indigoskye

thanks for the reply. I think we may just try for roundtrip tickets out of Baltimore or DC and save the headache!

here is a question that I want to find out. My son is in the military in Germany and he is coming home for two weeks before he gets deployed. A roundtrip ticket from Frankfurt to Greenville, SC (where we live) is roughly $900. But we want to spend the weekend in Baltimore and he has a connecting flight that goes through DC so it would be so much easier to just pick him up there and then drive back a few days later. A single flight to DC or Baltimore is like $2000+ so that is out of the question for sure! So, IS it legal to buy the roundtrip airfare and just not make the connecting flight from DC to Greenville?

$66 ($78 with taxes). Booked with the PRICELINE link above! Not too bad. Hopefully it will be a great stay. I was initially trying for a 4* and was hoping to get the Hyatt since my recent stay with them in Atlanta was so nice. However, my first bid of $65 was declined. I could have upped the bid to $82 or change the parameters of my request so I chose to try for a 3.5* at $66. I figured if that didn't work then I would try again in a few days for a 4* at $70. Overall I am pleased with the win. I am sure my daughter and I will have a great time no matter where we stay (we are going to check out an art college that she is applying to, so she will be excited no matter what). Thanks.

I just got in from my 4 day stay in Atlanta. I won a bid for the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta through Priceline for $55 per night. I was excited about the price, but a bit leery as to what sort of room I would end up with. But though, what the heck. When I got in to Atlanta on Saturday morning at 7:30, I knew it was still too early to check in. But the bellhop took my bags up to the counter anyway and told me he would see if he could get me checked in early. I kept wondering if I would get any less quality of service since I booked the room through Priceline, but the receptionist was very nice and had a room that was available. It was a room with two beds and I only needed one, so I let her know that I had a workshop to attend until 7 that evening and told her I was willing to wait for a room with a single queen or king bed so that if someone needed a room with two beds, there would be one available. I also asked her if it was possible to get a room on one of the upper floors with a great view of the city ( I let her know that I was a photographer and was in town for a workshop at the Professional Photographers of America next door and want to take some photographs of the view and my accommodations). She gladly switched me to a room that suited my request, apologizing though that the room would be on the smaller side with a queen bed because it was one of the newer "European" design rooms in the Radius Tower. I told her that I wasn't too worried about it being smaller since it was only myself staying, as long as the view and room was nice I was okay with it. And quite honestly I was pretty excited because I had seen the rooms in the Radius Tower on their website and liked them a lot. So I checked my bags at the bellhop station until I could come back later that evening and check in. I was able to run by during lunch but only had time for checking in and not to actually go to the room. This time I talked with a different receptionist and was told that they didn't have a room in the "Radius Tower" but instead put me in the "International Tower". I was a bit disappointed since I really liked the way the photos of the rooms in the Radius Tower looked. But I have to say that my disappointment lasted only until I came back to the hotel after the workshop and was able to actually pick up my bags and go to my room. Turns out that the "International Tower" is the really nice executive area. You have to take a separate hallway to a different part of the hotel and take these cool red elevators to your floor. OMG, the room was to die for and the view was absolutely breath taking! And I think that I was actually staying in the same area as the Washington Redskins players and families. They were in town to play the Atlanta Falcons and I kept seeing a bunch of really big guys in Redskins attire and a ton of other people that looked as thought they were family members. And when I came back to the hotel Sunday evening one of the bellhops was talking to one of the guys asking him how they did that day. I also have to say that the entire experience was top notch. All of the staff was exceptionally nice and seem to remember me each time they saw me and would actually walk up to me to ask how my stay was going and if there was anything that they could get me or do for me to make things better. Even the bellhops and valets were as friendly as can be. I am posting some photos of the room and the view, hope you don't mind. I wanted to put them in the hotel photos area, but couldn't find a Georgia file to put them in. You can move the post to where ever you need to if it is a problem. Thanks again for all the great advise that I was given on here. If it wasn't for you guys I would never have even tried to get a room here because it was way out of my budget.

I am surprised as well to the difference in price. But in looking through all the posted wins from PRICELINE on here for downtown Atlanta 4* hotels, I noticed that nearly all were for the Hyatt Regency and the rates were anywhere from $50 to $75 per night. So I figured my chances were better than fair to get a lower rate than what HOTWIRE was offering. And fortunately it worked out well!

