Mulval

Howard Johnson Hotel - Niagara Falls Priceline quality level: 2* Priceline zone: Niagara Falls, NY, USA 454 Main St Niagara Falls, New York 14301 USA Check-In Date: Fri, Jul 22, 2011 Check-Out Date: Sun, Jul 24, 2011 Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $110.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal for 2 nights: $220.00 Taxes & Fees: $43.94 Total Charges: $263.94 I wanted to stay in Niagara Falls, NY, within walking distance of the Niagara Falls, Seneca Niagara Casino and the Rainbow Bridge, for two weekend nights in July. Over the course of several days in June I tried bidding for 3* up to $115 and 2.5* up to $115 -- no luck. Then I reduced the star level to 2* for $110 and got the offer accepted on my first attempt. Hotel website shows the best available prepaid price of $148.74.

Star Level: 3.5* Region: New York City, New York, USA Area: Central Park South Check-In Date: Friday, March 27, 2009 Check-Out Date: Sunday, March 29, 2009 Hotel Name: Hudson, A Morgans Original 356 West 58 Street New York, New York 10019 Summary of Charges Billing Date: March 9, 2009 Offer Price: $75.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $150.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $35.93 Total Charges: $185.93 My plan was to stay in Manhattan, somewhere south of Central Park. I started bidding for all Manhattan areas (excluding Upper East/West Side) at $60 for 2.5*, increasing my bid by $5 every 24 hours. On Day 4 my offer of $75 was accepted by this 3.5* hotel. The hotel website shows $149/night for 1 adult and $179/night for 2 adults as the lowest rates for these dates.

Priceline Star Level: 3* Priceline Region: Newark, NJ - Meadowlands Priceline Area: Secaucus - North Bergen Hotel Name: Holiday Inn Harmon Meadow Hotel Address: 300 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094 Hotel Phone: 201-348-2000 Check-In Date: Sunday, September 7, 2008 Check-Out Date: Friday, September 12, 2008 Billing Date: August 30, 2008 Offer Price: $229.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 5 Subtotal: $1,145.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $205.17 Total Charges: $1,350.17 I have a budget of $229 per night, so I bid $229 per night for 2* and higher everywhere in Manhattan (except Upper East/West Side) and in Jersey City, NJ -- with no luck. Then I added the Secaucus - North Bergen area and got my bid accepted. As it turned out, I could have had a room at this hotel for $210 per night, directly through the hotel Web site.

Priceline Star Level: 2.5* Moderate-Plus Priceline Region: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Priceline Area: Dorval Airport (YUL) - now known as Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport Check-In Date: Saturday, August 16, 2008 Check-Out Date: Sunday, August 17, 2008 Hotel Name: Aloft Montreal Airport Hotel Address: 500 McMillan Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H9P 0A2 Canada Hotel Phone: 514-633-0900 Offer Price: $65.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $65.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $18.26 (US dollars) Total Charges: $83.26 (US dollars) The hotel Web site offers rates ranging from $131 to $225 (US dollars) per night for the same date.

Priceline Star Level: 2-Star Moderate Priceline Region: New York, NY Priceline Area: Downtown - SoHo - Financial District Hotel Name: Clarion Collection The GEM Hotel-SoHo Hotel Address: 135 East Houston Street, New York, New York 10002 Hotel Telephone: 212-358-8844 Check-In Date: Sunday, August 17, 2008 Check-Out Date: Friday, August 22, 2008 Offer Price: $194.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 5 Subtotal: $970.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $172.31 Total Charges: $1,142.31 I wanted the "Downtown - SoHo - Financial District" area and the same dates only, and tried 4* and 3* at the same offer price before 2* was accepted. I've been able to get this hotel through Priceline "Name Your Own Price" before, in June/July 2008, for $185 per night. The "special" rate available through Priceline Hotels for the same dates is $279 per night. The hotel Web site offers rates of $249, $269 and $279 per night for the same dates.

Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront Priceline quality level: 3* Priceline area: Kingston, Ontario, Canada Address: 1 Princess Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 1A1 Check-In Date: Friday, March 2, 2007 Check-Out Date: Sunday, March 4, 2007 Offer Price: $90.00 USD Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $180.00 USD Taxes and Service Fees: $35.22 USD Total Charges: $215.22 USD Successful bidding on March 1, 2007 for 2 nights (March 2 to 4, 2007): My goal was to get a 3* hotel room for the weekend in downtown Kingston. I started bidding for a 3* at $45, and worked up to $75, in $5 increments, over the course of several days, without any luck. Eventually, it was the day before my trip and I had to book something, so I bid $90 and my price was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $115 USD ($134 CAD) per night.

