footloose

Yes, $39 was my first bid.

I kind of held my breath while submitting this bid, hoping to avoid certain properties with less than favorable reviews. We just need a clean place to sleep on our trip East for Spring Break and this looks like it will be fine. It's close to the freeway and offers a free continental breakfast. $39 was my first bid. Total for 2 rooms, 1 night, is $96.36. I always use the Savingsbarn link to show my support for betterbidding.com. Thanks again!

This was my first bid. I actually had it in my head that I would most likely get the 2.5* Amerisuites. My family stayed there over Christmas and it was a nice place for a get-a-way. I must say, though, that the Crowne Plaza is plenty nice, too. I'm sure my friends will enjoy their stay.

Bid $40 for 2.5* in Grand Rapids Southeast, bid accepted, and upgraded to 3*. Another bid for friends. This hotel has a nice pool for the kids.

I first bid $46 for 3* in Jersey City, rejected. Added 2.5* and bid $48, rejected. Started new bid for 3* in Jersey City and Secaucus-North Bergen, bid $50, also rejected. Added 2.5* and bid $55, bid accepted for 2.5* Amerisuites Secaucus Meadowlands. Total for 1 room, 2 nights with taxes and fees is $133.46. This is for friends with a very limited budget. I was initially hoping for the Hyatt in Jersey City, but since they are driving, the free parking at this hotel makes it a good deal for them. The free breakfast buffet will help, too. Bus to Port Authority in NYC stops at hotel and makes visiting the city easy for first time visitors.

Thank you, cytoguy, for the quick response! The moderator and posters on this board are the greatest!

Tonight, I first bid $45 for 2.5* in Newton-Waltham zone, bid rejected. Added Framingham-Natick zone and raised bid to $48, bid accepted for the Residence Inn Framingham. Total with taxes and fees is $329.08, 2 rooms for 3 nights. This includes free hot breakfast buffet daily and evening reception on week nights. Great deal! This location even has an indoor pool. My kids will be thrilled!

Cytoguy, how far in advance did you bid and win this hotel? I would like to try bidding for 2 nights in this zone and am doing my research. Thanks for your help! ~Footloose

Yippee! First time trying for this date and my bid was accepted. After hearing so many good reports about this hotel, I'm eager to stay here. My family is making a quick stop in NYC to have dinner with my sister on our way home from Boston to Michigan. (Well, sort of on the way...can't be so close and not stop in for a visit!) :) Total with taxes and fees is $117.34 for 2 rooms.

Since there are a few free rebid zones for a 3* in the Cleveland area, I started bidding at $38. That bid was rejected, but I was offered rooms if I increased my bid by $11. Instead of accepting the counter-offer, I added Elyria as a free rebid and submitted a bid of $40. Accepted! Total for 2 rooms with taxes and fees is $100.38. Thanks Thereuare and Betterbidding for the valuable service you provide!

Happy Birthday to Better Bidding! The posts on Better Bidding give me the information I need to make educated bids on Priceline and save time and money. Take a few minutes to post your bids and hotel reviews; that's what makes this site work! Many thanks to Thereuare and all members of Better Bidding!

I just had a similar experience at a hotel in the Detroit area. While relaxing in the hotel's hot tub, another hotel guest asked me if I had made my reservation through Priceline. We compared winning bids and she was surprised at how much less I had paid. I told her about betterbidding.com and the help available on the site for more educated bidding. She could hardly wait to get back to her computer and check it out for herself! Thanks betterbidding.com !!!

The Marriott Pontiac is conveniently located near highways, shopping, and both the Palace and the Silver Dome. Although the building looks basic from the outside, the interior was beautifully decorated and spotless. Our request for a non-smoking room with two beds was granted and no mention of Priceline was made. Our room was of an average size with two very comfortable double beds, side chair, large desk and swivel-type chair, and armoire with TV and coffee maker. The bathroom was larger than most 3* hotels that we've stayed in. The door between our room and the hall was very solid and heavy and kept out almost all noise. The pool area was very clean and attractive and included a hot tub, fitness room and men's and women's locker rooms with saunas. This place was a bargain for our winning Priceline bid of $45. We would love to return again and again!

Our family had 4 rooms for 2 nights at this hotel for a winning Priceline bid of $39. We were extremely happy with our experience at this Amerisuites, from check-in to check-out. The staff members were friendly and helpful, the pool was warm, the hot tub was hot, the rooms and public areas clean, and the free breakfast buffet excellent. Not a fancy place, but homey and comfortable and perfect for a relaxing family get-a-way. We couldn't have asked for more. I called a few days in advance and requested suites with 2 beds, located near each other in the hotel; both requests were cheerfully granted. Each suite had a living area with fold-out couch and TV, a kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave, and sink, a nice sized bathroom, and a sleeping area with 2 double beds and another TV.

