Priceline Hotel: 4* DC (Dupont Circle-Woodley Park) Omni Shoreham

[CrazyOne]

Time for some more bidding, it seems. I was making these arrangements at last minute, checked and checked the crazy hotel rates from regular sources. When I kept finding things like $300 for the (nice, granted, but still) Courtyard I stayed at for 99 bucks direct from Marriott last December, I figured I'd bid. I couldn't find anything I wanted through standard booking places for under $200, which is the threshold that pushes me towards using Priceline even for this biz travel.

All this bidding was last night, late on 5/1 eastern time and spilling past midnight so that my billing date is actually 5/2. I started playing with 4* Arlington trying to get the new Westin (I've still never stayed in one), but when I bid up to $103 with no hit, I backed off and started trying with 4* Dupont-Woodley instead (ultimately including both). I think once I started with Dupont-Woodley I bid $85, then $92, then $99. I went in big chunks because it'll still be work paying, and I don't have time to wait for bidding again.

I was actually kinda hoping for the Westin Embassy Row, but I'll take this, should be fine for a couple nights. Omni is new to me as well. And with any luck (read: as long as I don't need to lug anything heavy) I can hop the Metro a couple stops to the office each morning.

(BTW, I can't 100% remember the convention for listing the dates in the thread title. It's two nights beginning on 5/3. Hotels usually say 5/3-5/5, or they say 5/3 for 2 nights. So I guess this is okay.)

Subtotal: $198

Tax/Fee: $36.60

Total: $234.60

Omni's booking has been down this morning, but on Travelocity"]Travelocity they're trying to hawk a "Good Buy" low rate guarantee of $369/night for this place on these dates!

[TravelGuy]

Showing now on omnihotels.com as $369 - their lowest and "Net Savvy" rate :) . Great deal!

[CrazyOne]

The place is pretty full. There is some kind of event, with people beginning to arrive today and checking out Friday. So I don't really know why I have a PL room except that perhaps the last minute worked in my favor. (Take all they can at 300 bucks and try to fill a few final scattered rooms at the last minute for 100 bucks.) I don't know how worn my room is compared to others, but it has a few imperfections, so maybe they are known less desirable rooms. (It's also on a low floor, overlooking mainly the parking lot though behind it I can see the Taft Bridge and such.) Still, it's fine for the price. And the wireless internet is free, unlike some other places at this level which still ding you $10 or more per day.

Just goes to show the Priceline can still net you some insane savings in certain circumstances. This is the kind of circumstance that makes it worthwhile.