Hotwire Hotel: 2.5* Tallahassee (Downtown - FSU) La Quinta South

[fsuguy]

Hi

I'm new to BetterBidding and I have never used Priceline/Hotwire before. I have been reading some of the posts and I would appreciate any assistance.

Looking for 9/30/04 for 1 night in Tallahasee, FL

Would like to bid Priclenie for 3* hoping to get DoubleTree; also would consider 2.5*(Marriot Courtyard) but concerned about sleep accomodations such as nunmber of beds. What do you suggest as bidding strategy and price range.

Being Parent's weekend at FSU, already have prior reservation for 10/1/04 for 2 nights utilizing HHonor points at DoubleTree. Also, I am holding alternative reservation at Best Western for 9/30/04 at $53 + tax.

Hoping for a quick response as the date is near.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[thereuare]

First please go to both Priceline and Hotwire and let us know the zone(s) within Tallahasse that you are willing to accept, then we'll be able to advise on price (note: Priceline and Hotwire often use different zones and descriptions, so please check both sites).

Are you looking to beat the $53 price at the Best Western that you have as a back-up, or are you also interested in upgrading the quality of your hotel if you were able to do so for more than $53.

[fsuguy]

I'm sorry, the zone in both Priceline and Hotwire are the Downtown Zone.

I'm hoping to upgrade the quality of the hotel but and stay under the $53 + tax (roughly $59 total)

[fsuguy]

I would definitely be happy with the Dowtown Zone 2.5* (hopefully the Marriot Courtyard) at $35 +$10(taxes & fees) as mentioned in other posts I've seen online.

[thereuare]

There doesn't appear to be any 3* bidding in all of Tallahassee so unless the Doubletree is a 2.5* they may not participate with priceline in this area.

Priceline doesn't have a 'Downtown' zone... from what i know of th erea do you mean the Unversity - State Capitol zone?

You have one RE-BID ZONE when bidding at the 2.5* level, if you're not sure how re-bidding works please read that link and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board.

Assuming that is the zone you want, this is how i would proceed, only bidding up to $47 to account for Priceline's approximate $6 fee:

Select 2.5* and the University/Capitol zone...

Bid $43, if rejected add re-bid zone and...

Bid $47.

Given the high demand dates i'm doubtful you'll have success, but the above is how i would proceed.

[fsuguy]

Hotwire currently has a 2.5* that shows up using Mozilla at $39 +$10 for the Downtown - Florida State University Zone. Is this most likely the La Quinta?

This is where I was thinking of starting to bid for Priceline's 2.5* or is this the wrong strategy?

The only reason I mentioned the DoubleTree was that I've seen it in older posts online as a 3* for the University - State Capitol Zone

[thereuare]

The DoubleTree win was on Hotwire and their rating system is sometimes/often different than Priceline's.

To guess what the 2.5* you're seeing on Hotwire is you'll need to supply the amenities that Hotwire shows to describe. I haven't looked for this specific area, but Priceline rates most La Quinta hotels as 2* properties. So comparing the two as you have is not really an apples-to-apples comparison.

Let us know how it goes.

[fsuguy]

Hotwire has a 2.5* listed with only two ammenities (Pool + Complimentary Breakfast) at $39 for the Downtown - Florida State University. It also shows a 3* in the same zone with the only the same two amenities for $92.

Any clue as to what the 2.5* maybe?

[thereuare]

Too many low(er) star rated hotels in the area to make a legitimate educated guess.... the amenities don't give much to go on.

[fsuguy]

Just saw a Hotline price of $36 + 10.95(fees) for 2.5* Tallahassee Dowtown- Florida State University Zone and grabbed it. It was the La Quinta Tallahassee South.

By the way there are different prices using Mozilla/Firefox and IExplorer but they seem to alternate between the two. The lower price was observed this time on IExplorer.

I will post all info. on the Hotline Board.

Thanks for all your input.

[fsuguy]

Here's another one to add to the FL list! 2.5* La Quinta Inn South in Tallahassee, downtown (university area) for $36 for 9/30/04 for 1 night. With taxes, etc., total is $46.95. Cheapest rate (w/AAA discount) on the site is $58.01.

Amenities listed were complimentary continental breakfast & pool.

For some reason Hotwire has this site listed as 2.5* rather than most La Quintas at 2* As a reference AAA has this location rated as 3 Diamonds.

I had this location reserved prior to finding Hotline price at the above AAA rate as an alternate to Priceline. But, didn't even try Priceline as the rate that came up using IExplorer was good and I had an idea that this might be the same hotel.

Also, I wanted to specify 4 adults which will hopefully push me into a room with 2 double beds.

Another note, I noticed that different prices come up on Mozilla/Firefox vs IExplorer but they seem to alternate.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the reported win and adding to our constantly growing lists!

The different prices depending upon browser issue is discussed in more detail here: DIFFERENT HOTWIRE RATES.

Enjoy your stay... go blue, uhh... i mean 'noles!

[runNgun]

the LaQuinta's in Tallahassee are all 2.5* according to Hotwire. This happened about 2 months ago. Just do a car&hotel package and you'll see the 3* in the DT zone is the Quality Inn and Suites and the 3*'s in the North zone are the Ramada (with a shuttle icon) and the Holiday Inn (w/o shuttle).