Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Ottawa - Hull (Ottawa) Courtyard

[MJRBIM]

This was a pretty hellish bidding process...but still way cheaper than paying rack-rate. I was in the middle of doing other stuff while placing these bids - and am well aware that I broke many of the "Best Practice" bidding rules during this process.

I wanted to book three-nights Sept. 19/20/21 for Ottawa. There's some big conferences/conventions going on for the next few weeks so Downtown hotel rooms are at a premium.

Started ou with the full three-nights, Sept. 19-22

1st Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT @ $45 = Declined

2nd Bid - 2.5* Added Hull @ $50 = Declined

Started new bid for just two-nights Sept. 19-21

3rd Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT @ $55 = Counter-Offer add $12 - (Ignored)

4nd Bid - 2.5* Added Hull @ $60 = Declined

Started new bid for just two-nights Sept. 20-22

5th Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT @ $65 = Declined

6th Bid - 2.5* Added Hull @ $70 = Declined

Started new bid for ONLY Sept. 19

7th Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT/Hull @ $70 = Accepted at the Courtyard Marriott

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Check-In Date: Monday, September 19, 2005

Check-Out Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Hotel Name:

Courtyard By Marriott Ottawa

350 Dalhousie Street

Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E9

613-241-1000

Your Offer Price: $70.00 (US dollars)

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 1

Subtotal: $70.00 (US dollars)

Taxes and Service Fees: $14.00 (US dollars)

Total Charges: $84.00 (US dollars)

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Then I started new bid for ONLY Sept. 20

8th Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT/Hull @ $60 = Accepted at the Courtyard Marriott

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Check-In Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Check-Out Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Your Offer Price: $60.00 (US dollars)

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 1

Subtotal: $60.00 (US dollars)

Taxes and Service Fees: $12.95 (US dollars)

Total Charges: $72.95 (US dollars)

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Then I started new bid for ONLY Sept. 21

9th Bid - 2.5* Ottawa DT/Hull @ $50 = Declined

I will start a new "clean" bid for the 21st after my 72 hours expires.

Even after the multiple bids, the best rate on the Marriott site is $169.00 (CDN)/$141.10 (US) per night plus tax...So I am saving a good chunk of money each night - even at $70 US.

[thereuare]

You certainly have the right attitude... it's not how much it could have cost last week, it's how much you're saving for this particular stay! We'll just warn others that the above was "uncoventional" and they shouldn't follow the same approach for their own stays.

As always thank you for your posts and expertise in this area.

Enjoy your stay.