Flight and room possibilities....

[PaulC]

http://www.expedia.com/daily/promos/vacations/new_orleans_jazzfest/default.asp?CCheck=1&olacid=textlink.2007q1dr.wstnd.Top25_Q1_text_link_ 036.pixel.1x1

Don't have the time to really check the reality of the offer right now,.. but if there are people out there who need flight and room the teaser rates look damn good....

[stlbarb]

http://www.expedia.com/daily/promos/vacations/new_orleans_jazzfest/default.asp?CCheck=1&olacid=textlink.2007q1dr.wstnd.Top25_Q1_text_link_ 036.pixel.1x1

Don't have the time to really check the reality of the offer right now,.. but if there are people out there who need flight and room the teaser rates look damn good....

they do have an interesting page about jazz fest - lots of info for newbies in one concise place (but it don't beat swagland.com):
http://www.expedia.com/daily/promos/vacations/new_orleans_jazzfest/default.asp?CCheck=1&olacid=textlink.2007q1dr.wstnd.Top25_Q1_text_link_ 036.pixel.1x1#q4

i tried it with flights from STL and 4 nighst 4/26-4/30, it was $800+ per person (you need 2 people), which isnt that bad - but the flights had multiple legs and you would be flying all day coming home - i think you could drive it faster.
it probably varies by city. but vacation packages are often a good option when booking close to travel time. if far enough in advacne i think you can create a better package yourself.

[swag]

The hotel rates shown are per person, double occupancy, which basically means you have to double those to get valid numbers for comparison.

I'd guess Barb is probably right in her analysis.

If anyone is looking at these, Expedia often has e-coupons that can save $50-$150 off the package price.

[PaulC]

Took a few tries to see if the teaser rates quoted were real,.. they are not,.. they tease but do not produce....

They have the flight (from N.Y.) and three nights in the St. James hotel as a $448 package,... and of course that is per person,.. but flight and hotel listed together for that price would be pretty darn good,.. if it existed.... Instead after clearly posting the correct dates of the fest on the web page,.. just above the "teaser" rates,.. they then include this little beaut: Sample 3-night air/hotel package from New York to New Orleans from $448 is based on travel April 20 through May 6, 2007. New Orleans on sale! Book now to receive 10% off 2 nights or 15% off 3 or more nights! Sample prices are based on double occupancy and vary by dates of travel, availability, and departure city. Select travel dates to see rates
--------------------------------------------------------
They post the real dates just above the fake prices AND THEN SAY "Select travel dates to see rates.".... shabby way to do business........

Best advice still remains,.. do Priceline... Historically,.. last year included,.. no more than $100 per night for a 4 star (that's one price,.. for two people) and save yourself those ridiculous markups for your room.... or better yet check out www.easyclicktravel.com ..... As of a few minutes ago there were still suggesting you could secure a 4 star for $91 per night (yes,.. the rate is for two peeps),.. and those were for the weekend nights only... Mid week (M-T-W) you should be able to do $40-50 with that fun lil' priceline game....

[Belle]

Sometimes the hotel gives you a better rate. I start on priceline, hotels.com and the such to get a feel for a supposed great rate and availability. For example, we usually stay at the Winsor Court when we travel with the kids. Real nice two bedroom suites and saved lots going direct and using a AAA card. Check it both ways, you might be surprised.

[KYfunkfan]

i still haven't committed to makin' the fest so i checked this out...

major disappointment

[stlbarb]

i still haven't committed to makin' the fest so i checked this out...

major disappointment

sometimes when you're inside the 2 weeks before travel period, and airfares go thru the roof - you can get a deal on hotel and air that's less than air alone. now this is a general statement, that may not hold true for Jazz Fest or anyother high demand situation. but i've done it for a friend for a florida trip before.

[stlbarb]

i still haven't committed to makin' the fest so i checked this out...

major disappointment

can't you drive from KY, or does it eat up too many vacation days?

last minute priceline/hotwire rates have been kind in the last few years.

