purplelotus

Hotel stay was very good. An excellent deal. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a deal like this for the following weekend.

Total cost $137.96. Listed price was $59/night for a king bed or standard room but used the Hotwire Coupon Getaway10 code for 10% discount making actual cost before taxes and fees of $53.10/night. Got a king bed. For $63 one could get a king with sofa bed, and for $65, two double beds Used BB HOTWIRE link. Am VERY pleased with the deal. I had booked this hotel on hotels.com last night for $105/nt plus tax so I'm saving over $100. Amenities listed were free breakfast, free internet, airport shuttle, fitness center, business center.. Hotwire listed the Trip Advisor rating as 4.5/5. Then it showed me 4 hotels, and guaranteed it would be one of the 4. Hampton was the only one that had a 4.5 rating -- others were 3.0-4.0 -- so it had to be the Hampton. It's hard to find good deals around Midway Airport -- I know the area well since I grew up in Chicago -- so I jumped on this as soon as I saw it.

After I posted my review, I noticed the hotel is listed as a LaQuinta Inn & Suites. It is just a plain LaQuinta -- not an Inn & Suites. If I initially wrote LQ Inn & Suites, it was an error. Sorry. In my experience the Inn & Suites hotels are newer and generally better.

I forgot to comment on our stay. For the price and for just one night this was a good deal, but this hotel only deserves a 2-star rating. (I filled out the Priceline review and told them that.) We stay at a lot of 2.5 and 3-star hotels, and this hotel is NOT 2.5 star. Room was clean, reasonable size, and modern, but the hotel buildings are dumpy and old. We'd probably stay again for one night at this price, but I wouldn't want to stay there much longer. Front desk clerk was snippy when I called from the airport to get the shuttle, but that can happen anywhere. The breakfast was mediocre at best -- lots of unhealthy pre-packaged items. There are a few restaurants within walking distance, IHOP, Pei Wei, Starbucks, and others I can't remember.

Total cost $54.97 with taxes and fees. Amenities listed were free internet, pets allowed, airport shuttle, free breakfast, swimming pool, non-smoking rooms available, and bedding (not sure what bedding means). Underneath it said bed choice available. I chose 2 double beds w/o microwave and fridge for $42. It was $47 if you wanted 2 doubles w/ microwave and fridge. King was $85. Guest rating was 7. Cheapest rate I could find elsewhere was $80 so I'm very pleased with the win. It is an old style La Quinta with exterior corridors, but we're only here one night. Before I clicked to buy the hotel, Priceline said the last person got this hotel. I thought it was the LaQuinta since they allow pets, and most of their hotels have 2 double beds and king options which was what I was offered. Haven't used Priceline or Hotwire much in the last few years since I seldom find good deals any more, but this was one.

Hotel worked out well. We were very pleased given the price. This is the type of deal I used to get frequently on Priceline but can't find very often now. Could have paid a lot more for something no better or possibly worse. I asked for a room on the top floor that was away from the elevator (my usual request). The agent said fine and gave us a king bed, but then stated that if we wanted 2 queens, he'd change it. We didn't care so just kept the king. The room had been refurbished although I thought the LaQuinta decor was nicer (bigger desk and couch), but this is personal preference. The room and hotel still smelled of mildew, but we expected that since mildew smell is difficult to get out. (This is a beachfront hotel.) Everything worked in the room, the staff was friendly overall, breakfast acceptable, bed good enough, and towels/amenities were decent for a 2.5-star hotel. They asked if I was a Best Western member which I said I was and gave me 2 bottles of water and 2 snacks of my choice. The front desk agent said it was still the same owner even though the branding had changed. I'd rate it higher, probably a 4/5 -- the downgrade largely because of the smell. I'd return if another deal like this occurs when I want to go to Galveston. This is a 2.5 star hotel, not a 4 star hotel, so my rating is based on this, but so was the price.

Free breakfast was also an amenity. Sorry I forgot this. Breakfast is important to me too!

