The day we got home from our Embassy Suites/birthday celebration (the day we came home to the blown water heater), my brother-in-law called from Omaha saying they were at a party and wanted to spend that night. Could I get them a deal on a room? Heck yeah! How about this? (as posted on better bidding.com:
Just helped a relative get a last minute room for tomorrow night in Omaha. Even though there were 4 re-bid zones available, I suggested we start the bidding process at $45, since regular rates were looking pretty high, and there would be no re-bidding in 24 hours.
First bid was accepted for: Courtyard By Marriott Omaha Downtown 4/19.
$45
Taxes & fees: $15.32
Total: $60.32
Lowest rate on Courtyard's website was $169
(Found out later that the hotel was very nice...they were very pleased!)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Then the hot water heater blew
Right before our trip to Omaha/Sioux Falls, our water heater went out. So we did this: (as posted on Trip Advisor).
We "won" this hotel on Priceline at 8:00 at night, for that same night. (thanks to our water heater busting), for just $31. (The lowest price on the hotel's website for the same night was $129). Since we live in this area, we knew the Brownstone is old. Very old. So our expectations were for an old Holiday Inn 3-star. And that's exactly what we got. We also knew we would have free parking, which is always a plus, and LOOK free internet...grab the laptops and let's go!
The lobby of this hotel really needs a major overhaul, as it looks ancient. Feels ancient. Is ancient. I have heard through local gossip that the whole hotel is due for an overhaul in a year or so. It really does need updating.
Check-in was cordial. I asked if a King might be available. Type type type. Would the first floor be okay? Sure.
The room was exactly what one would expect from a 3-star Holiday Inn that's very old. Very okay. Clean. Is there hot water? Yes. We're happy. We both pull out laptops to utilize the free internet. To make a long story short...it never worked. For either of us. Not at night. Not in the morning. If we were staying there on business, this would not have made us happy.
Okay, I'll read then. Tried to turn on the light on my side of the bed. It won't turn on. Bulb perhaps? No. That's not the problem. Come to find out, it wasn't plugged in, because there isn't an outlet for it to plug into! Moral of this story? If you're by yourself, or on the left side of the bed, no problem. Right side? Bring a flashlight.
The bed was okay. Bathroom clean. Two bars of soap and one bottle of "Clean" shampoo/conditioner (that was the name of it)...NOT conditioner, however. It's shampoo. Just like most hotels, if you want real conditioner, bring your own. Shower pressure is okay and water was nice and hot. Just what we wanted!
In the morning, there was a USA Today at our door which is a nice touch. We did not eat breakfast at the hotel, but I will tell you that if you are staying at the hotel for lunch or dinner, and you like pizza, Ledo's is GREAT. This is not just a local hotel hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Ledo's is a chain. Perhaps you remember Oprah's show a few years ago, where her friend Gayle searched the country for the best pizza? Well, Ledo's was on her top list, and for good reason. It's different in that it is square, not round, but very tasty! We crave it sometimes, and go there when we do.
Now for some local tips...Besides being right by NCSU, if you go right out of the parking lot on Hillsborough Street, and stay to the right when the road bears off onto Morgan, you will find (on the right), Irregardless Cafe, which is a one-of-a-kind restaurant that is very good, and if you're a vegetarian, there are always vegetarian and vegan specialties as well as items for meat-lovers. Right past Irregardless is Goodnight's Comedy Club. They bring top talent to town. It can be a very fun place, depending on who is playing! There's a very casual restaurant in the basement called "Old Bar", and the top floor, called "The Grille" is fancier and more expensive.
If that doesn't sound good, go past Goodnight's, and turn left onto Glenwood Avenue. This brings you to a part of town called "Glenwood South". There are lots of restaurants, shops, and some art galleries here. Want Thai? Try Thaiphoon Bistro. Casual sports bar with a good happy hour and good food? Try Tobacco Road. Or High Five (where everything on the menu is $5). There are coffee shops, a Dunkin Donuts. Bogart's is a very good restaurant. So is Red Room for tapas. 518 West, if you want some homemade pasta. The list goes on and on.
Want to shop? At the Brownstone you are very close to Cameron Village. An outdoor shopping center, with a variety of shops, plus some interesting restaurants including "Flying Biscuit Cafe", "Carolina Cafe & Bakery", "Noodles & Company", "Cameron Bar & Grille", and others. From the hotel, Cameron Village is a couple blocks in front of it.
