mksmlayman

I was bidding in all Minneapolis zones for a 3* hotel that guaranteed a pool.  I started bidding at $45 and increased my bid by $3 increments until I got this hotel at $60.  I saw a hotel on Priceline Express in the same zone/same star level for $61 so I assume that $58-$60 is the absolute lowest price for this hotel. (My highest non-winning bid was $57). Anyhow, the total with taxes and fees was $75.11.  The cheapest I saw on their website was $99.10 with tax. I used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding on a 3.5* in the Minneapolis Northwest/Brooklyn Center and Woodbury/Oakdale zones.  Started bidding at $65 with no luck.  Added a free rebid zone and increased my bid to $70 and got this hotel.  We'll see how it goes--I've never stayed here before, and the Radisson Roseville is a 3* and decidedly average, but usually a good value.  Total with taxes and fees was $86.57 per night.  I did see a special rate of $87.20 before tax on their website. Used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding on a 3* in the West Fargo zone and got this hotel on my first bid of $60.  I assume I overbid slightly, but there's just not a lot of feedback for the Fargo area.  I think my winning bids for Fargo over the last two years are $54--$58 for a 3*, so I bid a little higher because it's summer and I thought prices would go up?  Anyhow, my total with taxes was $72.71.  Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

These were the amenities listed:  Free High Speed Internet, Heated Pool, Fitness Center, Restaurant, Non-smoking Rooms, Free Parking, Cable/Satellite Tv, Hair Dryer, Room Service

Even though this was a PRICELINE EXPRESS deal, they showed me which hotel it was because I've stayed there before.  I had a Priceline Coupon, so I figured it was my best deal.

Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding for a single room on Sunday, April 7 in the Minneapolis area.  Rates are crazy because of the Final Four going on this weekend.  I had bid with Priceline's Name Your Own  price tool up to $130 for a 3.5* in the Eagan and Woodbury/Oakdale zones with no luck.  Then I tried up to $115 for a 3.0* in the St Paul North and St Paul Northeast zones still with no luck.  My fallback plan was a PRICELINE EXPRESS Deals 3.0* in the Woodbury/Oakdale zone for $116.  The total came to $139.97 with taxes and fees.  The hotel I got was the Holiday Inn St. Paul Northeast--Lake Elmo.  The lowest rate I saw on their website was $151 plus tax.  Used the Betterbidding link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

Amenities: 

Free Internet (in Room)

 Free Parking

 Indoor Pool

 Non-Smoking

 Gym

 Restaurant

 Handicap Accessible

 Business Center

This is by far the most I've ever paid for a 3* hotel in the Minneapolis area, but I know the prices are high due to the Final Four going on this weekend.  Anyhow, I had bid with Priceline's Name Your Own  price tool up to $130 for a 3.5* in the Eagan and Woodbury/Oakdale zones with no luck.  Then I tried up to $115 for a 3.0* in the St Paul North and St Paul Northeast zones still with no luck.  I guess I'm fortunate to get this for $139.97 with taxes and fees.  The lowest rate I saw on their website was $151 plus tax.

Used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

This was one of my worst reservations on HOTWIRE.  Definitely not a 3*--a 2* would be more accurate.  Amenities listed were Free parking, Free breakfast, Free internet, Pet friendly, Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Business center, Internet access, Golf nearby, Accessible for visually impaired, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking, Roll-in shower.  Evidently it used to be a Red Lion hotel as some of the stuff in the room was branded with a Red Lion logo.  I thought it seemed very much like a Super 8 inside the room.  

For what it's worth, I tried a single bid of $50 on PRICELINE's Name Your Own Price system for a 3* for the same night with no luck.