[PaulC]

[QUOTE=KYfunkfan;38872]i still haven't committed to makin' the fest/QUOTE]

To KY...... Say what???.... yes,.. you have been j'ed and the j is in... :eek:

To the complete set of eyes,... Southwest cut their fares for fest by almost half into and out of New Orlean a few days ago (of course the primo flights and dates-TH-F-SUN are near full up already)... If you don't mind passin' on the Fridays (and ya' should,.. but stuff happens),.. flyin' into Festville anytime on Saturday from Tampa (for example 8 A.M,.. and nonstop by the way,.. full day of fest) just found the $59 one way plateau.... That's a very cool plateau....

[PaulC]

last minute priceline/hotwire rates have been kind in the last few years.

Ultra kind in fact (for the 1,000th time),... but with this years gift from easy travel no real need to bid... havin' said that,.. a sunday nite through wed nite bid can get you some extra cool rates ($40-50) on the pricie thing-a-muh-jig....

[KYfunkfan]

can't you drive from KY, or does it eat up too many vacation days?

last minute priceline/hotwire rates have been kind in the last few years.


yeah, the drive is like 9 hours, and i've done that the last two times..

and yes, last year i didn't decide to go until the week of once i got a good deal on hotel through priceline....that's probably where i stand right now.....

believe it or not it is a rational decision....i'm not crazy if i don't decide to go...the fest itself doesn't do much for me anymore, it's the night time shows....and both the fest lineup and night shows (for me at least) is weak...

......and, i got to see los lobos for free a couple of days ago, they dedicated a song to my daughter, and my wife, myself, my 7 and 2 year old got up on stage with the band and danced to la bamba and good lovin'....i mean really, it doesn't get much better than that......

[ohio]

yeah, the drive is like 9 hours, and i've done that the last two times..

and yes, last year i didn't decide to go until the week of once i got a good deal on hotel through priceline....that's probably where i stand right now.....

believe it or not it is a rational decision....i'm not crazy if i don't decide to go...the fest itself doesn't do much for me anymore, it's the night time shows....and both the fest lineup and night shows (for me at least) is weak...

......and, i got to see los lobos for free a couple of days ago, they dedicated a song to my daughter, and my wife, myself, my 7 and 2 year old got up on stage with the band and danced to la bamba and good lovin'....i mean really, it doesn't get much better than that......
weak??!? are you not fond of LA music? one of the best line ups in several years imo...

[stlbarb]

yeah, the drive is like 9 hours, and i've done that the last two times..

and yes, last year i didn't decide to go until the week of once i got a good deal on hotel through priceline....that's probably where i stand right now.....

believe it or not it is a rational decision....i'm not crazy if i don't decide to go...the fest itself doesn't do much for me anymore, it's the night time shows....and both the fest lineup and night shows (for me at least) is weak...

......and, i got to see los lobos for free a couple of days ago, they dedicated a song to my daughter, and my wife, myself, my 7 and 2 year old got up on stage with the band and danced to la bamba and good lovin'....i mean really, it doesn't get much better than that......

not quite sure how to explain it to someone who already gets it.
you just need some free hugs & crowdgasms.

[brush]

When do the Ultradeals start showing up on Priceline? I've been checking Priceline/Hotwire for months and haven't found anything cheaper than $50 a night during the weekdays, unless you want to stay out at the Airport or Gretna. Hotwire seemed to have better deals this year than Priceline, but I guess we still have a month before the fest.
Overall I think the line-up this year is one of the best ever, but last year's first weekend was pretty unbelievable with: Dylan, Springsteen, Costello/Toussant, & the Meters. Also nice to have the Ponderosa Stomp back in town. I live in LA and have seen Los Lobos a ton of times, when they used to open for hardcore punk & rockabilly acts. They are great live, but nothing beats the Jazz Fest. The Fest is getting a lot more competition with Cochella and other fests, but the spirit and local acts in NO are magical.

[PaulC]

When do the Ultradeals start showing up on Priceline? I've been checking Priceline/Hotwire for months and haven't found anything cheaper than $50 a night during the weekdays, unless you want to stay out at the Airport or Gretna. Hotwire seemed to have better deals this year than Priceline, but I guess we still have a month before the fest.
Overall I think the line-up this year is one of the best ever The Fest is getting a lot more competition with Cochella and other fests, but the spirit and local acts in NO are magical.