:) YEA!!!!! I got it!! I bid $55 on PRICELINE for a 4* in downtown Atlanta for the dates above and got the Hyatt Regency on the first try. Very cool! That makes me very happy, because I was going to go with the HOTWIRE deal for $84 per night for the same hotel. So the cheaper rate will offset the parking fees that I will have to pay. :) Thanks so much for your help guys!

okay, here I go! I am going to try the PRICELINE link and see what I get :)

Okay, so if I want to try the Priceline route I just put in my dates, choose my location and the star level and then just name my price right? So I would put in November 7th through 10, downtown Atlanta, 4 star hotel and a bid of say $55.00. Then fill in all my information and wait to see if it is accepted or not. How long does that generally take? Does it pop up right then and there or will I get an email to let me know?

I won't need taxi service because I am driving in. I live in the upstate of SC so it is only about 2 1/2 hours to drive. I WILL however have to pay for parking and that is just the way it is. From the information that the PPA sent to me, the parking fee for the Hyatt is $27 /day. That was the reason for thinking that I might try to bid on something for a better price so that I can offset the three days worth of parking. Just like everyone on here I do LOVE a bargin, but not so much so that I end up in a place that isn't so nice or unsafe. So I will more than likely will go with the Hyatt since it is where the workshop is being held. But was just unsure since I have never used either Hotwire or Priceline. From what I am reading though, the Hyatt seems to be pretty good. I will be sure to use the link on here no matter which way I go. And I will make sure to take lots of photographs (since that is what I do for a living and the reason for my trip) and post them and a review on here when I get a chance. :) Thanks Aaron for your help. Michelle

Thanks Aaron. I did know that much about Priceline. And from what I can tell, the 4* hotels that are on Priceline's list seem to be good ones. I just can't decide which I prefer, going ahead with what I know or trying for an unknow for less. Like I said, I am TERRIBLE at making decissions when given too many choices. Thanks again.

Great thanks so much. And I did use the HOTWIRE link above to get to it, just forgot to mention it. I just can't make up my mind. I am leaning towards the one that might be the Hyatt in downtown. That is actually where the workshop that I am attending is being held so it would be convenient. I have never used Priceline or Hotwire before. Do you think I can get a bit of a better deal on Priceline if I tried? Oh, decisions, decisions, decisions... Thanks again!

First of all I want to say hello. I just joined yesterday after a friend told me about the site. I have spent the better part of the time since reading all the tips on here that I could (but by no means have I read them all). So forgive me if this isn't under the correct forum or I don't do or list all of the info that I should. Anyway, i am going to Atlanta for a business seminar next month an would like help on differentiating the hotels if possible. My travel dates are Nov 7th ~ 10th. I would like to stay in a 3.5 to 4 star hotel and smoke free would be most desirable if possible. I know that the areas I want to stay in are either downtown (where the workshop is), in Buckhead or near the airport. I have been checking out all the hotel websites and room choices and of course have my preferences, but understand that this is not guarenteed. And although, I will be there on business I would still like something really nice and safe since I am a female that will be traveling alone. so in looking at these three locations with my dates here are the choices that come up today on Hotwire: Buckhead area: 1) 4* $89/night ammenities are fitness center, business center, pool and resturant TA rating of 4/5 Downtown area: 1) 4* $84/night ammenities are fitness center, business center, pool, high speed internet and resturant TA rating 3.5/5 2) 3.5* $69/night ammenities are fitness center, business center, pool and resturant TA rating not shown Airport area: 1) 4* $73/night ammenities are fitness center, business center, pool, high speed internet and resturant TA rating of 3.5/5 My question is which hotels do you think these might be? I checked against the sites listed ammenities and trip advisor ratings and come up with either the Westin or Hilton for the airport location. The Westin, W or Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. And the Hyatt Regency downtown. Does this sound about right? Either way, if anyone has had any experience at any of these hotels / locations recently and can give me some input about their stay I would really appreciate it. I have a tendency to get really bogged down in details when given too many choices!! Thanks everyone for taking the time to read this and offer any advise. Michelle