Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* Reno-Taho (Downtown) Eldorado Hotel and Casino

[pterrell]

The price on Hotwire was so good, I couldn't pass it up, despite last years bad deals that have made me shy away from Hotwire. And just in case I get yet another Entertainment Book, I went to the Entertainment rebate page after using the Betterbidding link to HOTWIRE.

This is a trip I've been wanting to do for several years now. The wife and I are taking Amtrak's California Zephyr from the Bay Area through the Sierra mountains to Reno. We're taking the train late in the season to avoid too much snow delaying the train but not so late that all the snow is gone.

Since we're going up without a car, I wanted something near the Amtrak station. And since we don't gamble much, one night in Reno is just right. (I joke that the only "gambling" I do when I use HOTWIRE and PRICELINE.)

The tax and fees were really low, only $5.55, so this made an especially good deal. Orbitz and Hotels.com had the room for $46.52 ($40.00 + $6.52), so I saved $3 by "gambling". Plus, I think it will be more likely that I can chat up an upgraded room if the reservation wasn't made for the "Economy room".

Casino

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

1 room(s) @ $38.00 per night x 1 night(s) $38.00

Tax recovery charge and fees $5.55

Total $43.55

I bid up to $33 on PRICELINE, which after fees came to about $44. Not taken...

[pterrell]

Hotwire had a 3.5* hotel I identified as the Eldorado for $38.00 + $5.55 and it was showing up in Orbitz and Hotels.com for $40.00 + $6.42.

I was hoping that on Priceline I might get the Siena or that the 4* would be a better room. So I bid from $30 up to $33 in $1 increments, using Sparks as the free bid zone and having my wife bid as a second try.

Went over to HOTWIRE and got it...

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success.

Your train ride sounds interesting.

It is amazing how inexpensive hotel rates are in Reno... both thru PRICELINE, HOTWIRE and hotel direct purchases.

Thanks for sharing your results and for using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Enjoy the trip!

[pterrell]

Thereuare: Are reports on bids that didn't work out on Priceline no longer being accepted? I always found them helpful in guiding my purchases. Or did I post that second post to the wrong board?

And it looks like the Eldorado is showing up as both a 4* and 3.5* on Hotwire. I'm wondering if it's because they can put you in separate towers, like the Atlantis that has the motor lodge or the Peppermill with their separate wings.

[thereuare]

We keep all posts for the same stay go in the same thread as it makes it easier to see the 'sequence of events' that lead up to the win, and for users who are still in the process of bidding, it makes it easier to see what has already been tried and considered... so we merged your two threads.

I thought that the Eldorado might be offering different towers at different star levels, but wasn't sure, so to error on the side of caution i lowered the star rating in the hotel list until i had time to research it later (or a new report of this property being won at the 4* level came thru). Thanks for letting me know about the 'dual star category' and please let us know upon your return which wing/tower you're place in so that we can mark the destintion in the Hotwire Hotel List.

Thanks again... enjoy your stay. :)

[pterrell]

We keep all posts for the same stay go in the same thread as it makes it easier to see the 'sequence of events' that lead up to the win, and for users who are still in the process of bidding, it makes it easier to see what has already been tried and considered... so we merged your two threads.

I see your point, but then I tend to search just the Priceline boards to see what the trends are for a particular city. Now I know to read through the Hotwire comments as well if I want all the info.

I thought that the Eldorado might be offering different towers at different star levels, but wasn't sure, so to error on the side of caution i lowered the star rating in the hotel list until i had time to research it later (or a new report of this property being won at the 4* level came thru). Thanks for letting me know about the 'dual star category' and please let us know upon your return which wing/tower you're place in so that we can mark the destintion in the Hotwire Hotel List.

The room was a Standard - 2 Queen in the Virgina Tower. We were up on the 10th floor, which is the highest in this older tower. There are many complaints on Tripadvisor about rooms on the lower floors having no view and hearing the noise off the room. But we were checking in early at around 3:30pm and the hotel was very empty.

I was hoping to chat up the desk clerks for more info but the wife wanted to get up to the room quickly. And check out is easiest through the TV so that you can leave directly from the casino.

And there's that $3 "Resort Fee". :)

I see your updates to the pinned list and they do cover the bases well if you change the first "3.5* Eldorado" to "4* Eldorado".

And the comment under Silver Legacy about the Pepermill should be removed as the hotels are in different zones.

[thereuare]

OK, i think i have covered your suggested changes.