Hotwire Hotel: 3* Banff Ptarmigan Inn

[GM Mike]

This is a Friday night stay. Seems like there is more availability on Friday than Saturday, in general, for this weekend.

Have bid up to $65 3.5* and $40 3*. Will be slowly working my way up.

[thereuare]

Are you bidding for both nites or just one?

Keep us updated and let us know if we can be of help along the way.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[GM Mike]

Just the one night. For the other, we have a negotiated rate (wedding) of $129 at the designated post-wedding-gathering hotel.

I'm open to any suggestions but based on what everyone says it's a matter of slugging it out until we hit. If it gets too expensive, we may stay in Canmore or Calgary for the night.

[thereuare]

With the 'known' 3* hotels in this zone priced at $163 and $136 per nite, what is your maximum bid? How much is "too high" where it begins to pay to look at neighboring zones?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[GM Mike]

You raise a good point. Don't really know yet what price would have us moving to Canmore.

Since I've still got time, I think I'll stop at $80 for now and ride it out until late July.

[GM Mike]

Up to $67 3.5* and $45 3* tonight.

[GM Mike]

No takers up to $70 3.5* and $50 3*.

I may be too early on this. Looking on hotwire on other Fridays, it looks like the higher rated hotels are loading inventory about 6 weeks out.

Depending on my impatience, I might take a break now for two or three weeks.

[thereuare]

I wouldn't rush it... have you checked if the hotel will extend the wedding rate an additional nite? (and is it refundable?) At least this way you'll know your price to beat and also can factor in how much you would need to save to make not changing hotels worthwhile.

[GM Mike]

We're getting $129 for the Saturday night. We can add Friday for $234... My reaction to reading that: :)

And actually, as it turns out, that really IS a discount for that property.

I'd rather stay in Calgary than pay $234. It's not my wedding...

Good thought tho, thanks for putting it out there. Just not going to happen this time.

[GM Mike]

Availability hasn't changed much so I've been bidding every week or so up to $67 or $70 on 3.5* in Banff. Still about 5 weeks out.

[GM Mike]

Starting to inch up now... 3.5* $72 and 3* $52...

The "Inns of Banff" is probably the $86 choice on hotwire right now. That would be ok. There are also lots of places available around $110 direct booking.

[turboguy]

I just put in a bid on PL @ $85 on 3* in Banff region only for 2 nights Aug 15 - 17. Failed.

[GM Mike]

I'm up to $74/$54 now. I've got over 3 weeks left, so my plan is to inch up $2 a day, unless HOTWIRE's inventory changes in a significant way.

turboguy, what did you end up doing for a backup plan? If you're still bidding, you should start your own thread so folks can help...

[turboguy]

I'm up to $74/$54 now. I've got over 3 weeks left, so my plan is to inch up $2 a day, unless hotwire's inventory changes in a significant way.

turboguy, what did you end up doing for a backup plan? If you're still bidding, you should start your own thread so folks can help...

I'm still bidding. I still have a little over a week left so there's lots of time. I'm not really worried (yet??) because Hotwire, Canmore (looks like $65 for Radisson is very likely), and even Expedia are my fallback plans.

[GM Mike]

I'm up to $90 3.5* and $70 3*. Hotwire has consistently had what looks like Inns of Banff for $86-90 so I won't be bidding much higher.

[thereuare]

If you're using HOTWIRE has a 'back-up' just keep in mind that offer can disappear at any time, so i'd make sure you have an alternate back-up as well if you don't lock something in.

[GM Mike]

There is now a 3* for $97 on HOTWIRE (restaurant, internet) that doesn't match anything reported. The 2.5* is still there ($90).

Today I bid on PRICELINE, 3.5* $98 and 3* $78. Got a counteroffer on the 3* for $100.

4 more bidding days left...

[thereuare]

If you change your search to 2adults/2children a 3* at the same $97 price appears with:

Amenities: Shuttle, Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Golf, Spa

This is a match for the Banff Caribou Lodge so that would be my best guess, and given the same price as the 2adults/0chidren search, i'll speculate that this may be the same hotel your seeing on that search but with some amenities 'missing'. If you're interested in trying for this property i would do so as 2adults/2children since its a stronger match based upon previous reports.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and continue to keep us updated.

[GM Mike]

Wow, nice pick!

That's definitely the "risky" backup plan now.

[GM Mike]

Ok, we have a resolution...

Availability changed, now the 3* showing was:

$106 for 2 adults

Fitness Center

Restaurant

Golf Nearby

Spa

Booked it using the betterbidding HOTWIRE link, it's the

Banff Ptarmigan Inn

337 Banff Ave.,

Banff, AB, T1L 1B7

Phone:(403) 762-2207

Hotel rate per night - Hotwire hot Rate: $106.00

Nights: 1

Rooms: 1

Subtotal: $106.00

Tax recovery charges and fees: $19.11

Total price: $125.11

It's new for the hotel list but I was pretty sure about it, due to the tripadvisor info. It has mostly good reviews and is in a good location, so I'm sure it'll be fine. (I had a $10 coupon, so it was roughly the same as a $98 priceline bid.)

Previously bid up to $110 3.5* and $90 3* on priceline.

[yellowdog]

Congratulations on your success!

Thank you for sharing your result with the board and using our HOTWIRE link to book this :)

Also thanx for the addition for this new property to the BetterBidding Hotwire Hotel List

Great to see that everything worked out well for you.

Have a nice stay.

Yellowdog.

[GM Mike]

To follow up, Banff was awesome and the Ptarmigan was better than expected. Perfect location right in downtown Banff and excellent beds. Much better than the beds in the hotel for the second night for the wedding (Buffalo Mountain Lodge - "like covering a park bench with a sheet")...

I would definitely pick this hotel on hotwire before bidding on priceline. The Juniper Hotel that's been coming up on priceline for 3* is way outside of town by the highway. It's definitely worth it to stay downtown.