On 12/28 I bid $45 For a 3* in the Auburn Hills/Pontiac zone, my bid was rejected but I was offered a room if I increased my bid by $13, I declined and added Warren as a free rebid and increased my bid to $50. This bid was also rejected but I was offered a room for a $14 increase. Crazy! I decided to wait 72 hours and try again. Today I bid $45 for a 3* in the Auburn Hills/Pontiac zone and my bid was accepted at the Marriott Pontiac. This looks like a new hotel for the list. I was thinking I might get the Hilton Suites for $45, but this looks like a nice place and I'm looking forward to our stay. We will be attending a Pistons game and doing some shopping. I'll write a review when I return.

As a family of nine, we always need two hotel rooms when traveling. We have stayed at many different hotel chains in almost every state in the continental U.S. and have never had a problem with not having an adult in each room. I have never even been asked at check-in if there would be an adult in each room. My husband and I stay in one room with our two youngest and the teenagers stay in the other. They are well-behaved (if I do say so myself!) and it has always worked out fine. Of course, most of the reservations for these stays were not made on Priceline. Four times in the past year, though, we have had six family members spread out in two rooms that were reserved on Priceline and we had no trouble at all.

CONGRATULATIONS! I'm celebrating with you! As the proud mama of seven (six sons, one daughter), I know what a blessing you have received.

My husband and I spent 2 nights here in October for a week-end of restaurant and museum hopping. Great location between Ann Arbor and Detroit for someone with a car who wants to visit both areas. The hotel is located on a lake and a golf course, which made for beautiful views from almost every window, except the rooms on the parking lot side. The weather ended up being too cold for us to enjoy the walking trails around the lake, but we did enjoy the indoor pool and hot tub. We requested and received a King, NS, room and the bed in our room had some kind of memory foam topper that was very comfortable for sleeping. There is a restaurant in the hotel, but we didn't eat there.

I purchased this room as a gift for friends and went ahead of time to check them in and to get a look at the place. It is in a busy location between two malls, but the studio suite assigned to them was very private and quiet. The living area, bedroom, bathroom, and full kitchen were all spotless and well decorated with a few homey touches, like real plants and a filled candy jar. The room had a gas fireplace, too. Off the lobby was an attractive eating area where they served the free daily breakfast buffet and free week-day evening meals. Recreational facilities included a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, and tennis court. My friends said that everything about their stay here was wonderful.

Tonight I bid $37 for a 3* in Grand Rapids Southeast zone, rejected Added 2.5* and raised bid to $39, accepted! I had devised this strategy after much research and this time it paid off. The 3* Crowne Plaza often goes for $37, so I started there, and when that was rejected, I bid the $39 that often captures the Amerisuites. The Amerisuites, with their free breakfast buffet, is actually the better bargain for us, a large family group that includes several teen-aged boys with big appetites. The hotel also has a heated indoor pool and a fitness room. This gives me the chance to share a Priceline success with family members. I love it when it all comes together! I also learned how to cut and paste the SavingsBarn web address into my browser, thanks to my 16-year-old's tutorial. I'm so proud of myself!

$44 Priceline stay on 4/2/04. Our stay here began on a positive note with very friendly desk staff and no mention of Priceline. The lobby was large and attractive and included seating areas, a large-screen T.V., breakfast area, and small business center. Also offered in the lobby was coffee and cocktail service. We had 2 NS, King rooms with sofa beds that were very clean and fresh smelling. The spacious rooms were decorated in navy, yellow, and coral and included a large desk with swivel desk chair, free internet, and excellent lighting. The T.V. was a little small for the size of the room, though. The shower head and water pressure in the bathroom were great, just the way we like. We heard no outside noise and had a wonderful night's sleep. This property had a lovely outdoor pool area with gazebo and a large indoor hot tub that my husband and I enjoyed very much after a 12 hour drive. My husband used the fitness room and said the equipment was only average. The hotel offered a hot breakfast buffet for $7.95 that looked good, but we did not partake of. The cleanliness and comfort of the rooms and the friendliness of the staff made this a wonderful experience for us.

Great stay for $35 on Priceline! The hotel lobby was large and attractive and included two comfortable seating areas, one with a fireplace and one with a large-screen T.V., and a well-appointed breakfast area. Friendly, professional staff, no mention at all of Priceline. We had 2 rooms, both Kings, NS, with sofa beds, perfect for 6 family members travelling together. The rooms were large and nicely decorated in muted shades of green, gold, and purple. Rooms and bathrooms were very clean, very quiet, and appeared to be almost new. Our kids were thrilled to find free bottled water and packages of cookies in our rooms. The breakfast was one of the better free spreads we've seen. Besides a good selection of bagels, muffins, waffles, french toast, and both hot and cold cereals, there was yogurt, fresh fruit, sausage and bisquit sandwiches, and a variety of beverages. Parking is free and the hotel offers free shuttle service to the airport.

Sorry, this should be under the Priceline thread, not Hotwire. Let me know how to move it and I will.

Bid placed on 10/9/04, first bid accepted. Taking my daughters to the Avril Lavigne concert in Milwaukee!

First bid accepted.