aikanae

Ouch. Suddenly rooms on Craig's List don't sound as bad (even though the rooms might be).

i bid for tempe 2-1/2* @ $25 and didn't get it. i added scottsdale + 2* and got it. total including taxes $35.17/nite. 10660 N. 69th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (website quote) 78.99/night USD Deluxe Studio: 1 Queen Bed and Sofa Sleeper btw - i met someone who got thier room on Hotwire for $35 + tax for that same night. The hotel seemed much nicer than a 2*.

I don't know if this helps or not, but my first bid on Priceline came up with a new hotel. It turned out to be a fairly plush resort I never would have thought in my price range (upgraded) and so I asked "why priceline". I was told they had a 2 week lull in bookings and so the manager thought he'd give priceline a try. I ended up with about a 75% discount on rack rates + the place to myself. Sure enough, the day before I was leaving - van loads of people were coming in with a nearly constant line checking in. This didn't seem like priceline buying up bulk rooms, but more like an 'auction' on rooms based on what individual hotels set as their acceptable bottom line rate when they are slow (in this case). Obviously, some hotels have had a good enough experience with priceline filling up vacancies they are routinely offering rooms. It might be interesting to get another hotel manager's perspective.

Wow. That was fast :) I was also thinking it might be the Holiday Inn Select - Greenway, but I didn't know if there had been any changes with hotels Hotwire was using. The lowest price was the 2* and I have no idea who that might be. I was thinking they might be my best bet for trying to get an extended - or weekly rate. I'll have to get up to speed with my strategy bidding for Priceline (and the other forum?). I looked at splitting bids and I can't do it for the first 2 weeks; I'm not expecting to be very mobile. I am eligble for "medical rates"and discovering who has rooms for priceline or hotwire sometimes tells me who might still have medical rates available. Then, sometimes no one has medical rates still available and this is, by far, my best pricing.

I took off a ring to go swimming and when I returned, the ring was gone. The maids had been there but of course, there wasn't anything I could prove. Other people were with me so I know there was no doubt of taking the ring off and where it was. My word against hers. There isn't much anyone can do. Unfortunatley, it was a gift and sentimental - not replaceable. I even tried to commission a duplicate and couldn't replace the stone. I hadn't realized the value had gone up (my mistake). I think I've stayed in hundreds of hotels since, with no problems. I did discover by acciedent (caught) that in some foriegn areas common things like toothbrushes are rare. I walked in and a maid had my tootbrush in her mouth (Egypt). Since that experience, I lock everything up and intentionally leave behind sundries like toothbrushes, pens, baseball caps - pretty much anything with U.S. advertising on it. A friend moved to China and when she returns after a visit, her suitcase is loaded with average cheapie drugstore stuff that I know I take for granted.

I just got a 3* listing from Hotwire for Houston / Medical Center of $64/night. Dates 3/13 - 3/18. They claim that's 50% off - Amneities: fitness cntr / resturant / laundry / pool / biz cnter Any idea who that could be? I also got prices for a 2.5* and a 2* in that area as well. Hotwire shows only a 2* Homestead Suites in the area. I tried looking at the Homestead Suite home web page and they are not even showing a property listed in this area. I also need to make reservations for up to 30 days (in addition) and it doesn't look like hotels are offering additional discounts for extended stays. I tried editing it down to 1 or 2 week stays at a time - and no additional discounts. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to get the best rates for an extended stay?

I've traveled for many years and I've never found tipping front desk clerks necessary for an upgrade. I've also worked in the airline industry and it can get old, fast, doing repeative tasks. I try to call ahead, confirm or sign up with thier travel club (I agree, that's essential. Sometimes there's extra 'brownie' points for clerks to sign up more members) or give them my number and chit chat - a joke, ask them about themselves, a recommendation, what's going on in town, anything to break the monotony, and eventually ... "how busy is the hotel then?" then the upgrade question. They've always answered very frankly about what's available and what they can do or what I need to do to get one. I'm pretty sure front desk clerks have a "stand by list", behind the desk for people showing an interest in upgrades - at least it's noted such that I usually get a comment about if it was available or not. 100% if I haven't gotten one, the hotel has been busy. People are people. Once in awhile I'd get a 'hollywood' type checking-in when I worked at the airline, who'd want a whole row and everyone around them displaced. Huh? No, I don't think so. But someone else, who makes a nice statement, a joke, showed patience, humor or makes the day better in any way, and they'd get whatever was possible - if it was possible. The point is that I doubt anyone in the customer service field would risk facing an angry customer (or an even angrier manager) and bump them out of something for just a $20 tip. Everything front desk clerks do have their personal sign on it. I've always tipped maids at the end of my stay. I never thought about tipping maids daily and I will have to look into it on my next trip. I just assumed they pooled tips like many resturants do. I always ask for extra coffee, towels, pillows, etc. I've checked with van drivers and very few were paid by the hotel. Most work for tips only and considering the taxi fare they save me - I'll tip either a $1 each way for short frequent trips or half the price of a cab if it's long or a special trip. I rarely have more than carry on luggage or I'd tip them if they helped me handle that. Most my trips are by plane, so I haven't used valet services and don't need concierge services. Generally, I figure any special request that puts someone out of thier way deserves an acknowledgment of some sort. Writting a complimentary note to the head office, eventually will find it's way back to the local establishment and put a feather in the cap for some manager and thier employee. That can be as good or better than a tip in some cases. It's a moral booster and good service is worth noting as much as poor service is. This is interesting to hear how other people view tipping and service.

First time i've tried this. I was aiming for Crowne Plaza (medical center) and that's why i went through priceline (they showed it listed). first bid was for $40 (i'd seen someone in here that got it for $38). they didn't have it. i saw Houston East didn't have a hotel over 2*, so i added that area and re-bid for $45. Nope. So, I added another 2* area and rebid for $50 and got this one instead (oops). oh well - they do have a shuttle and a waterfall spa (just what i wasn't looking for) but they are sooooooo far away from anything. i don't know why, but i was thinking the crowne plaza was the only one returning 3* results in this area .... i saw posts about "counter-offers" and i never saw how anything like that could come up. i guess i really don't understand all the ins and outs. i did have a current reservation at the crowne plaza (medical rate) for $69/nite not including taxes - so this is a better/nite rate. my disapointment is with the location. it's still far out there and i find, i loose any cost savings depending on $ hotel food and so far in this area of houston, the quality has been poor (still better than hospital). i like going to the museum area and returning later using the light rail - hotel shuttles stop running betweem 6pm-8pm. this hotel looks to far away for that. so, that's my first experience. without this forum, i never would have had the guts to even try it.