momoffive

Hi, Just wanted to give some feedback on my most recent bid. We are travelling with our two kids, ages 13 and 11, and have stayed at Omni Hotels in NYC, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco and have loved them. Omni Hotels offer special "extras" to the kids like free hot chocolate room service, free internet, free access to the fitness center, lovely spacious rooms, beautiful lobbies, and we have always found the staff to be really friendly and congenial. So, on our trip to Chicago, I noticed that another bidder got the Omni this same weekend for $240. There didn't seem to be many 4.5 star hotels in the River North area, so I thought it would be worth a shot. I bid $240 for 4.5 star hotel, North Michigan Ave-River North. Instead, we got the Intercontinental, which is ideally situated at the end of the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Ave. Location must be what justifies this as a 4.5 star hotel. The room is very small and cramped, and there is really nothing special about this hotel. The lobby is nothing that special--no furniture to speak of. The 85-yr-old pool is historic and interesting (google it), and if you like lap swimming, this is ideal for you (use of pool is free). But the fitness center is $17/day, and the internet is the same rate, I believe. Disappointing overall for $240/day. I'm sure many bidders can get this hotel for much less, in which case it is a great location.

Final decision with San Fran trip: after trying $215 for a 4* in Financial District with no luck, I purchased the Omni San Fran on Expedia for $235/nite Th/Fri 10/11-12 and don't know yet about 10/13-10/15. Thanks for your help.

I've always risked it and used Priceline. I tried $215 San Francisco Embarcardero (Financial District) tonight, hoping to get the Omni, with no luck getting anything. Question: do I risk getting the 4* hotels that are going for the low $100s when I bid this high? As in, I could pay $100 more per night than other bidders on this forum for the same hotel on the same night? How does that work? Once I cross a certain price threshold, does that automatically align me with the nicer hotels, even though they're all in the same 4* category?

Sorry that I forgot to follow up. Pretty sure I used bidding, not retail.

OK, I used the link you provided to provide follow-up comments on the D.C. trip, so will now await your reply.

Thanks, we did end up staying at the Omni Shoreham the entire time in Woodley Park. It was right by the National Zoo and very near a metro stop, which was convenient. The Shoreham was nice enough...probably like a 3.5 as far as the room and hallways went. Worked out fine.

Hi, Taking our 10- and 12-yr-old to San Francisco over Fall break: Thursday, October 11 thru Monday, October 15. Would love to get the Omni in Financial District (or Hotel Monaco wouldn't be bad on Nob HIll). I see that two forum members got the S.F. Omni in September this year for $219 and $181. We are considering splitting the trip up and doing a night or two south of S.F. in Monterey. Am I better off bidding for the city on Th/Fri or Sat thru Mon morning? Homebound flight is Mon eve at OAK airport.

I've been researching some more tonight. The Omni Shoreham looks like a great option. (Woodley Park, I think.) Since I care about getting the specific hotel, I'm guessing you'll tell me to just book it on PL for $143/nite. I see someone got it for $117, but it looks like there are one or two other four stars in that region that I could get instead if I bid something like $125. Probably not worth the risk. Let me know if you agree.

OK, I clicked on both links. I did some research and decided it's better to just stay local (not try to go to Williamsburg). So, maybe all six nights at a place like the Mayflower Renaissance, or maybe 4 nights near the White House, and 2 nights elsewhere that we could take mass transit or a cab to? Like Old Town Alexandria? I like the looks of the Omni Shoreham, but can't tell if it's too far away from main tourist attractions. Having never been there, it's hard to know. People are getting the Mayflower for $115 on 8/8/11 or some date near that. Ack. Getting so nervous. Need to get this booked. We leave Thursday morning.

Thanks, I provided follow-up comments to the two threads. Desired budget...I don't know, between $150 and $200 I guess.

Hi, thanks. I was thrilled to get the Omni Berkshire again, for $195, I believe. I think I clicked on your "hotel reviews" and found a similar bid for the Omni Berkshire NYC, so it guided me in how much to offer. As expected, the hotel staff was delightful, offering my children two roll-away beds with no extra cost. The room was spacious and clean, and the location off Fifth Ave. was wonderful. I was so happy to get that hotel again!

Thanks, decided to just drive all the way through from CA back to UT and didn't stop in Vegas. I will keep this advice in mind in the future when traveling with our family.

Hi, Wondering if you can tell me what regions I would want to select if we follow the itinerary pasted below. Dates are Aug 11 thru Aug 17 next week. Taking our 11- and 9- yr- old. I'm not too attached to this itinerary--just one I pulled off Disney vacations, so flexible. Would love your tips on finding great hotels for a family of four for a 5-day trip thru D.C., Williamsburg and Jamestown. I usually select 4* hotels, although sometimes Residence Inn type hotels that serve a hot breakfast are a nice alternative. Prefer classic, traditional boutique hotels, but I think you have to know a region really well to get that picky with Priceline or Hotline. Any input you have to offer will be helpful. We leave Thursday and I haven't booked anything yet, so getting very nervous. At A glance: Explore D. C. via bike (Renaissance Mayflower hotel is where the Disney group stays) Day 2: Iwo Jima Arlington Cemetary Columbia Island Marina Smithsonian Day 3: Mount Vernon Lunch at Mt Vernon Inn National Mall International Spy Museum Day 4: Jamestown, VA The Great Wolf Lodge Day 5: Colonial Williamsburg Lunch at King's Arm Tavern Afternoon in Williamsburg

