fishbudgreg Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 I haven't had a need for a hotel since last July (2013) and so am rusty at the whole bidding thing. We need a hotel in Memphis, TN for one night the night of Friday, May 16, 2014. My wife would prefer to be as close to downtown as possible, she said something about Beale Street. The amenities we would like are free parking and free breakfast (although we would forego the free breakfast for something close to downtown). I reread the bidding processes and it is all coming back to me now on how to do that. What I would like to know is where to start? What star rating should I request (I'm thinking 3.5 or 4) and what price should I start the bidding at? I would like to keep the total cost (with taxes & fees) under $100. Thanks for any help/advice. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Welcome back to Betterbidding. :)In terms of free breakfast and free parking, those are not guaranteed amenities unless stated as such for the zone and star rating you are bidding on during the process. If either are a requirement, then I would suggest looking at Price.line Express or Hot.wire instead for a hotel with free breakfast/free parking as amenities. Are you seeing free parking/breakfast as guaranteed amenities at any star levels downtown on the bidding side of the service, or any listings on Hot.wire/Price.line Express? Is downtown the only acceptable zone? Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 The good news is that you'll be in town for The World Championship Barbeque Cooking contest... the bad news is that this is going to cause tight hotel demand and rates to spike (at least i'm assuming this is the reason for the high rates i'm seeing) I'm thinking that anything at the 3.5*/4* level near Downtown for $100 (even if this was your bid price and not 'all-in') is going to be quite difficult. Enter 'Beale St, Memphis' into our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com and you'll see how thin hotel availability is, and what is available at the 3.5* and higher level starts in the high-$200's. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
fishbudgreg Posted April 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Thanks for the info. I'll confer with my wife and decide how to proceed. It would be pretty cool to be there at that time, but since we're just passing through it may not be worth the extra expense. Thanks again. Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Let us know whatever you decide for this stay or how we can be of further help. If you change the destination to a different city/zone just continue this thread and wherever you ultimately win will be reflected in the topic title of this thread. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
fishbudgreg Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 OK I talked it over with the boss (my wife!) and based on what you have told us we are willing to be further away from the downtown area with a lower [star] rating and just drive in to see what we would like to see. So I was just checking out Priceline Express and it has a 2.5 star hotel in Memphis East zone with Free Breakfast, Free Wifi, Indoor or Outdoor Pool, Free Parking, Pets Allowed, Business Center, Fitness Center, and Bed Choice available for $78/night. Unfortunately it does not have a user rating. Do you have an idea what hotel this might be? So, back to the bidding I think we are willing to sacrifice the star rating (as low as 2) especially if it has a good customer rating, and the amenities we would like are free parking and free breakfast. Any zone is fine but as close to downtown as possible. Also, the next day we will be heading East on I40 so a hotel that is closer to I40 is better than one that is further away. What is a good strategy for bidding? BTW...this is for one night, the night of May 16, 2014 Thanks. Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 My guess for the 2.5* PRICELINE EXPRESS property would be the Econo Lodge Inn and Suites Memphis. ...especially if it has a good customer rating, and the amenities we would like are free parking and free breakfast... as close to downtown as possible.... a hotel that is closer to I40 is better than one that is further away.When bidding on PRICELINE you won't be able to limit your bidding to only hotels with good user reviews, with any specific amenities, or within a certain part of the zone... you need to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone at the star rating (or higher) that you choose. If location is important for this trip you can also try our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com where you can see hotels near almost any address or major landmark in the world, and easily be able to see how much more/less it would cost to stay closer/further from your ideal location OR to go up/down in star rating (as well as pick a hotel with the amenities you are looking for) Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there. If bidding on PRICELINE, let us know your acceptable zones and maximum bid, and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
fishbudgreg Posted May 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 How about zones 1, 2, 4, 6, or 9. With a maximum bid of $90. Looking at those zones it makes sense to shoot for 3-star or better. Do you agree? Thanks. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 The zone numbers will change any time that PRICELINE adds, removes, or changes the name of a zone. To avoid any confusion, and so that this thread remains clear for years to come, please list the zone by PRICELINE name (and not by number), and we'll have a look and suggest a strategy for you to follow. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
fishbudgreg Posted May 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Sorry, they are:1 = Cordova - Wolfchase2 = Downtown Memphis4 = Medical Center - University Zone6 = Memphis East9 = RaleighThanks for your help. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 The highest star rating offered in the Raleigh and Medical Center zones is 2 stars, so you can't use these for your 3* bidding, but you can use them as your two re-bid zones. I would try the following: Select 3* Cordova... Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $75, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3* Downtown... Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $75, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3* East... Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $75, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3* Cordova and Downtown... Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $83, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3* Cordova and East... Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $83, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3* Cordova, Downtown, East... Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $88, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $90 Any questions feel free to ask. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
fishbudgreg Posted May 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Got rejected for downtown on first try (I tried downtown first). Then on rebid selected Memphis East zone next and won on first bid of $65. Thanks BetterBidding, I couldn't have done it without you. Taxes adds another $18.28 for a total of $83.28 Not bad! Not bad at all!! Link to comment
AaronJB Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Congrats on your success. :) Awesome win for this property and free breakfast/larger rooms are certainly bonuses. Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay. Link to comment
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