dirtboy

This was a long multiday bidding process. I worked my way up dollar by dollar. My bid for $36 was rejected last night, so this is probably the cheapest it would sell for.

Hotwire had what was almost certainly the Emory Inn for $48-50/night (depending on browser cookies), and the lowest advertised rate I found was $112/night.

Total ($74 subtotal + $18.11 taxes) = $92.11

p.s. also for reference, i bid up to $30/night on a 2* in Buckhead (same dates as above) as was rejected.

Three-day rental, $61.74 all incl.

I had to really play around to get this rate to appear (most rates for these dates using slightly different times were $3-5/day higher). Changed times by 1/2 hour, etc. A compact was offered at the same rate, but I opted for an economy to save money on fuel.

The lowest published rate I could price was $74 for a compact through Alamo (after discount plan and Entertainment Coupon). I also tried priceline, and bid up to $10 for both economy and compact (~60 all incl) and was rejected. Conclusion: hotwire was my cheapest option

I used the savingsbarn link, as always.

I was about to book, when I realized the Best Western Downtown Inn & Suites could also be the hotel. BW has a higher advertised rate of $119+tax per night, but now I'm a little worried I could wind-up with the BW instead of the HI.

Hotwire is offering a 2.5* hotel in downtown Houston for $69/night for 3/29-4/2, 2006. Amenities include: Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness Center, Laundry Facilities, Pool(s), Business Center.

This would be perfect match for the Holiday Inn Express Downtown, except that the HI Express also has complimentary high speed internet, which Hotwire does not list for this hotel (granted, Hotwire has a pattern of sometimes omitting amenities). The lowest advertised rate for the Holiday Inn is $85/night + tax (prepaid) on the hotel company's website.

I can't find any other ~2.5 star hotels with this amenities in the downtown Houston zone. The HI express does not come up as a vacation package hotel. Does anybody have any further speculation as to other possible hotels this could be, or does it seem pretty certain to be the HI Express?

Thanks!

For a friend. Previous bid of $121 was rejected, added a free rebid zone and price was accepted for $128.

This bid was for two rooms.

My previous bid of $65 was rejected (and i was counteroffered at $82), so I added a free rebid zone and raised my bid to $68. Maybe I could've gotten it for $66-67, but now I'll never know.

This bid was for two rooms.

My previous bid of $71 was rejected, so I did a free rebid at $74. So it might have been possible to get this hotel for $72-73.

It was very probable I would get the Hilton, because the Hilton's published rate for this night ($129) was considerably lower than the rate for any other potential 4* hotel in USW.

Unsuccessfully bid up to $79/night for a 4* in La Defense and the lone re-bid zone.

Started a new bid asking $63 for a 3* and got it.

As it turned out, I didn't even stay in the Hotel Shelley. When I checked-in at the Shelley, the desk clerk informed me that I had been upgraded to the Hotel Leon across the street. There must have been a big tour group for a South Beach hotel to be overbooked midweek in May. Based on reviews of the Shelley, and what I saw in the lobby, the Leon was indeed a nicer hotel than the Shelley. The room was really large, well air conditioned, and had a king size bed. The bathroom was huge (could have put a bowling alley in there), and furnished in that tropical bohemian style of red tile and unfinished concrete. No tub, but the shower had two showerheads. Bathrobes in the closet. The desk staff was really friendly and helpful. The free internet access in the hotel was dial-up, but when I told the desk clerk my PDA only had wireless, he let me use his computer for internet stuff. The free drinks we vodka-only, and while they weren't much for taste, the alcohol did its job. The free breakfast was very much continental, but for free, it was fine, and there were streetfront tables for eating breakfast and people watching.

I wouldn't have wanted to pay the published rate for this hotel, but I was very happy with its amenities and location for the price I paid.

A friend of mine needed a place to sleep during a 21hr international layover.

Started with a failed bid of $65 for a 2.5* in JFK. Was counteroffered at $17. Ha!