Total cost was $78.98. Amenities were free parking, free internet, non-smoking, bed choice, business center, fitness center, and pool. Showed a rating of 6+. Oddly enough, I did NOT get a bed choice for $30. A king bed was listed for $49 or 2 queens for $57. Priceline also offered this hotel on their non-express hotels for 2 nights for a non-refundable total cost of $89 ($10 more) with a 6.8/10 rating.. This tipped me off so I was fairly confident it was the Best Western when I bid. The best rate I could find on Best Western's website had a total cost of $136. This hotel used to be a LaQuinta Inn and Suites, and we've stayed there several times since it was built maybe 15 years ago. The hotel was very nice when it was new (big rooms, nice decor,balconies), but gradually went downhill (mildew smells among other things) so we stopped staying there. I'm not sure when it became a Best Western, but it says on their website that it was renovated a year ago. It was repainted for sure, but some of the reviews indicated the rooms could use updating. Hotel gets a 3/5 rating on Trip Advisor and 7.6/10 rating on hotels.com. I used the Better Bidding link. Didn't qualify for the Priceline coupon (not 3 stars), and I didn't have a Priceline coupon from my email. Nevertheless, I think it's a pretty good deal. I wanted a decent, but inexpensive, hotel in Galveston that's clean and has a comfortable bed. Hopefully, it will fit the bill.

I forgot to review the hotel. It's quite nice -- comfortable bed, pleasant ambiance, good furniture, etc. . Rooms are large although it's a newer design, and they aren't as large as other Hyatt Places I've stayed at, eg, Baltimore, DC, Ft. Lauderdale, Lombard. The bed is not separate from the suite area, and it didn't have a wet bar or large sectional couch. Breakfast is good although we were there on a weekend, and the clientele was largely families and groups. Unfortunately, some parents did not supervise their children at breakfast. I did get Hyatt points for participating in the "Go Green" program although I had to follow-up even though I was assured I'd get them upon check-in. I'd recommend the hotel -- probably give it a 4/5 .

The hotel was OK, but it is nowhere near a 4.5/5. I'd give it a 3/5 at best. I also would downgrade it to 2.5 stars from 3 stars. There were minor problems in the room (hair dryer not working properly, shower rod falling down, etc), the pillows were small and uncomfortable, the furniture is nicked, there's no full-length mirror, and the carpet needs updating. The breakfast was somewhat better than most LaQuintas (though that's a low standard) but not on the level of Hampton Inn or Hyatt Place. The breakfast tables weren't cleaned the first two days and barely cleaned the third day after I complained. The manager was dreadful -- more interested in defending her less than stellar staff than hearing how to improve the place. I read the reviews again. Our standards must be higher, but we've stayed in far better hotels at the same star level, eg, Hilton Garden Inns, Hyatt Place. Hard to tell if we got treated poorly because it was a Hotwire purchase, but we didn't sense that. The only consolation is the price we paid. I have a Hyatt Place stay coming up in Chicago suburb which is also a 3 star hotel and gets 4.5/5 ratings. I'll comment on that after our stay.

I got your first response/ message in my email. I responded with an email. No one responded to my email saying I wasn't computer savvy and didn't know what a "PM" is. I still don't know what a "PM" is or how to do it so if you want me to do that in the future, you need to tell me.

Total cost with tax and fees was $164.85 since I had a $25 off coupon from HOTWIRE. This equates to a cost of $47/nt plus tax and no Hotwire fee. Amenities listed were free parking, free breakfast, free internet, fitness, pool, smoke-free, business center, and self-serve laundry. After I booked, my confirmation email also included golf nearby and repeated internet. I was fairly certain this was the LaQuinta before I booked for several reasons: 1) Hotwire said TripAdvisor rating was 4.5/5 so that matched (very few hotels get this high a rating) 2) Hotwire said last person who booked got the LaQuinta although this isn't foolproof since I've had this happen before and got a different hotel and 3) bed choice of king or 2 double beds which is generally what LaQuinta hotels have. I am delighted with my win. Cheapest rate I found for this hotel was $253 (although I'd get some points with that).

