hohogap

Great last minute price for this hotel. Online rate was $134/night at the best rate. Had booked at Hampton as a backup at $107/night. Here's the results: 1 room 1 night Bid: $55.00 Taxes and fees: $14.43 Total cost: $69.43 And, as always, all bids searches, bookings and wins are made through the BB Board!

Bid a bit backwards on the car rental dates but still got a $20/day Alamo compact rental, great last minute deal. Breaks out like this: Bid: $20.00 1 day Taxes and fees: $13.24 Total paid: $33.24

Bidding day by day on car rentals due to a visit required to Des Moines. A bit higher price than Sunday's, but a nice deal Broke out like this: Bid amount: $20.00 1 day Taxes and fees: $13.33 Total Due by VISA: $33.33 And, as always, all searches, bids, bookings and wins are made though the BB Board PRICELINE links!

Sorry - car selection was economy.

Great last minute car win for Des Moines, Iowa on PL. National (my firm's regular rental agency) was $55 without fees/taxes. $12.00 (per day) Total Rental Days: 1 SubTotal: $12.00 Taxes and Fees: $10.95 Total Rental Car Charges: $22.90

I've never run into your exact situation, but I have had a couple of experiences when I've booked a NYOP through PRICELINE and then the hotel couldn't "find my reservation," and were unwilling to help despite the fact that I had the confirmation sheet from PL (I even showed them the rate and all!). My most recent experience was at the Sheraton, south of Santa Rosa near Petaluma. Luckily it was a Sunday night and not crowded so I was able to call PL and they spoke directly with the hotel desk clerk. Whatever happened, we were allowed to go to a room and PL said they would take care of it (and they did). I agree that once in awhile you hit a hotel that isn't up to standards, or a hotel that you were trying to avoid (even at the 4* level). The great thing about this site is that they have a wealth of prior hotel wins reported to the Board and you often can determine fairly specifically the range of hotels (names and star ratings) that may be won on a NYOP or Express Deal through PL. That helped when I won a New Orleans hotel today. All 4* listed in the Convention Center and Downtown were acceptable to me. There are a couple French quarter hotels I like to avoid, and since they were listed as possible wins, I just avoided that area. I won the Marriott at less than 1/2 any advertised, prepaid price that identified the hotel. That's PL working for you. I also agree that I enjoy when the desk clerk states only that I am prepaid and just need a credit card when checking in for incidentals. Not sure why I care when they announce, "I see you booked through Priceline!" At least I try to take it as booking through any agency, but I know everyone assumes it was NYOP. Which, given the fact that I pay around 50% less than even a good advertised special, that makes me feel pretty good when I'm on another trip I was able to afford because I saved so much money on PL. Not sure about the Booking.com situation. Even when booking through the BB site at a Hilton (I also like to keep my elite status, especially when someone else is paying for my hotel stay), I am always asked for a credit card for incidentals. Even when I prepay for a reservation at the Hilton.com site to save 10%. I'll be interested to see what others say, but I'm a die hard PL fan from long ago and love spending the money I saved on hotels on a rental car and great food (or another trip)!

Been bidding for MSY Hotels through the BB Board for a couple of weeks. Zero'd in on a 4* for $60/night in the Convention Area (most recent re-bid before winning was $59/night). 4* in Convention Center/Warehouse District was listed on PL as a PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal for $69/night. "Best deal" on NYOP was 4* Downtown, where the Express Deal went for $97/night. Regular rate online for the Marriott was $139/night, so a sweet deal. Have stayed in several Convention Center/Warehouse District hotels over the years, but never the Marriott. Will be a nice addition to our hotel repetoire! Following is the win information from PL: $60.00 Rooms: 1 Nights: 3 Room Subtotal: $180.00 Taxes & Fees: $37.11 Total Charged to Card: $217.11 And, as always, all bids, searches, booking AND WINS are done through the BB PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links. And the Hotel search function upgrade on the site is awesome! Allows you to easily focus in on the hotels having been reported to the Board in each category and location. Thanks!!

Even though I presume that Fairbanks has its own unique hotel pricing system for the summer season, I thought I'd still provide an interesting account of pricing for a June 20th, 1 night stay. Originally, the PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal on PL was $114/night for a 2 1/2* (presumably the Regency Fairbanks - previously reported to the Board as a 3*, but presuming it's been slightly downgraded given a number of reviews I've seen). I've been bidding on NYOP up to $114 today on PL, where the Express Deal now goes for $129/night. No luck. HOTWIRE also has a 2 1/2* going for $140 for the same night (again, presumably the Regency although no one has reported any HW wins for Fairbanks to the Board). The Regency is listed on HOTWIRE for $185/night. HW also has a 3* for $197/night (presumably the newer Holiday Inn). When clicking through to all hotels again, the Westmark (listed as a 3 1/2* hotel) is now shown both on HW and PL for only $129/night, fully cancellable until one day before arrival. Under the Westmark listing, HW states "compare Westmark to a (lower rated) 3* hotel for $197 (a whopping $68 more per night). Never seen a "compare" where they are asking you to pay much more for a lower rated hotel. On PL, the Westmark is also shown for $129/night but listed as a 2 1/2* property. I booked the fully refundable Westmark on HOTWIRE (through the links on the Board) and will continue to keep myself entertained by bidding PRICELINE NYOP over the next 2 months, just in case there's a drop in anticipated tourism and the PL offers decrease. And, as always, all searches, bids, bookings and wins are made through the BB PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links!

Are you looking at Priceline or Hotwire? I still see the hotel ammenities listed for Hotwire hotels on the Board.