Used the BetterBidding HOTWIRE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding on a 3.5* in the MSP Airport/Mall of America zone only.  I started my bid at $50.  That was rejected so I added a free bid zone and increased my bid to $55 and got this hotel.  (I'm pretty sure I stayed here before, and it seems like a good value.) Saw a 3.5* on Priceline Express for $58, so I saved a couple bucks.  Total with taxes and fees was $68.84.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I started bidding at $52 for a 3.5* (the 3.5* seems to be new within the last year) in the West Fargo Zone.  Rejected, so I added a 3.0* and left my bid at $52.  Rejected, so I added the Fargo/airport zone and raised my bid to $54 and got this hotel.  I stayed there last year for the exact same price, so $53-54 seems to be the magic number.  There were two 3.0* on Priceline Expess for $56 and $63, and I believe the $56 hotel is this Staybridge Suites.  Lowest price I saw on their website was $91.94 per night with tax;  the total I paid for two nights with taxes and fees was $128.06.  Really enjoyed our stay there last year.  I used the BetterBidding link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.  BTW, am I the only one who stays in Fargo?  I think four out of the last seven Priceline wins in North Dakota were me!

I started bidding at $75 for a 3* in Duluth.  It was rejected, but said I could bid right away if I raised my bid to $99.  I'm not stupid, so I added the free rebid zone of Superior and raised my bid to $85 and got this hotel.  This hotel had shown up in PRICELINE EXPRESS deals (not hidden because I had stayed there previously, I think) for $89, so I saved myself a few bucks by bidding.  Total with taxes was $102.87.  Man, Duluth continues to be expensive!  I used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I started by using the name-your-own-price tool on PRICELINE at a $50 bid.  I was bidding  in the five zones that guaranteed a pool at a 3.5* hotel.  I bid in $1 increments up to $59 with no luck, so I took this PRICELINE EXPRESS option at $60, which came to $75.97 with tax. Here are the amenities listed:

Free Parking, Bed Choice, Business Center, Fitness Center, Non Smoking, Pets Allowed, Swimming Pool.

I used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link.

Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I started bidding at $45 for a 2.5* in the Woodbury/Oakdale and South ST Paul/Inver Grove Heights zones.  Added St Paul Downtown, increased bid to $49.00 without success.  Dropped St Paul Downtown, added Eagan and increased my bid to $51.00 and got this hotel.  I'm assuming this is the same hotel I saw on PRICELINE EXPRESS for $57.00.  The cheapest price I saw on their website was $117.02 with tax;  I paid $63.93 with taxes and fees.  My previous experience with Extended Stay America was not positive, so I'm hoping for better results this time.

I used the Better Bidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going!

I tried Name Your Own Price in Detroit Lakes first--started bidding at $60 on a 3*, but was rejected all the way up to $100.  Then I started over at $60 on a 2.5*, and was rejected all the way up to $90.  Priceline Express had a 2.5* at $103 and a 3* at $107, but (being the cheapskate that I am) I opted for the 2.5* at $68 and got this hotel.  Amenities listed were

Free Internet, Free Parking, Free Breakfast, Bed Choice, Non Smoking, Pets Allowed.  However, I was never allowed to pick my bed choice.  The cheapest rate I saw on their website was $85 +tax.  I was certainly bidding at the last minute as well.  I'm a little worried about the beds--the only room I see on their website with two beds is a suite at $150, so we'll see what happens.  Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

AFTER I booked this hotel through Hotwire, the following amenities were shown on the hotel information/receipt:

Accessible for visually impaired, Accessible for hearing impaired, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking, Roll-in shower

These items did not show up before I booked.

I tried to bid on Priceline for a 3.5* in all 3 Eau Claire zones but was rejected up to $62.  There was also a 3* shown on Priceline Express for $62, but I took this Hotwire option for $66 because it offered free breakfast and I was able to select my bed choice.  The room rate shown on the hotel's website was $95.96, but it also showed taxes and fees of $40.01!  The total Hotwire rate for this room was $81.50 with taxes/fees.

Amenities shown were Free parking, Free breakfast, Free Internet, Pet friendly, Indoor pool(s), Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Self-service laundry, Internet access

Used the BetterBidding HOTWIRE link.

Thanks to all who keep this site going.

Yeah, I went back and check my other confirmation emails and saw that they all said the same thing.  I'm not sure why it seemed out of place-- I know that it's Priceline's policy, but I didn't remember seeing it before.  Probably because this is the time when I do plan to put 4 people in the room!