Now, if you go left out of the hotel, you'll be on the main part of Hillsborough Street. Best restaurant choices, imo are Porter's and Fraziers. Porter's being the more casual and less expensive of the two. Both are very good. Player's Retreat is an old Raleigh standard that is known for doing its' part to be Green. (also known for good food and good prices). Parking on Hillsborough Street is usually a problem, and if you park in the wrong placed you are very likely to get towed. Better off walking, if you're going left out of the Brownstone. To the right, you might want to drive.
You are also very close to Downtown Raleigh, which is full of great restaurants & entertainment. Raleigh isn't the sleepy Southern town it used to be. It is wide awake now. Enjoy!
We "won" this hotel on Priceline at 8:00 at night, for that same night. (thanks to our water heater busting), for just $31. (The lowest price on the hotel's website for the same night was $129). Since we live in this area, we knew the Brownstone is old. Very old. So our expectations were for an old Holiday Inn 3-star. And that's exactly what we got. We also knew we would have free parking, which is always a plus, and LOOK free internet...grab the laptops and let's go!
The lobby of this hotel really needs a major overhaul, as it looks ancient. Feels ancient. Is ancient. I have heard through local gossip that the whole hotel is due for an overhaul in a year or so. It really does need updating.
Check-in was cordial. I asked if a King might be available. Type type type. Would the first floor be okay? Sure.
The room was exactly what one would expect from a 3-star Holiday Inn that's very old. Very okay. Clean. Is there hot water? Yes. We're happy. We both pull out laptops to utilize the free internet. To make a long story short...it never worked. For either of us. Not at night. Not in the morning. If we were staying there on business, this would not have made us happy.
Okay, I'll read then. Tried to turn on the light on my side of the bed. It won't turn on. Bulb perhaps? No. That's not the problem. Come to find out, it wasn't plugged in, because there isn't an outlet for it to plug into! Moral of this story? If you're by yourself, or on the left side of the bed, no problem. Right side? Bring a flashlight.
The bed was okay. Bathroom clean. Two bars of soap and one bottle of "Clean" shampoo/conditioner (that was the name of it)...NOT conditioner, however. It's shampoo. Just like most hotels, if you want real conditioner, bring your own. Shower pressure is okay and water was nice and hot. Just what we wanted!
In the morning, there was a USA Today at our door which is a nice touch. We did not eat breakfast at the hotel, but I will tell you that if you are staying at the hotel for lunch or dinner, and you like pizza, Ledo's is GREAT. This is not just a local hotel hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Ledo's is a chain. Perhaps you remember Oprah's show a few years ago, where her friend Gayle searched the country for the best pizza? Well, Ledo's was on her top list, and for good reason. It's different in that it is square, not round, but very tasty! We crave it sometimes, and go there when we do.
Now for some local tips...Besides being right by NCSU, if you go right out of the parking lot on Hillsborough Street, and stay to the right when the road bears off onto Morgan, you will find (on the right), Irregardless Cafe, which is a one-of-a-kind restaurant that is very good, and if you're a vegetarian, there are always vegetarian and vegan specialties as well as items for meat-lovers. Right past Irregardless is Goodnight's Comedy Club. They bring top talent to town. It can be a very fun place, depending on who is playing! There's a very casual restaurant in the basement called "Old Bar", and the top floor, called "The Grille" is fancier and more expensive.
If that doesn't sound good, go past Goodnight's, and turn left onto Glenwood Avenue. This brings you to a part of town called "Glenwood South". There are lots of restaurants, shops, and some art galleries here. Want Thai? Try Thaiphoon Bistro. Casual sports bar with a good happy hour and good food? Try Tobacco Road. Or High Five (where everything on the menu is $5). There are coffee shops, a Dunkin Donuts. Bogart's is a very good restaurant. So is Red Room for tapas. 518 West, if you want some homemade pasta. The list goes on and on.
Want to shop? At the Brownstone you are very close to Cameron Village. An outdoor shopping center, with a variety of shops, plus some interesting restaurants including "Flying Biscuit Cafe", "Carolina Cafe & Bakery", "Noodles & Company", "Cameron Bar & Grille", and others. From the hotel, Cameron Village is a couple blocks in front of it.
