rack rates on 4* hotels with a view of the falls was different than I probably would have got on Priceline or Hotwire - likely a cityview or limited river view. I picked a price that would have enticed me away from a fallsview room at one of the 4*. I limited my Priceline bidding to 4*, as there was no 3.5* on the hotel list and there was a couple of 3* on the list I was not comfortable bidding for. On Hotwire, I was looking at listings at 3*, 3.5* and 4*. I only needed one night - midweek on 8/17, which helped a lot on prices compared to the weekend rates. I was looking for the 3 weeks preceding my trip. There was limited listings on Hotwire foy my day - a 4* I identified as the Sterling Inn was showing for most of the time, but only for 2 A, and I had 2A and 2C in my party. Since this was a boutique hotel, I did not really look into it. There were a few days a 3* listing showed which I believed was the Four Points, but the Hotwire price was just a few dollars lower than the rack rate for the Four Points lowest price room. The day before I traveled, a 4* listing appeared I believed was the Sheraton on the Falls but I had already booked a room at the Embassy Suites which became non-cancelable within 72 hours. When I was bidding Priceline, I bid up to $95 on about 10 different occasions for 4* (also took another re-bid at the 3.5* star level, since there was no 3.5* hotels on the hotel list). Embassy Suites worked out good as I got a fairly good rack rate price 2 days before travel with a great view of both US and Canadian falls. I noticed the rack rates at a lot of hotels fluctuated quite a bit, with a general reduction as my travel date became closer. The same was true for the Hotwire rates. For betterbidding hotel list for Priceline and Hotwire - the Sheraton Fallsview is now Marriott Gateway to the Falls. Interesting because now there are two Marriott hotels almost right next to each other on Fallsview Boulevard.

The North zone may be a bit closer to the Penn Stater - the Penn Stater is a bit east of the Northeast corner of the campus. I-99 would provide quick access from the North zone hotels to the Penn Stater which also just off of I-99. As far as quality of hotels, its just a matter of opinion - I don't think there is much difference between reported 3* hotels (excluding the Atherton) and in the South zone and reported 2.5* hotels in the North zone. The Atherton is right in the town of State College adjacent to the southwest parrt of the campus. Courtyard and Residence Inn are couple miles south of the campus. The reported 2.5* North zone hotels are probably 2-3 miles north of the campus. I think the North zone has better restaurant and shopping options than the South zone, unless you would get a hotel right in the town of State College. If you stay in the town you would have the benefit of being to walk to the stores, restaurants, bars and the campus. If you use Priceline and bid the South zone, there is no guarantee you would get a hotel in the town as the South zone extends from the south border of the campus to several miles South of the campus.

I think this is just the high summer season when these hotels anticipate selling their most of rooms at their regular summer rates. I have been checking for a couple mid-week dates in August and have had the same problem on both the Hotwire listings and bidding on Priceline. There probably is not much of a discount on Priceline. Just my opinion - but if any of the 4* hotels realize they still have rooms available a day or two before - that is when you there may be a more significant discount on the Priceline pricing. I would just make a cancelable reservation and keeping bidding up until the day before stayover night.

I have been following that strategy in State College since the Atherton became a 3* possibility in the South zone. I never stayed at the Atherton, but was relying on some negative comments made about that hotel on these boards. I believe the 2.5* hotels reported in the North zone are in the Williamsburg Square area - Springhill Suites, Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn (just recently reported). I have stayed in the Springhill Suites - all three get fairly good reviews. There are also a few restaurants in Williamsburg Square as well - Olive Garden and Outback that I can recall. The other reported 3* in the South zone were Courtyard and Residence Inn. There is no guarantee that you would get any of these hotels in bidding in either zone as star ratings sometime change and additions to the Priceline hotels in that zone can occur as well.

I saw this in a magazine while I was waiting for my car yesterday - downtown Pittsburgh has outdoor wifi (site also indicates it can work from lower floors of buildings close to windows). Its free for up to 2 hours a day, but you must register on the site and provide credit card. www.wifipittsburgh.com.

This is disappointing the Hilton was downgraded to a 3*. I was hoping to get this hotel for a wedding in early November. I suspected this may have happened because I ran PRICELINE for my dates and several other dates between now and early November and there was no 3.5* hotel possibilities shown for the Evanston zone. I'll just hope it shows up on HOTWIRE.

Bit surpised this would be a 1* - I have seen it listed on Hotwire in the past as a 2*. It's not that old of a hotel - I would say it was built around 2004 or so. I drive by it on the way to work everyday - normally a lot of cars in its parking lot. There is an Econo-Lodge in this area which took over a non-franchised motel structure a year or so back which I thought would have been a risk bidding a 1* in this zone.

