Priceline Hotel: 2 1/2* Amerisuites - Richmond - Innsbrook zone

[Phaelon56]

My GF will be in the area for business several times in the upcoming couple months. Checked the usual suspects for rates. She didn't want to risk anything under 2 1/2* and needed to be in either the Glen Allen or Innsbrook zones. Hotwire showed $52 for suites style property in the area and Hotels.com had the Amerisuites she was hoping for at $49.95 per night (except Thursday night was $10 more). WE needed five nights - Sunday through Thursday.

Bid History -

Bid Innsbrook zone for $30 - rejected.

Added South for rebid at $36 - rejected.

Added Glen Allen and raised to $40 - rejected.

Decided to try for 4* at $50 - rejected.

Split bid. Bid for first two nights at $36 - won the bid!

Your Offer Price: $36.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 2

Subtotal: $72.00

Taxes: $7.76

Processing Fee: $5.95

Total Charges: $85.71

Now started new bid process for last three nights.

We went through the same iterations as first bid process but

started at $40 and went to $45. No success.

Went back to Hotels.com and bought the last three nights

Reservation Details

April 29, 2003 USD $ 59.95

April 30, 2003 USD $ 49.95

May 01, 2003 USD $ 49.95

Taxes/Fees USD $25.15

TOTAL USD $185.00

She's okay with this - gets to stay in the same property for the entire

week and it's still cheaper than Hotwire and way cheaper than Amerisuites

lowest direct rate of $108 per night.

Anyone familiar with the hotel and occupancy tax rates in this area? I'm curious to know

how much of a service charge Hotels.com is building into their "Taxes/Fees" .

[thereuare]

Thanks for your detailed post... and it is an prime example of how sometimes it pays to be creative and mix/match products!

I'm told the tax rate in this area is 12.5%

[Phaelon56]

Thanks for that info. Yes.... that would make the service fee for Hotels.com come in at about $6 - roughly the same as PL.

She may have to do this stay again a few times before she finds long term accomodatiosn for her regular visits. Will post back if we're successful but when the overal bill is averaged out for this visit, it's only a few $$ less than a one week rental at Extended Stay Studio Plus. I'm not crazy about the regular Extended Stay proeprties but the Studio Plus is more similar to a Summerfield Suites or Residence Inn. Just curious.... have you ever seen Extended Stay properties of any kind appear on winning PL or HW bids?

[thereuare]

I believe i have seen extended stay properties come up before, but keep in mind most of them do NOT offer daily maid service, so that would confine them to the lower star levels.