biddingforhotel

Have to take kids to violin lesson, so missed the dinner tonight, but it's ok, I was told it is hamburger among other things ... Many friends visit me at the suites and very impressed of the hotel; when I told them $45 from PL, they really could not believe ... General Manager told me that it takes about 4 or 5 partners to got a franchise hotel like this, and it would take about 8 months to build and start operating ... Any millionaire here want to join? Got back late from Taco Bell at Middlesex mall, and also took car to inspected ... got rejected since got a nail on one of the tire ... need to get it fix...

No problem to change and check out and check back in for one more night here ... I made a mistake to use PL extend stay link to get one more day at $45 but wrong date, so I end up got two room on 8/2 and no room 8/3, but when I talk to general manager, he said no problem, and front desk change it for me yesterday, that's great! I asked general manager how much can he give for long term stay since many IT consultants from India came to the area without car and need train to work at Wall St and it is great Staybridge has free shuttle to New Brunswick train station. I was told $79 or $2,300 or so a month. I was thinking may be I should sell my property and stay here since the property tax just went up again, and staying here can save a lot on breakfast and dinner. Also, I can save on cable TV, high speed Internet, and maid service ...etc. Even better, I got swimming pool and basketball field and BBQ grills if I need to. What else do I missing? And, if I want to go to travel and bid on hotels at other places, I do NOT need to pay here... I stay at hotel 150+ nights a year, it is a big saving ... Now, if I can get Peter know the General Manager well, and repair his SUV breaks here onsite without having general manager to take car to dealer and other hassel, and when I live here, I can always have onsite auto mechnics to handle my car...

I took my wireless router and wires with me to my suites last night, and bring them back this morning and plug in to get wireless Internet again. Very easy. In fact, I have found it very useful to bring this small size set to any hotel so that I can always setup a wireless Internet access from my hotel room; after all, we have multiple portable need to work, check mail, post, play game, watch movie ...etc at the same time... Today's complimentary breakfast is great! It has scramble eggs, hams, hash brown, among other things ... While eating, the general manager arrived to work. So, I made sure he would call Danny to rent his condo at Edison. I also made sure he got Krishan's phone who got stuck not able to find an apartment to rent, so Staybrdige is the best place for him. At $79 a night for a month, he can save some since Red Roof Inn at Edison charged Krishan $75 plus $10 Internet each day, and he took tax $17 round trip to Edison train station. But this Staybridge has free shuttle to New Brunswick train station to work at NYC. I also arranged Peter to come to the hotel this evening after he got off work at Toyota Dealer so that he can check out general manager's suv that needs replace brakes. Toyota Dealer charged me $85 but only pay Peter $17, so I told the General Manager that I decided to have Peter maintain all my cars. Working remotely has a problem that you got nobody to talk face to face, but I have found working remotely here, I got some nice people to talk every day. I feel they are like my colleagues or peer. I kind of feel the workers at cafeteria is like those at my company's cafeteria. Last night got very nice sleep, I have found the bed here is very comfortable as always. I still remember many years ago when we ran into this then Summerfield Suites, my son told me the following morning that he got a good dream because the bed is so comfortable.

This is nice hotel, may sister always use this hotel the night before she went back to CA... One thing I don't know is that parking used to be free ... If you like shopping, you may find Jersey Garden nearby has many stores and huge food court. IKEA also near by has nice cafeteria with nice airport view and very good price.

got it at PL extend at same price link ...

Had a great quiet time at common area working on Internet thru this superfast wireless ... Great! will stay one more day tomorrow ...

Just had complimentary light dinner, weekday evening 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Today there were chips, salad, drinks as yesterday, has nice buffalo wings, taste really good, and prezel ... only dozen groups came to eat, guess many business travelers not yet back to hotel ... Back to my computer at this nice corner and at pool side ...