There is a 2.5* on HOTWIRE for $ 70 and 95% approval rating for your dates. This is likely the HI Express in Williamsburg Square - nice area with 3 hotels and several restaurants together. Some bidding the 3* in the PRICELINE's South zone have received the Atherton which has received some negative reviews. I am not sure of your PSU's fall schedule, but the latter part of your dates may be close to the time when students begin to arrive for fall schedule. This may effect the prices on both PRICELINE and HOTWIRE. I use to bid the South zone at 3* thinking I would get either the Residence Inn or Courtyard - since the Atherton became a possibility, I have been bidding the North zone at 2.5*.

Not sure if I quite follow your post - but if you were trying to use the other zones as free re-bid zones for the Downtown and Unversity zones, that would only work if the other zones highest star rated hotels available were lower than the star rating you were trying to obtain in either the Downtown or University zones. You must have bid at the 2.5* rating in order to get this hotel. In any case, I am familiar with the area - it is about 25 minute drive to Downtown without any type of traffic issues - several possible routes to get to the Downtown or University areas. You are close to a mall, shopping areas and many restaurants, but would need a car to get around even though the mall and restaurants are only a few minutes away from the Springhill Suites.

The new Courtyard is on Campbells Run Road in an area called Settlers Ridge, just off the Parkway on the way to Pittsburgh from the Airport.

I would assume the Courtyard you won is the one that previously has been reported on this site, but there is new Courtyard that opened several months back just off the Parkway close to the area where the Hyatt Place and HI Express are located.

Was trying in several zones (3.5 or 3 in Brdgewater/Somerville; 3 in Basking Ridge & Clinton/Lebanon and 3.5 in Somerset/Piscataway). This was the only zone I received a counteroffer (on bid of $ 47, received a counteroffer of $62). I suspected that I would get the Crowne Plaza in this zone based upon previous wins in this zone, but knew there was a chance for Doubletree as well. First time staying at a Crowne Plaza, so looking forward to this brief stay.

Won this for my wife who is taking a CE course early morning on 2/26. Third bidding session was successful - started at $ 35 and went to $ 40 first session (two re-bid zones at 3* level, Johnstown and Somerset - nice to have the re-bid zones, but these are not viable options if you are looking to stay close to Altoona as neither area is that close to Altoona); first bid of $ 41 on 2nd session received a counteroffer of $ 56; then bid up to $ 45; third session, first bid of $ 45 received another counteroffer of $ 60, second bid of $46 was accepted. Most times when I receive a counteroffer, a successful bid is normally about 1/2 way between the bid made and the amount of the first counteroffer. Used betterbidding link to PRICELINE to make purchase.

Hotels like Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard, that do not have complimetary breakfasts, will frequently offer a slightly higher room rate which will include the breakfast. If you plan on eating the breakfast, it is usually better to pay the higher room rate with breakfast included rather than paying for the breakfast separately. Since the LMT travel rate is likely substancially below HGI's rate if booked directly, I would check with LMT to see exactly what is included with the breakfast - how many guests per room are included, if children under a certain age are free, etc.

The Best Western is a fairly large hotel and hopefully they will be accomodate your request. I travel with our two children (10 and 8) frequently and normally use PRICELINE over HOTWIRE. The couple of times I was not able to get a room with two beds occurred when we checked in late at night. Once was at a Holiday Inn and the other was at a Hilton Garden Inn. In both case, the room had either a small sofa (not a sofa bed) or a large chair with foot stool where one of our children slept, and the other three of us slept in the king bed. I did stay in that Best Western but had a room with two beds, so I am not sure what the configuration of the king bed room looks like. If you are able to check in early that may help your cause.

5 day rental - $ 165.00 total including tax and fees; Hotwire rate was $ 222.00 and best I found non-opaque was $ 233.00 Used betterbidding link to PRICELINE to make purchase.

Was looking for 3* in Brandon or East-Fairgounds zones close to I-75 for a sleepover after a late arriving flight into MCO. Leaving for Marco Island/Naples area early the next morning. Bid in both zones with one re-bid zone available. Received some counter-offers in both zones from $ 53 to $ 55. This Hilton Garden Inn is identified as Hilton Garden Inn East/Brandon, but it is actually in the East-Fairgounds zone not the Brandon zone. Looks like it is just off I-75. Used Betterbidding link to PRICELINE to make the purchase.