Priceline Hotel: 3* in Ottawa-Hull (Ottawa) Marriott

[controlyar]

I am also looking for a 3* in Ottawa- Hull (Ottawa) for 7/1/07 - 7/2/07 - Canada Day.

Bid 4* - $60 - rejected

Add 3* - $68 - rejected

Add Hull - $75 - rejected

People were winning the 3* Marriott for $45-55 last year for the same dates !

Any ideas with this one ? Hotwire is showing 3* for $152.

[thereuare]

Please use separate threads for each of your stay (we've split this post away from your other thread and made it into its own thread)

What is your maximum bid for the above stay?

[controlyar]

Well I bid up to $75 so far.

It seems demand is much higher this year compared to last year. Unfortunately, I can't find any winning bids for the same weekend in Ottawa this year to compare against.

I do need a room and want to get it for the least amount of money like everyone else. I guess $100 is a reasonable "limit", although I will pay more if I have to.

I am likely locked-out for 24 hours now ( I don't want to add more areas or reduce the star level, yet), so I will continue to increase my bidding amount later but more aggressively.

[controlyar]

Update on bidding:

Bid 3 Ottawa DT* - $80 - rejected

Add Hull - $90 - rejected

[controlyar]

Update on bidding:

Selected 4*

Ottawa DT - bid $120 - rejected

Selected 3*

Ottawa DT - bid $100 (lowest Hotwire price was $136 and that seemed to be a match for Crowne Plaza)

It seemed to be sitting at the waiting screen for a while (at least 1 minute) and then I got a message indicating that "they are working on my request" and I can click on a link to check the status of the request. I crossed my fingers and clicked on the link a few minutes later. It was accepted and then I eagerly scrolled down and had won the Marriott Ottawa ! It was exactly what I had hoped for - I has feared I would end up with teh . I bid higher since the next option would have been adding Hull and that would imply getting the Holdiday Inn Gatineau, which could be had on Hotwire for $95 is not worth that kind on money in my opinion - I have stayed there before.

And yes I used the savingsbarn link :)

Just curious, but what is really happening when you get the "working on request" message ? Computers don't need time to think as far as I know :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

Glad to hear it worked out well for your plans and you received the hotel you were hoping for.

The "we're working on your request" is just a hic-cup in the system someplace... could be a variety of communication errors: priceline having trouble accessing the loaded hotel rates, delay in an approval from the credit card company verifying your card, etc. Not sure how long you've been using priceline, but a few years ago you always had to wait for an answer and it could take up to 15 minutes! :) So this almost immediate answer is certainly a BIG improvement and a timesaver.

Thanks for sharing your win and for using the SavingsBarn.com links to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.