alpinemccain - I have used Priceline many times, including once bidding for my sister for a hotel in Louisville same day, when she was on the road.

You can use your credit card. Just put down your parent's name. That's all.

And hurry, I think their same-day cut off is 6pm. You have an hour.

I doubt there is many free-bids in that zone...what price would you bid?

also, it says towns in salem, etc..will that be a detour?

I got the radisson in Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824 for $30 on the first bid...i guess I might have overbid but for $30, sounds ok! Its off 495 right?

Just bid in the Billerica - Tewksbury zone first. It has up to 3*. Salem - Andover has only up to 2.5*, so you get one free-rebid. You may want to check on biddingfortravel.com to see if any of those 2.5* in the Salem-Andover area is too far off I-495.

Another area that I think are okay too is Marlborough. It again has up to 3*, while Shrewsbury-Westborough has up to 2.5*, so you get one free rebid.

Hey, I need to go, so can't help you anymore. Good luck.

Oh, I posted the same time.

GOOD DEAL! Who cares if you overbid by a dollar or two. $30 is less than half the price I found on Expedia ($80). It's right off exit 34.

On biddingfortravel, recent bids in that zone are $32 for the Radisson. And earlier there's a $28 for the the Doubletree Lovell. I think your bid is very reasonable.

thanks a lot for your prompt responses and all your help! your the one that actually helped me map out the route a few weeks ago. I will join my parents on Friday..I am flying there..

I am very happy about the bid...$30 is great..considering they were going to take the comfort suites for 64,95 which is probably less quality

what time should they leave tomorrow morning to avoid the hartford traffic?

There next stop should be in Woodstock, I guess will try to see if there is an area for priceline again..any suggestions?

They loved the radisson they got tonight!

Hartford to Woodstock is about 8 hours, so they don't need to get through Hartford too early. If they leave Chelmsford at 7, they'll be at Hartford around 9 - already past the worst AM rush. And be in the Woodstock area by 6-7pm including meals.

There are seperate Priceline zones for Woodstock, New Market, Harrisonburg and Staunton. All along I-81. But no free rebids possible. Most are only up to 2*, except 2.5* in Harrisonburg (probably the Four Points). Information on BFT is scarce in that area.

Most 2* chain hotels are going for $60-70 for tomorrow night, so I think you can definitely save some money with Priceline if you're not picky.

so all of those 4 regions are along I81 and within 30 minutes to an hour of each other?

Thanks again for all your help!

Yeah, and if they want to stop a little early, they can also do Winchester.

Approx. exit numbers: (VA's exit numbers go by miles)

Winchester 315
Woodstock 283
New Market 264
Harrisonburg 247
Staunton 222

There's Radisson in Andover on 495/rt 93

rkkwan, what would be your priceline bidding strategy?

No, there's no real strategy in this case. But since the regular rates are about $60-70, I'd probably bid around $30 for a 2* (or maybe $32, 2.5* for Harrisonburg).

And if you have another person's credit card and info - like a wife or your parents'; then you can bid again if failed.

I guess they wont get that far...they are looking for a place maybe 3 hours after Newburgh, NY....any idea right off I81?

They are currently in Hazleton PA and want to drive another 1-2 hours...

Grantville, Exit 80 off I-81 is just before Harrisburg. There's a Holiday Inn, a Hampton Inn and Comfort Suites. About $70.

About 3.5 hours from Newburgh.

Not good for Priceline, as the Hershey zone includes hotels that are not on I-81.

Alternatives are bidding for better 3* hotels in central Harrisburg, or go a little further down and use Priceline 2.5* for Carlisle. All Carlisle hotels should be right off I-81.

Harrisburg is only 80 miles from Hazelton. They can get to at least Calisle or another 50 miles to Chambersburg.

Priceline has a Chambersburg zone, but it includes Greencastle and down to the MD line, so that's another 20 miles or so or about 2.5 hours from Hazelton.

thanks a lot! I guess a little further down would be close to woodstock?