No free rebid zones at that star level. Started a new bid at $60 for a 2*

$60 + 18 taxes/fees = $78 all incl.

Had started bidding $34 of a 3* in Downtown. Rejected. Added Fort Mitchell (free rebid zone) and upped bid to $35. Got the Four Points, so $35 is as cheap as it gets.

$35 + 12.59 taxes/fees = $47.59

$24 +$10.73 taxes = $34.73

An earlier bid of $23 for a 1* in CVG was rejected. $24 is as cheap as it gets.

Had also made failed bids of up to $28 for a 2* in CVG, and up to $30 for a 2.5* in CVG

It's supposed to be a nice Days Inn, and the rate is supposed to include breakfast.

$55 base for 5 days, + 24 taxes = $79

The lowest price I could quote was $96 from Avis (after Entertainment Coupon and AWD)

Hotwire wanted $12.95/day = $88 total for a compact on those dates (probably from Avis too)

Amenities were:

boutique hotel, near beach, airport shuttle, complimentary breakfast.

Taxes/fees were pretty high ($38.95 for the two nights). Fortunately, this was counterbalanced by the $10/night new customer discount and (hopefully) the $30 entertainment rebate.

When I split the dates, I could find this hotel for $19 on the night of 5/17, but could not make this hotel appear at any rate on 5/18, so I'm suspecting this rate may be prorated based on the $19 Tuesday night rate for this hotel group.

whoops! the stay dates are 3/22-25

Full amenities include:

Hotel, Casino, Restaurant, Pool(s), Fitness Center, Spa Services, Business Center

Based on these amenities, I thought it would have been the Silver Legacy... previous threads have reported the Peppermill also has nearby tennis and golf.

Oh well... I've heard that the Peppermill is a pretty nice place, and after the $10/night discount, this works out to $59.95 all inclusive for 3 nights.

this is the courtyard on century blvd.

started at $35 for LAX. added santa monica (which seldom has 2.5* under $55, and therefore is practically a free rebid) and raised bid to $36. $36 was as cheap as it was going to get.

Won't be able to say until I stay there in March. Most online reviews I've read have considered the LAX Quality Hotel to be adequate, but not impressive.

Started with $32 for an LAX 3*, but alas, the priceline would not give me the Hilton (they countered at $40!). When I added Santa Monica for $35 (essentially a free rebid because you can rarely get a Santa Monica 3* for under $60) , effectively bidding $35 for an LAX 3*, I was still rejected.

All I needed was a place to stay while in Marina del Rey for the weekend, so I dropped it to $27 for an LAX 2.5*. Should be fine. Note: parking is an additional $7.

I bid this thru the Priceline Hong Kong site so I could get the Lucky Money rebate.

After many low-ball bids and rebids for 4* in NMA, River North, and the Loop (I went up to $50 for a 3* with no luck), here's what I got:

Hotel Price (3 Nights): $1380 Hong Kong Dollars (HKD)

Taxes: $191.61 HKD

Priceline Processing Fee: $65 HKD

Subtotal: $1636.61 HKD

Lucky money rebate: -$200 HKD

----

Total: $1436.61 HKD = $185.02 for three nights, all included

Not bad, for the Hyatt, which was listing on the web for about $260 for the same 3 nights, all included.

Nice, clean hotel (I've stayed there before). :)

Total price for 2 nights, including taxes $60.85

$24/night is as cheap as it gets for this hotel. My travelling companion bid $23 for the same zone and nights (there are no free rebids on 2* hotels in Atlanta), and was rejected.

-DB

the cheapest you can get the concorde is $33. priceline won't consider any 4* bids that are under $45, so you have to bid on a 3* in the central business district and (for now) priceline will upgrade you to a "4*." it's safe to say that $33 is the cheapest you can get this hotel--i tried bidding for $32 and failed, but my $33 rebid was successful.