luveurope

:) Thought I would add my 2 cents here on how to get a better room, 1-make sure you get a Hilton Honors card (apply online if you have time before you go) Let the check in person see that you have one, you wont get any miles, but it makes you seem like a Hilton regular. I dont know how many days you will be staying but I learned from Travelguy on this board about the $20.00 check in trick. Last month while in FL I asked for an upgrade to a suite/better room. I had a $20 on top on my check- in credit card. When the front desk person told me that the suite/room would be another $65 per night, I said nicely that I was hoping for a "complementary" upgrade and sort of looked at the $20. She whispered that she would she want she could do, and lo and behold upgraded me for all 3 nights. I thanked her for all her effort and quietly gave her the $20. Well spent $20 in my view. I never would have done this before and I have been traveling for many years. I told my friend who worked at the Ritz Cartlon front desk a long time ago about this and she laughed and said thats how they made all their money and were thrilled when people wanted to tip them. Have a great time in "the City"

Mahalo for the info Keoni! I guess that for $10.00 the kids should get a bed, but was sort of enjoying the idea of making the teen and preteen sleep on the floor! Got to get back at them somehow for driving me crazy lately :) , but I digress, We will be spending a few nights in DC at the Grand Hyatt for the festival, looking forward to it.

Check in- When checking in I tried the "$20.00 shown prominently" with the ID suggestion as I asked for an upgrade. (Thanks to this board I am getting over my shyness in this respect. The lady checking me in was in training. ( Uh Oh) First she told me that an upgrade would be an additional $80.00 per night!, then I clarified that I was hoping for a "complimentary upgrade". She looked again at the $20 and whispered that she would see what she could do. She stated that the "suites" in the tower were very dark (which I took to mean the worst rooms for low bidders and not renovated lately) so she put us in the non tower building across the bridge in the recreation island. This is a 6? story building. Stayed on 2nd floor. Room- The suite was just a room, but very nice- 1- 2 queen size beds, comfortable, good pillows, with updated beige/cream spa like colors. had a table, regular and one office type work chair for desk. Very clean. Had a balcony/deck overlooking a pond and grass with table and chairs. 2- Even though the building was adjacent to the street and directly across from downtown Disney was perfectly quiet. The lobby was serene and upscale for this building. Hardly saw other people. 3- Bath was small and not very updated, however had additional sink outside tub/shower/toilet area. Think it had Golden door spa soapm shampoo, etc which was very nice. 4- Pool- etc. Well this pool needs to be updated,its small and plain, not an awesome resort pool like the Hyatt. The landscaping around the property seems plain as well. I wouldnt stay here for the "resort aspect", but perfectly fine and very close to everything. Overall I think this was a screaming deal :) at $85.00 per night, although they do add $10.00 resort fee/night for stuff I didnt use.

Aloha- found this for you- SuperShuttle runs $27.00 one way LGB to LAX airport-to-airport. supershuttle.com I would ask if its point to point. If they make any stops on the way, for the money you could just rent car one way, drop off at LAX and take your hotel's shuttle. Have a great time in HI, I work there quite a bit and I love it!

Tried Priceline but they would not accept price or SUV at IAD airport- so went to HOTWIRE.

Yes you are correct, it is Mount Vernon.

Egads this was difficult. Goal was to stay in Alexandria, family of 4. There must be alot of visitors on this date because I tried Hotwire and others to try and find a room and the prices were very high. Hope I can remember it all -here goes Wanted to stay in Alexandria, was hoping for the 3* Sheraton, started at $65. no added Arlington and Pentagon, $70, no added 2.5*, fairfax, springfield, falls church, sterling, tysons corner, $75, no started to get a little uneasy, so downgraded to a 2* which is a first for me on PL. Lowered my price to $55 to cushion the blow, and got the Homestead Studio Suites Alexandria. "but" they only guarentee a Queen, so I will need to negotiate for a sofa, etc for the kids. (TravelGuy's $20.00 trick?, maybe $10 would be more appropriate here!) :) Orbitz price was $144.00 for same date, so hey even if the kids end up on the floor it was worth it.

