Hippygal

Bid 3.5* Schaumburg, $32. Bid accepted on first try. Used betterbidding PRICELINE link to book room Marriott Chicago Schaumburg Schaumburg 50 North Martingale Road Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 847-240-0100 Mon, Nov 9, 2009 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Tue, Nov 10, 2009 / 01:00 PM Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $32.00 Subtotal: $32.00 Taxes & Fees: $11.04 Total Charges*: $43.04

Concierge floor was closed for the weekends (just started when we arrived they said). They upgraded us to an Executive Suite, but the view would have overlooked the LA skyline. I said I really wanted a view of the Hollywood hills to see the Hollywood sign at night. No mention it isn't lit up at night anymore. We had an executive suite, but moved to the 11th floor.. with a view of the dark, quiet, hollywood hills.. ugh. not as nice as I was hoping, even for a suite. But everyone that I came across in Hollywood said our hotel was the "sh&t" I didn't feel that way, I have stayed in better. Valet parking was $29 for the entire stay (9am Sat until about 7 pm Sunday!) Was treated very nice. Clean hotel.. just not much to really get excited about. The only time I got excited was sitting out on the 5th floor at the pool where Spa Luce is. I had a great big chair and sat looking out over the LA skyline late one night. of course, I was kicked out because the pool was closed, even though all doors were unlocked. Ugh. I would have rather have stayed at the old Hollywood style of the Roosevelt. Now that gave me shivers just walking through!! AMAZING!!!!

Holly, you will LOVE this hotel. The ambiance is phenomenal. I don't know what the rooms are like, but the pool is to die for. When I walked through it a few weeks ago, I expected any moment for Douglas Fairbanks or Marilyn Monroe to come around the corner. Just a few tidbits: Marilyn Monroes suite that she lived in for a while (that is supposedly haunted) is room 1200. Her image is said to appear in the mirror in the room. The staff tried to debunk this by placing the mirror in other rooms, in the bar, in the managers office..but still her image appeared! The first Academy Awards was held in this hotel. It was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and lasted all of 15 mins! Marilyn Monroes famous pool side photo shoot was done at this hotel. The pool is still the same to this day!! Go at night. it is WONDERFUL!! The pool side Tropicana bar with the quaint seating and fire pits.. OMG to die for. Have a good stay!! I heard them quoting someone $500 on a Sat night when I was walking around the hotel!

Thanks, Kevin, for posting this!!! I have been waiting for this to resurface for a while! When I was getting it, last time years ago, it was at 2.5 stars! This is a great hotel. I love staying here. It is RIGHT on the canal!!! It is honestly one of my fav hotels to stay at other than the Hilton, downtown.

For some reason, it won't let me edit. Sorry I didn't notice this before. The car rental company is Hertz at Las Vegas International (McCaran?)

Thanks for checking in with me! I went ahead and just booked straight with Marriott for the Renaissance in Hollywood. It ended up being a very good deal, and much cheaper than I had hoped. My company gave me a gift certificate for $100..to of all places.. Renaissance Hotels! Then I found online that if I sign up for the elephant card, I get an additional 20% off at check in by showing the card. So, the $199 room is going to end up costing me only $79 (go figure same amount as the Palomar!) plus tax ($27). They also added these perks: Placed my room on the Concierge Floor with view of Hollywood Hills. This gives us free breakfast and appetizers/drinks at night. Great savings there with that alone. Valet parking is only $29 TOTAL for the entire two days. I can drop the car off at 9am, if I want, and not leave until 6pm the next day and it is only one $29 charge. Otherwise, I can self park for only $10. Not bad! I think I did pretty good for booking straight through the hotel! Thank you SO MUCH for all of your help! Thereuare, thank you so much for your link to the bidding tips, because it was when I read to book a standby hotel "just in case" that prompted me to call Marriott directly..thus leading me to what I feel is a much better deal. Colfax... You are an amazing source of help. I can't thank you enough! Hope I can return the favor sometime (if you are ever planning on coming to Chicago or Indianapolis.....)

LOL! I know, it's becoming scary! LOL!!! Thanks for the laugh :) I wouldn't mind either the Roosevelt or the Renaissance. However, I do prefer Marriott properties, but that is just a personal preference.

Their website shows $16.50 parking.

WOW! Those $55 dollar wins at the Downtown Marriott sound good too!!! Hmmm.. wow! Would you stay downtown if you were doing two days of sight seeing in Hollywood, Colfax?