Now, if you go left out of the hotel, you'll be on the main part of Hillsborough Street. Best restaurant choices, imo are Porter's and Fraziers. Porter's being the more casual and less expensive of the two. Both are very good. Player's Retreat is an old Raleigh standard that is known for doing its' part to be Green. (also known for good food and good prices). Parking on Hillsborough Street is usually a problem, and if you park in the wrong placed you are very likely to get towed. Better off walking, if you're going left out of the Brownstone. To the right, you might want to drive.
You are also very close to Downtown Raleigh, which is full of great restaurants & entertainment. Raleigh isn't the sleepy Southern town it used to be. It is wide awake now. Enjoy!
So much since the last post
Inspired by the Embassy Suites deal I got for friends, and with my husband's birthday to celebrate, I did this: (as posted on Trip Advisor)
It was my husband's birthday and I chose the Embassy Suites/Crabtree "American Idol" package for $114 per night. Note: the lowest price available was $109, but I decided the chance to win a trip to Hollywood was worth the extra five bucks, plus two Diet Cokes were supposed to be included in the package. How exciting is that? :)
I am a Priceline gal. Most of our hotel deals are Priceline. I did try to get a deal, but no 4-star was biting. The next best deal to me, was Embassy Suites. If one properly utilizes the manager's reception and full-cooked-to-order breakfast, than this is a great deal, imho.
I kidnapped my husband for our retreat, and we checked in early afternoon. Check-in was friendly. They were out of diet cokes, but offered to send them up to our room. Up we went to our 6th floor suite. How wonderful to see that they have renovated the room since our last stay in 2007! It is a huge improvement. The furniture is much more contemporary looking. Bed is comfy.
Now here's the biggest thing we learned...Raleigh is really a GIRL. I don't know why, but I always assumed Raleigh (the bird in the lobby) was a boy. At check-in we learned "he" is really a "she". Now most of you could care less, and I understand, but Raleigh has been around since I can remember, and I've been talking to him (her) for so many years, and that's okay, but now I'll reconsider how I talk to her. We get a kick out of trying to talk to Raleigh (speak softly, and still be ignored...but walk by Raleigh without saying anything at all and you might be spoken to)...anyway...whatever you do, DON'T be an energetic kid. At breakfast, we watched Raleigh pretend to sleep whenever an active kid approached. Kid would leave, and Raleigh would suddenly be wide awake. I know, this is all really irrelevant to the hotel's amenities, yet, to me it's all part of the hotel's charm.
One of the best features of this hotel is still LOCATION. Directly across from Crabtree Valley Mall. Besides shopping, look for two incredibly happy hours across the street: McCormick & Schmicks and Brio, both have great happy hours that start before the manager's 5:30-7:30 reception at the hotel. Do enjoy the reception, as it includes beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks, chips & salsa. It is crowded. This is when you find out just how many people are staying in the hotel. How many kid's basketball teams.
Service was excellent, despite the huge crowds. We made sure to tip well for the great service.
Despite the full hotel, we found the night to be a quiet one. I don't know if we just got lucky, or if the design of the hotel (with bedrooms in the back of the atrium-style hotel) were the charm, but we found it to be quiet. Our diet cokes never did get delivered. No big deal. We got them on check-out.
Breakfast: 7-10am is a full cooked-to-order breakfast. GOOD. Be prepared for crowds. So have a strategy & be patient.
We enjoyed wonderful omelets, pancakes, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and more. Then went back to the room and watched a movie on HBO before we checked out.
It was my husband's birthday and I chose the Embassy Suites/Crabtree "American Idol" package for $114 per night. Note: the lowest price available was $109, but I decided the chance to win a trip to Hollywood was worth the extra five bucks, plus two Diet Cokes were supposed to be included in the package. How exciting is that? :)
I am a Priceline gal. Most of our hotel deals are Priceline. I did try to get a deal, but no 4-star was biting. The next best deal to me, was Embassy Suites. If one properly utilizes the manager's reception and full-cooked-to-order breakfast, than this is a great deal, imho.
I kidnapped my husband for our retreat, and we checked in early afternoon. Check-in was friendly. They were out of diet cokes, but offered to send them up to our room. Up we went to our 6th floor suite. How wonderful to see that they have renovated the room since our last stay in 2007! It is a huge improvement. The furniture is much more contemporary looking. Bed is comfy.