Thanks for the tip on the Priceline Coupon and Hotwire Coupons. I was unaware of them. I haven't been on this site for a long time. My Hotwire deal was still better than PRICELINE with the 5% discount coupon, but a coupon might make the difference for a future purchase. I don't miss the Chicago weather. I'll try to remember to use the links. I was vaguely aware of the bidding helper feature, but I used to by a lot of hotels so I was pretty confident about the Hyatt Place.

Total price was $173.74 since I had a $15 off Hotwire Coupon (purchase over $100). Taxes are VERY high in Bedford Park (17.5%) so I calculated the real cost is about $74/night and no fee for Hotwire. The post said the rate was discounted from $117, but the cheapest rate I could find on the web was an advance purchase for $119. I also checked PRICELINE EXPRESS, and I'm almost positive they had the same hotel for $73/night (total cost of $184.96) which was a tad cheaper if one didn't have a Hotwire coupon. I didn't have a coupon for Priceline. Priceline did list a price of $119. I'm a former southside Chicagoan so I'm very familiar with the area, and I was almost positive I was getting the Hyatt Place. The hotel gets superb reviews (4.5/5 on Trip Advisor), and this was mentioned on the Hotwire listing as well as a 95% recommended rate. I am very pleased with my purchase. I haven't used HOTWIRE or PRICELINE much in the past few years since I think their deals are not as good as they were years ago (hotels have stepped up with discounts, points, and freebies), but I frequently check. I think I forgot to use the link since I haven't been using Hotwire or Priceline. Sorry. The hotel was listed as an "ALL-SUITES" hotel, not just a plain hotel. This is a tip-off. The amenities shown when I purchased it were free breakfast, free internet, free parking (which is important to me and many hotels in that area charge), pet-friendly, pool, airport shuttle, smoke-free, and fitness. After the purchase, the amenities shown on my receipt included those but added restaurant, business center, indoor pool, and internet access (a duplication). If you need any more information, please let me know.

Great stay -- and they even gave us free breakfast coupons since we're gold!

Just won this. Total cost $158.14. Am very pleased since I had booked this hotel with a AAA rate at a total cost of $284 so saving $126. Won't get my free breakfast from Hilton Gold status or points, but even if we pay for breakfast, we're still way ahead. Was pretty sure it was the Hilton Garden Inn since amenities matched precisely with ones listed here (only minor difference was wording of "internet access" vs. "hi-speed internet") and undiscounted rate of $139 matched the one on Hotels.com. Hotel had 95% approval rating and 4.5/5 rating also. Boutique, Restaurant, Pool, Indoor Pool, Fitness, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry Used the HOTWIRE link. Haven't been using Hotwire or Priceline much since deals don't seem to be as good lately -- is it just my experience or is there any data on this? I do try to use other links when I book hotels on their websites. Have a couple more hotels to book so check HOTWIRE and PRICELINE for those.

I bought this hotel for a friend on PRICELINE EXPRESS. Total cost was $206.25. She wanted 2 double beds. A king bed was $1 cheaper ($56). Amenities were pool, pets, fitness center, free parking, free internet, free breakfast, and business center. Had guest rating of 8+. Described as "guest favorite". Since I did the transaction, I used the BB [url=http://www.betterbidding.com/clicks/click.php?afsrc=1&id=40]PRICELINE[/url] link. Hotel was $115 AAA rate was 2 doubles on LaQuinta website, $106 for king so this was about half-price.

My friend won this hotel a couple of weeks ago and told me about it so I'm posting it since it's new to the BB list. Total cost was $225.53. I don't know the amenities (and don't plan to ask him).

If you are thinking of the Extended Stay Greenspoint, it does not have a shuttle, and it is very far from the airport. Please read my post because I think the TripAdvisor rating of 4.5/5 is too high. Other ratings are lower. I've detailed them in my post as well as why I think the TripAdvisor rating is high. The LaQuinta Inn & Suites is very nice and close to the airport.

