Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Philadelphia downtown Courtyard June 21 $40

[KathyWdrf]

2.5* Philadelphia downtown: Courtyard by Marriott on Saturday, June 21 for $40 + taxes and service fees of $11.31 = $51.31 total for one night.

I've been trying for a 3 star in the last few days. Finally decided to go for a 2.5 star (which of course includes the possibility of an "upgrade" to higher categories).

There is only one "free rebid" zone for 2.5 stars -- i.e., with NO hotels above the 2 star level: Veterans Stadium.

Based on previous failure to get a 3 star for a top bid of $35 for this date, I started my 2.5 star bid at $36. (Maybe I should've started lower; but on Priceline, 2.5 stars in downtown Philly supposedly often costs as much as or more than 3 stars!) I received a "counteroffer" to add $10 to my bid for a guaranteed win. However, based on advice and past experience, I ignored this offer and instead added the one free rebid zone, Veterans Stadium, and upped my bid to $40. Success.

The cheapest online rate I found for this night at this hotel is a special "CUE" rate (on the marriott.com website) of $109 + 14% tax = $124.26.

Kathy

P.S.: I think it would be really helpful if people would include ALL data in their posts, i.e., taxes, service fees and total, rather than just the "raw" winning bid. Many of the titles are incomplete also -- lacking the winning bid, for example.