Hotwire Hotel: 3* Seattle (Airport SEA) Doubletree

[Celebration]

Dear Thereuare and others,

First of all, thanks for all the amazing information this board provides. I have been reading for days and am stunned by the sheer volume of great information you and others provide, Thereuare. I am sure I am not alone in wanting you to know how much I appreciate your work!

Here is my situation:

My family of four (2 adults, 2 kids ages 5 and 8) are cruising out of Seattle to Alaska. We are arriving on Saturday night before the cruise rather late (10:30PM), and plan to stay in Seattle two nights once we return one week later from the cruise.

I would really like to try priceline since the costs seem lower and frankly the bidding looks like fun. But I am concerned about getting the extra bed and non-smoking designations on my room (smoke allergies).

My thought was to use priceline to get the first Saturday night stay at a 3* Seatac hotel since I don't care about amenities other than an airport shuttle. Do you think in mid July the big hotels are likely to be sold out? Am I taking a huge risk to hope we can get the two bed non-smoking room when we will arrive at the hotel probably after 11pm at night? (Frankly, hotwire and priceline are missing out on a profitable possibility here. I would pay an extra fee to be sure I could get my preference, and I bet I am not alone.) Any thoughts on a good opening bid? (New to priceline and hotwire).

When we return a week later on Sunday, we wanted to stay near the Pikes Market or Seattle Center area to be near sightseeing spots. Again, does it seem unreasonable to hope if I bid on a 4* hotel in this area to get a two bed, non smoking room for under $140? Actually, we don't need anything fancy. If it had a pool, free breakfast, clean room we would be happy. Maybe a 3 star hotel would be enough?

My family thinks I am nuts to be thinking about all of this now when we don't go till mid-July. Should I just chill out for a few months and check out the rates then?

Thanks for any advice you have.

John

[WillTravel]

Hotwire could work fine for your family to be sure of getting what you want - just enter 2 adults and 2 kids.

But with Priceline, SeaTAC airport hotels are almost sure to be okay, based on what has been posted, but there's always the slight possibility of an unpleasant exception. I think it's very unlikely the hotels would be filled up - but I suppose with the right bad luck it could happen.

One problem is that you couldn't be sure about the airport shuttle. Most likely all of the 3* hotels have them, but I haven't checked.

If you want a free breakfast in downtown Seattle, your best hope is a 2* or a 2.5* bid. That won't happen with a 3* or 4* bid, and even if you do bid for a lower-star hotel, there's the possibility of getting "upgraded". The Springhill Suites or the Summerfield Suites would be perfect for your family (except neither is quite perfect in terms of location, but they do have free breakfast and a pool and a suite, and you could walk, or take a cab, or take a very short shuttle ride to get to Pikes Place). I think to be on the safe side I would look for a good deal on Hotwire for one of those two, or look for a good Wyndham by Request deal for the Summerfield Suites, or even consider booking directly - and even so it would probably come in under your $140 limit. I think some posters have reported problems getting two beds with a 3* bid - and some of the 4* hotels are boutiques. I think the odds are in your favor for two beds but not guaranteed, and if you want a pool, you'll either have to use Hotwire or direct booking. My daughter and I both really like the Springhill Suites and Summerfield Suites - they're pleasant, clean, and modern.

I don't think you're nuts to plan far ahead. Seattle will be quite busy during the summer.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

WillTravel did a good job of covering your options.

My first thought would be to check just how much of a price difference there is between a likely Priceline acceptance and the offerings shown by HOTWIRE. If the price difference is minimal, why take the bedding type request? If the price is substantial,then you can weigh the risks vs. additional expense.

For starters what are the date(s) of your stay?

[Celebration]

Dear Willtravel and Thereuare,

Thanks for the fast replies!

My one night stay where I enter Seattle airport at 10:30pm is 7/9/05, and the two night stays where I would like to be near downtown is 7/17-7/19.

To summarize it sounds like you are suggesting I go with hotwire to ensure the two beds. I thought I read somewhere that while they pass on your preference, it isn't guaranteed. Am I more likely to get the two beds going through hotwire rather than priceline and then calling the hotel directly to request it?

