Serpico

Thanks -- I see... That is a bit surprising, since these properties are located on the other side of the Danube from the area marked on the Hotwire map. In attempt to book a place I could identify before hand - do you have any clue what would the following Vienna property be? Danube Island - City Beach - Trade Fair, 4*, $60 per night Full amenities: Free Internet, Pet friendly, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, Self service laundry, Internet access, In-room accessibility, Wheelchair accessible Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Of course! Sorry I never came back to that thread. I went ahead and updated it. My stay in Vienna would be for two nights, August 29-31, and the price seems to have gone down to $70 overnight. Any clue you might have as to which hotel that is would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Serpico

Been a while and I am sorry for not reporting earlier -- in the end I actually had to use an apartment rental since I could not find an extended-stay place for that long for my price range. Either way - thank you so much for the help! Serpico

Hi, I am looking for some advice on identifying a 4* star hotel, City Center - St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna. The price is $71 per night. Looking through The Bidding Helper, I see FULL AMENITIES: Pet friendly, Restaurant(s), Business Center, Self service laundry, Internet access. Thank you for your help!

Changing strategy a bit - could anyone help us identify a 3.5* on Hotwire, in Georgetown Area, with the amenities: Boutique Hotel, Wireless, Business Center? This could somehow be the light at the end of the tunnel... Thanks again for all the help!

Thanks for this advice. We are ready to go up to a $100 for a 4*, and I think that our next step would be to split the long stay to two shorter periods, and try our luck that way. And following your tip - if they do accept our bid for the first 8 days, they might offer us to extend the stay for a rate we would still accept. So now we'll go back to bidding for 8-9 days, (hopefully for around $75-80 for a 3.5*, or $90-95 for a 4*) - using of course the site's links. Thanks again, we'll report!

Hello, We're looking to book 16 nights (9.6-9.22) in DC, and I'd like to run my strategy by you, to profit from your experience... We prefer the Dupont Circle Area or Georgetown, if possible. It seems Hotwire do not offer anything competitive for this time, but on the BetterBidding Priceline forum I did see some successful offers for $80 something a night, so I guess that's the way to go. Does beginning my bidding with $ 70 for Dupont Circle 4* and work my way up in 5 $ increments sound reasonable? We have a couple more rebidding options as we are two travelers. Is it even possible to win a Priceline bid for such a long stretch of time for these areas? Should we bid on Priceline for only a short period and then if we like it bid the same for the rest of the stay? I think we'll be happy with any hotel we'll get in these neighborhoods for these prices -- But do you think we should plan to break our stay to two periods (two different bids) to have better chances? Sorry this came out a bit long, and thanks for your help! Serpico

In practical terms my priority is getting a 3* room or above, preferably in Silver Spring or College Park (but in DC as a whole would work) for up to $80. My problem is that when I search for Washington DC in Hotwire - the only Silver Spring options I find there are in a 'Bathesda - Silver Spring area' category, with one pricey option (130) at 3* and other options below 3*. On Priceline my problem is that when I search for DC the Silver Spring area is so huge, that I have no confidence where I might end up. Am I missing something? Is there a way to look for Maryland suburbs or DC subrubs that would reveal to me new categories in Silver Spring and College Park??

Hello, I could use some help on this one... I am looking for a hotel room (3* and up) for two and a half weeks in DC (Silver Spring or elsewhere) in September. If it is a suite with a kitchenette, this would definitely be better - but it doesn't seem to me that Hotwire and Priceline offer good deals for these properties. I know DC and environ is expensive - but would Priceline and Hotwire (using site links, of course!) offer better prices if the date is closer? I do remember I once secured the Hilton Silver Spring for around $ 70 through Hotwire, and should I again find something for $100 a night or below, I would be very glad. Any specific tips you could offer me on how to bid better for either Silver Spring or DC for such a long period in September, would be greatly appreciated! And thanks for maintaining this excellent site! Serpico

Done! It was indeed the Silver Spring Hilton, and I followed your tip successfully. I am HUGELY satisfied at landing this hotel in this price for the duration of my stay. You saved me A LOT of headaches, money, money, and headaches. Thank you very much! Of course, I used the site's link to HOTWIRE. Best, Serpico.

Thank you, that's a great tip. The Hilton you mentioned would be the Hilton at Silver Spring right? (Not Bathesda or anywhere else)? Thanks!

Thank you for fast reply! Three options come up in Hotwire for Bathesda-Silver Spring, out of which two interest me (third one is a 2 star): 1) 3.5 stars, 69$ - amenities: Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, Laundry 2) 3 stars, 99 $ - amenities: Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, Laundry, High Speed Internet, Golf Nearby Is there a way of making a pretty educated guess as to which hotels those might be? I did not really understand the advice in regards to the extended stay; "purchase the balance" means prolonging my period of staying there after I verified it's the right place for me (by buying the first night), right? Cheers, Serpico

Hi, I'm looking for a 3 - 3 1/2 stars hotel in Silver Spring (DC suburb ), to stay from Feb. 15- March 4. It is crucial for me to make sure that I am near the metro - yet the PRICELINE Silver Spring zone goes way way up - far from the metro, and the HOTWIRE site offers only Silver Spring-Bathesda - which is no good for me as I need to stay in Silver Spring... Does anyone have any hints how to hunt the coveted Silver Spring near the Metro hotel?? All help would be appreciated, I'm a novice. Thanks!