You can get a clue or two about what Priceline may or may not accept by the help of others makin' their own bids known,.. but jus' like fishin' you got to get a line in the water (bid, bid, bid) in order to have a chance at landin' the big one....

bid and you shall receive,.. with luck and patience that is... history has been kind,.. good luck....

[Belle]

good lovin'....i mean really, it doesn't get much better than that......KYfunkfan

I saw Los Lobos last week with Taj and they had the stage full with dancing folks. Good Lovin is one of my favorites!! Long versions especially. LL did that one too that night. Then Taj took us "Fishin" and sang Corina back to back. I swear I was in heaven.

Glad you had a great time.

[swag]

When do the Ultradeals start showing up on Priceline? I've been checking Priceline/Hotwire for months and haven't found anything cheaper than $50 a night during the weekdays, unless you want to stay out at the Airport or Gretna. Hotwire seemed to have better deals this year than Priceline, but I guess we still have a month before the fest.

Well, it's hard to judge by previous years, given how things are changing due to Katrina. But I have archived Priceline results back to 2003 on my site (links at the bottom of my bidding page).

In 2003, the best deals were in the $60 range at the Hyatt, porettymuch avaliable all Spring. It wasn't until a week or two before Fest that a bunch of other hotels started popping up on winning bids.

2004 results were mostly the Hyatt @ $50 in January, the Hilton @$50 in February, very little in March, and again a few late hits around town in the week or two before Fest.

2005 saw the Hyatt around $48 from back in October slowly rising to $65 in April. A few other hotels came in around $70 starting the last week of March.

Then the storm hit. The Hyatt got badly damaged, and remains closed to this day (and probably won't open until 2008 or 2009).

Without the Hyatt in the mix, the best deals in 2006 didn't come until mid-April, these were in the $85-90 range at the W and the Marriott.

Even going back before the storm, though, hits below the $50 mark were very few and far between, and mostly resulted in some pretty poorly reviewed places. A couple of early hits at $48 for 2005 fest weren't bad, but $45 in 2004 for the now-closed, mold-infected Radisson/Park Plaza was not such a great value.

This year, for midweek, we've seen some brief deals like $49 and then $60 for the Holiday Inn on Royal (Hotwire), $48 for the Queen & Crescent (Priceline non-bidding), and $64 for the Whitney (Hotwire).

As just the 2nd year post-K and post-Hyatt-closure, it's hard to predict, but I'd be surprised to see a slew of sub-$50 deals start coming in, even as Fest approaches. And deals may not last long, so I'd pick my price point (maybe $55?) and be ready to jump. If you subscribe to my blog, you'll get an email within a day of when someone reports their success.

[stlbarb]

When do the Ultradeals start showing up on Priceline? I've been checking Priceline/Hotwire for months and haven't found anything cheaper than $50 a night during the weekdays, unless you want to stay out at the Airport or Gretna. Hotwire seemed to have better deals this year than Priceline, but I guess we still have a month before the fest.
Overall I think the line-up this year is one of the best ever, but last year's first weekend was pretty unbelievable with: Dylan, Springsteen, Costello/Toussant, & the Meters. Also nice to have the Ponderosa Stomp back in town. I live in LA and have seen Los Lobos a ton of times, when they used to open for hardcore punk & rockabilly acts. They are great live, but nothing beats the Jazz Fest. The Fest is getting a lot more competition with Cochella and other fests, but the spirit and local acts in NO are magical.

$50 is an ultra fine rate for something in the 1/4,CBD,downtown area - especially if it isnt a dive. has anyone ever found a lower rate for a nice hotel during fest?

[KYfunkfan]

Glad you had a great time.

yeah, thanks so much...you too...i really dig the lobos...i spent some time in mexico and have seen them much differently ever since.

[brush]

Thanks for the insight Swag. I've been patiently waiting for deals to come up on Priceline. I haven't seen anything great, except maybe that Queen & Crescent $60 a month ago. Hotwire has seemed to have more deals this year. Maybe it's still too early.