Priceline Hotel: 2* Phoenix (Mesa) Homestead Studio Suites

[thesqueegeekid]

Zone: Mesa

1920 West Isabella Avenue

Mesa, Arizona 85202

480-752-2266

Your Offer Price: $25.00

Number of Rooms: 4

Number of Nights: 4

Subtotal: $400.00

Taxes & Service Fees: $61.60

Total Charges: $461.60

Whew!!! :)

I just won 16 rooms on four bids (I used different names for each bid and my fourth bid was rejected asking for another credit card ... I guess, my CC company got suspicious about the consecutive charges of $461.60).

I had to get enough rooms and (hopefully) at the same place ... these are for my wedding guests.

I went to many local hotels and the rates were crazy ... cheapest was $50 for a Comfort Inn owned by a friend of the family. Hotels kept saying "sorry, it's peak season".

I did try PL for resorts up to $52 (wishfull thinking), 3*'s up to $40 and 2.5*'s up to $35 ... the only acceptable zones were Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, or PHX ... I tried Phoenix North and Scottsdale for the fun of it ... but no bites at all.

I had already bid 2 stars in a couple zones up to $30 over the past week ... so, I had some free rebids to keep bidding the 2 star level.

Hotwire showed a 3 star (Holiday Inn Mesa) ... for $45 for 4 rooms ... however, I was too worried about being able to get more.

My fiance's family lives in Chandler and the reception (Jan 30th) is in Mesa so the location of this hotel couldn't be more perfect ... although, quality-wise, I would have hoped for something better. I need to list the hotel on the invitations for the "paid for" guests ... so, this will have to do and the price savings .... WOW ... I :) Priceline!!!

Homestead's actually have unique hotel-specific information on the acceptance screen ... even though they list "queen studio" ... the hotels only have a couple of them and they are not even listed on their website so, most of my guests should get their standard suites. I will pop over to the hotel today to double check.

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A note about Homestead Studio Suites:

Homestead provides a studio room with one queen size bed complete with fully equipped kitchen. Requests for bed type changes or other upgrades may result in a nominal fee upon check in. Other amenities include; a workspace with computer data port, voicemail and unlimited local telephone calls for only $1 per stay. There is also an iron and ironing board in each room and a guest laundry is conveniently located in the hotel. To respect your privacy, Homestead provides housekeeping services on a twice-weekly basis for stays of seven nights or more. For stays of four to six nights, a mid-week refresh service is provided. For guests staying 3 nights or less, fresh towels and linens are available upon request at the front desk, and additional housekeeping services are available for a nominal fee. Pets are welcome at most locations but must be supervised at all times. For more information on the pet policy and non-refundable fee, contact the hotel directly.

Homestead front desk staffing in the evening varies by location. In the event it is necessary to check-in after the hotel's posted front desk hours, you may do so through the hotel's Night Service Agent on duty. Instructions are provided for after-hours check-in at the hotel.

Important Note: A picture ID is required upon check-in at all Homestead Studio Suites.

[thereuare]

16 rooms is certainly an accomplishment and impressive! However, it may seem like small potatoes once you get closer to the wedding date... you may actually start to obsess about things like linen color and table cloth length! :) Just remember to keep it all in perspective and the important thing is that you and your wife fiance are celebrating this event with friends and family.

Congratulations once again and good luck with the upcoming nuptuals.

[thesqueegeekid]

Well, theres times to be cheap and times not to be...

I just cancelled my requests ... Priceline was very helpful and refunded without any fuss.

I asked her flat out after my refunds were done ... why she could cancel these ... she said they have a list of particular hotels which have limited bedding/service issues that can be canceled ... very interesting!!!

I am pasting the email I sent below.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I need your help!!!

I booked these rooms for my wedding guests. The hotel unlike "normal"

hotels does not provide daily cleaning/bed making ... my guests (as you

can imagine) will hardly accept these ... I mean, how do I explain this

to them ... you are away on holiday and have to make your own bed?

Plus,

how do I make two men sleep together in the single queen size bed. Any

other two star "normal" hotel (like the ones listed in your 2 star

examples La Quinta, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn etc.) offer two beds as

an option .. or at least one large king AND I have booked countless

Priceline hotels ... not once have I had to make my own bed ... it

defeats the purpose of paying for a hotel.

Please help. This is clearly unacceptable.

[thesqueegeekid]

16 rooms is certainly an accomplishment and impressive!

Thanks thereuare, I wonder if I can do it again with a better quality hotel ... I will have to hit the street and try and make a deal directly with a hotel.

[thereuare]

Maybe time to reconsider the 3* on Hotwire?

[bbbb]

16 rooms is certainly an accomplishment and impressive!

Thanks thereuare, I wonder if I can do it again with a better quality hotel ... I will have to hit the street and try and make a deal directly with a hotel.

I would keep trying 3* mesa,the Hilton might give PL some rooms sooner or later.Bidding 2.5* you might catch the CourtYard there by the mesa Hilton.

[thesqueegeekid]

Thanks for the advice ... worse case scenario, having 8 rooms split between two nice hotels would work.

I went to visit the Hilton ... they have a block booked for the Friday night... hopefully, some of those will open up.

[thesqueegeekid]

I would keep trying 3* mesa,the Hilton might give PL some rooms sooner or later.Bidding 2.5* you might catch the CourtYard

[st2327]

Thank you squeegeekid for this posting! As a result, I was able to cancel Homestead Suites in Phoenix for the same reason. Priceline turned my first request down but when I pasted your posting on my second attempt they refunded! Just proves how valuable this great site is!!!

[thesqueegeekid]

:)

aaahhhhhhh we're such a family here!!!

[thesqueegeekid]

Update:

I just scored some rooms at the Marriott in Mesa for $42. Unfortunately, they are not available for Thurs. Jan 27th .... so, I may have to move guests after their first night elsewhere.