Annabella

keep in mind that the 4-star hotels charge a similar amount for parking and something more for internet. If you don't need parking or internet you are saving some money. Check with the resorts and hotels first to have a better idea if the no resort fee equals an actual saving.

what are your dates?

I'm not sure here, please correct me if I am wrong, but I see those hotels (in Honolulu, at least, I don't know about other areas or cities) that charge you a resort fee, these end up being less expensive than those not charging the resort fee. The resort fee seems to cover parking and internet, while others, the "no resort fee hotels" charge you sometimes $30 a day for parking plus $10 or more for internet. I've been watching this specific forum for a few days now, because I'd like to go to HNL sometime by the end of the year (not bidding yet, as I'd rather learn about this area and also confirm my trip), but I worry about the amount they are charging these days for parking and internet, two items that I need to consider for my travel plans and budget.

Not happy :) Just post to inform about this bid: I've been doing research for a few weeks now, using your PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links. I've been bidding with no luck for a future stay September 16- September 21 2010, city Anchorage, AK (from $40 to $80) Today I went up to $90 for a 3*, nada. Then decided to downgrade my stars to 2 1/2, my bid of $60 was accepted, got the Ramada Inn Anchorage Downtown. :) Went to this hotel website, rooms available per room/night from $ 61.62 not prepaid! same dates Expedia $61.63, same dates Priceline (the regular booking not the name your own price) $61, same dates So, going the Priceline way name your own price meant not saving money at all (given the value). Also the hotel website says check out time is 11am, but my priceline receipt states 10am, so apparently a priceline customer gets different check out time (10 am too early, I have a flight past 8pm that day, I hoped to be able to stay in my room until 12pm as usual, at other hotels and locations) I was avoiding 2* hotes like the plague to avoid the motel type hotels, and I know that is not a sure thing but previous wins showed the Inlet Tower and the Marriott Downtown Anchorage as 2.5* hotels, not Ramada Inns, which probably are more 2* and not 2.5* Sorry, I had to vent... Btw, the above priceline "win" gave me the option to book additional nights, I need 3 more nights, but I look for something else, maybe hotwire.

User did not confirm price. Also this hotel is not listed (Hotwire Hotel List - "A" States)" I noticed this while looking around, will use your links to start future purchase-

My first visit ever, I know very little or nothing about Miami and its zones/neighborhoods... I did a research on this board. Finally I chose Airport MIA zone to bid, because in my opinion and after days and weeks of research it looks like this area has good hotels and good rates as well. South Beach, for example, looks very nice but it is too much expensive for my budget. And I

parking in West Hollywood, Hollywood and Beverly Hills is more expensive than other areas. If you have a car you can stay anywhere in LA. Even Culver City is a nice option. I won the Radisson Westside in Culver City in January and it is by the highway (I-405) which takes you almost everywhere. If you want the cheapest room AND HAVE A CAR, you should consider other areas too. My favorite areas in LA are Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Redondo Beach and even Culver City (area I didn't consider before, but I stayed there and it was nice). I stayed in West Hollywood before, but Culver City was much nicer (and less expensive). I'd rather stay in a 3* hotel in Culver City or LAX, than a 1* in Hollywood!

