hohogap

Appreciate your help, thanks!

I used the BB Support Page link to Viator and they have a transfer from the airport advertised at less than half what the hotel quoted you. Still working on my hotels for my 1-19-12 to 1-23-12 trip to IST. Still have the Basileus as a back-up that can be cancelled without penalty. Have fun!

Really a crap shoot. Are you a GOLD or DIAMOND HH member? If so, that helps sometimes. Usually the reservationist says they will note the preference, with no guarantees on availability. I try, if possible, to check in earlier in the afternoon to try and get the best options you want. Have a good trip and keep us posted!

Fantastic, great to hear and helps me be more confident when bidding this star level, zone and ammenities!

You're better than me, I think I got them a bit mixed up! That's why I always rely on the moderators comments, but I'm interested to know if it's the Hilton Garden Inn. Available for my dates in Janauary, too, but felt it wasn't the HGI. Let me know what you book!

The Hilton Garden Inn DOES fall in the PL downtown location zone, it's located at 821 Gravier Street, but the ammenities you cite appear to match the Country Inn and Suites, NOT the HGI hotel (according to the HW List of Hotels on the BB Board). The moderators will be able to assist in helping you to identify the hotel, but wanted to post my thoughts for your review. Been trying for a January weekend so I've been diligently watching all of the possible PL or HW hotels and locations. Good luck!

Will do, thanks! And I agree with your assessment of zones to stay in. I have only stayed once in the FQ and like the downtown area much better. Probably been there 15 times since the mid-1990's, and I don't mind the walk at all. I'll send you my email as offered.

Fantastic. Great win. Have fun!

Appreciate the comment! I'll definitely keep it in mind, particularly if we end up at the Hyatt!

Fanatstic, thanks for the input. I looked at last year's rates and have bid up to $85/night, even down to 3 1/2*, without luck. I'll try in the next couple of weeks and start bidding again to see if the rates fluctuate . LMT still has the Hyatt at $78.93, so even with the walk I feel I should be able to grab something in that range. Airfare's booked, so we're going regardless of hotel cost! And all my bids and searches continue to be done through the BB Board links!!

If you click on each of the PL zones separately for the Las Vegas area you can find at least 4-5 zones that have less than 4* hotels and would qualify as "re-bid zones" for a 4* property. When I click on PL Las Vegas, I see Henderson, Boulder Strip, NW Las Vegas, Nellis-Las Vegas Speedway and Summerlin as zones without 4* or better properties. Be sure to double check my comment when you go back into bidding as zones and hotels available can often change. Just click on (then off) each zone to be sure PL doesn't change them in the interim. Good luck and keep using the BB PRICELINE link for all of your bidding!

Lastminutetravel.com has the Doubletree "3 1/2*" hotel at 300 Canal Street for $82.33/night for the night you are looking for. Hotel Id in the address line is 1209332. I've been watching for January dates on PL and HW, and no luck in your range for me either. And the Hilton Riverside New Orleans is also available on the LMT site for "only" $78.76 ($95.12 with taxes and fees). Hilton Hotel ID is 9079. Good luck!!

Checking out PL wins and hotels for Peoria, IL next week (11-2 to 11-3) for a business trip where I already have the Embassy Suites booked, and the hotels on the BB Board for Peoria are all crossed off. Is this an update for the new web site, or does this mean these hotels can't be confirmed now as PL opaque properties? Thanks, and as always, all bids searches and wins are made through the BB links on the Board!

If your dates are certain, it's never too early to start bidding. the moderators will be able to help you with the strategy to get the best price, but my comment applies to the timing of booking. It's also explained on the board in the PRICELINE FAQ section of the Questions and Suggestions tab on the Board. Good luck!

If your dates are certain, it's never too early to start bidding, so long as you're willing to accept any requested * hotel in your zone and understand that the "win" is non-refundable. It really depends on hotel inventory, etc., and this question is also addressed in the FAQ section of the Board (found under the Questions and Suggestions forum) for a more extensive explanation of the timing of bidding. Good luck!

Reports to the Board do not represent ALL of the 4* options that may be available. I'd wait for the moderators to respond to let you know what their thoughts are on this property. What are the amenities listed on HW for this 4* property and what dates are you looking at booking?

Agree with BEAV. Keep up the great work! Enjoying navigating the new site.

My brother-in-law stayed there when we were at the JW Marriott on a PL win in August 2011 (booked through BB links), and he said parking was valet only and $33/day with in/out privilege. I have a trip in January to New Orleans and trying to find out if any "public parking" is available. Called Hyatt Regency about a possible stay in January, and their parking rate at the hotel is $38/night, and they are all the way over by the Superdome. Good luck, and great price on the hotel!!

When you are committed to the trip, I'd start bidding on PRICELINE now, and keeping a watch on the HOTWIRE and lastminutetravel.com websites (at a minimum) for any deals that may pop up. The moderators will be able to assist on your bidding strategy, once they establish your budget and hotel preferences. I've been several times to EYW and February was always a popular (i.e. expensive) time to go. I always try to look at retail hotel costs and book something I could live with, then start the PL or HW approach in earnest. If you're committed to certain dates, and are willing to lose a great PL deal if something comes up in the interim, I bid early and bid often! Good luck!

Interesting. When I sent the same email to Hilton, they just responded that my request had been forwarded to the hotel for inlcusion in my reservation. Didn't get the points, but the desk clerk treated it like it was just a regular reservation, gave me a complimentary GOLD upgrade and I did get points for the meal I ate there (which ultimately did count as a night's stay, but generally that doesn't happen, no matter HOW much you spend).

Great price if you like the Sheraton. I've done PL a dozen times over the years (going back far before I joined this Board) and always liked the Sheraton. In August, got the JW Marriott for $65/night, but it WAS August! Good luck!!!

And the Hilton Riverside is available for your dates for $62.52/night on lastminutetravel.com. I know it's further from Canal/FQ, but just a thought.

Looks like that to me because the Sheraton listing includes the no smoking ammenity on the BB list of hotels. I know the moderators are busy today with the web site upgrade. Was there a HW price? I'm seeing $114/night for a similar (not identical) listing for my dates in January.

What was the rate and dates you were looking at? I'm tracking dates for 1/14/12 - 1/16/12 in another thread, and the best I've found so far (bidding up to $75/night on PL) is on lastminutetravel.com, with a $78.93/night rate for the newly remodeled Hyatt Regency (by the Superdome so a long hike to the Quarter).

Been bidding up to $75/night without luck for a 4* for these dates in MSY. LMT has the Hyatt Regency for $78.93/night, $157.86 + $32.12 tax and fees, total $189.98. I know it's a bit of a hike from the Hyatt hotel to the Quarter, but wanted to get anyone's thoughts on whether I might be able to get better rates through PL or HW in the next month or so? I know it's generally a crap shoot based on inventory, etc., but just wondered if anyone had any insight on whether the MLK weekend might get tighter (or looser) as the dates approach. Thanks!