Priceline Hotel: How far out before I bid?

[foge]

I am wondering how far out from my dates should start bidding? I am planning on taking the family to Disneyland but can not get any time off work until July. I imagine if I wait long enough I would get a better deal, but since we are going to Disneyland I don't want to run out of hotel rooms in "decent" hotels Any advice would be appreciated.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

If you are looking at next Summer, you definitely have time to book. You can look to see if there are any unusually good deals at this point, but if not, you could likely wait until after the first of the year before you really had to start looking.

 

You can also use our RateDrop.com service to get alerts when rates come down for Hot.wire, PRICELINE EXPRESS or regular rate listings.

 

Are your date/s confirmed? What would be your desired budget per night for this stay?

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[foge]

I have pretty much the same week off every year, so the dates are pretty well confirmed. Could move a day or two back if need be. I would like to keep it under 100/night.

[AaronJB]

Please confirm the date/s of travel and we would be happy to take a look and see what things look like at this point.

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[foge]

Looking at 6/29 to 7/3. Could move it up a day or two if needed.

[thereuare]

I have pretty much the same week off every year...

Is this 'certain' enough that you're willing to book a non-refundable hotel at this point in time.

 

I would like to keep it under 100/night.

What is the minimum star rating you're willing to accept? Are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel (if still within your $100 budget) OR is the goal the least expensive hotel at the minimum star rating you designate?

 

I imagine if I wait long enough I would get a better deal...

Not necessarily... hotels have an idea of how many reservations 'on the books' they should have at this point in time (for your dates as well as any other dates in the future). If they have less reservations than they feel they should (ie- if they're 5% occupied for your dates but feel they should be at 10% occupancy) then they may offer deeply discounted rates to the opaque providers in order to get up to their expected occupancy of 10% and then pull the discounted rates until they once again fall behind their expected occupancy levels (which may or may not happen).

As well, you may be able to gain insight that a hotel currently offered is one that you want to stay at and purchase it now... whereas later, even if the price goes down (or not), the hotel(s) offered may not be one that you are as favorable on.

 

I am planning on taking the family to Disneyland...

How many adults/children in your family? If looking for only one room, note that PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel, and you could receive a room with only one bed. While you can call the hotel you win and request a room with two beds, the hotel may not be able, or willing, to honor your request. (risk in a family oriented location such as this where hotels are configured to accommodate families is less than in an area such as NYC where the opposite is the case, but it's still a risk you should be aware of and need to be willing to accept). If this is not a risk you're willing to accept, HOTWIRE would still be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensure sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search (although this usually means two beds, the second 'bed' could be a sofabed, rollaway, etc)

If looking at PRICELINE i assume it's the 'Disneyland - Anaheim Convention Center - Garden Grove' zone you're looking at? Are another acceptable?

If HOTWIRE, are both the Disneyland North and Disneyland South zones acceptable?

Let us know the information above and we'll take it from there.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[foge]

I am certain enough on the dates to book a non-refundable hotel room.

I would like to keep it above 3*, prefer 3.5 but willing to go to 3. I'd be willing to go higher for a nicer hotel.

This would be for 2 adults/2 children. I would like to stay in the Disney-Convention-Garden Grove area. Angels stadium might be ok but if I am way on the other side that may stink. I have not looked too much on Hot Wire but a quick look and the North and South Disney looks like it would be ok for us.

 

 

Thank You for all your help and insight.

[thereuare]

This would be for 2 adults/2 children.

So are you OK taking the occupancy risk with PRICELINE... or you do prefer to use HOTWIRE and search for 2a/2c?

Searching HOTWIRE for 2adults/2children i see a 3.5 for $99/nite with:

Free Internet

Pet Friendly

Smoke Free

Fitness

Pool

Restaurant

Business

Laundry

Hi-Speed Internet

Travel Accessible

Room Accessible

Bathroom Accessible

Handicapped Parking

... my best guess here would be the Red Lion Inn.

Is this of interest OR do you prefer something else offered at HOTWIRE OR do you want to give a try at bidding on PRICELINE?

Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[foge]

That would be ok for us, but I have all kinds of time so I am not in a big hurry. I have been watching Priceline for their express deals and will start watching Hotwire. There is a 3* for $84 in Disney South

Free Parking

Free Internet

Pet friendly

Fitness

Pool 

Restaurant

Business

Laundry

[Roadguy]

Price.line does come with occupancy risk, but normally a 3 star or above have fair rollaway prices if they wont give you a room with two beds. I noticed the Angels Stadium Area has a 3+ PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal at $78 for your dates.  My startegies

 

1) Go with the Hot.wire 99 deal

2) Try some lowball bids(sub 70) for the 3 star on Price.line, its an 8+ guest rating which means its pretty good in my book and includes breakfast

3) Hold off until next year, but keep checking Hot.wire for deals. If you see a deal for $80 or below for 4 people, jump on it

 

Caveat- With Priceline you might get stuck getting a rollaway, but Ive been stuck having to get a rollaway with a Hotwire deal too. Yep I put 4 occupancy and they gave me a King room no sofa so I spent an extra $10/nt...Orbitz hotel did the same and I got the LAST rollaway at $15.nt...so go figure and there is risk. The only time a Priceline hotel didnt give me 2 Qs or a King and sofabed after I asked, one hotel gave me a rollaway for $10 for the WHOLE stay

[foge]

Do you have an idea on what this hotel is? 

Free Breakfast

Free Internet

Free Parking

Swimming Pool

Pets Allowed

Fitness Center

Restaurant

Business Center

 

Looking at the map details on the deal. It says one of 7 pins could be the deal. 2 of them are not 3*. Using my very limited experience I eliminated the rest except for the Ayres Hotel and the Ayres Inn, but I could be wrong.

[thereuare]

Please clarify...

For the hotel above are you looking at PRICELINE EXPRESS or HOTWIRE? (if HOTWIRE how many adults/children are you including in your search) What is the star rating, room rate per nite, zone of this offer?

Neither service displays hotel on the map indicating that the hotel offered is one that is in the map (so be careful on any assumptions you make)... both services may show a map with 'retail' listings, but each side of their service uses a different universe of hotels, and while there is a lot of overlap, you shouldn't assume that the 'opaque' hotel offered is necessarily one of the 'retail' listings on the map, as some hotels participate in one side of their service but not the other, and vice-versa. (if i'm assessing the situation you're seeing correctly)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[foge]

Well that didn't work the way I wanted it to. That was a 3* in the Angels Stadium zone on Priceline Express deals. I thought I had quoted it but I guess not, but now it doesn't matter because it is gone.

[AaronJB]

Sorry to hear that the listing is no longer available. Please keep us updated with what you decide and let us know if you have questions regarding additional listings.

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Roadguy]

That property is back, and I think the main clue is a 3* property with both a restaurant and free breakfast. So I would guess Embassy Suites or Ayres. I think all rooms at the ES should have enough bedding for you, at least there is enough room.  . I dont know  about Ayres or any other possible property

[foge]

Is there two Ayres in that zone. There is a "Hotel" and an "Inn". I tried looking at the maps but I couldn't make anything out of it. My wife and I looked at pictures for the Embassy and the Ayres and she would be ok with either place if that is what we decide. 

Thank you for all you help.

[thereuare]

The Ayres Inn (3737 West Chapman Avenue) would be my best guess for this one.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.