Success! got the Millineum Gloucester again for this trip (At least I will know where it is when I return from Italy!! History 4*Kensington 1st bid $80.00 not accepted added Marble arch bid $85.00 and got Kensington MG hotel This is the one that everyone seems to be getting.

Thank you, I didnt realize that Piccadilly was a straight shot to Heathrow. Havent stayed in Kensington area before, just Marble Arch area. Will try again!

C :) oming back on August 17 from London Luton, flying out next day Heathrow via Paddington, want to stay in a zone adjacent to Paddington. Tried marble arch bid $65 3* no added notting hill bid $70 3* no added regents park bid $75 no think I will flee to fight this another day! was successful with 4* for $80.00 Aug 11-13 in Kensington so must be the days. :)

uh-oh, looks like some very bad reviews for this property on trip advisor. Hard to believe an Wyndham could be so bad. At least this is a business trip, not a family vacation. :)

Feb 8-11- Well I have done better. For WDW- I was hoping to get maybe the Gaylord Palms, swan or dolphin by clicking on resort. Saw a successful bid for GP for $85.00 Bid $75 no joy remembered the strategy of rebidding with another area that didnt have the star rating I wanted (resort), added Kissimee (no resorts) and upped to $85 (Company is paying for this one :) ) Got the Wyndam Palace Resort and Spa in WDW. Oh well looks ok- Web site lowest rate was $179-199.00 Anyone ever stayed here?

Goleta would be much closer. I have no idea of whats there for hotels, I usually take the pass on my way up north thru santa Ynez. I think most of the hotels are of the holiday inn, motel 6 class. Not a real travel destination, more of a budget stay up the coast. If you have time, Solvang up the coast is cute, but for sheer distance to Santa Barbara I would stay in Goleta. If you can find a deal in Montecito (just south of Santa Barbara) thats a very pretty, high end location.Good luck. :)

I think you got a great deal here. I live just north in south OC but work alot in SD. Note that Del Mar is in an area that has had huge residential expansion so wait till after AM traffic to go south to SD and coming back to Del Mar from the south come back before 4 PM or after 7PM or you will be sitting in traffic like the rest of us. The weather can be really nice or not. The good thing is that if it rains one day it is usually sunny the next, however not warm enough for the beach. Some of my favorite SD things- 1. Go to La Jolla not far from Del Mar. - pronounced La Hoya. Old money, small beach city feel, lots of shopping, resturants, and galleries. 2. Coronado Island- Hotel Del Coronado is beautiful, great for a drink. 3. Balboa Park- beautiful spanish colonial architecture, great museums. Dont go at night. 4. Take a harbor cruise, relaxing and great view of the coastline. 5. Go to old town, park, go into the square, have a margarita at the Pinata- can float a basketball in one of these. 6. On your way to SD from OC make sure you visit Laguna Beach. This is the true OC beach town funky, beautiful. 7. Horton Plaza- Excellent Restaurant on the very top -Napa Grill, memorable. Have a great time.

3* April 11-13, Must be Busch Gardens area. Its adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg, Pricline doenst show CW on their area map that I can see, but using mapquest thats what it appears to be.

Bid $55 then up to $65, got the Radisson Fort Magruder Hotel. Looks ok, cheap enough for family trip.

:) Priceline- Lead by other posts I got this hotel for $80.00 for my dates. Hotel website show $284-309 per night so I got all three nights for less than one by using Priceline. Thank you Betterbidding!

:) Got Millennium Gloucester London 4* August 11-13, $90.00 Kensington - Earls Court - Knightsbridge Had bid up to $125 for 5* -Mayfair, Marble Arch, Kensington -rejected Then went to 4* same areas bid $90.00 and was successful. Looks like easy tube stop. Hotel website shows $239.00 per night so I am happy. Now need for Lake Como, but no Priceline in this area unfortunately.