I want to say thank your for your help and advice here at Betterbidding.com I stayed at the Radisson Westside in Culver City and I must report, it was a nice stay, much better than I had imagined. First when you arrive at LAX there is a desk where you can request help, they called (phoned) the hotel and shuttle from the hotel was there within 10 minutes. I was the only guest at that time waiting for this hotel shuttle. I requested a room on a high floor, if available, and was given a room on the 9th floor. I preferred a one king size bed room but they had rooms with 2 queens only. I was told that I could ask the next day, in case the other type of beds/rooms became available. Room was good for a 3* hotel and was also spacious. A bit dated, but OK. My pet peeve is this was my second visit to LA and the second time I got a 2 queens room, so I asked, just in case, for a king size bed the next day at midday, and was given a room with a king size bed on the 11th floor right away (the 11th floor is the "executive floor", didn't get a "executive room" though, but the new room looked better than the 9th floor room). Hotel staff was very nice and helpful. I made a change of plans, I rented a car for 4 days instead of 7 (this hotel charges $14/day for parking), so I used the shuttle bus a second time to go to LAX and pick up the car. Besides the complimentary shuttle service, this hotel offers: coffee maker with complimentary Starbucks coffee and tea every day and 1 bottle of water/day. And complimentary Wi-Fi (good service, fast). The furniture is a bit dated and TV sets are old tube TVs but the room was clean and had plenty of water pressure. There is a small refrigerator per/room and a ice machine per/floor. I liked the view from the 9th and the 11th floor. This hotel is close to the 405 freeway and my room was facing it (room in the middle not a corner room, if it makes a difference), I didn't notice the highway and slept very well. They also have the "sleep numbers beds" but this feature is not the most important feature in my book. Neighborhood is OK, you really need a car in this area, within walking distance there is the Westfield Shopping Mall and parking is free there (it's not free at other malls in LA). Car is a must in LA. Culver City is pretty close to Marina del Rey, and it was easy to get to Santa Monica and the beaches. Well, I just wanted to say that I have good things to say about my stay at the Radisson Westside. And as Priceline customer I was treated very well (no mention of Priceline at all, or "this is a Priceline room so we are giving you the "cheap room", as it happened to me once at some other hotel in LA, when I was told upfront that my rate was a Priceline rate, so I was lucky to get the garage view and nothing else). Thanks again for your help. So if you happen to win this hotel, Culver City is a good area and the hotel is good for a 3*. You'll need a car in LA, so keep in mind the cost of parking.

The Radisson Los Angeles Westside, this hotel not in LAX but in Culver City (near LAX) does offer shuttle service. I was there last week, once you arrive to LAX, can request them to pick you up. They came really fast (10 minutes), I was the only passenger. But if you stay in LA more than one day, I suggest you to stay at any hotel or zone of your preference (or luck) and rent a car instead.

Thanks. I forgot to mention I used this very useful link PRICELINE

Thanks for your reply, Colfax. I'm coming back to report the results. Well, I'm not happy at all. Yeah, you are correct, I think that the Marriott Residence Inn doesn't give Priceline inventory four weeks in advance, I didn't get this hotel for my desired dates, rebidding and increasing the offer didn't work at all. Changing the lenght of my stay didn't change that either. I was quite anxious, I should have waited. My bidding zones were the aforementioned. Finally I added "Culver City" (to the previous zones), thinking it was going to work as a free rebid zone, and instantly "won" the...Radisson Westside for $52/night plus taxes. :) This is really an unwanted hotel, I've got to read mixed reviews, I don't care about amenities such as shuttle from/to LAX, the pool, the pet friendly hotel (I'm not travelling with pets) and other amenities. Even worse, this hotel charges for parking ($14 to $19 for what I read), it's a non smoke free hotel and noisy hotel (close to the highway). Not my type of hotel at all. I got it for the whole week, my fault. Yeah, I know, it is a "roll of the dice", but some hotels and bids are better than others. I'm still happy with Priceline and betterbiding.com is a helpful site, all in all you save money. And about the hotel, I really wish I am mistaken, and hopefully it is better than what it looks like. I'm writing a review after my 7 days stay at the Radisson Westside! So wish me luck! Best wishes. Anabella.

Thanks AaronJB. yeah, I'd like a Priceline strategy, I have looked already on HOTWIRE, and no, haven't found hotels with kitchenette on HOTWIRE. My best bet is Residence Inn now. I tried this today: $42 Redondo Manhattan Beaches $43 + Lawdale $44 + Beverly Hills West Hollywood $46 + Hollywood 3* and above I also tried changing my dates (I don't know if it works as free rebid, I don't think so), from Jan 25 to Jan 31, to Jan 29, 28, and Jan 27, I mean I tried bidding 7 to 2 days. I always get the message: " We're sorry, but we can't accept your offer of $46 for a hotel room in the Los Angeles - Central L.A. area. Your credit card has not been charged for Request Number" and well, I don't want to increase my offer way too much for Manhattan Beach, otherwise I'll try other areas. What other areas could be "safe" for bids under $50? If none, when can I start again? 24hs from now or tomorrow morning? Many thanks in advance.