The wireless Internet I just set up is fantastic!! So fast!! Can't believe much faster that almost all hotel I ever stayed ... may be because only a few of us using it now ... The General Manager is very happy, and told me some "inside info" that this coming weekend, Staybridge has been sold out!!! So, I guess if you bid $45 on 2.5* here, you will get Marriott ... Why is it sold out that quick? because he said, Staybridge Somerset is much more popular during weekends than weekdays, whereas, next door Courtyard is the other way around ... and I believe so, last night I did not sleep and 5am I saw parking lot at Courtyard was almost full!!! This info is valuable for future bidding... I believe Betterbidding should add one more field to show "the day of week" of the bidding, after all weekdays and weekends are very different ... e.g. If you come to the area during weekdays, you should try to get Staybridge, whereas if during weekends, probably Marriott or Courtyard would have lots of vacancies ... that way you can save money ...

Cool! It works!! So, now I have "complimentary" Wireless Interet at the common area, BBQ area, pool side ...etc No need to go to Courtyard next door!!! :)

ok, I checked out and check back in and end up stay at this same wonderful 2br suite with conference table ... I spoke to the General Manager, and now I got my two 1br booking for today resolved into one day for tomorrow ... and I saw, by accident, that PL paid $49!!! Wow! and I ran back home to get my wireless router and cable and am going to see if I can set it up so that I can enjoy wireless Internet at common area ...

Wow! General Manager came and very excited with my suggestion to have a most powerful wireless router available so that all common area on the premise will have complimentary wireless Internet access... Now, I am invited to stay here longer and help them get this set up ... but as you know, it is simple job ... :)

So strange! I went talk to front desk and somehow they only saw ONE reservation for tonight???? but my PL status shows 3 entries now!!! One for Aug 1 and another Aug 2, then the new one shown Aug 1 and 2 ... why? Btw, the laundry is free, 3 washers and 3 dryers; they are good machines, now washing my clothes ... while I had breakfast and on Internet ... It is great that I can hook up Internet from their box, and the box can in fact connect 8 machines ... So, here is the tip, if you ever came here, bring your Intenet wireless router and hook up to one of 8 ports, then you can have wireless access at many different nice corners at the common area ... or even the pool side or BBQ area ...

Too bad, I use the PL "extend room link" trying to get another day for $45, and I got it, but I forgot I already have another winning bids at $45, so now I have two rooms tonight ... :)

Nice light dinner with chips, drinks, salad, hot dogs and cookies ... good enough for me ... Then went back to room, so nice, the sofa, then lots of phone calls on helping people to buy condos, they bought because they feel I must be very successful or why can I stayed at Presidential Suites... later came to the business center to use computer; somehow this Presidential Suites does not have Internet access but a meeting room... Now, I am back again after 6:30am complimentary breakfast, which is great as usual. So I connect my portable to their eithernet board here ... That's the only issue so far, the common area does not have wireless Internet ... May be I can bring in my $5 wireless router next time to connect to the ethernet box, then the whole place will have complimentary wireless Internet access ... I was showing their IT staff last night to replace IE to a much better and faster browser that would make their old computer 10 times faster on surfing Internet ...

Trying to check in after lunch, but got the suite not yet ready, so went back to change another one... Wow! you know, I got this 2br suites!!! This suite has a meeting room with a round table with 5 chair, very good set up ... many TV, VCR, DVD players ...etc. a/c very cool!!! (this helps outside 102 degree!!!) many people in swimming pool and kids in business center to use Internet computer ... I decide to walk over to Courtyard next door to work... nice lobby with compliementary Internet ... Courtyard has direct connection to the brand new Ruby Tuesday that I ate there when it grand open not long ago, very nice ... comparing all these places, Staybridge seems to have coolest a/c. Going back to Staybridge for a light dinner 5pm to 7pm.

