Bob7

We went for this so far ahead b/c in the peak spring season it's so hard to find any deals in the Scottsdale and south areas, especially during baseball spring training weeks. The amenities listed by HW were free parking, suite, restaurant, free breakfast, free a/p shuttle, free net, fitness, pets allowed, and pool(s). The HW definition of "suite" was a larger room with extra seating etc geared for extended stays. Looking at the four 3* hotels in the BB list we found that the only one with rooms fitting that description was the Hyatt Place, so we thought we were getting that. But when the win came thru it was the above hotel, that used to be a 2.5*, so it has been upgraded. Judging by reviews that upgrade is questionable. The "recovery tax charges and fees" totalled $23 per room per night. Room price that date on the hotel web site is $142. My wife apologizes to BB for neglecting to use the HOTWIRE link on BB, she forgot that step, but knows how useful BB is. We did use the link for our FL trip in Dec.

This was a PRICELINE EXPRESS offer, no bidding. Couldn't bid b/c we wanted one ammenity, a/p shuttle, which you can't specify when bidding. Have been also watching Hotwire which had 3*'s for around $80 a couple weeks ago, should have jumped on that b/c in a few days the deal was gone. Very slim pickings b/c it's a peak season cruise weekend, which is our reason for being there. Regular rate for this date on the Cambria website is $159. Used the [url=http://www.betterbidding.com/clicks/click.php?afsrc=1&id=40]PRICELINE[/url] link on BB to support this site.

Aaron is right, we often go the month after you, and there have been some area events that wipe out the hotels and rental cars, like the huge horse show, and baseball spring training dates. There are web sites listing an events calendar. Each year we hope our winning bid for a car isn't Budget, they price them low and there is a huge lineup at the counter all afternoon and evening, takes over an hour to get a car, only a couple agents working. And the other rental companies are empty. Best of luck, -Bob

A while ago we booked Mar 8 -10 here as per my previous Hotwire hotel post below, and now decided to do the whole week. Odd that booking Mar 11 – 15 showed no availability, but was able to book only 1 room on the 11th for $79, then 2 rooms on 12-14 also for $79, but 2 rooms on 14-15 had to be a separate booking for $80. I guess no point in posting these single day bookings separately, very similar to the multi-day bookings. Amenities are the same as my post below. Used the add-a-room button on the 11th booking to try getting a second room, which was offered to me for $220, weird. Hotel site price for these dates was $259 I think, give or take a few bucks. Used the HOTWIRE link on BB to support the site. BTW, does it help BB if we use the HOTWIRE link to search Hotwire even if no purchase is made?

Sure, here are the amenities: Resort Free Parking Pet friendly Casino Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Golf Nearby Accessible for the blind Accessible for the deaf Accessible path of travel In-room accessibility Accessible bathroom Handicapped parking Roll-in shower

Surprised to get this so far ahead, perhaps b/c spring training dates haven't been announced, or it's too far from the action. Taxes and fees added about $19 per night per room. Hotel web site rate listed at $259 those dates, high season. We were sure from the Hotwire amenities that this was the Radisson, b/c casino was one amenity, and I don't think there are any other 4* hotels with a casino in Fountain Hills? We usually end up getting the 3.5* Zona in North Scottsdale that time of year for about the same price. Also tried to extend the booking one day with the Hotwire 'extend days or rooms' button, but it was offered for $220, rooms must be tight that date. Used the HOTWIRE link on BB to support this site, thx for your work. -Bob

Yes, sorry, Resort was an amenity, I jotted down "rest" twice and when I went back to my list I thought both meant restaurant but the first one meant resort, messy writing.

2 rooms were booked a few days ago. I think this is for a studio. Today the rate on Hotwire is $139. The price on the hotel web site is $215 plus taxes. In previous years we have scored the Zona twice at this time in the $75 range this far ahead, so getting a bit nervous that the deals were leaner this year, and pretty happy to pay $106 plus tax of about $35/day. Just hope we don't get one of the basement units, that they are also done the renos, and that we are in time to get an on-request fridge (they didn't have enough before for all studio units, first come first get). Amenities list on Hotwire are: restaurant, fitness, pools, Business, laundry (self serve), hi speed net access, golf and tennis nearby. One of the best deals now on Hotwire for the general Phoenix area for 3.5* and up appears to be Tempe ASU which has been going in the $75-80 range starting about a week ahead. Some good deals downtown if you want to be there, but self-parking at all 4*'s is $20 and up per day, and more for valet. Used the HOTWIRE link on BB to support them, thx for a great web site staff. -Bob

Sure. Amenities are: shuttle, restaurant, tennis nearby, accessible bathroom, fitness center, business center, accessible path of travel, handicap parking, pool, hi speed net, in-room accessible, roll-in shower. -Bob

Regular rate on the Hilton web site is $118, so we were surprised to see this offered on Hotwire for $86 a little while ago, and now dropped to $78, especially on a holiday cruise weekend, and this far ahead too. We didn't use Priceline b/c we needed a free airport shuttle and PL doesn't know what amenities you'll get until you win the bid, but Hotwire lists the amenities for the place you are going to book. I didn't check how low the Hotwire rates have previously been for a 3.5* closer to the date, but we're real happy with this rate, and we figured it might go up with the holiday travelers. Used the HOTWIRE link on Better Bidding to support BB.

