TravelGuy

I had a feeling something like this would happen. :) That's really a super deal - it's $139 on hilton.com. With regard to the parking, although I've been to Del Mar, I've never actually walked around the area where the Hilton is located. But oftentimes you'd be surprised what a little scouting around can turn up in terms of free parking opportunities. I know it's possible to park on the street for free along certain streets in the Downtown and Old Town San Diego zones, for example. So I'd definately at least be on the look-out for alternatives to the hotel pay parking. (Oh, and sorry for asking for your dates earlier, I see now that you had already given that info.)

Hi there, welcome to the Board! My guess would be that it's the Hyatt, although I could be wrong. If you're not interested in just one specific hotel, I would recommend using Priceline, where the Hyatt is a 3*. The PL 3*'s in Crystal City (there are no 4*'s) are generally all good, and you should be able to get one for considerably less than Hotwire. What are your dates?

Hi there, welcome to the Board! Yes, looks like the Doubletree. I would definately consider using Priceline first for Del Mar though, as the Hilton has been coming up for as low as $32. What are your dates?

I'm wondering if you in fact added Del Mar when you bid 3* at $40, because you should have won at that point. In any event, $35 is a great price for that hotel. Have a great stay!

I've never used them, or even heard of them until now, but they appear to be quite reputable. They also look like a potentially good source for low rates which can be used to take advantage of lowest rate guarantees like the one at Holiday Inn.

It's still very far out and there's just no Priceline availability at this time. Your stay is also covering a weekend during the peak of tourist season, so that's not going to make things any easier. I would bid again in 72 hours, and if nothing turns up, every two weeks thereafter. I think it will probably increase your chances of success significantly by adding Alexandria/Mt. Vernon. For that zone, if Crystal City doesn't work, I would start a completly new bid at $45, then add Springfield and up to $50; if rejected, add Crystal City and up to $55. If rejected in those two zones, as I mentioned above, you might also want to try Arlington, the next zone over on the other side of Cyrstal City. I would start at $50, adding Springfield at $55, then Crystal City at $60. Lastly, I would consider 2.5* in all 3 of those zones, as I think all the hotels that have come up at that level are fairly comparable to 3*, if not better in some instances.

$199 on omnihotels.com I've stayed here before, and it's a great place. Be sure to sign up with the Omni Select Guest program. Priceline guests are eligible for all Select Guest benefits.

Unfortunately, Priceline has proven to be of no use for Ocean City (or Rehoboth). I've never once seen a single winning bid reported. You can book the Howard Johnsons Plaza through hojo.com though for $67, or the the HoJo Express, also directly on the beach, for $35. Lastly, there are minimum bid amounts for each star level on Priceline. For a 2*, the minimum bid is $17, so anything lower than that is going to be a losing proposition from the get go.

Another thing you can try, without having to mess with your pop-up blocker, is pressing your Control key before clicking on the search button. That method works every time for me.

Priceline rates will normally vary depending upon prevailing rates. Prevailing rates are best determined by selecting two or three hotels in each zone and quality level you

After doing some checking, rates are really through the roof for your dates. The Sahara is actually looking pretty good. Hotwire has a 3* for $196 with the following amenities: Resort, Casino, Restaurant(s), Pool(s), Fitness Center, Spa Services, Golf Nearby, Laundry Facilities. Not sure what that is, but perhaps it can be identified as something good. The only other option I can think of is to make a "Hail Mary" 4* bid on Priceline up to your limit. The worst that could happen would be that you get the Westin Casuarina (although they're showing sold out for those dates), which, at least to me, would be preferable to the Sahara.

I think you'll like this place better than both the AmeriSuites and Fairfield Inn. It has a somewhat better vibe, plus there should be a more extensive, hot breakfast. I go by it almost daily, as it's right next door to my health club. (If you're in the mood to exercise, you may want to check it out, as it's arguably the best club in the entire DC Metro area - perhaps there's a discount for guests. Although I see on the hotel's website that they have their own exercise area and pool, as well.)

Oh, the Arlington parking advice applies only if you get the Hyatt or Marriott. You're probably stuck with pay parking if you get the Sheraton National. If the Hilton Arlington Towers should come up, I believe there is some free parking around there sometimes though.

