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I used the PRICELINE link before bidding for this hotel. Based on the information previously posted in this forum and in the Priceline Hotel List for Chicago, it seems that Priceline possibly changed its bidding areas for downtown Chicago...? I wanted a hotel in the area that is now designated "Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park," and I used free re-bids to get the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago (4*) in that area. The Priceline Hotel List for Chicago includes the Hard Rock Hotel under "Downtown - River Walk," an area that no longer seems to be an option on Priceline. Also, there's an area called "Chicago Loop - Grant Park." I share that FWIW. Thanks!

Thanks for checking HOTWIRE, thereuare... The amenities listed are Free Internet, Smoke Free, Fitness Center, Restaurant, Business Center and the accessibility listed is In-Room Accessibility and Wheelchair accessible -- and now that I'm looking more closely at the accessibility info (hadn't noticed that before) I think you're right, it looks like this might be the Park Plaza Riverbank. It seems to have okay reviews but as a pre-paid discount purchaser it seems likely I'd be facing the train tracks, which is fine but something to consider. I think I feel comfortable going up to $150/night, that's about $200 more than my current booking at the Travelodge in the Docklands...

Thank you, thereuare! I went through the steps you provided, following the PRICELINE link each time, with 4* and was not successful. I guess my next step is to try for a 3* as you suggest...although I'm now contemplating increasing my top bid, because it looks like either the Doubletree or the Novotel Waterloo (in Westminster) is available for $169 on Hotwire right now, for all 7 nights. Any thoughts about that? This is a work trip but I'd also like it to feel like a vacation, so I'm torn. Anyway: many thanks for your help, and I'll keep trying!

Hello! I've tried to figure this out myself but I'm having a hard time...hope you can help! I currently have a reservation (cancelable) for 7 nights, 26 June-3 July, at the Travelodge London Docklands for (on average) $126/night. I'm hoping I can get a 4* -- or even a 3*, since it seems the Travelodge is a 3* -- in a more central London location. I'd be willing to bid up to $135. I'm not very familiar with London, but these neighborhoods look ideal to me (however, I'd love advice/suggestions): The City - Tower Bridge - St. Pauls Cathedral (good because I'll be seeing a play at Shakespeare's Globe) Westminster - Houses of Parliament - Victoria Mayfair - Soho Bloomsbury - Marble Arch Kensington - Earl's Court ...but really, I'm open to anything that would be interesting and convenient Tube-wise, except for Notting Hill (which I thought was too crowded last time I visited). Any help and advice would be appreciated! Many thanks in advance!

Began at $55 and went up in $3-5 increments until I hit $83. Seems to be on Hotwire right now for $91/night. I used Better Bidding's PRICELINE link when I made this bid. Thanks!

I won this on the first bid ($80), choosing 3-1/2* in the Convention Center - Capitol Hill zone. I used Better Bidding's PRICELINE link in order to support the community. Thanks!

For the past few weeks, I've been bidding for 3* hotels in Brentwood - Westwood and Beverly Hills - West Hollywood on Priceline (up to $90 with no success). I've also been watching Hotwire for hotels in these areas during my dates; but recently, both inns that interested me (4* Intercontinental and 3* Holiday Inn Express Century City) stopped appearing on Hotwire. So, feeling a bit anxious, and not wanting to wait any longer, I went ahead and increased what I was willing to pay for a 3* on Priceline. Bidding went as follows: 3* Brentwood - Westwood: $90 added Beverly Hills - West Hollywood: $95 added Lawndale (only free rebid): $105 ...and won the Residence Inn Beverly Hills on the last round. I used the PRICELINE link from BetterBidding. Thanks!

Thank you, Colfax! If this is the Elan, it looks like it would be 1/2 hour by bus to the conference hotel, and an interesting place to stay. But I'm going to muse on this a bit before going ahead. I will certainly use the HOTWIRE link if I decide to do either this property or the Holiday Inn Express. Thanks again!

Hi, everyone -- Like another user (Agoust), who has been bidding for a room in LA for Aug 1-6 (see this thread), I'll be in LA during that time for a conference at the Hyatt Regency and I'm looking for a room near there. On Hotwire for my dates (Aug 3-6), I see a 3* available in Beverly Hills - West Hollywood for $122 and I can't identify it based on the BetterBidding hotels list. The amenities listed are Boutique, Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness, Business Center, Internet. Hotwire indicates that they "are still gathering reviews for this property." Any idea what this hotel might be, or how I might research it myself, to make an educated guess? I want to stay within walking distance (>1 mile) from the Hyatt Regency, and if we can't identify this particular 3*, I will probably opt for the Holiday Inn Express, which seems to be available on Hotwire for $124 (3* -- Complimentary Breakfast, Internet). I'm awfully curious about this other 3* option, however. Many thanks to all!

Began at $70 and bid $5 increments until I won the Hyatt Regency for these dates. And, of course, I used the PRICELINE link here at Better Bidding. Thanks!

