liz

Hi all,
Don't know if anyone really cares, but today I bid on priceline for Waikik east, got Radisson, $$$55.00, I had this same hotel on hold for back up for 159.00. It look like a great place to stay. Anywhoo....

Patty

May I ask what your dates were?

liz

hey patty,
March 24-27th. Yea!!!! Needed to watch my cash this trip, it is a surprise for hubby, 16 anniv. I am still thrilled. Are you going to go for it?

Emily

Thanks so much for the info Liz. I have been trying to find a good price for Feb.27th for one night and haven't been successful in my bidding until now. I was bidding $50.00 for Waikiki West. Thanks again.

Patty

I'm still trying to decide whether to redeem frequent guest points or save them for another occasion and use something like priceline this time. Have a great trip liz!

liz

I know about budgeting fir vacation, I live in Colorado and my husband is a builder. Meaning, he get a billion points fromm aa a year on his cc for materials, and living in colo it is NEVER cheap to fly there. I really like aavacations for hotels, we did the aston papakeya o view condo for 5 nights for 630$ But it was waikiki that truly is expensive, and bringing 15y dd, first trip for her we couldn't pass up the pearl harbor, she is a homeschooler and is sooooo excited. Have a great trip guys.
liz
ps ramble on I do well

liz

if you bid this you need to bid waikiki east, not west.

Bill

Hi liz,
Thanks for the tip, it never occurred to me to go to priceline for hotels. I'm wondering if it would be useful for foreign travel.

Hi Patty,
How are you going to make the decision on which to spend points or dollars? I've only tried to use hotel points once, at the Tokyo Hilton, and they wouldn't accept them there. I suppose the decision is between using the points at a place where you prefer to stay and can't get a rock-bottom discount versus getting a cheap rate at a different place?

I have experience with the decision between spending dollars or FF miles. A mile, I have learned, is worth 1 cent, but costs 2 cents to earn. For a trip to Japan, the decision was buy a ticket for $622 versus spending 60,000 miles (worth $600). I spent the $ and earned 10,000+ more miles. For Hong Kong, I am likely going to use miles and take make a free stopover in Japan. If there's a double miles offer, though, I'll subtract the value the extra miles from the $ cost of the ticket, well aware that I'll never be able to use the miles to pay for my internet service.

Since there are plenty of lodging alternatives at most destinations, I don't really pay attention to hotel points. Maybe I should. I hope you will explain how you have used them in the past, like my FF miles valuation.

liz: thanks again, I never would have known.

xx

Geez Bill, do you have to give a rambling five paragraph answer to every single question?

Bill

Yes.

Patty

Hi Bill,
Yes, you're correct in that I'm trying to decide between using my points to stay for free at the Hyatt (where I'm currently holding an award reservation) or pay a low rate to stay someplace else. I don't really want to spend $200 a night for accomodations on this trip. If I use my points it will cost me 15000 a night as the Hyatt in Waikiki is a level 4 property (their highest redemption level). The Hyatt in Kauai where I've stayed using points in the past is the same redemption level and represents a better value based on cost vs. points redeemed as their room rates are usually over $300 a night. I'm also planning a trip to Europe later in the year where I may be able to use my points for free stays, and again it would be a better value when taking the room rate into consideration.

Patty

It's also difficult to make any generalizations about the value of hotel frequent guest points as each chain has completely different earning/redemption ratios. It's not like the airlines where earning is usually based on mileage flown and the redemption levels are pretty uniform, i.e. 25000 miles will get you a domestic ticket in most U.S. airline programs. For everything you ever wanted to know and more about frequent guest programs, visit the message boards at flyertalk.com

Inchy

Liz,
FYI - I stayed there this last July. Ask for an upgrade to the executive level. They seem to do this fairly easily if the hotel is not booked. From what I understand their travel has been down a bit, so that shouldn't be a problem.
We were there twice actually, got a corner room on the 37th floor. It was mountain view, but the balcony was a wrap around style so you could see the ocean too!
Also with exec level you get the complimentary breakfast and afternoon snacks. The lounge is top floor oceanfront, so you can sit out on the balcony looking at the water eating your pineapple everything, listening to the Hawaiian music.
Didn't like their restaurant, but just out toward the beach from the hotel is Cheeseburger in Paradise. Very good food. Expensive for breakfast though.
I will check back here if anyone wants to ask specific questions about the hotel or area.
A rate of $55 is very good. We had a corp rate (my husband was on business there) and it was $98.
Have a great time!

liz

Thanks inchy. We stay in Radisson's often, haven't so far found one we didn't care for. Thinking about taking my mom in law. Ugh, should I dare bid it again???
Liz