keep checking hotwire for your dates, and check regularly, up til about a couple of weeks before your trip. Then, bid on priceline for less than the hotwire bids. But I wouldn't book it more than about two weeks out. I did once, and ended up spending about $50 more than I could have. Also...a word of advice....book a reservation you can cancel at a rate you can live with. That way, if for some reason you can't get your bid accepted, atleast you aren't paying last minute prices for a regular reservation.