Priceline Hotel: 5* Las Vegas (Strip) Venetian

[Ringman]

Friday night- second of 2 nights at Venetian (saturday night still to be determined)-

Put in the $159 after numerous rebids starting at $99 over several days etc. (super bowl weekend- Saturday rates were up to $599- $635 when I got this Friday night - bid accepted on 1/29)

Check-In Date: Friday, February 4, 2005

Check-Out Date: Saturday, February 5, 2005

Hotel Name: The Venetian

3355 Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Summary of Charges

Your Offer Price: $159.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 1

Subtotal: $159.00

Taxes and Service Fees: $24.88

Total Charges: $183.88

[Ringman]

Just to finish---

The Venetian on 2/5 dropped on their site from last week, I think as high as $635- to599 - then starting Sunday it was $499 - then on Monday $399- then from Tuesday til now $299.

The PL suggested 5* price (a joke usually) was usually approx $499 (on the bid screen) but actually dropped to $251 on a couple of occasions--- at that point I was bidding low $200's - so I rebid $252 immediately--- No go!!

My wife checked in last night (Thursday) and since I had bid all the way up to $279 for the Saturday night (2/5)- and the website was now @ $299-- she went ahead and booked the third night (saturday) at the front desk for $299--

Thursday 2/3-- $99 + $18.04 (tx/fee)= $ 117.04

Friday 2/4- $159+$24.88(tx/fee)= $ 183.88

Sat (nonPL) 2/5 $299 + $27 (apprx tax)=$ 326.00

Total $626.92

Venetian online- had I booked last week (1/25) = $987

(avg'd @329/night)

[Ringman]

Sorry--- my coffee cup hit my mouse and prematurely posted the last msg!! :)

To continue--

Had I waited to bid on the Venetian website until Tuesday or Wednesday-- If I recall correctly (I didn't print it out!)- the 3 nights would have been $683.43-

($209 avg/nite + tax)-

So the lesson is-- you can save money at the Venetian-- under certain circumstances (early booking- or breaking up your nights)-

- Also we got 2 airline tickets on Hotwire- within 2 weeks of departure- ended up on AA and saved $160 by flying out of Austin instead of San Antonio (1.5 hour drive)-- total $494-

total PL/Hotwire trip = $1121.92 (pleeze don't check my math!! :)

PL vacations had a 2- night package for $1260 at the Venetian-- for thursday and Friday nite--- and other packages for 3 nites (NYNY) elsewhere were in the $1100-$1200 range-

The kicker to the story is-- I couldn't miss Thursday and Friday from work (appts etc)-- Then- while driving to the airport- I get on a conf call when the announce our company has been bought out and closed by the manufacturer and we cease sales operations as of now......

I was thinking of jumping on an airport computer (do they have public ones in Austin?) and PL'ing or Hotwiring a last- second ticket (as opposed to last minute!)-- but deferred to my basic instinct of not making kneejerk reactions!!

oh well--- I know my wife will have a blast in Vegas- she's with her mom going to the gymnastics meets- so at least she'll be out of the house whilst I clean up by home office!!!

[thereuare]

That's some story... good thing you're saving so much money with Priceline/Hotwire :)

Sorry to hear about your company's situation, sometimes such situations open new doors. Who knows, maybe your wife will hit the MegaBucks Jackpot in Vegas!

Good Luck with your current situation.