hohogap

I was able to access PL through the BB PRICELINE link above. No problems from this end.

Moderators are great at assisting and focusing on identifying the right hotel, but I'll go on a limb with a guess of the 4* Westin Casuarina (previoulsy 3.5*). Hotiwre hotels previously won are listed on the BB site with their respective ammenities and you can review and evaluate the matches with your opaque hotel with those that have been won and reported on this site. Great resource and with just a bit of time you are able to try and narrow the choices down (although the expert advice of the moderators cannot be beat)!

And if you are having troubles with finding the rebid zones because you have already made a bid, just log out and re-enter through the BB PRICELINE link at top. Allows you a quick way to reconfirm the free rebid zones before making the next click!

Can you identify the site that you booked the hotel on for us? Thanks.

Could you provide the hotel name, star rating, etc. of the hotel you booked online? Much appreciated.

Agreed. I have often been pleasantly surprised that the opaque PL property won was better than those on the PL known list (but no guarantees, of course!)

I have bid on PL (through BB web site) in this zone for these dates at low rates in 2012, but just saw a HW 3.5* listing clicked on through BB link with the following amenities for only $59/night!: Smoke Free Rooms Complimentary Breakfast Fitness Center Pool(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Any suggestions would be appreciated. I had hoped it might be the Embassy Suites, but that has tennis/golf listed as amenities.

Checking today for Istanbul and the Faith area now doesn't appear on Hotwire as you state. Must be the Barcelo as pointed out previously by Thereuare. Thanks for all of your help and rest assured that all of my bids and purchases are made through BB links.

The moderators will be able to respond to your inquiry on how best to bid. My comment is as to Priceline, they only guarantee a room to accommodate 2 adults. The rest is up to the hotel and your persuasiveness upon check-in. NO guarantees, other that the room will accommodate 2 adults. Hope this helps!

No, this is listed as in the "Faith" area.

The moderators are superb at identifying such hotels. I'm adding my two cents because of the time urgency. You can review the list of hotels that have been reported to the board with hotwire wins. One of the hotels (no guarantees, of course) listed as 3* with the ammenities you cite and in the French Quarter is Holiday Inn New Orleans - French Quarter. Good luck, and if you have time, please wait for the moderators to comment. They're great at this type of inquiry (and I'm just trying to help!)

I've reviewed the Hotwire hotels listed on the BB boards summary and can't identify this 5* property in Istanbul. $91/night in the "Faith" area. Total with taxes and fees = $407.86. Ammenities include: Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Laundry Facilities (self-service) High-Speed Internet Access Spa Services Hotiwre ammenities for the Ramada Plaza City Center on the BB board show these ammenities, which don't match exactly: Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Spa Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind and continue my Hotwire and LMT site investigation for hotels (always through the BB web site links) in IST in January.

Agreed as to the restaurant noted by XT600. We were referred there through the hotel desk clerk and it was fantastic. We also took the subway into and out of the city from the Marriott the first 2 times we stayed, but it's a good 15 minute walk from the hotel (downhill). Returning made the uphill climb to the hotel seem like a bad decision. The third time we also stayed at the Marriott but we rented a car (sans GPS). While it was nice to get to the countryside, it was a bust for getting to/from the City (and even the airport - easy to get lost). Enjoy the trip, Lisbon is wonderful!

Click on "Priceline Re-Bidding Explained" link in the previous post by thereuare.

Thanks for the update and I'm glad there's apparently an alternative we can use if needed!

Interesting. Hotwire's description of the additional charges is broader than Expedia's, but I'll be interested to see what the Board or moderators say about this opaque bid on a similar/same hotel on the 2 sites.

Yes, the property has a smoke free room icon. Since smoking is banned in California hotels, I guess I assumed all hotels had the same icon. Sorry for the confusion. Sheraton then?

My experience over the past 10 years with Priceline is similar, in that they "generally" require only a government ID that shows you are the person in whose name the reservation was made (not necessarily needing the same credit card). PL hotels almost always require some credit card for incidentals upon check-in. In one instance, I had used my father's credit card to charge the PL room near Petualuma, CA (he wound up not accompanying me on the trip) and the desk clerk required the actual credit card (which I didn't have). The clerk was finally appeased when they called my dad and he read the ID code on the back. I've booked many PL rooms overseas and they can often be more of sticklers with the room ID, etc. I'd take your dad's credit card for good use and be as pleasant and cooperative with the desk clerk as possible. Doesn't help to mention the hotel charge was a gift from your dad and that you're so happy to be at the Hilton! Good luck.

My pleasure. Don't want to step on the moderators' experience and knowledge, but I hope it's OK if I try to help if I've got some specific intel that could be beneficial.

lastminutetravel.com (accessed through the BB support/travel links tab above under hotels) lists the Sohotel as available for your nights at $242.28, with taxes and fees added it totals $578.45 for 2 nights. I haven't stayed there, and the hotel hasn't been rated on the BB Board, but another thought for you!

One of the best tricks out there when you really need to know the identity of the hotel before booking. But jump on great deals as they often disappear before your eyes if you wait!

Never too early to try your luck on PL, particularly when you're just 1 month out on your booking!

I had booked a stay through the Hilton web site (accessed via BB's link) in May 2011 at the Hilton Doubletree San Jose hotel while visiting my kids. They charged $18/night parking in addition to the room rate, even when using my HiltonHonors GOLD VIP card and whining about how the charge was so high for parking. The hotel's web site has the parking charges listed at the bottom of their hotel home page. I was told by the desk clerk that charging for parking helps keep out SJC passengers who try to park for free and take the hotel shuttle to the airport (sure, right!) Anyway, I haven't found a way to beat the parking charges yet, unless you have 2 cars and use the same key to get both into the parking lot (which can be a hassle if you only have 1 card keyed for parking). Wish I had better suggestions for you. When you bid major city hotels on PL, you can expect the high parking charges, but for SJC you hope to get a hotel without such charges. If you find a way to beat the parking charges, please post your suggestions!

Avis and Hertz are just as high. Alamo is $20/day lower (go figure, owned by same company as National). No problem with not knowing why the rates jumped so much, just wondered if anyone had a similar experience, and they obviously have not since no member commented! Thanks and this closes the thread.