All the 3* Crystal City hotels that have come up on Priceline have pools, except apparently the Crystal City Marriott, but the Crystal City Gateway Marriott (different hotel) does, and I'm sure they'd let you use it if you got the other Marriott. As to free parking, as I recall, just about all street parking is metered around there, although I could be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if free street parking isn't really doable in Crystal City. Metro is generally within walking distance of the PL hotels in this zone, perhaps a bit of a hike from some. As to 3*'s in Arlington, the Hyatt there doesn't have a pool, and it may be that there is at least one other that doen't. I'm not sure whether the Marriott has free parking or not, but you'll have to pay at all the other 3* PL participating hotels in that zone. There is sometimes free, non-zoned street parking on neighboring streets, although you may have to walk rather far to get to it. I would look down Lee Highway, West of the Key Bridge Marriott along side streets around the Fort Georgetown apartments. Another zone I'd give serious consideration to is Alexandria/Old Town. There are 3 reported 3* hotels that have come up in that zone - Holiday Inn Historic District, Radisson and Sheraton Suites. The Radisson dosen't have a pool per se, but they let you use the one at the HI/HD, which is just a short, easy walk - the other two have pools. Neither hotel is within walking distance of a Metro, but they all have regular shuttles to it, just a short drive. I think you will probably have the easiest time finding free parking in this zone, as there is a fair amount of free, non-zoned parking along certain sections of the side streets, although it *may* (maybe not) require some patience and persistence at times to find it.

Several of the 4*'s in that zone are sold out, and there are generally high rates all over town for your dates. I would advise considering other zones and 3* as well. If nothing pans out on Priceline and you like hip and trendy, the Hotel Helix is available through EasyClicktravel.com for $119, which is $100 off the lowest rate on the hotel's web site. They're also offering the Renaissance as immediately bookable for $139, even though it's sold out on marriott.com. On Priceline, both are rated 3* and within the Downtown/White House zone. Hotwire has a 3.5 in that zone for $149.

Also, I-66 could be used in lieu of the G.W. Parkway to head out that way, but not sure if that would save time. Might be longer, actually.

I'm not exactly sure to be honest, but generally, traffic in the DC metro area, particularly during rush hour, is bad - second worst in the nation behind Los Angeles. I've never tried to get from Arlington to Leesburg during rush hour, but I wouldn't be surprised if it took an hour or more, particularly coming back in the evening. The thing I'm not sure of is how the G.W. Parkway, which goes from Arlington to the Beltway (I-495) looks during the a.m. rush. going out there. But it wouldn't surprise me if it were bad given the number of people living in the city and close-in suburbs now commuting to the outer suburbs these days. (Loudoun County, where Leesburg is located, is the fastest growing county in the nation, and there are more and more corporations locating there, especially around Dulles Airport, which is now the nation's fifth busiest.) With regard to snowfall, an inch or more during rush hour and the roads are just about paralyzed.

You're going to be happy here - this is a good hotel! Very pleasant place, nice public areas and pool. Has an excellent view of DC from the top floor restaurant/lounge. You're probably not more than a five minute walk to the Rosyln Metro stop. If it's not too chilly then, you may just want to walk it.

Had to put some sweat into this one. Prevailing rates: 3* Doubletree Beachcomber $209 Holiday Inn South Beach $159 Chelsea $150 2.5* Richmond $216 Whitelaw $175 Greenview $130 2* Shelley $145 Century $127 President $109 My limit was $65, South Beach was the only acceptable zone, and I wanted to book a low, non-refundable airfare today, but not until I got a hotel, so the goal was to get this done *now*. Tried 3* up to $65, no luck. Then 2.5* up to $60, no go. 2* up to $55, nope. Then since I

Thanks, I've seen reviews where people say it's more like a 4* as well. I was wondering if maybe Priceline had upgraded it, which would have been great, as it would have been the only 4* in that zone and an easy target.

June is pretty busy in DC, but you should be able to find a good deal on Priceline eventually.

You might want to consider Alexandria/Old Town, the next zone over from Crystal City to the South, where perhaps you could get a 3* for $45-50 (and probably free parking). Or Arlington, where $55 or so might work for 3*.

I'd hold off on Hotwire this far out, as you may very well find something substantially less expensive on Priceline. Prevailing rates are high for downtown 4* for your dates, and it looks pretty tough going for 3* as well. I think you're going to have a much better chance for a 4* in the Coastal zone, which is generally a good zone to stay. I wouldn't bid higher than $75 for a 4* Coastal at this time though. Or you may want to consider Del Mar. Del Mar is a quaint area just north of Torrey Pines, adjacent to the Coastal zone, with easy access to I-5. There's a 3* Hilton there that you could probaly pick up for $50.

The Grant will be closed from 2/1 until 7/4. Priceline knows this now, because there are existing winning bids falling during this period, and they have begun to notify these people, offering them a $10 bonus link and re-accomodating them at a comparable hotel. I doubt that there will be any further winning bids for the Grant during this period. However, people should welcome this happening so that they'd be eligible for that bonus link. :)

$119 for Mandalay Bay is a great rate. That's what I would go for.