Now here's the biggest thing we learned...Raleigh is really a GIRL. I don't know why, but I always assumed Raleigh (the bird in the lobby) was a boy. At check-in we learned "he" is really a "she". Now most of you could care less, and I understand, but Raleigh has been around since I can remember, and I've been talking to him (her) for so many years, and that's okay, but now I'll reconsider how I talk to her. We get a kick out of trying to talk to Raleigh (speak softly, and still be ignored...but walk by Raleigh without saying anything at all and you might be spoken to)...anyway...whatever you do, DON'T be an energetic kid. At breakfast, we watched Raleigh pretend to sleep whenever an active kid approached. Kid would leave, and Raleigh would suddenly be wide awake. I know, this is all really irrelevant to the hotel's amenities, yet, to me it's all part of the hotel's charm.
One of the best features of this hotel is still LOCATION. Directly across from Crabtree Valley Mall. Besides shopping, look for two incredibly happy hours across the street: McCormick & Schmicks and Brio, both have great happy hours that start before the manager's 5:30-7:30 reception at the hotel. Do enjoy the reception, as it includes beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks, chips & salsa. It is crowded. This is when you find out just how many people are staying in the hotel. How many kid's basketball teams.
Service was excellent, despite the huge crowds. We made sure to tip well for the great service.
Despite the full hotel, we found the night to be a quiet one. I don't know if we just got lucky, or if the design of the hotel (with bedrooms in the back of the atrium-style hotel) were the charm, but we found it to be quiet. Our diet cokes never did get delivered. No big deal. We got them on check-out.
Breakfast: 7-10am is a full cooked-to-order breakfast. GOOD. Be prepared for crowds. So have a strategy & be patient.
We enjoyed wonderful omelets, pancakes, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and more. Then went back to the room and watched a movie on HBO before we checked out.
Monday, April 13, 2009
The reason for that suggestion
When I was looking at hotels for them, there was a comparable suite that was a Hyatt Place for $113 per night. However, that didn't include anything else.
Compare that to $109 per night that included a manager's reception (FREE BOOZE), and a fully-cooked breakfast for each person (worth $10 per person, perhaps?)...I made it clear to them that this was a really good deal IF they made good use of the manager's reception and the breakfast. Still not a bad deal if they didn't, but especially good if they did. Say you have $20 worth of drinks and snacks at the reception, and even just $30 worth of breakfast...thus the room rate becomes $59 for FOUR...and a suite, with a separate pull-out couch. PERFECT for the teenage boy that doesn't want to touch another family member.
Note: Embassy Suites can be much more expensive. It just depends on the timing and the town. But it's often worth looking into.
Compare that to $109 per night that included a manager's reception (FREE BOOZE), and a fully-cooked breakfast for each person (worth $10 per person, perhaps?)...I made it clear to them that this was a really good deal IF they made good use of the manager's reception and the breakfast. Still not a bad deal if they didn't, but especially good if they did. Say you have $20 worth of drinks and snacks at the reception, and even just $30 worth of breakfast...thus the room rate becomes $59 for FOUR...and a suite, with a separate pull-out couch. PERFECT for the teenage boy that doesn't want to touch another family member.
Note: Embassy Suites can be much more expensive. It just depends on the timing and the town. But it's often worth looking into.
See-I CAN recommend something other than Priceline!
So, Saturday morning I get up and check my email. There's an email from a friend saying they would like to stay in Columbia, SC Sunday night. Family of 4. Visiting USC. Can I find them a good deal on a hotel? Uh, I don't know, but I'll try! Do some looking, and am not feeling the hotwire nor priceline thing for this area, considering they are a family of 4, with older children. Remembering back to when my boys were that age, the thing to look at, imo, was suites. Boys that age do not want to sleep in a bed together. Mine would curl up on the floor, in the bathtub, on a luggage stand...ANYthing first!
My suggestion, after much searching, to the family was: Embassy Suites, Columbia SC.
My suggestion, after much searching, to the family was: Embassy Suites, Columbia SC.
| Rate per night: | 109.00 USD | ||
| Total for Stay per Room: | |||
| Rate | 109.00 USD | ||
| Taxes | 11.99 USD | ||
| Total | 120.99 USD | ||
| Total for Stay: | 120.99 USD | ||
Rental Car Games
This was really weird. Tried for a few days to get a rental car deal in Omaha. I knew from past experience that it was unlikely that the deals would get better the closer to day of departure, as had happened in other cities.