Thanks for your insight. I, too, use Priceline more than Hotwire. I think their ratings are more accurate, and from reading other posts on this board, I think most contributors would agree. I didn't know that a lot of those TripAdvisor reviewers were single posts. That now confirms my theory that the rating is biased on the upside. It's also something else to check in the future. I did a little more research on this hotel; Orbitz, like Priceline, only gives it 2 stars. There was only one review on Orbitz, and that person gave it a 1/5! Travelocity does give it 2.5 stars with 4/5 rating based on 2 posts. I've generally had reasonable service from Hotwire agents -- never had a pricing problem like yours. I think a really nice Hotwire agent would have refunded or relocated me based on the pool, but I thought the chancers were low. I have received a couple of small credits when I complained about hotels after my stay. That was several years ago though; in one case, the A/C wasn't working in the hallways in the middle of the summer and the hotel was rundown. I did call Hotwire yesterday, and they did block the hotel. So I will not get it on a future stay. They even sent me an email confirming this. Thanks for the warning on the Comfort Suites. That's another chain I'm not that fond of.

I have stayed at this hotel many times. You got an excellent deal. I've never won it on Hotwire or Priceline. AAA rates are often quite reasonable mid-week., and I try to stay when LaQunita is offering some bonus points in its frequent stay program. Rooms are spacious. The hotel is maybe 7 years old so still in fairly good shape. Front desk personnel and management not the best. Hard to get problems corrected; I remember flies flying all around the breakfast area once.. The hotel is not close to the town center or cruise port or any restaurants, I think there's a snack shop in a nearby strip mall, but that's about it. There's a movie theatre and miniature golf course nearby. We always have our car so transportation not a problem.

Here's an update: 1. Thanks for your comments on the Extended Stay in Secaucus. We have stayed in Secaucus many times (50% of the price of New York even including the cost of the bus ride in) , and I have seen that hotel. My recollection is it is only rated 2 stars so I was able to avoid it if I bid 2.5-3 stars. I wouldn't have stayed there although it is right on the bus route so an excellent location. And my husband does have different (lower) standards although it must be clean, and the last few Extended Stays we stayed at were not. I live within about 3 miles (different directions) of 2 Extended Stays in the Houston area so I may wander over to one sometime and check it out. Don't know what those are rated now. We've stayed at both many years ago (7-10), and they were borderline fine then (about the bottom we would stay at) , but I'd be hesitant to recommend them again unless I checked them out. 2. I called the Extended Stay hotel the night before the stay to inquire about the pool. I thought this might be a way out.. The front desk agent told me the pool wasn't available because it was too cold and the ph level wasn't right according to city inspectors. I called Hotwire, the Hotwire rep called the hotel and talked to the same agent and rebuffed me telling me it was too cold to swim even if the ph level was acceptable, pools are specified as seasonal so ph level didn't matter, etc.. He was nice about it, but I didn't pursue it for $71 and further, I didn't think I'd get anywhere even though I thought my point was valid. Some people do swim in cold water, but this pool was unusable due to sanitation problems. 3. My husband was able to get on an earlier flight due to a nice United agent not in the US (a plug for United overseas even though service is generallly so-so in the US). She didn't charge him a fee and gave him an aisle seat in Economy Plus (he did qualify for it because it was an upgraded award ticket). So I canceled our free night hotel reservation and drove home even though I dislike driving long distances at night. 4. I didn't bother checking out the Extended Stay before I picked up my husband because it was several miles out of the way I was driving to the airport, I dislike driving, and I figured I'd be wasting my time besides because it probably would have met the Hotwire requirements. 5. I did check Priceline. They only rate the Extended Stay I won 2 stars, and it gets a 7/10. Given the other lower customer ratings, the Trip Advisor rating (4.5/5) seems overly generous, and I wonder if the hotel is telling people who are pleased to go on TripAdvisor and give it an excellent rating. This happened to a friend of mine at a Priceline hotel in Connecticut; they asked her to do that when she praised the hotel at check out. This would skew the ratings higher. There's also the possibility of phony reviews. But maybe it is very nice. I'll never know unless someone I know stays there. 6.. If you or anyone else on the board has any thoughts/comments/similar experiences about Extended Stays, Hotwire customer service, overly generous ratings, etc, I'd like to hear them.