This Extended StayAmerica hotel in Elizabeth, NJ is nice enough, and the small kitchen is good to have, definitely. The bed is very comfortable. Car parking is free, and wireless Internet access is $5 per stay. Going to Manhattan from this hotel, there's a short (less than 10 minutes) drive to the Elizabeth train station (parking fee is $6.50/day maximum), then a 30-minute ride on a comfortable New Jersey Transit train to New York Penn Station on Manhattan's West Side (weekday fare is $8.50/person for adult off-peak return trip).

ESA Elizabeth-Newark-Airport (Extended Stay America) Priceline quality level: 2* Priceline Region: Newark, NJ - Meadowlands Priceline City Area: Elizabeth Check-In Date: Thursday, October 12, 2006 Check-Out Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Offer Price: $54.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 5 Subtotal: $270.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $52.77 Total Charges: $322.77 Successful bidding on October 10, 2006 for 5 nights (October 12 to 17, 2006): 1) $45 for 2* in Newark - Newark Airport 2) $48 for 2* in Jersey City and Newark - Newark Airport 3) $51 for 2* in Secaucus - North Bergen, Jersey City and Newark - Newark Airport 4) $54 for 2* in Elizabeth, Secaucus - North Bergen, Jersey City and Newark - Newark Airport -- and my bid was accepted. Comment: I may have overpaid for 2* in Elizabeth, NJ by not starting a separate bid for it before adding it as another zone. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same date was $88.99/night for 1 adult, $93.99/night for 2 adults.

Renaissance Toronto Hotel Downtown Priceline quality level: 3* Priceline zone: Downtown Toronto One Blue Jays Way Toronto, Ontario M5V 1J4 Canada Check-In Date: Monday, October 9, 2006 Check-Out Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 Offer Price: $60.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $60.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.13 Total Charges: $76.13 Successful bidding on October 9, 2006 (the same day as check-in date): 1) $60 for 4* in Downtown Toronto. 2) $60 for 3* in Downtown Toronto -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same date was $176.89/night ($199.00 CAD). With taxes, the charge for one night in one room was $201.65 ($226.86 CAD). Location: This hotel is part of the Rogers Centre sports and entertainment complex, beside CN Tower on Front Street.

Holiday Inn Dulles Priceline quality level: 3* Priceline zone: Dulles Airport (IAD) 1000 Sully Road Sterling, Virginia 20166 703-471-7411 Check-In Date: Monday, August 28, 2006 Check-Out Date: Saturday, September 2, 2006 Offer Price: $40.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 5 Subtotal: $400.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $53.54 Total Charges: $453.54 Bidding on August 24, 2006: I bid $40 for 3* in Dulles Airport (IAD), and my offer was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $159.20/night.

The topic title is now correct (Priceline zone: Sterling). I know the area around the Dulles Airport very well, and I think of the Sterling zone as merely the north end of the Dulles Airport (IAD) zone. Most of the hotels in the Sterling zone are about the same driving distance from the Dulles Airport as the hotels in the south end of the Dulles Airport (IAD) zone. Route 28 (Sully Road), the highway that passes by the airport and connects the Dulles Airport (IAD) and Sterling zones, is now a much improved and very fast road, with very few traffic lights and many overpasses. Thus, I put the Dulles Airport (IAD) in the title, because Sterling was already in the name of the hotel, plus I wanted to indicate how close this hotel is located to the Dulles Airport. My apologies for the confusion. Candlewood Suites Sterling (the Sterling zone) and Candlewood Suites Herndon (the Dulles Airport (IAD) zone) are nearly identical hotels, located about the same driving distance from the airport. I really like them both, and have stayed in both a number of times. Candlewood Suites Sterling is newer (opened in 2005), and has a lot more restaurants and shopping nearby, even within walking distance. Candlewood Suites Herndon is slightly closer to the airport, but is located in a more isolated (office and residential) area (with many restaurants within a 10-15 minute drive).

Candlewood Suites Sterling Priceline quality level: 2* Priceline zone: Sterling 45520 East Severn Way Sterling, Virginia 20166 703-674-2288 ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cw/1/en/hd/wasva Check-In Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2006 Check-Out Date: Saturday, February 11, 2006 Offer Price: $38.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $152.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $24.88 Total Charges: $176.88 Unsuccessful bidding on January 14, 2006: 1) $35 for 2* in Sterling. 2) $35 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD) -- Priceline counter-offered to increase my price by $9 -- declined. 3) $37 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD) + Sterling. 4) $37 for 2* in Leesburg. Successful bidding on January 17, 2006: 5) $38 for 2* in Sterling -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $125.10/night. Location: As close to the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) as many of the hotels in the Dulles Airport (IAD) zone.