Hello! Trying to do as well as I did last July when I took my 8 yr old daughter for a first trip to NYC. Bid something like $155 and got the Omni Berkshire (considered a boutique, I believe?). LOVED this hotel. Returned in October with my husband and bid $250 for the Affinia Manhattan and absolutely LOATHED it. Dirty, dark, disgusting. So frustrating to pay almost twice as much and hate it. So, now I'm returning Fri 8/13 thru Tues 8/17 with my husband and 7- and 9-yr old and don't want to make a mistake again. Pretty sure it's MTE/MTW or nothing! So I bid $147 MTW/MTE, hoping to get another 4* boutique (hoped for the Warwick), since so many have gotten that one for between $142 and $150 in August. But it got turned down. I want to avoid a big chain, preferring a boutique. I noticed the 4* Sheraton MTW accepts bids around $130. Hoping to avoid that one. What do you think my next step should be?

We'll be headed back home from our family vacation in Newport, CA next weekend and will be driving through Las Vegas, NV. I'd like to stay in the Convention Center area in a family suite 2 BR, 2 bath, continental breakfast. Is there a trick to reserving a 2BR, 2 bath suite? Can't see it as an option.

After about 15 bids, I went from bidding $152 all the way up to $250, adding Central Park, MTE, MTW, Convention Center and I think one more. Got rejected for 3.5 stars at $230! Finally got 3.5 star Affinia in Convention area at $250. Wow! Stayed in nicer 4* (Omni Berkshire) in July for $152. Didn't realize October was so expensive.

Yes, I understand that. Yes, I would be willing to stay in any 4* in the MTE area. There is just evidence that those two hotels accepted bids from Priceline for the time period I'm wanting to stay there. One guy got Barclay for $120-ish for the weekend following when we're traveling (marathon), and another got Grand Hyatt for $178.

Returning to NYC for get-away with hubby Thurs Oct 21 thru Sunday Oct 25. Would love to stay at Barclay. Grand Hyatt would be fine too. So, I follwed Lenat's lead and bid $178 tonight. Rejected. What should be my next move?

So, I ended up staying at the Omni Berkshire for $152/night in MTE. LOVED this hotel. Smaller (a boutique?), and super about service. We were two moms, each traveling with a 9-yr-old daughter. The staff was friendly to the girls and welcomed them with a kid "backpack" containing activities. Also, our flight was delayed, and we didn't arrive at the Omni until 7:40 p.m on a Thursday night. We wanted to make it to Little Mermaid at 8 p.m. I called the bellman from the taxi and warned him we would be literally running in the door, dropping our bags and running back out. They were so friendly and fast, and even sent us with a hotel umbrella. The taxi driver waited for us on the curb and took us to the theater. We were in our seats at curtain call. Adrenalin rush! Who said New Yorkers aren't friendly? Anyway, loved the Omni. I called them tonight to see what the rate would be for my husband and I next week and they quoted high $400s.

Want to stay in 4* MTE (Grand Hyatt, Barclay) Wed. 10/21 thru Sun 10/25. Just tried Lenat's numbers ( Lenat got $178 for the following weekend) and I got rejected. What do I do next?

Question: On the bidding Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins, I just noticed the Westin Times Square sell on PRICELINE in August '09 on a Friday night for $120. I tried for July with no luck. Should I keep trying each night, increasing bid by what increments? I understand the strategy for selecting other areas in which you know there are no 4 star hotels, so you can bid again the same day, but how do I know what NYC areas have no four-star hotels? Is it risky, i.e. you thought there were no 4 stars in Queens, but you're wrong and now you're staying in Queens? Sorry if stupid questions.

Very helpful! Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to reply! First, not familiar with HOTWIRE, but when I compare it to PRICELINE on the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins for Theater district hotels, people seem to have paid significantly more for the same hotels ($150 for Intercontinental Barclay on HOTWIRE/ $110 on PRICELINE; $120 Sheraton on HOTWIRE vs. $96 on PRICELINE. Why is that? Also, is the Sheraton so bad? It's situated right where I want to be, isnt' it? I'm not seeing Westin Times Square as one of the possibilities on hotwire under Times Square. Sorry, I'm a novice.

Hi! I'm taking my 9-yr-old daughter on a fun mom/daughter trip to see all the Disney Broadway shows. All the theaters are between 42nd and 47th, between 7th and 8th Ave. We're going Thurs 7/23 thru Sun 7/26. I want to be able to walk safely back to a nice Marriott Marquis-quality hotel after each show. I would be willing to pay around $160-$170/nite if that's what it takes. I've been watching the bidding calendar though, and it looks like everyone ends up in the Sheraton for around $96. which would be great, but it looks like I'm dealing with bed bugs and scummy showers if we do? Anyway, I've already studied this site until my eyes are bleary and still am not sure the best way to place a bid to best meet these requirements (safe walking distance from those specific theaters and a Marriott Marquis-quality hotel.) Can someone coach me on how exactly to place this bid?