lenchik55

Just booked this hotel using your HOTWIRE link: January 6th - January 9th Waikiki Marina Area Hotel 4*, Oceanfront, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-Speed Internet, Spa Services. Got the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki for $114/night. Expedia has this hotel for $133/night. Good deal on a highly rated property! :) By the way, I think the Hotwire Hawaii Hotel list page does not have the updated hawaii areas. I did not see a Waikiki Marina Area list, does it need updating?

Updated the SD thread, I ended up staying in a 2* hotel I found on Expedia.. next time would rather gamble and pay an extra $10-$20 through Priceline and stay in a 3* or 4*...

Was too scared to get the 2* for $39, ended up getting California Suites Hotel for about $55 a night through Expedia. Good price, free (basic) breakfast, pool & jacuzzi, kitchenette in room. Hotel is pretty shaby looking, and looks like a lot of people live there, would not really want to stay there again.

Can anyone help identify this hotel: Puerto Vallarta (Nuevo Vallarta), Mexico 1/6/2010 - 1/16/2010 (10 Nights) 3.5* Hotel $169/night Amenities: Resort, Beachfront, Food & Bev, Premium Bev. , A La Carte Dining, Water Sports/Activities , Evening Entertainment, Daily Activities, Children's Activity Program, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), High-Speed Internet, All-Inclusive. I was looking at the hotel list, and the only 3.5* in that area is Samba Vallarta, but its not listed as All Inclusive. I think that hotel may be all inclusive though, as drinks are included? Also Expedia shows that hotel as All-Inclusive. However for some reason the hotel list on B.B. does not show Samba as all-inclusive. Do you think it is Samba or not? Thank you for your help!

Yeah I guess there is still some risk. Although looks like 'most of the time' you can get 2 beds, and I think adding the mattress idea brings the risk down even more. I've never seen a room that couldn't fit a twin air mattress in a 3* or 4* hotel, but I haven't traveled that much. I do have an alternative place to stay available in case nothing works out with bedding, so I think I could take the risk and try priceline bidding. Hotwire doesn't have any impressive deals for my stay: (San Diego, 10/29 - 11/02).

I was concerned about using priceline in San Diego, as a couple of hotels charge a lot more for 2 beds then one. Why not bring an inflatable mattress? Walmart has them online, starting from $39 (including the pump). It might be a little tight if the room is small, but I think most 4* hotel rooms will have the space for at least a twin if not a double. If I can get two beds through priceline, great.. If I call the hotel and it sounds like it will be a problem, I'll bring the air mattress. What does the board think?

10/29 - 11/02, 2 rooms, 4 adults + 2 kids. $39 2* Hotel in the Sea World / Mission Valley area. It has no amenities, is that a concern, ie likely a lower quality hotel.. although I've seen points on this board with people saying not all amenities are shown. Any idea what it could be?

Searche South & North Strip, got the hotel for $40, published rate is $45. $35 & $37 Rejected

Yes technically priceline did nothing wrong. However I find it strange that they would bill me 2X the published rate and 3X the fees for an opaque service where I take a gamble on the hotel.. basically price gouging. I think most people expect a significant savings when using Priceline or Hotwire.. I'm just glad they let me out, that was nice of them. The $50 credit is for a Vacation Package only, so can't use it now but probably will in the future. They cancelled my room so I got another one: Bid 3.5* North & South same dates: $35 rejected, $37 rejected, $40 Accepted at Flamingo. I'm pretty happy with the hotel, its not that much cheaper than published rate ($45) but a good hotel in a great location, plus its one of the few hotels left that does not charge a resort fee, and has great pools I hear. Could have committed another $10-$15/day and tried for a 4*, but that would be another $10-$15 in resort fees for a total of $65-$70/night.

Update: Decided to save money and stay at a cheaper location. Was aiming for a 3* Bill's Gambling Hall or something similar. 3* South, 2 rooms, 10/26-10/29. Bid $27 --> Rejected --> Offered free rebid at $34 Bid $30 --> Accepted at Hooters I definitely did not want the hooters. This hotel is off the strip and it was available for $16 on hotelclub.com.. Called and complained, they were only willing to pricematch to the $16 rate, and priceline was still charging $30 in taxes/fees while hotelclub.com has $12 in taxes/fees. Wrote a letter to management complaining: They tried to rip me off instead of saving me money, put me in a crappy off-stip hotel with bad reviews, and were still charging me Triple fees even after an hour on the phone and pricematch. Got a reply just now, they are offering to cancel the reservation and gave me $50 'Vacation Bonus Credit'. Overall this was way too much hassle and not worth it. I wish they would offer strip hotels by themselves without adding 'vicinity' to the area. Used your PRICELINE link, but as I will be canceling not sure if there will be credit.