First bid $30, then got the PL notice that if I increased the bid to $36 I'd get the car. That usually means a later bid slightly under $36 would also win the car, but the few bucks didn't matter to me so I took the $36 offer and it was accepted. Then I got offered CDW for $11/day, which is usually in the mid to upper 20's, so I took that too. The company is Budget. Used the PRICELINE link on BB to support BB.

I see the PRICELINE link for bidding on rooms but can't find one to use to bid on PL cars. Thx. -Bob

Sure, here they are: resort, restaurant(s), high speed internet access, fitness center, business center, golf nearby, pool(s), laundry self serv, tennis nearby. I should have listed the rate for those dates on the resort web site, it's $189 for the standard room and $219 for the 1 bedroom suite. I suspect the $91 offer on Hotwire is for the 1 bdm. If anyone hits it, please post. We declined to pay to upgrade to the 1 bdm once before b/c it had no vanity make-up area, the ladies like to have that. -Bob

This will be the standard room, we wanted the one bedroom suite which may be the $91 listing on Hotwire, but it was too much for our traveling companions. Strange that Priceline could not come close to this offer, we bid almost up to the Hotwire rate with no PL counter-offer to increase the bid for free, which they do when you get close. We find PL is cheaper than Hotwire, and we've won at the Zona before thru Priceline. Maybe things have changed since they changed their name from Xona to Zona when Ascend Group took them over. I used the HOTWIRE link on BB to support BB, thanks for being here. -Bob

Got 2 rooms. Entered $40 for the first bid, and immediately got the red PL popup box stating that my bid "had almost no chance of getting accepted", did the bid anyway, got rejected with the famous PL counter offer that if I would increase my bid to $55 I would be given a free rebid (so I knew I was getting close). I declined the offer, added Taylor area for a free rebid (which doesn't have any 3.5* hotels), increased the bid to $45, which was accepted. I think the regular price without the parking package was $89 or $99. Used the PRICELINE link on the main BB page to support the site, thx staff. -Bob

Got 2 rooms. Started at $40 and increased $5 each time adding free rebid areas with no 3.5*. At $50 I got the famous PL offer, if I upped my bid by $15 I could make another free bid, meaning I was getting real close to acceptance. I declined the offer, added another no 3.5* area, bid $55, and got it. Bummer that the Xona is one of those places that adds a daily resort fee to the bill on checkout, $15 in this case. Will fight that at the hotel and thru credit card company. Regular price on the room these dates is $179.

Travelguy2, you’ve nailed it down exactly. I’m actually looking at Scottsdale AZ hotel data and I’ve found out the resort fees for all the 3 & 4 star and resort hotels there, and guess what, most of the winning bids are at hotels that charge a resort fee, mostly $19-25. This puts a big increase on a $50-70 winning bid. Some posters are putting on their winning bid post what the resort fee is. I suppose the only recourse for guests is to complain at the hotel about the charge and see if they’re sensitive to bad PR, and/or complain to your credit card company that this fee is above the total on your Priceline receipt. Does anyone have any other ideas on beating the resort fee monster?

Nice price. Just wanted to alert you that this place adds a $19 per day resort fee onto your bill payable at the hotel. These resort fees are a bummer, they can be up to $40 as PRICELINE says in their small print. That can be pretty close to what was paid for the room! -Bob

First bid $50, rejected, but got the old Priceline one-time offer, if I would increase my bid by $14 I could have a free immediate rebid. I refused and got a free rebid by adding another area, choosing one that didn't have any 4* hotels (Taylor), so that I would still only get Southfield, and increased the bid to $55, which was accepted. Used the PRICELINE link on BB to support BB.

Strange there isn't more action at this location being a university town. Won a previous bid a month ago and got the same hotel for $50, first bid. This time started with $40 bid, got a PL message "If you raise your bid by $12 you can make another free bid now." I refused and exited. Next day bid $45 (per night for 2 nights) and got it. Nice hotel, great value. Used the PRICELINE link on SavingsBarn.com to support BB. -Bob

Update: (no treat from Santa). Bid $105 for 3* FLL area only, rejected. Added 2.5* and upped the bid to $110, rejected.

Update: bid $95 for 3* airport only, rejected. Added 2.5* and rebid $105, rejected. I have a cancellable Ramada booking for $139 w/ breakfast and airport and ship shuttles, so I won't bid PL much higher than the above. It might be heavily booked that weekend b/c it's the start of the spring break for Ontario Canada.

Thanks for the tip. I had to give up on HW because their area is too big, it includes both the airport and Hollywood, and we can't get stuck down in Hollywood. I wrote HW customer service about this problem and they replied that they had to include Hollywood because their hotel partners wanted more anonimity, they felt if the area was just airport people would be able to figure out too easily which hotels are being used. I felt like saying "just go on BB and there will be no doubt which ones are being used!" but instead I replied that PL had an area for just the airport, why couldn't HW, they were losing cruise and flight customers, and I got no further reply.

Bid $95 for 3* airport, rejected. Added 2.5*, increased bid to $105, rejected. Getting close to the $139 Ramada 2* with full breakfast and both shuttles, probably won't go much higher.

Bid $90 for 3* airport, rejected. Dropped to 2.5*, rebid same $90, rejected. Used PRICELINE link on SavingsBarn. Saw a Ramada Airport ad, $139 incl full breakfast and shuttles to a/p and ship port, probably use that for backup in case I never win a bid.