Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Portland, Maine hotels

Anyone have experience with hotels in Portland, Maine? Which ones are Priceline hotels??

Bidding on Priceline in Portland is one of the pleasures I now have as I can now afford to visit my favorite part of the world more often! Yes, I live for the Casco Bay and the whole Portland area. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

First off, if you don't already know it, I recommend you going to http://www.biddingfortravel.com and http://www.betterbidding.com to familiarize yourself with bidding. The first one has a listing of Priceline hotels in all of the zones of Portland. Here they are:

Portland

3 *
Doubletree Portland
Eastland Park Hotel

2 *
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel
Fairfield Inn Portland Airport

South Portland
3 *
Sheraton South Portland Hotel

2.5 *
Amerisuites Portland Maine Mall
Residence Inn Portland/Scarborough

2 *
Fairfield Inn Portland/Maine Mall
Towneplace Suites Portland/Scarborough
Comfort Inn

Portland Airport (PWM)
2.5 *
Hilton Garden Inn

Westbrook
1 *
Howard Johnson Plaza

Read the reviews of the hotels (if any) from both of these sites. Hope this helps. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Yes, I did go to those sites and it was helpful to a degree.

Does this mean that if I put in a bid for Portland 3* properties, it will probably be at those two hotels? Fine with me, by the way. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Of course, the question is what bid would get those hotels? Hmmmmm. . . .

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by honmani2:
Does this mean that if I put in a bid for Portland 3* properties, it will probably be at those two hotels? Fine with me, by the way. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Of course, the question is what bid would get those hotels? Hmmmmm. . . .</font>

There is always a chance that another 3* hotel in the Portland area will begin a relationship with Priceline, but so far, this has not happened. So far, based on what I've seen on BFT, there are only two 3* properties. Here is the great thing. Only Portland and So Portland have 3* hotels. So you can bid for a 3* four times. When are you going?

Early September. I've bid twice only for Portland since I don't want to stay in South Portland since the other person going is staying at the Hilton Garden Inn and I want to be within close driving distance since I'm not the one renting the car. Both bids were rejected as too low.

Should I put in a bid that includes South Portland? Or should I put in a bid that includes Portland and the Portland Airport since (as far as we know) there are no 3* properties out at the airport?

[This message has been edited by honmani2 (edited 08-21-2003).]

[This message has been edited by honmani2 (edited 08-21-2003).]

You want to bid the areas that DONT have 3*, I suggest reading the hotel FAQ on BFT - it goes into great detail on how to get free rebids

If you have to have Portland, then rebid a higher amount and add the Westbrook zone. If that fails, add the the airport zone with a higher bid. By doing this, you are getting free rebids as both zones have no three star hotels.

Has your friend already prepaid at the Hilton Garden Inn or is it just a reservation? I ask because you are limiting yourself to just one zone when South Portland is not that far away.

September is a popular time to be in Portland so you may have to bid in the upper 60s, low 70s. Keep that in mind.

[This message has been edited by Analise (edited 08-22-2003).]

Thanks for the advice. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Yes, my friend already booked for the Hilton. I put in a bid for $60 and $65 and was turned down. So I'll try again for $70, I guess.

IMHO, the DT 3* is a dump

just so you know

Okay, got one night at the Doubletree (yes, I know, the dump) for $70.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by honmani2:
Okay, got one night at the Doubletree (yes, I know, the dump) for $70.</font>

Congratulations. I'm sure the hotel will be satisfactory---if not, who cares? You're in Portland on beautiful Casco Bay. Have fun!

Analise, are you from Maine, or do you just like it up there?

TH

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TrojanHorse:
Analise, are you from Maine, or do you just like it up there?

TH</font>

Door #2. I just love it there. I'm originally from New York, a true Manhattan girl. Yet my heart is torn between Manhattan and the midcoast of Maine. I'm sailing to Bailey Island on Saturday. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Analise (edited 08-27-2003).]

Hi,

I stayed at the Eastland Park Hotel last September. It is centrally located in downtown Portland ME and is a "Historic Hotel". The public areas are nicely fixed up and the staff was very nice. I only saw my room so I can't say how the whole place is but my room was very small, and did not look like it had been updated since the hotel opened. It was clean though.

Kind of reminded me of a room I had at the Hotel Pennsylvania in NYC in vintage and size.

Good Luck

The last time I went to Maine, I stayed at the Eastland. That would have been fine with me but it was sold out when I looked it up on other websites so I sort of knew I would end up with Doubletree since it's the only other 3* property in Portland.

Actually, I'm going for a meeting so I don't know if I'll be able to enjoy the sites that Analise raves about. Besides, I'm from Hawaii and there's some pretty decent seaviews here. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Oh, I need to spend my last night near the airport. Any suggestions?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by honmani2:
Oh, I need to spend my last night near the airport. Any suggestions?</font>

Sheraton South Portland....bid for it as it is the only 3 star hotel outside of Portland. The rooms are a nice size, brand new beds in all rooms, and there is a shuttle to and from PWM.

Sounds like the Eastland hasn't changed much. Used to stay there regularly in the 1980's and early '90's, when it was the Sonesta. At the time part of the hotel was apartments, permanently occupied by very elderly guests. Very strange place.

Remember waking up one winter morning about 4:30am, and it was terribly cold in the room. Somewhere in the high-40's. Called the front desk to inquire why there was no heat, and no one answered. Finally wandered downstairs about 5am since no one still had answered the phone. "Oh, the boiler is not working right", said the bored clerk. Ultimately, no heat until about 7:30am, btw.

Never again would I enter that building. Probably been to PWM about ten times since.