I just read the 'Don't bid higher..' thread, and I want to say my strategy has a key point that is not mentioned in the other thread: I am bidding 'Higher' but I am also bidding 'Higher' than the current published rate, and with Priceline's guarantee I am risking much less, for example: 4* South Published Rates: Luxor $50, NYNY $65, Westin $139, Planet Hollywod $106, etc So if I bid $55 here, and get the Luxor, I will still get it for $50 when calling Priceline to pricematch. Same with TRUMP, I can bid $100 and call and pricematch to $93 if I end up getting that hotel. This lowers the 'risk' while the upside is still great.

How are Treasure Island and Mirage? I can probably get them through Priceline for under $60, maybe $50.. is that a good deal compared to $84 for Caesars Palace?

Thank you for the info. Trying for 2 rooms, 3 nights. Max budget is about $90, but if we can save some money thats good too. Maybe I should bid on 4* North (Treasure Island, Mirage, Caesars)... the $20 resort fee at TI is ridiculous though. Another option is 3.5* South (Flamingo, Monte Carlo), I hear Flamingo has awesome pools, but is dated, and this time of year I don't know if pools are open. Also Hotwire has a 4.5* Hotel for $84 (Central Strip), its probably Caesars [Casino / Fitness / Pool / Restaurants / Business CNTR / High-Speed / Golf / Tennis]. The Caesars (hopefully) is kind of more than I want to spend, but that would probably be a great experience?! I wish priceline had a 4.5* category.

Oh yeah, I'm sorry I forgot to update. Just posted it now. I got the Hilton LAX for $48, very happy with it! As far as the question below, I wonder if people have experience bidding higher and getting more than the cheapest hotel available for the star rating. Looking through the forum, Priceline rarely gives you a hotel for more than the published rate. I figure the worst that will happen is they'll match to published rate and I'll miss out on $10/night potential savings?! Haven't been in Vegas in a while, and I'm bringing family from out of the country. (Adults in late 40s and 13, 16 year old teens). Do you guys have advice for the hotel type I should get? Is Hooters not really part of the 'Vegas Experience', and would the Smoke & Casino free Trump be a good choice? How much is parking there? Priceline gave me a counter-offer of $89 when I bid on 5* North Strip @ $70. Based on Hotwire data I'm pretty sure thats the Trump ($93 on Hotwire) More failed bids: North Strip 4* : $35, $40, $45 rejected. North & South Strip 4*: $40 rejected. Going through this link: PRICELINE

Booked through PRICELINE: 10/20 - 10/26, 2 Rooms, LAX, 3.5*. $45 Rejected, $48 Accepted at Hilton LAX. Per Room Total $288 + $48.54 tax = $336.54 I expected Radisson but wanted the Hilton, so I'm quite happy about the Hotel and Price.

Okay so a lot of people try to avoid certain hotels, IE the Trump & Luxor, they also seem to have lower retail prices then comparable hotels. So what if I bid above the retail price for these Hotels? IE I am going to Vegas 10/26 - 10/29. The Trump is $93 online, all other 5* in the area are $172+ .. If I bid $100 or $105 or $110, do I have a good chance of avoid the Trump? If I do end up getting it, I can call and try to wiggle out of the reservation (No Casino, not physically on Strip, more expensive)?! Same with the Luxor, it is $50, other comparable 4* are $65 (NYNY) and much higher. I could bid $55. And for 3*, Hooters is $17 online, while Ballys is $69 and Bill's is $55. I could bid $25 for a 3* SOUTH, and If I get Hooters I can call and complain about price + its not on the strip. I saw another bidder did this and they gave him 10% lower than published rate + $50 future credit. What do you guys think?

I didn't make it clear at the top, this reservation is for Los Angeles (LAX) area.

I'm planning to reserve 2 rooms via Hotwire or Priceline. My family members are coming to visit and are arriving at 1AM. Will I be able to personally go to the hotel and check into BOTH rooms to make sure they are reserved during the day? I'm concerned about room availability after midnight. The purchase will be on my credit card, but actually I will not be one of the guests at the hotel, although I could just put my name on there. Any advice? Also, each room will have 2 adults and 1 kid. Is it a big risk to go through Priceline? The hotel will be a 3*, 3.5* or 4* in Los Angeles (LAX area). Hotwire has higher prices, but they allow you to put in kids, meaning you get 2 beds. I figure If I go to the Hotel when check-in starts and check-in to both rooms, I can most likely get rooms with 2 beds. How high of a risk am I taking with this? Thank you in advance! :)

Booking 2 Rooms, 10/20 through 10/26 on Hotwire. When I select 4 Adults (2 adults per room), I get a 3.5* for $57/night, with these amenities: Airport Shuttle Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access BUT, when I select 4 Adults and 2 Kids (The actual travel group), I get a 3.5* for $59/night, with the SAME amenities as the above hotel PLUS "Spa Services." So is the $59/night hotel the Radisson? And the $57/night the Hilton? If so, is the Hilton a nicer hotel? I think I would rather stay there, but that would mean only reserving the room for 2 adults, not including kids.. any advice would be appreciated! Do they not like kids at the Hilton??