Finally got this, (as posted on better bidding.com):
... I've been bidding for awhile now, particularly on compacts, and haven't gotten a win. Previously I had gone up to $17 for a compact. Oddly enough, I bid $18 for a compact first. Got rejected. Changed it to a mid-size and it got accepted. I see here that someone got a mid-size for $15 per day, so now I don't know if I could've done better leaving the compact out of the equation?
Your Offer Price: $18.00 (per day)
Total Rental Days: 5 days
Subtotal: $90.00
Taxes and Fees: $38.40
Total Charges: $128.40
Lowest Published Price: $344.99
Total Savings:* $216.59 (You saved 63%)
The thing to remember here is to keep in mind WHERE you're bidding. In hindsight, I remember that having gotten a rental car in Omaha before, we were offered a choice of TWO cars for compacts. Therefore, it's not crazy that a mid-size would be accepted when a compact would not. It's all about supply and demand.
I will say that I had bid this same bid a couple times and it had been rejected. Notably: this changed exactly two weeks before departure. Perhaps would've even gone done more a week before? That theory was tested last trip and it did not, for Omaha. It HAS for other cities. So, it really just depends.
It's all a GAME. A fun, fun game.
Finally got this, (as posted on better bidding.com):
... I've been bidding for awhile now, particularly on compacts, and haven't gotten a win. Previously I had gone up to $17 for a compact. Oddly enough, I bid $18 for a compact first. Got rejected. Changed it to a mid-size and it got accepted. I see here that someone got a mid-size for $15 per day, so now I don't know if I could've done better leaving the compact out of the equation?
Your Offer Price: $18.00 (per day)
Total Rental Days: 5 days
Subtotal: $90.00
Taxes and Fees: $38.40
Total Charges: $128.40
Lowest Published Price: $344.99
Total Savings:* $216.59 (You saved 63%)
The thing to remember here is to keep in mind WHERE you're bidding. In hindsight, I remember that having gotten a rental car in Omaha before, we were offered a choice of TWO cars for compacts. Therefore, it's not crazy that a mid-size would be accepted when a compact would not. It's all about supply and demand.
I will say that I had bid this same bid a couple times and it had been rejected. Notably: this changed exactly two weeks before departure. Perhaps would've even gone done more a week before? That theory was tested last trip and it did not, for Omaha. It HAS for other cities. So, it really just depends.
It's all a GAME. A fun, fun game.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Savannah Easter weekend
Helped a friend get this today. We started at $60 for a 4-star. Added 3 1/2, then added re-bid zones. Was at $85 with only one re-bid zone left, when I asked her if she wanted to go to $90 or $95 (knowing that the Grand Hyatt had been showing up at $95, and the Marriott at $90). She opted to go with the somewhat safer bet, to go ahead and get this booked.
Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $95.00 (USD)
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Nights: 1
Room Subtotal: $95.00 (USD)
Taxes and Fees: $21.39 (USD)
Total Room Cost: $116.39 (USD)
It is Easter weekend, so I don't know if we could've gotten it for somewhere in between $85 and $95. The lowest rate for this day on the Marriott website was $159.95, so it's still a deal and she's happy.
Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $95.00 (USD)
Number of Rooms: 1
Number of Nights: 1
Room Subtotal: $95.00 (USD)
Taxes and Fees: $21.39 (USD)
Total Room Cost: $116.39 (USD)
It is Easter weekend, so I don't know if we could've gotten it for somewhere in between $85 and $95. The lowest rate for this day on the Marriott website was $159.95, so it's still a deal and she's happy.
Priceline Teamwork!
There are no free re-bid zones in Sioux Falls...thus, it takes teamwork. The Holiday Inn Centre City was showing up on Hotwire for these dates (my guess because of the amenities shown) as $56 per night. I decided to do a $41 bid on Priceline. (knowing that the 3-star could be the Holiday Inn, the Sheraton or the Residence Inn...any of which would've been okay with us. It came back with one of those notices that said if we upped our bid by $12 we could have it right away.
That's when I called my husband into action, and asked him to go in and bid $45. It was accepted.
$45 per night for $135. Plus taxes & fees $21.96.
Total: $156.96.
That's when I called my husband into action, and asked him to go in and bid $45. It was accepted.
$45 per night for $135. Plus taxes & fees $21.96.
Total: $156.96.
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