hohogap

For best rates, I'd suggest splitting your bids. I have booked LAS hotels for January 1-4, 2012. Went with the Hilton (Convention Area) direct (through BB link) for January 2-4, 2012 as the rate was only $49/night on the Hilton web site and I can get my HHonors GOLD benefits. Still looking for a PL win on January 1st, but booked a back-up at the Embassy Suites for $129. Still hoping to do better by booking PL or HW through the BB links, but New Years Eve is a really tough date to get a great price (which is why we decided to stay home for the holiday and leave the following day). Good Luck!!

TS appears to be the only PL area that has 5* hotels listed for your dates on the opaque side. 4* hotels are pricey and still a great deal. Unless you are really set on a 5* property, I'd set my sights on a more reasonably-rated hotel (and less than 5*). GOOD LUCK!

Hard to say. Probably too low based on my experience and the wins reported on the Board. Check the link above for PL and HW wins to get a better idea.

Resort is its own separate category. Those are the two 5* hotels reported to the Board so far, but hard to be sure that those are the only possibilities. The moderators are excellent in helping to identify what your options may be, so good luck!

Thanks for the update. I need a 2-29-12 through 3-4-12 car rental at DEN and the list prices are outrageous!! Glad to hear that there may be hope on the PL side, I'll use your strategy. And, as always, all of my bids, searches and wins are through the BB site links!

That's an excellent result. I've stayed there a couple of times this year and was happy to get $60 and $65/night!

Thanks for the heads up. Hope they eventually pay you what is due.

I've been looking at this area for a trip in February. The only HW 3 1/2* hotel reported to this board for this specific area is the Hilton Santa Rosa on Round Barn Blvd. (north of downtown Santa Rosa), but that hotel doesn't list a spa as an ammenity (nor do I remember one on a trip last year). Most likely this is a hotel not previously reported to the Board so I'll be interested to see the moderators assessment of your request.

This Board has a listing of all previously reported wins by members on Hotwire hotels and, while not a guarantee that the reported wins will match the HW hotel you are looking for, you can compare the star rating, location and ammenities in an effort to identify the potential HW opaque hotel. The ammenities you list match La Quinta Inn and Suites Downtown New Orleans. I'd wait for advice from the moderators before booking, however, as you may be able to do better on the PL side of the equation by bidding on better hotels with the possibility of achieving even lower rates for this period. Good luck!

What was the offered price on HW?

Good deal and glad you were able to work it out and get the best price PL offered at the time! It's a great way to re-bid AND to be sure you are not overbidding.

Yes, understood, but thanks for keeping me focused. I keep thinking all wins would be reported to the Board! On the retail side the BW Ivy lists at $103 +/-; and the Embassy Suites for $160 +/-. When reviewing the BB list of wins for PL hotels, these are the two 3* hotels previously reported to the Board as wins for the Napa Region of the Napa/Sonoma area. Probably a crap shoot on which one comes up, although last February 2011 the Embassy Suites was reported as a win on PL at $80. No BW Ivy wins in the 2-18 to 2-25-11 timeframe. Thanks for all of your assistance and help on the Board, and, as always, all of my searches, bids and wins are done through the BB Board links!

FYI - appears to be several hotels that could match (hard to say with Golf "nearby" not a listed ammenity on any of this Board's HW wins) but the moderators are great at focusing on possible matches. Good luck!

I agree with vanpoodle as to the timing of the bidding. When I'm set for dates and confirmed to the point I'd be willing to walk away from a great PL hotel deal if work commitments came up, I start bidding. Even 6+ months out, you just never know how inventory will fluctuate and I love having the hotel booked, even before booking airfare.

OUCH! Last minute airfares are tough! Especially SAN, although ATL-LAX for your dates does show that Delta has non-stops for "only" $562.40 "all in." US Airways has fares at $470 for your dates, but connecting through CLT. I'm a Platinum Delta SkyMiles member (formerly Northwest) and these types of last minute trips are what I save my miles for to use in an emergency. Good luck!

I have booked HW a couple of times in the past year (wins reported) and I still don't see a Hotwire Express icon when I sign into HW. Is it hit or miss on when you qualify or does anyone know how many bookings you have to have to qualify for this benefit?

We are assessing our winter vacation plans between Germany and Northern California (Napa/Sonoma). Hotel price will play a major role in our decision. I think i can get a 3* in Napa for under $65/nite. I see only the Embassy Suites (fantastic win if correct) or the Best Western Ivy as the only listed 3* hotels in the Napa specific region for PL wins reported to the Board. Any thoughts on which hotel is most likely to be awarded? I've looked at past wins in 2011 for these general dates and both hotels appear. I know I could split the dates and hope for an extension offer if I get the Embassy Suites, but if it's the BW Ivy that I win then I'd prefer to focus on Santa Rosa hotels for the full 4 days as that area appears to be the best priced for this region. Thanks for any assistance, and, as always, all searches, bids and wins are done through the BB web site PRICELINE links!!!

Interesting. Those ammenities do match the previously reported wins on this Board for HW at the Sheraton Tribeca. The moderators will have even better advice, but your guess looks spot on. Did HW note any reviews or % favorable ratings? I have no idea the answer to your second question, but hope to be educated again by the moderators!

Tough guess as I don't see a 5* reported yet to the board with those ammenities. We stayed at the Hilton Molina Stuckey last summer (had to use HHonors points it was so expensive) but that 5* star property has a pool ammenity. I'm looking forward to the moderator's assessment on this one. Enjoy your trip!

Comparing your star ratings and the listed ammenities to the list presented on this boards under the list of winning Hotwire hotels with this star rating, location and ammenities, my guess would be Le Pavillion. The moderators are fantastic, so to be sure of your selection, I'd await their assessment if you want to be certain. Hope that helps!

And you can check the PL/Hotwire Calendar of Wins above to see what others have received for that area for that date. Gives some guidance, although inventory changes daily so no guarantees. Hope that helps!

I had luck bidding PL on the 4* O'Hare (ORD) South - received the Hyatt Regency for $60 recently. Nice location if you don't have a car. Over $20/night for parking and nothing close to the hotel any cheaper.

Not a problem. I'll continue to watch and use all links when you get it updated. Thanks!

Is it my computer or the BB site link? I click on the link for LMT under "Support/Travel Links" tab and cannot get connected. Want to be sure and make all of my searches through the BB web site!

It usually means PL has no inventory in that section for the requested dates. Odd for this area, however.