Pick-up/Drop-off: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Rental Car Company: Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. Car Class: Compact with unlimited mileage Pick-Up Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2006 Drop-Off Date: Sunday, February 12, 2006 Offer Price: $20.00 Total Rental Days: 5 Subtotal: $100.00 Taxes & Fees: $27.30 Total Charges: $127.30 Bidding History: Successful bidding on January 10, 2006: Economy $18 Compact $20 -- and my offer was accepted. Comparison: The Orbitz Web site showed prices starting at $25/day. The best deal I could get from the Avis Web site http://www.avis.com was the total of $175.88 for 5 days (about $28.80/day) for a subcompact (economy class) car. The Enterprise Web site offered the total of $137.50 for 5 days for a subcompact car, but that included a corporate discount.

Comment after the car rental was completed: This time I ended up with an Economy-class car: a four-door 2005 Chevrolet Aveo with over 12,000 miles on it. It's a good subcompact car, with plenty of room for two adults and their luggage, and an engine powerful enough for easy highway driving. My fuel consumption was close to the EPA estimated: 23.2 miles per gallon.

Pick-up/Drop-off: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Rental Car Company: Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. Car Class: Economy with unlimited mileage Pick-Up Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2005 Drop-Off Date: Saturday, December 10, 2005 Offer Price: $23.00 Total Rental Days: 4 Subtotal: $92.00 Taxes & Fees: $28.66 Total Charges: $120.66 Bidding History: Unsuccessful bidding on November 16, 2005 for Wednesday-Saturday, December 7-10 Economy $16 Compact $18 Mid-size $20 Standard $22 Full-size $24 Premium $25 Unsuccessful bidding on November 24, 2005 for Wednesday-Saturday, December 7-10 Economy $18 Compact $21 Mid-size $24 Standard $25 Full-size $26 Premium $27 Luxury $28 Minivan $26 SUV $27 Convertible $25 Successful bidding on December 1, 2005 for Wednesday-Saturday, December 7-10 Economy $20 -- Priceline offered me a free re-bid with the following message: "Try Again Right Now We searched hundreds of options to find your rental car, however we were not able to find a rental car company that would accept your price of $20 per day. If you are willing to raise your price, you can try the same request again right now. Normally you are required to change additional items (car type, location, or dates) in order to try your request again, however we are able to extend this one-time opportunity to you because of the type of rental car and dates you requested. All you have to do to try again is raise your offer price. If you do not want to increase your price and would prefer to modify your request, click here." Economy $23 -- and my offer was accepted. Comparison: The Orbitz Web site http://www.Orbitz.com showed prices starting at $36/day. The best deal I could get from the Budget Web site http://www.budget.com was the total of $200.20 for 4 days (about $41/day). The Enterprise Web site http://www.Enterprise.com offered the total of $148.39 for 4 days, but that included a corporate discount.

Candlewood Suites Herndon Priceline quality level: 2* Priceline zone: Dulles Airport (IAD) 13845 Sunrise Valley Drive Herndon, Virginia 20171 703-793-7100 http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cw/1/en/hd/wassv Check-In Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2005 Check-Out Date: Saturday, December 10, 2005 Offer Price: $38.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $114.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $20.34 Total Charges: $134.34 Bidding on November 16, 2005: 1) $35 for 2* in Sterling. 2) $35 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD) -- Priceline counter-offered to increase my price by $9 -- declined. 3) $38 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD) + Sterling -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $127.20/night.

Comment after the car rental was completed: Even though I had bid for an Economy-class car (e.g. Chevrolet Aveo), at the Budget location near the Dulles Airport I was given a Compact-class car (Chevrolet Cobalt LS Coupe). Most of the time, there are no Economy-class cars on the lot.

Candlewood Suites Herndon Priceline quality level: 2* Priceline zone: Dulles Airport (IAD) 13845 Sunrise Valley Drive Herndon, Virginia 20171 703-793-7100 http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cw/1/en/hd/wassv Check-In Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Check-Out Date: Saturday, October 29, 2005 Offer Price: $40.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $120.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $21.05 Total Charges: $141.05 Bidding on October 24, 2005: 1) $44 for 2.5* in Sterling. 2) $44 for 2.5* in Dulles Airport (IAD). 3) $40 for 2* in Sterling. 4) $40 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD) -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $159.00/night.

Pick-up/Drop-off: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Rental Car Company: Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. Car Class: Economy with unlimited mileage Pick-Up Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Drop-Off Date: Saturday, October 29, 2005 Offer Price: $25.00 Total Rental Days: 3 Subtotal: $75.00 Taxes & Fees: $21.29 Total Charges: $96.29 My price of $25/day for Economy size was accepted on first attempt, so maybe I should have started bidding at $23/day. The Orbitz Web site [url="http://www.Orbitz.com"]http://www.Orbitz.com showed prices starting at $39/day. The best deal I could get from the Budget Web site http://www.budget.com was the total of $150.15 for 3 days (about $41/day). The Enterprise Web site [url="http://www.Enterprise.com"]http://www.Enterprise.com offered the total of $128.48 for 3 days, but that included a 20% promotional discount.