I was bidding on a 3* in the West Fargo and Moorhead zones of Fargo.  I had bids rejected at $50, $51, $57, $58, and finally got this hotel at $60 bidding on the West Fargo zone only.  I also saw a 3* on PRICELINE EXPRESS for $63.00.  The total with taxes/fees for two rooms was $141.92.  The cheapest rate I saw on their website was $77.35 before tax.  I couldn't find the rate with tax--the website was very confusing, I was glad I didn't have to make the reservation that way.  

One thing concerns me--on the confirmation from PRICELINE it says 'room sleeps up to two adults' and 'hotel may charge extra for additional guests'.  I don't ever remember seeing that on a Priceline reservation before, and I've never been charged extra for kids before.  Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks to all who keep this site going.  I used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.

I was bidding on 9 Minneapolis/St Paul zones for a 3-star hotel.  I started bidding at $45, and using my free rebids increased my bids in $3 increments until I got this hotel at $54.  The total with taxes and fees is $67.68 for one night.  The cheapest rate I saw on their website was $84.84 with tax.  I'm not a huge fan of this hotel, but I'm sure it'll work fine for the one night that we're there.  I believe it has a hot tub, but not a full pool.  I used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link. Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding on a 3-star hotel in all 3 Fargo zones.  I saw a 3-star on PRICELINE EXPRESS for $58, so I started my bidding at $54 and got this hotel on the first attempt.  Total with taxes and fees was $65.74.  The cheapest price I saw on their website was $93.93 with tax.  Used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding for a 3.0 star in the two zones closest to BWI.  Started bidding at $45 with no luck, added a free rebid zone and changed my bid to $50 and got this hotel.  Total with taxes and fees for one night was $64.12.  Seems like a good value.  Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I bid on a 3.5* star in Duluth only for $50.  No luck, so I added the 3.0 star level and got this hotel immediately.  I stayed here 4+ years ago for the exact same PRICELINE bid.  We'll see if the hotel has made any upgrades since then--it was decidedly average then.  The price is right, Duluth is notoriously expensive.  The lowest price I saw on their website was $116.00 plus tax.  I did see a 3.0* on PRICELINE EXPRESS for $56.00.  HOTWIRE showed 3* hotels for $68 and $70.

Used the BetterBidding link.  Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding for a 3* in the following zones:  downtown St Paul, St Paul North, St Paul Northeast, Woodbury/Oakdale, and Minneapolis Northwest/Brooklyn Center.  I started bidding at $60, and raised my bids by $1 each time until I got this hotel.  I'm pretty sure it's the same one offered on Priceline Express Deals  for $72, and the lowest rate I saw on their website was $120 plus tax. Total with taxes and fees is $81.66.  Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.  I rarely stay in this area of Mpls/St Paul--  it seems harder to win in these zones, or at least more expensive.  Less hotels=less supply in these zones perhaps?

Thanks to all who keep this site going!

When bidding in the MSP airport/mall of America zone of Minneapolis, there is now an option to select a 4.5* level hotel.  I believe this option is new within the last few months.  I don't think anyone has posted a win with that level and zone, but does anyone have any idea what specific hotel it might be? Could it be a new hotel, or just new to Priceline?

I was bidding on ALL Minneapolis zones for a 3.5* hotel. I started bidding at $46, and using the free rebid zones, increased my bid by $5 until this one "popped" at $66. The lowest price I saw on their website was a "members rate" of $ 141.60 with tax.  My total with taxes and fees is $81.56.  Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link. Thanks to all who keep this site going.

I was bidding on a 3.5* in the following zones:  Minneapolis Downtown, Minneapolis northwest Brooklyn Center, St Paul downtown, and Woodbury/Oakdale.  I started bidding at $45, and increased my bid by $1 increments until this one "popped" at $50.  Total with taxes and fees for one night is $62.77.  The cheapest price I saw on their website was $131.66 plus tax. It looks like parking is $25/day, and I don't think there is a pool.  :(   Thanks to all who keep this site going, I used the betterbidding PRICELINE link.