I am very glad that I can repeat it again and got $45 on this great hotel during weekdays!!! :) (well, hotel website is $140 ...) This time I tried different "detour" that last one since I kind of know the algorithm and availability: 1. Bid $33 on 3* at Somerset (to confirm that weekday it won't give me Somerset Marriott since hotel website rate is $189...), rejected as predicted. I did not choose 2.5* to start and bid $45, as Marriott will accept $45 as I hit the trapped last week. (why? I believe the PL bidding algorithm is to match highest star first, so if I bid $45 on 2.5*, it will start matching on highest 3* and hit Marriott, then as soon as that happened, it announces "upgrade" to 3* not even try to match 2.5* even Staybridge will accept that offer as well and I chose 2.5* as my first choice. I think this is a "bug" of PL algorithm, at least they assume their 3* is better than 2.5* (and NOT honor customer's preference when possible!!). Well, better or not depends on the situation. When I need free Internet to work remotely, I do not like Marriott charges me $6.99 (yes, increased from $4.99 recently). Besides, Marriott can not compete with complimentary breakfast and dinner. It's great lobby, ballroom ...etc that I have no use ... 2. Then I add 2.5* and bid $37 (just to test if another 2.5* hotel Courtyard will accept, but now I think this step does nothing but testing if Staybridge will accept $37 since Courtyard has $159 website rate and never accept $37 for bids for a long time ... It is rejected. 3. Then I add Lebanon and bid $39 (I think by now, it is confirm both the 2.5* Courtyard there and 3* Holiday Inn Select Clinton will not accept lower than $45; this seems to be true for most Courtyard during core weekdays ...) The steps is also redundant as a after fact thought. It is rejected. 4. Then I add Bridgewater and bid $42 (Bridgewater only has 3* Marriott that with min $47, so this is just a free bid trying to see if I can get Staybridge with lower than $45 price. Failed. So, it should be either $43, $44 or $45. 5. Then I add Edison Woodbridge and bid $45 (note: I did not add Edison - East Brunswick, or I may hit 2.5* Cleriaon Edison, min $35) This zone has 2.5* Courtyard and Hilton Garden Inn that both will not accept low bid during core weekdays, so I was safe and know I should get it, and yes, I got it!!! the Staybridge Suites. Review: If I were going to try again to get Staybridge, I guess I should just do this: 1. Bid 2.5* at Somerset - Piscataway zone on $33, or just anything low, to fool the PL algorithm and exhaust matching on this zone. 2. Then add Bridgewater zone and bid $45 (somehow PL will start matching on 2.5* at Bridgewater zone, which there is no such, then matching 2.5* on Somerset, kind of "stack" last in first out. Then will hit Staybridge right there!!! (if nothing available, then will come back to match 3* on both zone, then may hit Somerset Marriott) 2a. I may bid $43 to see if it is the minimum, and later select Edison - Woodbridge and check $44, but I believe $45 may be the min now since, otherwise, when $45 is more than 2.5* Staybridge will offer, it should keep going on to match 3*, then announce an upgrade. So this is not necessary but can be a bidding exercise... 2b. I even believe weekday Marriott has $45 min, and during weekdays, if one bid $45, one will get either one depends on the bidding sequence. Lemma 1: One can win a lower star level hotel with equal price than that of some higher star hotel in the same zone by first selecting the higher star hotel with a low bid to be rejected, then add the lower star level with higher price bid to be accept lower star hotel than the undesired higher ones. If this Lemma 1 can be proved and become a Theory 1, then one should be able to get this Staybridge Suite over Marriott by doing: 1. Bid 3* at very low price, say, $30 at Somerset - Piscataway (where Staybridge located with only 2.5* that has equal price to 3* Marriott), then it will rejected. 2. add 2.5* in the same zone and bid $45 to get Staybridge. Lemma 2: When PL matching hotel at same level, it starts with the hotel with HIGHEST minimum price. PL program has table of all minmum (i.e. PL pays hotel), and it is merely checking the "availability" of hotel following the preset order. If this Lemma 2 can be proven to be a Theory 2, then it explains why it is almost impossible to get nice 2.5* Staybridge Suites without "detour". e.g. during weekend, 3* Marriott $33, 2.5* Courtyard $37 and 2.5* Staybridge $45. If one bid $45 on 2.5*, since Lemma 1 says it starts matching on highest star, it will hit Marriott right away and announce an "upgrade". But if one bid $30 on 3* to be rejected first, then add 2.5* and bid on $45, one should be able to get it. But if one does not know $45 is the magic number and bid anywhere between $37 and $45, one will get Courtyard even with detour.