Willtravel said: "I think to be on the safe side I would look for a good deal on Hotwire for one of those two, or look for a good Wyndham by Request deal for the Summerfield Suites, or even consider booking directly - and even so it would probably come in under your $140 limit. I think some posters have reported problems getting two beds with a 3* bid - and some of the 4* hotels are boutiques. I think the odds are in your favor for two beds but not guaranteed, and if you want a pool, you'll either have to use Hotwire or direct booking. "

What does Wyndham by Request deal mean? And are you saying that I am less likely to get the two beds with a 3 or 4 start request?

Thanks,

John

[thereuare]

Wyndham By Request is Wyndham's "membership" program and sometimes they send out specials for stays at their properties, refered to as "Wyndham By Request" Sales. You can sign up directly at the Wyndham Website (it's free)

HOTWIRE now allows users to select up to 4 people in a room. Given that they guarantee enough sleeping accomodations for everyone that you select, you are guaranteeing bedding for four (however, in most cases this means 2 beds, it could also include the use of cots and/or pull-out couches)

I think you're going to have to weigh whether you are willing to take the 'chance' on the number of beds you will have. You know yourself and your family best and how easily they could adapt to a situation with only one bed in the room (ie- how would your kids react to some blankets and pillows on the floor: "Cool!!.. an indoor campout" or "Ewww... i'm not sleeping on the floor")

[WillTravel]

I think I might prefer Hotwire in your specific case, or as I said direct booking. My daughter and I have been lucky with bidding 2* in Seattle on Priceline, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it for a family of four on a major vacation. A 3* hotel is not likely to have the amenities you specifically want - and it's not certain with a 4* for that matter (and free breakfast is definitely not going to happen with a 3* or 4*).

[Celebration]

Thanks to Thereuare and Willtravel I bought a hotel from hotwire that turned out to be the Doubletree on 7/9/05.

It was for 2 adults and 2 kids.

Icons: Shuttle, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hispeed Internet, Business center, and Laundry.

I used the coupon GIFTCARD02 which gave $10.00 and so the total after taxes was $59.95.

Enjoy.

[Celebration]

Hi,

Willtravel, I noticed on the hotwire board that you used the Holiday Inn Express in the Space needle area. Would you recommend it? I think that is coming up on hotwire at $109 for 2.5* hotel. With the current coupon of $10 off, it would make it an even better deal.

I really want to try Priceline since it seems others have been able to get some great deals (like the fellow who got the Westin for $120 in August). But being able to guarantee the extra bed is probably the most important thing.

I booked my first Saturday night stay using hotwire and got the doubletree for $56. I posted the details on the hotwire board.

Thanks,

John

[WillTravel]

I haven't stayed at the HI Express yet. We wanted it because it's close to Seattle Center and the Bumbershoot Festival - and mostly because we know from past experience it's hard to get a Priceline room for the entire length of the stay at a cheap price. The reviews seem reasonable and the free breakfast is a bonus. I don't know if they have a pool or not. It's either a hike or short cab ride to Pike's Place. But your kids might be interested in stuff at Seattle Center too.

[Celebration]

Conclusion:

Since several folks were following this thread I thought I would give my final trip decisions.

After checking priceline and hotwire obsessively over the last few days, for my dates 7/17-7/19/05 in the Seattle downtown area I decided to go with a hotel called the Silver Cloud Inn in Lake Union a bit outside the city. They have a free shuttle to downtown sights, and the reviews on tripadvisor.com sound stellar. They actually are the number #5 most recommended hotel in Seattle. Hotwire was $149 per night (if I guessed right on their amenities list). I ended up going with Travelocity who had a $109.00 rate for two queen beds. Also through Travelocity, I can cancel up to one day beforehand with no penalty. I guess this is one of those rare instances where they had enough capacity to offer a better deal than the oblique discounters.

Thanks to Willtravel and Thereareu for your help and advice. Enjoy your travels everyone.

John

[WillTravel]

I think that sounds like a good choice. I've heard only positive things about that hotel too.

[thereuare]

Glad you have finalized your plans and are happy with the results!