Hotwire Hotel: Niagara Falls bidding help

[slater195]

Hi again! Thanks so much to BB for helping us with a terrific and lower-cost trip to Chicago this weekend. And now it's time to plan a family get-together for Aug. 6-9, in Niagara Falls. There will be six of us (4 in one room and 2 in another), so we'll probably stick with Hotwire, since none of us really want to spend over $100 a night to sleep on the floor. We don't care what city we're in, since being at the Falls is secondary to us spending time together -- and actually, being farther from the falls is preferable because we don't want to pay to park. Free breakfast would be a plus but is not necessary.

Having not been to Niagara Falls since I was about 9, I don't know much what to expect, other than to know that some prelimary searching for hotel reviews has netted some nasty stuff about bedbugs and ant problems in some of the 2-star hotels in the area. Definitely not keen on either of those. The Buffalo airport hotels look the cheapest, and that's fine with us, if that's the best way to go.

Budget is under $150, star level doesn't much matter. Any insight will be appreciated!

[yellowdog]

Budget is under $150, star level doesn't much matter

For both rooms?

Have you looked at HOTWIRE if they have any inventory for your dates and budget?

Let us know how we can help you further.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Yellowdog.

[thereuare]

Are you looking to be on the Canadian or US side... or does it not matter?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[slater195]

No, doesn't matter US or Canadian side, and $150 budget is per room.

They do have inventory available, I'm just having trouble decipering what all of them are. I saw one at the Buffalo airport (2.5*) that may be a Holiday Inn Express for $103? That seems so high for a HI Express, but I know I need to keep in mind it's high season up there. Any other nearby areas that may produce better hotel deals I should be searching? (I actually tried to look in Welland, because my in-laws used to live there and liked the area, but the only thing on Hotwire is a 2-star that I think is a Days Inn? ... and it didn't look like an updated one!)

[thereuare]

What about the Holiday Inn Buffalo Airport (not the Express) for $109? (no Complimentary Breakfast like at the Holiday Inn Express but generally considered to be of higher quality)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[slater195]

After reading some trip advisor forums about which side to stay on, etc., we decided we'd rather stay on the Canadian side than have to deal with going across the border each day. Since we didn't want to pay for parking, I concentrated on St. Catharine's and Welland. There just aren't many hotels in those areas on Hotwire or Priceline, so I punted. Decided to call direct to the Best Western in Welland and got an OK price directly from them ($141/night Fri-Sat, $101 Sun) considering the large group and long list of desires. It's cancellable, so we'll keep our eyes out til 24 hours prior, but for right now this seemed like a good fit for what everyone wants. If there's a way I can re-book this in a way that will help BB, let me know and I'll be happy to do it. I appreciate all the help I've gotten from this site!

[AaronJB]

Glad to hear your Chicago stay went well! :)

Glad you were able to find a Niagara-area back-up, as well; if you could book through Betterbidding's Best Western link in the site's Support/Travel section, that would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, you may be able to get an extra $10 off per night (although it may only take it off the first room if you book 2 rooms together) by using coupon code 10SPRING via Expedia.

Enjoy your stay.

[slater195]

Aaron, solid advice as always. I checked the BW site using the BB link and found that they now have posted an internet-only rate which is a smidge lower than what we booked at. Plan to re-book through there unless another great option presents itself in the next 24-48 hours (i.e. a lowered Hotwire rate, etc). Side note: I did also check through the Expedia link and went almost the whole way through booking the rooms and wasn't offered a place to enter a coupon code ... do you know where that screen is? Is it after entering billing info? I just wanted to see if that would end up any lower.

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

On Expedia, after you click "Book It' under the price there is usually an advertisement for their credit card, the coupon code box is under this credit card advertisement. I have had an experience recently where the box did not show, so it's possible that on some of their offerings (perhaps if they're operating under an agency basis rather then a net basis) that the coupon may not be eligible.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board... or our Best Western or Expedia links if you go that route.

Let us know what you end up doing for this stay or if we can be of further help.

[slater195]

I'm all over the place with this one. Now looking at 3* St. Catharines on Hotwire with pool, high speed internet, spa, laundry, fitness, restaurant and business center. Any idea what that would be? Four Points Suites? The amenities don't match, but that's all that's listed so far under 3* in St. Catharines.

[yellowdog]

slater195

Did you search for 2 rooms and 6 adults?

Yellowdog.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[slater195]

Yes, I did 2 rooms for 6 ppl. When I went back to Hotwire a few minutes later, though, it was up to 142 for the same hotel.

I'll update to add that I've rebooked through the Best Western site directly (through BB's links) and think we'll probably stay with that, since it's all about the same price. I keep trying to scour for a deal, but it looks like I'll have to come back in winter to get the prices I want to pay!

[thereuare]

Thanks for using the Best Western link in the support page to re-book your reservation :)

Let us know if anything interesting appears between now and your stay and we can be of further help.

Enjoy your trip.