I just booked the Westin downtown for $68/night.

I had previously been trying to get the Millennium again, since I heart the Millennium, and we booked it through Priceline last year for $35/night. Alas, it was a no go as I bid up to $40 with no satisfaction. I'm telling you, when you've tasted three stars as sweetly as we have, $41+ just seems kind of off-putting you know?

Anywhey, I got tired of being rejected by the Millennium's sweet marble floored goodness, and started bidding on four star rooms exclusively. It was a no go at $59, $62, and $65 in that order...but...

Here we are with the cushy bed, the indoor pool, and the in room blow dryer...

So anyway, if any one wants to come stay at the Westin, (overlooking the angel in the fountain) take my advice and pay the extra $20 over the Millennium's frou frou attitude this year. It's the same walking distance (approximately) from the Taft, and we can Partay!

BTW, we're staying Saturday through Monday this time. So maybe we can hang like homies after the church show...

Cool...

Man, this thread is sooooo bumming me out.

Wish we were coming this year (and staying at a sweet four star for $68 per).

Don't forget to use BetterBidding.com to check your area prices before you bid....
J

Sounds like a great deal Mark!!

Alas, I will be staying at mi familia's humble abode in Loveland.

See ya at the Taft and the Sunday event!

Yes, BB is where I learned my mad skillz! Werd.

It was probably you who turned me on to BB a couple years ago Mark. What a great site.

Yes, Taft two years ago was when I first learned of BB too, but I believe Bruce is the BB progenitor of this message forum.

I love me some of that betterbidding site. I just stayed in a heap full o places in October in Nevada, Oregon and Washington state and got SWEET deals on astonishing joints. In Seattle it was upwards of $80 for a 4 star but I stayed in both the newly renovated Sheraton and the excellently located Edgewater. Amazing that Millenium isn't offering anything at the moment - I bet it would've been in the $50 range had you continued including 3 star (is that what it was classified?) but the Westin is a sweeter deal for the bed alone.

Yep, the Heavenly Bed is probably one of the most consistent of all the plush beds in a chain that's out there. Millennium is considered a 3 star--someone had reported getting it for $41 on BB recently, but I'm happy where I am. It's a quarter mile less to walk too!

Wow, and I thought I'd gotten good at that whole hotel and travel expense thing what with traveling back and forth between Kent and Cincy from February to August. Hadn't even heard of BB (though Priceline is SO my friend). Happily we've got friends to stay with in Chicago for the weekend of the 24th, but we're definitely hotelling it for the Kent show (since it appears we're kidnapping the girlfriend on the way north...and...um...yeah, our friends don't want to see that in their living rooms). Gonna have to check out BB and see what we can come up with (though I got pretty fond of the Extended Stay we were at the last time I was in Kent...).

It's funny...I haven't had to find a hotel in 3 months now. I'm feeling almost...deprived.
LOL VERY much looking forward to following OTR around for the next couple of weeks!

I've never used Priceline (though I may give it a shot one of these days once I've checked out betterbidding), but I have used Hotwire a number of times. How do rates typically compare between Priceline and Hotwire? Anyone know?

Hotwire has discontinued their bidding option, so Priceline will be the best bet hands down. If you're not a bidder, they're pretty much the same. Hotwire does have a low price guarantee, IIRC, but, I've never used them. I think there's a section on BB describing how to exploit that guarantee, but it seemed risky at best when I first read it a couple years ago...

We're in the Millennium via Hotwire for $51 plus tax.

I'm going to Chicago in a few weeks so I'll give this betterbidding a shot. I'm not much of a bidder, but damn Chicago is expensive.

Bidding on a room is much better than paying full price, but there are still limits. Cincy is a great city to name your own price, but other cities don't seem to offer as good or even comparable discounts. For example, I bid on a room in Charleston a few months ago, and the cheapest 3 star I could get was $88. Charleston is an expensive city. I would assume Chicago would be a more expensive city no matter where you book through. Good luck!