Well, I made a stand by reservation with the Renaissance for $199 a night (but they are giving me View of Hollywood Hills and an upgrade from the base room that is at this rate). That is a lot, though, but will be good just in case I can't get a room on Priceline. Yes, the Kimpton Palomar.. for $79 was very intriquing. Sounds like a nice hotel. What is your idea of the Palomar? Can you give some feedback? The girl that I can get that rate with, is still offering me the rate, and I am tempted. Is it really a long drive (we will have a rental) from Palomar to Universal? Where would we park when we go back the next day to tour Kodak Theatre, starline tours, etc? Is there cheap parking? I was thinking if we stayed in Hollywood, we just leave our car parked in the valet and just ride dash, or any PT, wherever we needed to go. I am still going to keep trying on Priceline for a room, but I am thinking that if I decide against the Palomar, and go wtih the Renaissance or Roosevelt on priceline, I might not get the same upgrades that Marriott is giving me by packing rack rate, and I might still be paying close to rack rate through priceline ($134 plus taxes is what I have seen on winning bids for these hotels).

Yes, Hotel Palomar has EXCELLENT reviews. Everyone that gave a review on travelpost (or it might have been tripadvisor) could not say enough positive about it. The worst was the parking fee of $30. Going rack rate is $287 (I think I saw that on the website). It is a Kimpton Property (not sure what that means, but everyone kept raving about it). Anyway, yeah.. $79 including the tax, but then the parking for $30.. so $109. A friend of mine (who is a PB playmate) told me that she highly recommended either the Renaissance or the Beverly Hills Hotel.. and none other! LOL Tonight, though, our Chief of Police told me the area around the Kodak/Walk of Fame, is HORRIBLE and he would never stay there. He said it is riddled with druggies and not safe at all. Is this true? (He was there four years ago, so he said it might have gotten better). I really am leaning towards the Renaissance (if safe), but saving money at the Palomar, or a nice priceline win, sounds good too... Thanks for your review!!!

Colfax, Thanks for your response! Very informative! How was the Hollywood Heights Hotel? Is it safe? Is it "nice"? Are the rooms decent? What about amenities, etc. Do you know which of the three we would have the best chance of a "star encounter" at? Would the Hollywood Heights still be in that "atmosphere"? (For my 15 yo son!) That is definitely a possibility, cheap parking too! I can get a one night stay at Hotel Palomar for $79 (with tax included), but this is near Westwood. Are you familiar with that? It is still only a 10 min drive to Universal, but again..there's that parking thing. Thereuare: I guess I was hoping that identifying on hotwire would allow me to see the parking situations, and how far the hotel is from where we need to be. But most of the hotwire hotels are not identified (as noted above), so I am afraid to even attempt right now. I love staying at Marriott properties, which is why I would consider paying a bit more to stay at the Renaissance. Their rack rate right now is $199 for that night, was $229 before Thanksgiving. When is the best time for me to be bidding? Should I wait another week and keep toying with the bidding process daily or should I jump on a room ASAP???

thereuare, Do you have any info on the last win on priceline for the Sportsmen's Lodge? I couldn't find any info while doing a search. I don't mind paying parking (expected in LA) just do not want to pay for parking at hotel, then parking at Universal, then parking at Hollywood.. I would like to stay in a hotel where we pay for parking then can walk or take the dash/bus/hotel shuttle to the attractions...

I have been trying for over three weeks now. I usually never have problems with bidding and winning hotel rooms on priceline. I have been using the PRICELINE link provided for each bidding attempt (been many!!). What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions? Dates of stay Dec 27-28, 2008 one night Beverly Hills: Been bidding for 3* Residence Inn. Last failed bid at $72, using rebid zones available Hollywood: Been bidding 4* only, for Renaissance or Roosevelt. Have bid up to $102, no luck. Used all free rebid zones each time. Studio City: Am interested in the Sportsmen's Lodge, but can't find any informaiton on previous winning bids, or luck on getting this. I noted that there is a Courtyard at this star level, as well, in this area. Have not seen any wins at all. Any bidding advice or stradegy for this area? Please help, I am at a loss, and do not want to spend a fortune. We are only going to Universal and then sight seeing around Hollywood (Kodak, Hollywood Museum, Starline Tours). It would be the most enticing for me NOT to have to pay for parking at the hotel, then also parking at Universal, then parking at the Kodak/Museums, etc the next day as well.. that could lead to a boatload of fees. We do want to stay at Universal the entire time they are open (till 9 or 10pm on the website it says), so would like to be within walking distance. How can one get the Universal City Hotels (Sheraton, Holiday Inn) without ending up in Glendale or Burbank?? I will also consider HOTWIRE if anyone has advice on that. If I do end up paying $125-$130 (which I am almost willing to do) what is my best bet and the most frugal (parking, amenities, etc) of choices amongst what is a possibility to win (Meaning the areas, hotels with track records of wins, etc)? Thanks for your help!!!!