Used the special BetterBidding link to HOTWIRE to get this... Note: The hotel list on BetterBidding indicates this is a 3.5* hotel, but it was listed on Hotwire today as 3*. Amenities listed on Hotwire for this hotel: Fitness Center, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, High-Speed Internet, Tennis. Hilton Garden Inn, Capitol Place Hotel Austin 500 N Ih-35 Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 480-8181 CheckInDate:Thu, Mar 12, 2009 CheckOutDate:Tue, Mar 17, 2009 Hotel rate per night: $92.00 Nights: 5 Rooms: 1 Subtotal: $460.00 Tax recovery charges and fees: $73.17 Total price: $533.17

Over the past week, I've been bidding for 3* and 3.5* hotels in the Copley Square area. I was unsuccessful bidding for a 3.5* up to $125. I also tried twice for a 3*, first trying $85 and then $95 (could only do one bid each day, because I wanted to stay in Copley and therefore had no free rebids). Today, I tried 3.5* again with no success (going up to $125 again). BUT I did win a room at the 3* Radisson Boston for $105. According to the hotel's web site, average nightly rate for my dates is $205. Radisson Hotel Boston 3 Star Copley Square - Theatre District Check-In Date: Thu, Nov 6, 2008 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Nov 9, 2008 / 12:00 PM Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $105.00 Subtotal: $315.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $51.63 Total Charges*: $366.63

Hi! I just successfully bid for this hotel, supporting BetterBidding using the PRICELINE link here. Lots of rebid zones for a Downtown 4* in Pittsburgh; I have been trying for several days to secure a room for these dates, with no success. Today, $130 was the lucky number (I began at $80 and went up in $10 increments). It was the Renaissance. Thanks!

The KC Downtown zone has a dozen free rebids if you're looking for a 4* hotel - so I started at $40 and rebid 6-7 times until I won at $55/night + taxes. I used the Savings Barn link...thanks!

First bid was $45, at which point I was encouraged to increase my bid by $13 (an offer I rejected). Added a free re-bid zone and increased bid to $48; accepted. I connected to Priceline through SavingsBarn.com -- thanks!

Lowest listed rate at the Argonaut for my dates is $219. It took several tries targeting 4* zones to get this. I began with USE, bidding up to $80 w/ free rebids. Then, I did a session based on USW, bidding up to $89. Finally, I began a session with Fisherman's Wharf, bidding $80, $85, then $91. (I realize I was a bit impatient with that increment, but since Hotwire was listing a 4* in USW at $99 -- presumably Parc 55, since the Clift is booked -- and a 4* in FW for $149, I figured I'd get the Parc 55 before anything in FW. I was wrong!) I used the SavingsBarn link. Thanks for this board!

Hello everyone! Just wanted to post that I tried bidding for two nights, 10/20-22, in San Diego (4* downtown - Harbor Island) and used up all my free re-bids unsuccessfully. I got as high as $105 and was rejected. I'll try again in a day or two... Used the SavingsBarn link, and will do so again on my re-try!

Thanks so much for all this advice! Using the EasyClickTravel link, I booked the Whitehall for $128/night. At least it's better than $159! I'll keep trying Priceline, as advised, adding the RMA zone. Tried today (using the SavingsBarn link), bidding up to $105, but no luck. We'll see how it goes... Thanks again!

Hello everyone! For the past week or so I've been trying to score a 4* hotel in the Millennium-Loop area for three nights (Aug 2-5) without success. Since there are only two free re-bids for this zone and star-level, I've tried a number of times, bidding as high as $115. It looks like there are several conventions that weekend, but all are relatively small. In fact, the reason I'll be in Chicago during that time is for a convention (one that's not listed on the Chicago Convention site yet). :) The conference rate (at the Palmer House) is $159/night. Obviously, I'd like to get something nearby for less than that. I won't have a car, so I need to stay in the area. Assuming I'll need to take cabs to and from the conference hotel, I figure it's worth doing Priceline for up to $125/night. But I've been hesitant to bid that high because the dates are so far away.... If you were me, what would you do? Go ahead and bid my maximum, or wait it out some more? Is Chicago always expensive in August? Many thanks in advance!! -Amy

Yes, the Intercontinental on Bloor St. Highest rejected bid 3 days ago was $75; the highest rejected bid I did today was $74. With so many free re-bids for a 4* in Toronto, I could afford to use stingy bid increments. :) Thanks!

Interesting....I think this might be a "new" hotel for the Priceline list on the board....perhaps they give rooms at the last minute to Priceline. Enjoy your stay :)

The Sheraton Centre is booked for a conference for my dates (no availability on the Sheraton's web site and a Google search verified that there is a conference there), so I figured that if I tried for a 4* hotel, I would get either the Intercontinental or the Westin Harbour Castle, but would have to pay a bit more than the roughly $65/night the Sheraton Centre seems to be offering via Priceline. My educated guess turned out to be right: Three days ago, I started at $50 used all of my free re-bids to get up to $75, but that offer was rejected. I started higher today ($65) and was successful at $76. This time, BTW, after my first bid Priceline gave me a $82 counter-offer, which I rejected. (Incidentally, Hotwire is offering what looks to be the Intercontinental for $84.) I'm happy with this hotel; the Tripadvisor reviews are mostly positive. As always, thanks for this board!

This is a one-night stay (Thursday night). Began at $50 and added free re-bid to get $55. Thanks!

Sorry to omit that info -- my bids were: 1. $63 USE only 2. $66 rejected counteroffer; added CH 3. $69 added CC 4. $72 added FW 5. $74 added SFO; accepted. The listed rate for these dates is $219. Maybe $73 would have been accepted because it's exactly 1/3 of the published rate ($219). Who knows...

Three nights, arrive Thurs 7/28 & check out Sun 7/31. Began bidding at $63, and after four subseqent "free" re-bids I was finally accepted at $74. After my first bid, Priceline came back with a counter offer of "increase your bid by $17," which I ignored. After "identifying" the Westin on Hotwire (which offered me $86/night for my dates) I was hoping I might get it cheaper on Priceline, and I got lucky -- it's the hotel for the conference I'm going to that weekend! And I'll bet the conference rate will be more than $74, so I'm doing well. :) Thanks to the advice and info on this board, this was a successful experiment! :)