Courtyard By Marriott Ottawa Downtown Priceline quality level: 2.5* Priceline zone: Ottawa 350 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E9 Canada Telephone: 613-241-1000 Toll-Free: 1-800-341-2210 http://marriott.com/property/propertypage....arshaCode=YOWCY Check-In Date: Sunday, August 7, 2005 Check-Out Date: Thursday, August 11, 2005 Offer Price: $48.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $384.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $46.68 (US dollars) Total Charges: $430.68 (US dollars) Bidding on August 3, 2005: 1) $45 for 2.5* in Ottawa from Monday, August 8 to Friday, August 12. 2) $48 for 2.5* in Ottawa from Sunday, August 7 to Thursday, August 11 -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $149.00/night (Canadian dollars) or approximately $124/night (US dollars).

Candlewood Suites Sterling Priceline quality level: 2* Priceline zone: Sterling 45520 East Severn Way Sterling, Virginia 20166 703-674-2288 http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cw/1/en/hd/wasva Check-In Date: Thursday, July 21, 2005 Check-Out Date: Saturday, July 23, 2005 Offer Price: $48.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $96.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $17.83 Total Charges: $113.83 Bidding on July 19, 2005: 1) $45 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD). 2) $45 for 2* in Sterling. Priceline offered a free re-bid if I add $13, but I declined. 3) $48 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD) + Sterling -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $89.00/night. Location: This hotel is in the Sterling zone. The exact location is on East Severn Way at Atlantic Blvd, just east of Route 28 (Sully Rd), a few minutes drive north of the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). This hotel is within a walking distance of Dulles Town Center shopping mall.

Candlewood Suites Sterling Priceline quality level: 2* Priceline zone: Sterling 45520 East Severn Way Sterling, Virginia 20166 703-674-2288 http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cw/1/en/hd/wasva Check-In Date: Thursday, June 23, 2005 Check-Out Date: Friday, June 24, 2005 Offer Price: $49.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $49.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.37 Total Charges: $61.37 Bidding on June 22, 2005: I started bidding for 2* at $45. On my first bid [$45 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD)] Priceline offered a free re-bid if I add $13, but I declined. Then I bid $49 for 2* in Dulles Airport (IAD) + Sterling -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $169.00/night. Location: This hotel is in the Sterling zone. The exact location is on East Severn Way at Atlantic Blvd, just east of Route 28 (Sully Rd), a few minutes drive north of the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). This hotel is within a walking distance of Dulles Town Center shopping mall.

Courtyard By Marriott Washington Dulles Airport Chantilly Priceline quality level: 2.5* Priceline zone: Dulles Airport (IAD) 3935 Centerview Dr Chantilly, Virginia 20151 703-709-7100 http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/IADCA Check-In Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 Check-Out Date: Friday, June 3, 2005 Offer Price: $49.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $147.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $23.76 Total Charges: $170.76 Bidding on May 23, 2005: I started bidding for 2.5* at $45. On my first bid [$45 for 2.5* in Dulles Airport (IAD)] Priceline offered a free re-bid if I add $13, but I declined. Then I bid $49 for 2.5* in Dulles Airport (IAD) + Falls Church East -- and my bid was accepted. Rate: The best available rate from the hotel Web site for the same dates was $199.00/night. Location: This hotel is in the south end of the Dulles Airport (IAD) zone. The exact location is on Route 50 (Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy), just east of Route 28 (Sully Rd).

This Days Inn on Centreville Road in Manassas, VA is an exception, because it's better than most Days Inn hotels that I have stayed at. This property is also rated as "5 sunbursts" by Days Inn, versus "4 sunbursts" for other Days Inn hotels in the area. My goal was to get the lowest price for a 2* (or better) hotel in the Dulles Airport (IAD), Leesburg, Manassas or Sterling zones in northern Virginia. For the given dates (Tuesday, April 5 to Friday, April 8), $54/night from Priceline was the lowest price I could get, after many days of repeated bidding, increasing the bid price a little bit every time. I had even tried, reluctantly, to bid for a 1* in these zones, but had no luck at all. Comparing the best listed prices on hotel company Web sites, Days Inn properties have some of the lowest prices in Manassas and Leesburg, with only Super 8 Motels and Red Roof Inns listing lower rates.

This week (April 5-8, 2005) appears to be the exception, because I have won the same 2* Day Inn Manassas hotel for $49-50 for many other weeks in April and May. I don't notice any difference.