Street22

Based on another post, I was relatively confident that this would be the Godfrey and indeed it was. On BiddingHelper.com: "FULL AMENITIES: Free Internet, Boutique hotel, Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Internet access"

Tried 4* Toronto Downtown North at $77, waited a day, tried 4* again at $92 and struck out both times. Clicked on the PRICELINE EXPRESS button and was offered a 4* at $120, 3.5* at $73 and 3* at $63. Opted for the sure bet on the 3* and ended up with Courtyard Marriott at 475 Yonge Street. The Marriott.com rates for the same dates started at $125 per night. Thanks, Better Bidding (I was very confident about which 3* hotels were in the mix)! p.s. Of course I used the PRICELINE link - as always.

Using this forum, I was relatively confident that I was getting the Intercontinental - and did. It was my first Hotwire bid ever. I have been using BetterBidding for a few years now for Priceline, but the Forums made it sound as if Hotwire is a better bet for downtown Chicago, especially when dealing off the bottom of the deck. :D InterContinental Chicago (4.5 * category - 505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611 (312) 944-4100 Check-in Fri, Oct 19, 2012 3:00 PM Check-out Sun, Oct 21, 2012 12:00 PM Amenities: Indoor pool(s) Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Accessible for the blind Accessible for the deaf Accessible path of travel In-room accessibility Accessible bathroom Handicapped parking Roll-in shower

Our 30-minute stay at the Millennium was July 15, 2012. There was a very long line at the front desk when we left to go to the Hilton Garden Inn (two people being waited on, approximately 6 people in line plus a tour group of about 30 waiting to checking in) - waiting a half-hour to an hour or more to get to talk to the young man working the front desk was not an option). Changing rooms would not have mattered - the Millennium is a 1.5 star motel not a 3 star hotel and will not become any better than a 2-star until major renovations are completed. The Hilton Garden Inn Buffalo Airport is terrific - a real 3-star hotel - the difference between the two properties is night and day. I would reiterate my strong warning to any Better Bidding readers (mostly sophisticated and experienced travelers) - please think twice before bidding on a 3-star in the Buffalo Airport region - if you end up at the Millennium, you are very likely to be disappointed.

I made a winning bid for a hotel in the Buffalo Airport area that was supposed to be a 3-star upscale hotel. I bid $77 and "won" the Millennium Airport Hotel Buffalo - total price including tax $97. We arrived at the hotel today and it was anything but 3-star. I would have maybe given it 2-stars, had it been clean. The hotel is rundown and dirty - probably a 1.5 star property. To add insult to injury, there was a group of about a dozen loud kids in the hotel room next to ours. We decided to bail - give up the $100 and move to a real 3-star. As I write this, we are at the Hilton Garden Inn - for which I paid $144 (not including tax) - a slight discount from the regular $164 rate that the manager gave me after hearing my tale of woe. This is my first negative experience with Priceline. I really was shocked as I have stayed at maybe a dozen 3 and 4 star Priceline hotels and never been disappointed, much less so upset with the condition of the hotel that I had to leave. This hotel should not be on Priceline, period. After moving hotels, I learned that the Millennium is ranked 16 out of 16 Buffalo Airport area hotels on Trip Advisor. The HGI, in contrast, is rated 2 out of 16 in the same category. Other than warning my fellow Better Bidding travelers, do I have any recourse? Obviously, I was willing to chalk the $97 up to experience, but I wonder if Priceline will do anything to try to refund my money. In the meantime, I strongly suggest that you do NOT bid a 3-star hotel in the BUF region. It seems as if most recent winning bids for this zone and category ended up with the Millennium, which is not worth half of what I bid. "

Hilton Garden Inn - 3 star - first bid at $55 :) July 19-20 2011 One Night Used the PRICELINE link, of course (it brings good luck)

7/15/10 one night - Bid $52 for 3* - was offered the $10 bid again option - took it and result was: Residence Inn, Albany Airport, Latham $62 per night (with tax $78.51). Hotel is 5.5 miles from our destination (Siena College). My alternative was Hotel Indigo for $122, without tax, on the InterContinental Hotels website. Used the PRICELINE link to make the bids.