Cool! I am able to repeat this at $45!!! :) Basically, I just followed your bidding sequence carefully. I chose Somerset 2.5* and bid on $33 (in case hit Marriot still min, unlike last week I got it at $45 at first bid), not got it, then add Lebanon and bid $37 (in case get Courtyard still min), rejected, add Bridgewater and bid $39 (in case hit Holiday Inn Select Clinton min), failed, add Edison Woodbridge, bid $45, got it!!! I suspect $45 is not minimum, but it is already very good since weekday also has light dinner ...

Cool! I am able to repeat this at $45!!! :) Basically, I just followed your bidding sequence carefully. I chose Somerset 2.5* and bid on $33 (in case hit Marriot still min, unlike last week I got it at $45 at first bid), not got it, then add Lebanon and bid $37 (in case get Courtyard still min), rejected, add Bridgewater and bid $39 (in case hit Holiday Inn Select Clinton min), failed, add Edison Woodbridge, bid $45, got it!!! I suspect $45 is not minimum, but it is already very good since weekday also has light dinner ... (will post on another topic ...)

Great to stay here, then followed my GPS to NJ Balloon Festival at Readington NJ, then went home to pick up and reply the mail, and get recycle bin out (Hey! every other Monday morning is recycle day and I would not be home tomorrow morning ...) before heading Chuck E Cheese Edison, then follow Rt 1-S to Barnes & Noble at North Brunswick, then to Rt 130-S, back to this wonderful hotel, knowing a complimentary breakfast tomorrow morning and can work from the hotel ... (Well, have you ever notice, people on business trip would NOT be at hotel during work hours? So, the hotel Internet is blinding fast!!! very good place to work "remotely" ...)

By the way, I just push 10 on elevator button, and I was there!! no card key access on elevator to be at that floor ...

This was a bad bid since I knew I was able to get $33 on 3* bid on Somerset to get this Marriott, weekdays or weekends ... but I was trapped to pay $45 ... Well, then I found at 10th floor, the Concierge Level, you got a very nice lounge, need card key to access, and mine could access, and there were complimentary breakfast ... so ... :)

Can't decide to stay or leave, so just bid again at $33, thinking I can always get Somerset Marriott 3* with $33, but got it at first bid... :) This is really a steal!!! But you know, not too many cars at the parking lot, as it is now 2am ... Really don't understand the logic here, the Staybridge website shows $164, and I got it at $33 at first bid ... :)

No problem to check out and check back in at the same 10 feet high ceiling room ... Found it is about 4 miles away from Asian Food Center thru Plansboro Rd ... It is about 23 miles from Six Flags Great Adventure take Rt 130-South then I-195-East then Rt 537-West, very smooth ... It seems this great hotel is the closest one to Six Flag...

This one is located behind Residence Inn off Rt 130, need to make an U turn to get in ... So far so good. kids can't wait to go play basketball before checking in. The staff was awefully nice!!! got a very nice room at ground floor, wow! 10 foot ceiling!!! There are both wire and wireless high speed Internet. went to get a connector from front desk, no problem! give me a unwrap brand new connector ... Two complementary Internet computers seem no body using them ... very fast! Last time stay at Staybridge at Allentown PA and very impressed, FREE laundry, and it is right next to the exercise room, so you can wash clothes while doing exercise and watching TV ...

Just curious if I can get it lower, and I just repeated what I did except increase by $1, and I got it too!!! :)