AceMJM

Closing this topic, no hotel picked.

Did not end up reserving a hotel for this trip.

I'd love to, but decided to stay north of town with friends on this trip. Sorry!

Found a 4.5* in the Millennium/Grant Park area with the following amenities: Boutique, non-smoking, pool, fitness, restaurant, business center, hi-speed net and TENNIS. A boutique with tennis? Figured it was the Burham but that's odd. Any thoughts?

Tried at $65 and was given the option to try again at $79. Was thinking this may be Hotel Indigo, but turned out the be the Foundry Park Inn & Spa. A decent hotel that I've stayed at before, but not quite as new or nice as the Indigo - BUT they do have a microwave and mini fridge in each room, so that's always a welcome feature. And the Melting Point is in the same complex, which is a great place for live music and decent bar food/atmosphere.

Wondering if you booked this hotel, and if so, what it turned out to be? Would like to know if The Henry is a player in Hotwire. Thanks!

Definitely! I added Midway North at $75 and it also got rejected. Will bid again when I'm ready to spend $120+.

So Midway North isn't on the pinned list....but is it safe to say there are no 4* choices there?

I know I'm bidding low, but wanted to see if I could get a super deal. Have received under $80/night in the area in the past (Hyatt, Palmer House), but these bids failed: Started with NMA-River North & Hyde Park: $55 + Millenium/Loop/Grant: $60 + Skokie-Niles-Evanston: $65 + Midway Airport Area (MDW): $70 Will keep you updated if I score a deal! (and Go Blue!)

3* Smoke free, fitness, pool, restaurant, business center, high-speed internet. Purchased for $53 ($65.54 with tax) for the Kensington Court for 5/25/10-5/26/10 (purchased the night of my stay). Thought I may be getting the Holiday Inn or Hampton Inn...so let's add Kensington to the board! Will follow up with stay details. ...sorry I didn't post hotel name in header, guess I can't edit it.

I couldn't get a downtown Buffalo hotel on Priceline for these dates, so I went over to Hotwire. Listed amenities were: 3* Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry (same as listed on "pinned" list) As it turns out, our room was one of the last remaining in Buffalo as a whole on this night....there was some major convention going on in town. Total was $95.39 with taxes ($79 offer + taxes). Our stay was ok, but I would never pay full price to stay in this hotel. There were some shady characters around when we checked in (8pm?), and what looked/sounded to be a prostitute soliciting men out front while we were unloading the car. The decor was an 80s blast from the past, with plenty of brass, dark green carpeting, wicker chairs, and some odd armoires filled will Asian figurines and other "stuff." The rooms were ok...the bathrooms looked updated and were nicer than the ones at the Hyatt Buffalo. The beds were comfortable, but the room itself was pretty blah. If you can stay somewhere other than downtown Buffalo during your trip here, I recommend you do so. The large Marriott across town seemed MUCH nicer and had they not been booked full, I would've chosen to stay there. Even a Courtyard or similar hotel would've been better. Read my review of the Hyatt Buffalo, where we stayed the night before. It also needs some work, but I would recommend it over Adam's Mark. We even spent less at the Hyatt ($61 + taxes). Again, if you can stay outside of downtown, I highly recommend you do so.

My trip to the Hyatt Buffalo was worth the $61 + taxes paid thru Priceline, but I would NEVER pay the going rate of $209 that they asked for at Reservations! The room was ok.....it felt like the whole place really needed a makeover. The stopper in the bathtub was unable to be popped out of the "plugged" position, so I had to pry it out and leave it out during my shower. The beds were nice, but the rooms were a little dark and musty. I guess given the town (Buffalo), the incentive to upgrade isn't really there. Self-Parking was really cheap at the garage across the street....$7 I believe. The garage attendant told us to go back to the Hyatt and get the parking ticket validated and the garage would reimburse our parking fee. We did, so parking ended up being free! Great perk, considering some downtown hotels charge upwards of $20 for one night of valet or even self-park. Bottom line: I'd stay here again, but only for a Priceline or Hotwire Rate. See my Hotwire review of Adam's Mark if you are interested in that hotel...we stayed there the 2nd night.

