Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Austin (Downtown) Embassy Suites Town Lake

[Nightfly]

Per Site Admin. suggestion to post results, finding no love in Texas for the indicated dates (11/8-11/13) at a sub $120-4*/sub $100-3.5* price Downtown.

No Longhorn home game during that time, looking at historical info on this fine website it seems like I'm not being TOO much of a piker (or am I?)

Thanks in advance everyone for your advise, sympathy or slap up the side of the head reality check...

[Romelle]

Hotwire has a 4* for your dates for $167. The odd thing - when I look at one night at a time, it shows a different hotel (at least it had different amenities) at $139 for each night.

Anyway, it suggests you are likely in a reasonable range, but might just be too early. Maybe a bit on the low side, but I don't think it makes sense to bid up higher right away. You've got lots of time. You could check in every 3 or 4 days, or maybe just weekly for now.

Romelle

[Nightfly]

Thanks Romelle, I'll keep metaphorically circling the airport for awhile longer...

[thereuare]

Austin Comic Con is taking place November 11-13, in many other cities this is a HUGE event and hotels often sell-out... not sure if Austin is the same, but given rates i'm seeing i suspect this is likely the issue you're facing.

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID, 11/8-11/11 and then 11/11-11/13 an option as i am seeing rates higher for the weekend dates of this trip (and if you do decide to split. the weekend dates will still likely be an issue, but the first 3 nites of your stay may be had within, or close to, bid amounts you have already made)

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

[Nightfly]

You guys are the best !!! A Comic convention huh? I guess you can't plan for everything. 'Splitting' is a definite option I'll look at, the idea of the whole visit was to learn if Austin is the kind of place I could spend some extended time and resources in, so there may be some merit expanding my lodging horizons.

Before I start digging too deep in neighborhood info, anyone have a feel for locations that offer an 'urban-ish' experience with many types of housing options? Of course, like most cities, near the university is always the dart board pick, but any insight is welcome since thus far you guys have come through with flying colors.

Thanks again folks !

[Romelle]

My personal favorite about TX living was Blue Bell ice cream - a grocery store brand that I thought was particularly wonderful. I missed a couple of years eating it, as I was put off by that goofy singing cow commercial. Ignore that, and just dig in.

You don't mention where you are currently living, so I don't know how much "different" it will be. For me, coming from MN, TX was pretty much a culture shock. Of course Fort Worth is different from Austin.

No state income tax was a big plus.

Romelle

[Nightfly]

Took thereuare's advice on splitting the bid. Attempted $114/4* - $93/3.5* from 11/8-11/11 downtown, no enchilada (hey, I'm trying to get into the spirit of things).

Provided I can get the first three days setup downtown, I thought I'd wrap things up near the Arboretum.

EDIT: BTW Romelle, I'm living in Michigan and also spend a lot of time in Portland, OR, so yeah, it will be different with a capital "D"

[thereuare]

Availability is still a bit tight for the nite of Nov. 10, but you do have some time so i'd still continue to try for a few weeks, although you may want to try up to $120 for a 4* and up to $100 for a 3.5* if that is within your budget. Not sure it will help, but assuming you're using your re-bid zones and bidding systematically, it can't hurt. If you need help with a specific bidding strategy let us know and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

In the meantime i would suggest booking a cancellable back-up reservation to protect yourself from hotels getting an influx of demand from convention attendees and rates moving even higher from current levels.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Nightfly]

Happy to report the following:

WIN: Austin Downtown - 3.5* - 11/8/11-11/11/11 - $98 - Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown Town Lake

WIN: Austin Arboretum - 3* - 11/11/11-11/13/11 - $56 - Hilton Garden Austin NW/Arboretum

Booked via BetterBidding PRICELINE link.

Ice down a Shiner Bock folks, I'm coming to town... Seriously, thanks for all the hints, advice and good Juju. thereuare, please feel free to tweak the subject line to use this information to the best benefit of your readers. I'll try and offer hotel reviews after I get back.

Thx again !

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success(es)!

Glad to see you were able to piece this together and hopefully each of these properties will work for your needs and provide a slightly different perspective of the city for you.

The board uses a 'one win per thread' format so that each win will have its own link in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins. We've used this thread to reflect your Embassy Suites Austin-Downtown Town Lake purchase, can you please start a NEW TOPIC for your Hilton Garden Inn win.

Thank you for sharing your win(s) and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.