Priceline Hotel: 3* Philidelphia (Downtown) Hilton Garden Inn

[micawber]

We already did one bidding attempt using our 7 free rebids, starting at $40 and up to $72, not successful.

Wondering if it was the Saturday night only stay, we added Friday night and got up to $55, not successful. Thought we'd ask for some advice before trying again.

Sample 4* rates for that night:

Westin - $179

Marriott - $132

Park Hyatt - $169

Hyatt Penn's Landing - $205

Hilton at Penn - $139

(all from hotel web sites)

I realize this is mixing up the topics of the two boards and will go post on the HW board for consistency, but there is a 3 1/2 star center city east HW hotel listed for $63, couldn't figure out which one by amenities, are we better off grabbing that one based on our PL experience or should we wait and try again?

I will note that we need to be downtown, we are going to a party that will involve much drinking and we want to be cab distance. hence the airport area or across the river is not really an option.

Thanks for any advice.

[micawber]

Having struck out on Priceline for 7/31, I went to Hotwire to see what the selection was like. There is a 3 1/2 star in Center City East for $63, amenties listed are: restaurant, fitness center, high speed internet, laundry. This seems like a super deal but not having done this before am a little leery, and it doesn't seem like this combo has been posted about on here before. But, having read a post in the general HW forum about bad hotels I am a tiny bit concerned. Any advice or suggestions welcomed, thanks in advance for the help.

[thereuare]

We'll keep all posts in this thread for continuity. If you end up using Hotwire i'll move the thread to that section of the board.

Need to clarify a few things first....

I understand your need to be in Downtown, but the lowest price hotel you supplied a price for (the Hilton at Penn) i believe is in the University Zone and is rated 3*. Is this area and/or a 3* hotel acceptable?

I'm not sure that Hotwire hotels are 'bad', it's just that their ratings are often a bit more liberal than Priceline... so a 3.5* on Hotwire is more likely equivalent to a 3* on Priceline. So before you took the Hotwire offering at $63 (which i'm unsure of the identity) i would sooner try to first beat that with a 3* on Priceline.

If you'd like a strategy for a 3* let me know if the University zone is acceptable in addition to the Downtown zone and i'll post a strategy.

EDIT: through further research i believe the 3.5* hotel could be the Club Quarters

PS- regarding your comments about Hoboken in the Jersey City Hyatt thread... you do know that's where i live?

[micawber]

Thanks for the advice on the PL ratings vs HW. We weren't sure if it was better to go with HW or if we should just try 3* on PL

Sorry to throw that one University hotel into the list - we were just looking at EVERY hotel web site with a property in philly and I mustve overlooked that when we were putting the list together. Downtown is still preferred, University is a little too far out of the way. We would also be willing to go a little higher for 4* but not $119 range. But, it's one night and we won't be in the room that much so 3* would be fine.

p.s. I had no idea you lived in Hoboken - sorry!!! It sounded to me from another thread like you were from out of town, based on your comments which I mustve misinterpreted. If it makes you feel any better I was thinking, "Wow, what a super-knowledgable visitor to the area"

also, sorry for the multiple posts, was trying to be orderly. thanks very very much for your help.

[thereuare]

No need to apoligize about not knowing i was from Hoboken, i just mention it as i always enjoy talking about the 'boken (as do most people that used to live here).

So i'm not really clear, did you want to wait to try a 4* again (when can you bid again) or go for a 3*?

[micawber]

Sorry, late and rambling. Let's just go for the 3* at this point since the 4* are not a bargain & we're only there for one night and barely in the room. :) thanks again.

[thereuare]

Only 2 re-bids available at the 3* level, i start by trying:

Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $55.

If this misses i'd suspect that we're very close and could have success in the next round.

Good Luck.

[micawber]

Hit it the first time at $45 and got the Hilton Garden Inn:

Your Offer Price: $45.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 1

Subtotal: $45.00

Taxes & Service Fees:

$12.51

Total Charges: $57.51

I'm pretty sure my boyfriend started from the savingsbarn.com link. Thanks for your help.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win.

Hope the location works out well for your needs.

Enjoy the party!

[micawber]

back, and added a review to the review forum. thanks again!