Getting there late and leaving early doesn't solve the problems with the breakfast, the distance from the airport, no shuttle, or the queen bed. Besides I have time to kill which I planned to spend at the hotel since I don't like to drive in rush hour. Offhand, do you know which Extended Stays people liked? I'm curious. I'll read the posts if you tell me which ones they are. I used to stay at the chain about 5-10 years ago, but then gave up on it after several bad experiences. And I still think it is sneaky of Hotwire to do that, and I'll probably give them less business because of this. The 2.5 star rating is highly variable based on this experience. I just checked Expedia; the hotel only gets a 3.5/5 rating there, but it does get 2.5 stars. I'm inclined to go to the hotel, check it out, and if I find something wrong, call Hotwire. But I probably wouldn't find anything so it could be a waste of my time.

Total cost: $70.95. Amenities: free parking, free internet, free breakfast, fitness, pet friendly, pool , self-service laundry Showed TripAdvisor rating of 4.5/5 but no customer rating Won this hotel yesterday. I think it is a new hotel. Am not happy -- and I'm understating my emotions. When I went to book the hotel, a pop-up came up that said the last person who booked got the "LaQunita Inn& Suites". This has happened to me before, and I got the hotel in the pop-up. That is the hotel I wanted since it is nice and very close to the airport. I've stayed there before. Extended Stay is quite a drive -- maybe 7-8 miles. whereas the LaQuinta is maybe 2 miles and has a shuttle. I did check the reviews, and the Extended Stay has been renovated and gets mostly good comments. I don't like the chain; they only have queen beds (or make you pay extra for 2 doubles in my experience) , and the breakfast is pathetic. I am also very surprised that this hotel rates a 2.5 star, but it does. I wonder if Priceline would give it a 2.5 star. AAA gives the LaQuinta 3 diamonds but doesn't rate the Extended Stay. I've never seen an Extended Stay with 3 diamonds in AAA. They get 1-2. I called Hotwire this morning when I'm more rational -- and I have a special number since I'm a good customer -- and explained to the rep that I realize Hotwire followed all the rules, but I think it is :"sneaky" and "misleading" to show the pop-up and not get the hotel in the pop-up. The agent was pleasant but could not do anything for me, eg, a partial credit or change the hotel. He said if I called after I stayed, they could block the hotel so I would never get it again. However, it is exceeding unlikely I will need a hotel in this area anytime soon so that doesn't offer me much. I did question the rating, and he said it was just reviewed on 3/14. He did note my comments on the opo-up, but I seriously doubt anything will be doen about them. So, I just want people here to know that the pop-up is far from a sure thing. Such is life. We will just blow the hotel and the $71. I thought about checking it out, but it's out of the way on my drive to the airport. I have a hotel booked with points across the street from the LaQuinta so I will just use my points, stay there, get a king bed and a better breakfast, and eat the $71. So I will be unable to review the hotel. Equally bad, I think I forgot to use the BB link. Sorry. At least something good could have come from my money.

Hotel was about what I expected -- mediocre. Hotel is probably 20-30 years old, and it shows. The best thing was the bed which was new and comfortable. The worst things were the drab decor (shades of tans and browns with nary a color) and the plumbing. We had trouble with our toilet flushing, and the shower knob was loose. Both were fixed to the extent possible given the age of the plumbing (not completely). Breakfast was acceptable, and the woman attendant was very responsive and friendly. I prefer Hampton Inn, Country Inn & Suites or LaQuinta Inn & Suites at this level. I think they're nicer. I'd rate this a 2-star and will on Priceline's survey. I'm not sure how this is a guest favorite. Every other hotel I've stayed at which has been a guest favorite has been much better. There is road construction all around this hotel, but this affects all hotels in this area. We had to take a long detour twice Saturday because a road was closed all day.