:) Hello I

May I ask...did you call the hotel or how did you get the Marina View Room with balcony? I thought you could only get the "parking lot view" when booking these low rates... Just curious. I need a hotel room in a few weeks and still considering areas such as Marina del Rey, I'm specially interested in the sunset views...

Thank you for this report, I'm going to Vancouver in January and I like reading about other people's experiences (I'm staying in Downtown Van though). I'd like to visit Whistler too. Also I didn't know that can you ask for an upgrade (even if paying for that) when booking a PRICELINE room. It's good to know.

I totally love the Sutton Place. I want to go back and I booked a room in the Residence side of the hotel (this done at their website, you may get discounts, there are some promos from time to time), I'm here because I'm interested in booking other hotels using the Priceline and HOTWIRE links (other dates and cities) but I wouldn't hesitate if I knew in advance I'm getting the Sutton Place. Lovely hotel.

Congrats! I'm going to LA around those same dates, I wish I could win this hotel too (will use Priceline and links from this site when I finally get my trip and dates, it is approx. last week of January). Cheers.

Thanks Thereuare! I did it a few minutes before your post (I was quite anxious, wanted to have the hotel booked), but it was more or less as you suggested. AND GOT THE ANDAZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm very happy. This is what I did: My 1st ever Priceline booking: 1) Bid --> 4* Los Angeles (Beverly Hills-West Hollywood) $90 = rejected 2) Bid ---> 4* Los Angeles (Beverly Hills-West Hollywood) + Lawndale $100 Your Price Was Accepted Congratulations, your price of $100 was accepted by Andaz West Hollywood. :) I'm so very happy, I can make my plans and look for tours knowing my address in LA during those 4 days. Hope it is great. THANK YOU PEOPLE! I used this link: PRICELINE

:) Thank you for your answer. Yes, I know I cannot choose the hotel in advance. I'm willing to use Priceline, given the fact other users have been lucky on the same hotel. Hotwire, I'd rather not. I don't know if I can't get the Andaz for $100 using Hotwire, hence my interest in Priceline, but if you think I can, please let me know. I have read other threads on how it works, but I'd like to get some advice from some expert user, for example a bidding strategy for the aforementioned dates, this would be my first time bidding for a hotel, and I really would like some help. Any ideas what other hotels I could get, if not the Andaz? Anybody here who can provide help on this? Thanks! :)

:) My first time in LA and I'd love to get the ANDAZ, since it is located within short walking distance from the usual tourist attractions, and I won't be renting a car... The ANDAZ :) is my first choice (4* or 4*+). I need one room, these are the dates: from September 2nd to September 6th, 2009. (4 nights). I also hear Andaz has complimentary WiFi (or wired internet connection from the room, that's ok as well). I don't care about amenities such as gym, or anything, but I do care about the location. I read other successful stories here: Andaz, bids of $100 sounds perfect. But I'm totally new to this, so I'd like some advice and suggestions on how to proceed. What other hotels -if not the Andaz I might get? (and please help me to avoid the Tower Beverly Hills, I didn't like the reviews). :o Thank you very much in advance.

:o Oh the Andaz!!! :) This is my first trip to LA, and I want to visit as much as possible, the Andaz is within walking distance of everything I want to see, I'll visit LA for 3 days (hotel is for 4 nights), I'm interested in a 4* or 4.5* hotel in that area, this one seems perfect :) I'm new here, and so any advice on how to get this hotel will be really appreciated. My stay will be on the first week of September. When is better to start bidding? How much in advance? If earlier is better I won't be able to do for a few days though (still need to confirm the exact dates, I think I'll be able to confirm my trip in a few days). Any ideas, suggestions, tips are welcome. As I said it is for the first week of September. :)