JSKoehler

I was very disappointed to get the Radisson Historic District Hotel, which was formerly rated as a 3* and deservedly downgranded to a 2.5* (which I did not know when I was bidding). I was hoping for the Linden Row or for an upgrade to a 3* (Crowne Plaza or the Marriott). Since I had not seen the Radisson come up for a while, I was hoping that it was no longer in the system due to extremely poor reviews (at one point they were renting several floors to a local University as dorm space, which really made for an unpleasant experience for other guests). Now the rest of the story . . . it had been a while since my last visit, so I check tripadvisor to see if there were any recent reviews. The latest reviews indicated that a major rehab was underway and the Radisson website indicated that this was to have been completed in April. OK, this is not bad news (though I fear that give the age of this hotel, no amout of paint and polish can make up for small room size and even smaller than aveage bathrooms). Next chapter, checking on my travel plans for the month (I made this reservation in April), I discovered that I no longer had a reservation at the Radisson . . . in fact Radisson has no hotel in Richmond Virginia. I little detective work (OK, I logged on to PL) told me that the Radisson is now (or shortly will be) a Double Tree. Now a free cookie won't make up for a tiny bathroom, but it can't hurt :) I suspect that the rehab will be enough to get it back to a 3* on PL . . . unless the staff (from disinterested to rude and unpleasant) have been retained from my last stay.

Started bidding at $45 for Tysons 3*, counter of $58 declined. I figured out that with four free rebid zone (Falls Church East, Leesburg, Manassas and Sterling), I could use permutation bidding to reach the $58 CO one dollar at a time. So I bid 46-47-48-49-50-51-52 and got the Doubletree. Website indicates it's undergoing a rennovation, scheduled to be complete this month. Hopefully it will be, or if not, there will be no noise over the long weekend. Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $156.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $25.04 Total Charges*: $181.04

Using permutation bidding with three free zones, I started at DT 3* $38 - $40 - $45 (counter of $58) - $47 - $49 (counter of $63) - $51. Had hoped for the Doubletree, but as this is a one night stay, I am sure this will be fine. Website price was $105.

Used permutation bidding with free zones of Chester, Inssborrok, and South: 45, 50, 55 (counter of 70), 57, accepted at 59.

Using permutation bidding method for DT and free zones of Chester, South, and Innsbrook, I tried for a 3* up to $59 with no luck. Restarted in West using same free zones and bid 35-38-41-45 before being accepted at $50.

Valet and self park are charged only if you have a car. There is a resort tax that is charged in all Anaheim area hotels that is not included with the PL bid and will be charged per room. I don't know whether the Doubletree has an additional resort fee or not, but this can be charged to PL customers.

First bid was $46 rejected, added Anaheim Hills as free zone at $50, accepted. This was after making the same bid the day before using every free zone on combination up to $67 and getting nothing.

Started at $27 for 3* at CLT and worked up by $2 increments using the multiple free zones (Fort Mill, Gastonia, Independence, Matthers, North Charlotte, Pineville) to $39 with no counteroffers. Started a new round for 3* CLT with last free zone (Rock Hill) at $40, rejected, and again increased by $2 per rebid with other free zones. Accepted at $46. Higher than I expected, probably because it was a weekend. Expedia had $89 rate and Sheraton was offering $94 as prepaid with cancellation penalty, so it's still a great deal.

Two colleagues, operating off my experience, independently bid for a 3* DT starting at $55 (counter of $70), added free zone and bid $59 and were accepted, both at the Crowne Plaza (each for one night, 2/27)

New Hotel for this zone. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza years ago (pre-Priceline days), and it was nice then, so I hope it has been well maintained! My bidding history is a bit complicated. I really wanted to be downtown this trip because the weather is iffy this time of year and parking is awful with the legislature in town. I started with DT at 4* $55 and bid up to $70 using three free zones. No luck or counter offers. Restarted at 38 DT @ $45, then $50 adding South (free); restarted with DT and Innbrook (free) at $55, counter of $70; added South back in at $58, counter of $75. Now I was in a jam, with no more free zones. So I took a risk by bidding for 3* in Midlothian (this has to be the Sheraton out there, as there are no other hotels of the 3* class) @ $55, if it came up I would live with it, but I was fairly sure it would not, as I never seen the Sheraton Midlothian come up (unlike Sheraton West End, that is almost always a bargain). Bid rejected and no counter, so I added DT and bid $61 (I knew I was risking getting Midlothian again, but with no counter, I felt it was a safe bet) and got the Crowne Plaza.

I guess I was hopping so hard for the Marriott, I had marriott on the brain . . . the subject line now correctl reflects that this stay is at the Radisson . . . thanks

Needed a DT hotel (West End was not practical for this stay). Tried 4* using free rebids up to $65 with no luck. Switched to 3* at $38, added Innsbrook (free) at 45, restarted with DT and South (free) at $52, counter of $67, added Innsbrook at $58 accepted at the Radisson. Probably overbid by a few and would have preferred the Marriott, but can't complain. Hotel Website's best regular rate is $79 ($74 for Government rate would have been available for this stay).

I was willing to stay in DT, West or Midlothian 3*, so I used a fairly lengthy (14 bids total) free bid/new bid strategy that started at $37 in each zone and worked my way up by two dollar increments until I received a counter-offer on the combination of West and South (free) at $41+$12. I then worked by one dollar increments until a bid for West/Midlothian and Innsbrook (free) was accepted at $44 after Downtown and Midlothian had been rejected at $44. Your Offer Price: $44.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $44.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.20 Total Charges: $57.20

Started in DT 3* at $42, rejected, added Innsbrook (free) at $45, rejected, restarted in West 3* at $42, rejected, added Innsbrook at $45, accepted at Sheraton.

Yes, check out is the 14th. I can't ever remember whether to give the DAYS of the stay or the DATES of the stay in the header. This was not the first bid, but I didn't keep track of the bidding history. The Tut Exhibit ends 11/15. http://www.kingtut.org/

First Bid.

Last night of a long Thanksgiving trip for my Mother and Sister . . . accepted first bid.

First bid of $75 was countered with $97, used a free rebid and uped it to $82. May have overbid a dollar or two, but looks like a nice place. Your Offer Price: $82.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $246.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $44.63 Total Charges: $290.63

Mother and Sister are going to the Tut Exhibit . . . then Disney (see Orange County) then up the coast . . . lots of bids to report! Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $165.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $32.46 Total Charges: $197.46

Tried first bid 3* at $45, rejected, added free zone at $50 accepted

The Radisson now charges for parking. It's only $5, but the free parking used to be one of the reasons I didn't mind staying there instead of the Marriott or the Omni. Housepeeping was very spotty on my recent stay too.

Yes, this is the Fair Lakes Parkway Residence Inn.

Bid up to $65 for 4* DT with no luck. Did not want to risk the Radisson (where I am currently staying -- and have discovered that the hotel is now renting several floors to VCU as dorm space!) as a DT 3*, so switched to West 3* at $34, counter of $43 declined, added South (free) at $35 accepted at Sheraton.

After bidding for a 4* in Fairfax up to $60 with no luck, I started a new round of bidding for 2.5* at $38, added Falls Church (free) at $42. Started a new round in Manassas (also acceptable 2.5* zone) at $42, added Fairfax at $44, Falls Church (free) at $47 and got the Residence Inn.

Started in ORF $40 counter of $52 declined added Bowers Hill (free) $43 rejected added Greenbrier Area (free) $45 rejected added Navel Base (free) $47 accepted.