coffejor

Started with $57 - rejected; increased to $61 - accepted. I probably could have been a little more aggressive with my bidding strategy, but I am happy with the price.

Hotwire Hit: 4-Star, Fitness, Restaurant, Business, High-Speed Internet

Rack Rate: $109

City / Zone: Downtown Minneapolis

Quality Level: 4*

Lowest Available Rate: Hilton Minneapolis - $99/night

35% Lowest Rate: $34.65

Starting bid: $35

Accepted Bid: $50

Accepting Facility: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Comments: Bid from $35 in $2-$3 increments, accepted at $50. Much cheaper than even Hotwire's exceptional rate of $69/night.

Stats:

Hotel: Lowest Listed Hotel Rate / 35% Rate

Hilton Minneapolis: $99 / $34.65

Marriott Minneapolis City Center: $129 / $45.15

The Grand Hotel Minneapolis: $169 / $59.15

W Hotel Minneapolis The Foshay: $129 / $45.15

The Marquette By Hilton: $139 / $48.65

Graves 601 Hotel Wyndham Grand $189 / $66.15

The Westin Minneapolis: $129 / $45.15

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis $129 / $45.15

Hotel Ivy $179 / $62.65

City / Zone: Seattle Downtown - Pike's Place Market

Quality Level: 4*

Lowest Available Rate: Vintage Park - $160/night

35% Lowest Rate: $56

Starting Bid: $65

Accepted Bid: $95

Comments: Bid from $65/night to $95/night in $2/$3 increments using free re-bids. Took a total of 3 weeks of continuous bidding, but I finally secured the Westin for $95/night.

Stats

4* Hotels: Lowest Listed Hotel Rate / Priceline Listed Rate / 35% Rate

Westin: $166 / $166 / $58.10

Renaissance Seattle: $169 / $169 / $59.15

The W Seattle: $250 / $249 / $87.50

Sheraton Seattle: $189 / $229 / $66.15

Grand Hyatt Seattle: $219 / $219 / $76.66

Hyatt at Olive 8: $199 / $199 / $69.65

Hotel Andra: $189 / $229 / $66.15

Vintage Park: $160 / $228 / $56

Hotel Monaco: $260 / $258 / $91

Hotel Sorrento: $268 / $188 / $93.80

Alexis Hotel: $270 / $268 / $94.50

City / Zone: Airport (MSP) - Minneapolis South

Quality Level: 3.5*

Lowest Available Rate: Le Bourget - $85/night

35% Lowest Rate: $29.75

Starting bid: $35

Accepted Bid: $55

Comments: I knew that I could get a Park / Sleep / Fly hotel (Mariott TownPlace) for $99 + tax, so I was bidding up to $55 dollars because I could park at Park 'n Fly for $42.50. This would make the hotel a wash and might result in a better hotel than the Mariott TownPlace. I won the Radisson and when I called them and inquired about parking, they said I can park up to 7 days in their surface lot for free. I basically just got a hotel for free! Bid through PRICELINE link on site.

Stats:

Hotel: Lowest Listed Hotel Rate / Priceline Listed Rate / 35% Rate

Le Bourget: $85 / $84 / $29.75

Crowne Plaza Mall America: $105 / $105 / $36.75

Radisson Bloomington By Mall Of America: $119 / $119 / $41.65

Sheraton Minneapolis West: $169 / $159 / $59.15

Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington: $179 / $161 / $62.65

Hilton Minneapolis St. Paul Airport Mall Of America: $169 / $169 / $59.15

Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place: $189 / $170 / $66.15

Marriott Minneapolis Southwest/Minnetonka: $179 / $179 / $62.65

Marriott Minneapolis West: $189 / $189 / $66.15

Free re-bids (area/max star rating in that area):

Burnsville / 2.5

Coon Rapids - Blaine / 2.5

Eden Prairie / 3

Fridley / 1

Midtown Minneapolis / 3

Minneapolis Northwest / 3

Roseville / 3

St. Paul / 3

St. Paul Northeast / 2.5

University - Metrodome / 3

Bid on a 3.5*, won the Radisson Bloomington for $55 (see my post under the Priceline heading for more details), I called the hotel and they said I could park my car on their surface lot for up to 7 days for free or in their garage for $15/night. They offer a free shuttle to the airport, so I basically got a hotel for free when compared to parking at a place like Park n' Fly!

Has anyone tried to use a HOTWIRE / PRICELINE win in the airport vicinity for a park, sleep, fly? I've seen on other sites that people have been successful in other cities with winning on HOTWIRE / PRICELINE, then calling the hotel and requesting that their reservation be changed to a park, sleep, fly, but that doesn't seem to be true across the board. I know there are never any guarantees, but I'd like to know if anyone has had any success. Thanks!

~Jordan