Started bidding at $12 a day for dates of 12/20-1/3/09. Accepted on first try. I was only "testing" and didn't mean for hit to go through. I really didn't think I'd get it, so I wasn't going through any links at all. It was accepted. ack. Your Offer Price: $12.00 (per day) Total Rental Days: 14 days Subtotal: $168.00 Taxes and Fees: $114.58 Total Charges: $282.58 We are driving from Las Vegas Airport out to Cali to be with my family, so this is, I think, a good deal. Now I just need to find a hotel room for the night before we leave Las Vegas... on the cheap. I WILL go through the PRICELINE link for that!

Courtyard By Marriott Rockford Rockford 7676 E State St Rockford, Illinois 61108-2718 815-397-6222 Sat, Nov 1, 2008 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Nov 2, 2008 / 12:00 PM Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $45.00 Subtotal: $45.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $13.01 Total Charges*: $58.01 Don't fall over... I finally used your PRICELINE link to purchase this room.

Found out on my stay here, that come June 08, this hotel will be torn down, and a new multi Marriott Complex will be built in its place. There will be a new JW Marriott, a Springhill Suites and the main tower of the Courtyard will either be also torn down or will be refurbished for the new Courtyard.

Downtown zone, bid two stars, $40, got on first try. Courtyard By Marriott Indianapolis Downtown Downtown Indianapolis 501 West Washington Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 317-635-4443 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $40.00 Subtotal: $80.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $19.79 Total Charges*: $99.79 *correction to title, the dates of stay are 12/29-12/31/07. Sorry about that!

Just curious, why does it show under the list for Hotwire hotels (on this website) a completely different list of amenities for University Place, than what you have listed here?

Bid $42 for 3 star Downtown, received an offer to bid $12 more to accept. Did not go for this. Went back, added in Speedway Zone, upped bid to $45. Offer Accepted: Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel Downtown Indianapolis 31 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $45.00 Subtotal: $45.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.06 Total Charges*: $59.06 I believe that the Radisson has now switched to the Sheraton. But nevertheless, a new hotel for your list.

Selected Downtown, three stars $38, rejected Selected Speedway, $42 rejected Selected South $44 rejected Selected Northwest $46 accepted. Marriott Indianapolis Downtown Downtown Indianapolis 350 West Maryland Indianapolis, Indiana 46225 317-822-3500 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $46.00 Subtotal: $92.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $21.88 Total Charges*: $113.88 Check-In Date: Fri, Jul 20, 2007 / After 04:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Jul 22, 2007 / 11:00 AM

Bid 45 did not get accepted. Took a rebid using Indy South and bid $47. It accepted at that price. Marriott Indianapolis Downtown Downtown Indianapolis 350 West Maryland Indianapolis, Indiana 46225 317-822-3500 Check-In Date: Sat, May 19, 2007 / After 04:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, May 20, 2007 / 11:00 AM Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $47.00 Subtotal: $47.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.43 Total Charges*: $61.43 It's getting better, but it's still not the Hilton. :)

Tried bidding many times, rejected. Hit on $49 bid. Not what I necessarily wanted, but this hotel is very nice. I just hope the pool is open! Radisson Hotel City Centre Indianapolis Downtown Indianapolis 31 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 317-635-2000 Check-In Date: Thu, May 17, 2007 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Fri, May 18, 2007 / 12:00 PM Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $49.00 Subtotal: $49.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $14.76 Total Charges*: $63.76

You used to be able to get this hotel for $36 a night. I have noticed many on here getting it for $55 or so a night. Has anyone gone through the bidding process and had lesser amounts denied, only to do a rebid and the lowest price you got was $55? Was $55 your first bid and you won, or did you do rebids? Thanks for your help!!!!

This is a very nice hotel for the price ( 2* rating is earned here). However, they do not have a work out facility (from what I am told NONE of the hotels in Peru have work out facilities!). The pool and whirlpool are VERY nice! Staff is okay, not the greatest, but I have seen worse! The linens are fantastic, beds very comfortable. All in all, a very nice stay! I am so glad that this hotel comes up for me on Priceline!!