Delta128 Posted September 22, 2011 Report Posted September 22, 2011 Background - (skip if you wish) we've previously stayed mostly down in Orange County area near Orange/Disneyland close to "Little Saigon" since DW has relatives & friends nearby - but wanted to stay north by the hills, closer to "Little Taipei" Monterey Park / Alhambra for its excellent choice of Chinese cuisine, etc. - started researching what's nearby, including San Gabriel - but didn't want to ended up further away down toward Norwalk, Cerritos, etc. (nor, be surprised by self-parking daily fees added on as surcharges, etc.) Had a fair good idea of what's available, price ranges & looked at tripadvisors . com for reviews & details along with info at hotwire's website (including Hampton Inns & Radissons)Started out PL bidding for Monrovia-Arcadia (Zone 3) only at $53 for 2 nights (10/16-18/2011) and rejected, no counter offers made - suggested changes only to resubmit. I would be very excited but wanted to start out low & work upward, time is on our side - I think - and nonstop airfares actually dropping for this travel period (OW nonstop between LAX-JFK drop $20 to $129 on UA, wow) New bid next day and added Pasadena (Zone 2) to the area/zone - still thinking & wishing that the Courtyard in Monrovia or Hilton Garden Inn in Arcadia would be nice, long odds but bid at $63 - rejected. PL offered to resubmit bid immediately if I do $80 per night instead of waiting 24 hours - thought about it, no thanks - did more searching. Changed strategy, let's bid for 1 night only, same 2 zones (as I could do add-on for one additional night if accepted, normally - this work, why not) - at this point, thinking also about the DoubleTrees in the area (but, I do not feel like paying a daily parking fee) Bid for 10/16/2011 at $69 - bing bing - it was accepted within seconds, screen refreshed & it is the Residence Inn at Arcadia - Pasadena on Huntington Drive, next to the shopping mall and in the vicinity of several other nice properties. Yes - yeah, I've done it - lowest offered prepaid price is $149 + taxes/fees per night, and $169 being the lowest refundable AAA/rack rates. In short, we saved about 45% in bidding - I immediately took the offer to add a 2nd. night at same price, and it was again accepted at $69 + $16.48 in taxes & fees per night - SubTotal of $85.48 x 2 nights = $170.98 inclusive for 2 nights (Sunday & Monday) - including free hot full Breakfast Buffet, free in-room wired internet and free parking - in an oversized Queen "studio" suite - full kitchen, sofa, fireplace & manager's evening reception with a light meal ! Still in "shock" for this prepaid price, it's a true bargain. It will take us 15 or 20 minutes via local streets to get to nearby Alhambra, San Gabriel & Monterey Park for excellent Asian dining, but we are saving a huge bundle & perhaps we'll do takeout back to our mini suite at 460 SF and relax in the evening - going to do a followup review on tripadvisors with photos to share with all. :) P.S. Looking back, had I tried adding West Corvina (Zone 4) that's further out via the Freeway traffic - could've gotten maybe a standard no-frill hotel like the Radissons for a little less, but we're happy with the values for our money ! Cheers ....
AaronJB Posted September 22, 2011 Report Posted September 22, 2011 Congrats on your success. :)Very good deal for this RI property, and glad you're pleased with the win.Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay.
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