I've since gone back to the Hyatt website and it looks like rooms are opened for that extra night I was looking for (June 24). So I went back to priceline and bid $61, again for Downtown Buffalo and East Niagara Falls, NY. Didn't get anything. Added South Buffalo-Hamburg (no 3* available here, so a safe bet), moved bid to $69. Still no luck. Back to square one...will probably try to extend stay at the Hyatt when we get there!

Won on first try by selecting Downtown Buffalo and East Niagara Falls, NY. Chose 3 Star, as East Niagara does not contain one. Won the Hyatt for $61, one room and one night, June 23, 2008 to the 24th. Tried to extend my stay when they gave me the option, but was rejected. I looked on the Hyatt site, and it says they are sold out for the following night (24th). Would love to stay an extra night, and will try to do so upon arrival! Maybe a room has opened up!

First tried North Mich. Ave for $85 and failed, then added the Millenium-Loop-Grant Park area at $95. Got the Palmer House Hilton for 9/27-9/30....any tips on getting a decent room?

Has anyone had experience trying to get a downtown Orlando 3* hotel? The pinned list is a few years old, so I'm wondering if I can take a chance and end up with the Marriott (which I'd be happy with). Westin Bohemian is sold out, otherwise I'd be going for the 4*. All input is appreciated!

UPDATE: Turns out you can only use these coupons once per Blockbuster account. Still a decent deal.

Blockbuster Rent 1 Movie Get 1 Free All you need to do is enter your name and email address.....it will give you a link to print out 2 coupons (they are the same....print out a few since you can use one every time you go until June 7).

Hi, Thanks for replying, sorry for wasting your time with my rookie mistake! My last bid was for $90 for 6/3-6/5...does it matter that it's so last minute? And I know, that's a low bid for a resort for these dates. I checked hotwire and have just found what I believe to be the Crowne Plaza going for $99 on those dates. From what I've read, that definitely wouldn't be my first choice of a place to stay. I'll wait my remaining 48 hours and let you know if I snag anything. I'm also looking at the Savannah area for another possibility since I just am looking for a fun weekend trip. And thank you, I've learned so much from this site!!!! Molly

I stayed at the Hyatt a year ago (May 23 - 26 2004)....a little late, I know.....but I generally agree with those who question the hotel's 4* rating. But it's hard to complain at $65 a night (a total of $247.27 with taxes, etc). When you stay, take into account the money you'll have to spend on valet service if you have a car ($20/night when I was there) and if you eat or drink anywhere in the hotel's restaurants or room service. Not cheap!!! I think I paid $18 including tip for a very mediocre burger, fries, and a domestic beer from their sports bar/restaurant. The hotel does have a great location, and is central to so many things. When I stayed I remember the Hyatt.com rate was $199/night. Yikes! Not for this place.....wish I had won the Mich. Ave. Westin, but my trip was still fun. Pros: A short walk from the Magnificent Mile (a few minutes), great views if you get a North Lake view, nice bathroom, can't pass it up for under $80/night (you're in dowtown Chicago after all!!!). Cons: Expensive valet parking ($20 night), mediocre restaurants, bedding (long hairs on my comforter upon arrival....I guess they don't wash the comforters?), average room that I would have complained about if I had paid full "retail" room price, dim hallways, front desk could have been a bit friendlier (but it was busy at the time).

Hi All, I'm trying to book a Hilton Head Resort......the problem is I have to wait 72 hours to bid again since there are no other areas I can include (H.H. Island is the only one) and the next level is 2 1/2 stars (which I really don't want). Does anyone know if there are any 1* or 2* hotels in the area? If not, I'll include those in my search along with a resort and hopefully get what I'm looking for. Any suggestions would be most helpful! Thank you! Molly

Well I had this great idea to try to get a hotel in New Orleans for New Years Eve, 12/30-1/2.....I bid up to $80 in all locations in the 4* and Boutique categories with no luck. I think I was a bit too hopeful, so I'll probably up the $$$ a bit. Any tips on holiday season bidding??? Thanks! Molly