Welcome to Better Bidding and I hope you enjoy your experience. The moderators will be able to help guide you through the intracacies of trying to identify hotels prior to bidding. When I view the Omni, it appears as a 4 1/2* hotel on Hotwire and appears to be located in the Magnificant Mile/Water Tower area. When I view your dates, there isn't a 4 1/2* hotel that currently matches that location, however, Hotwire inventory constantly changes. In addition, when bidding either opaque site (HW or Priceline), you have to be willing to accept any hotel of that star category in the zone selected. Good luck in your bidding and be sure to use the Better Bidding links above for all of your PRICELINE and Hotwire searches, bids and wins!

Since Express bidding is fairly new to PL, it's hard to say whether NYOP or Express is better. I've been watching a trip to Fairbanks in June that was an "express bid" of $114/night for a 2 1/2* hotel as of 3/15/13. Just goofing around I've kept bidding the name your own price route for fun, and now the Express bid is up to $133/night, and I was unsuccessful today at a bid of $115/night (above what the original express bid offered). Fairbanks may be a bit odd as their summer season is so short, but my recommendation is if you like the location and the "price is right," AND your dates are confirmed (no cancellations allowed) then the express bid is surely a good alternative. And be sure to use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links above for all of your searches, bids and (hopefully) wins. Good luck!

Fantastic app, and a GREAT addition by the Board. Thanks!!

Thanks! The $46/night win by Viz79 for the Embassy Suites for the same dates is also a sweet deal. Had I seen that I might've tried to piggy-back and do the same 3 1/2* bid. Nice not to have to park in the morning, but for ~$40/night, I could've convinced my wife to give it a go! Thanks again for all of your great help on the Board.

I've stayed at the Embassy Suites DTW before and can confirm that beer/wine and bar liquor is served during the evening manager's reception.

Used the Board to bid for Detroit Airport PRICELINE Hotel on Thursday, March 28, 2013. Started out at 4* $70, and upped it over the days using the 1 re-bid zone to $77/night. Finally got a rebid offer at $98. Waited to re-bid today and was successful at $85/night. Great spot and really nice when you have an early morning flight that you now don't have to fight traffic for at all! Thanks to the Board, I knew PRICELINE likely only had the Westin at this star rating in this zone, so knew if I was successful I would get the hotel I wanted. Advertised on HOTWIRE for their special today at $103/night. In my haste today, however, I forgot to use the SPRING coupon for an additional 5% off. Have to pay better attention in the future. Here's the results. Offer Price: avg. per room, per night $85.00 Rooms: 1 Room Subtotal: $85.00 Taxes & Fees: $19.46 Total Charged to Card: $104.46 And, as always, all searches, bids and wins are made through the BB Board PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links. Thanks!

When I've had trouble with car rentals via PL, I often try the HOTWIRE link at the top of the BB Board. Just click on Hotwire above the hotel date stays and it will transfer you to the Hotwire site where you can often find some good deals with reputable car rental companies not included in PL's name your own price (like Dollar). Of course, I tried it for your dates and no such luck for a lower rate at this time. Good option, however, for future reference.

Have been using the BB Board for continued bids for 1 night, 2 1/2*, in Fairbanks, 6-20-13, and am up to $100/night on PRICELINE name your own price, with no luck. The Express Deal for the 2 1/2* is only $114, and appears to be the Regency. Hoped to get it for less tha PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal, but may take the plunge next week to ensure the booking. I'll be sure to post the "win," whatever it is.

I believe they have a shuttle to/from Schipol beginning at 6 AM through Midnight (running every 30 minutes).

Will do. Unfortunately, the coupon expires before I leave, but I will be sure to inform the Board of my results. Bidding up to within $8 of the Express Deal really isn't any great difference anyway. Thanks for all of your efforts. Love the Board!

Does anyone have any insights on whether PRICELINE's "name your own price" can be cheaper than the PRICELINE EXPRESS Deals? I'm heading to Fairbanks for the summer solstice and the Alaska Goldpanners game on June 21, 2013. Obviously, prices are high but PL has a PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal for a 2 1/2* hotel for $107/night for 6-20-13 ( I arrive at 12:30 am on 6-21, but will contact whatever hotel I get in order to assure a "late arrival"). I've been bidding 2 1/2 * on name your own price up to $97 without luck. Any insights on any correlation between nyop and express deals would be appreciated. And, as always, all searches, bids and wins are done through the BB web site links!

Bid on PL for a Standard Car, pickup 1/26/13 at noon, return 1/27/13 at 6 PM (2 days). Won Alamo rental at $17/day, plus PL taxes and fees of $24.73. Total rental car charges for the 2 days = $58.73. Tried to post win through the box at top of the Board, but it kept taking me to post hotel wins. Saw this forum is under Hotwire by mistake. My bids were on PL. And, as always, used the PRICELINE links on the Board for numerous bids prior to the win!

I have used them often when travelling through Frankfurt to visit friends and they were great. Haven't used them in the US.

I'm looking at bidding PL for these dates in LV but when I go to NYOP, and compare listed hotels on the BB Board to the zones PL is using today, I do not see a LV Strip South zone available. Only LV Strip "Vicinity" South. Is there a listing of hotels on the BB web site that would be included in this zone? Or are the LV Strip South hotels now lumped into the new LV Strip Vicinity South zone. Appreciate any help, and as always, all bids, wins and searches are made through the BB Board.

Fantastic! That's the kind of information I love getting from the BB Board. Signed up without a hitch and the fee was waived as stated. Thanks BEAV!

Booked through BB web site on PRICELINE. Your Offer Price: $21.00 (per day) Total Rental Days: 5 SubTotal: $105.00 Taxes and Fees: $37.67 Total Rental Car Charges: $142.67 You saved 45%!*