[Rob F]

Hi, new to priceline and your forum. Wanting some advice regarding a trip, me and my girlfireld are planning to Toronto between 4/20/10 - 4/26/10(6 nights).

We are visiting the city but ideally would like to be near the University, so Downtown North or South would be ideal.

Would be happy with anything between maybe a 3* - 4*, but as long as its clean and tidy not too worried.

Budget - Max Per night including taxes say £60 or 90USD or 93 CAD.

All help gladly received and thanks in advance for your posts.

P.S Very new to this so please don't hestiate to state the obvious.

[thereuare]

Are you willing to spend more for a higher rated hotel OR is your goal the least expensive 3* or better for this stay?

Let us know 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.

[Rob F]

Ideally we don't want to pay more than the prices quoted before - so the least expensive 3* or better would be what we'd want.

[thereuare]

Rob F, on Mar 3 2010, 05:45 PM, said:

Ideally we don't want to pay more than the prices quoted before - so the least expensive 3* or better would be what we'd want.

Understood, but just to make sure we're on the same page...

I think you have a chance at a 4* hotel for $90 or less... would you prefer a 4* hotel for $90 or would you sooner prefer a 3* for $65? (just using the 3* as an example... haven't looked at rates at that star level yet)

Please confirm if you're interested in the higher rated hotel while staying within your budget or if you prefer a lower rated hotel at a lower price and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

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

[Rob F]

Thanks for your quick reply.

We would be quite happy , like your example, with a 3* for $65.

Therefore our strategy is a lower rated hotel at a lower price , minimum of 3*.

[thereuare]

At the 3* level you have ONE re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

With time on your side i would begin as follows:

Select 3* Downtown South...
Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...
Bid $55, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Downtown North...
Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...
Bid $55, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Downtown South an Downtown North...
Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...
Bid $65

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.

[Rob F]

Tried all the above combinations and all were rejected.

Whats the next best strategy? I am willing to split the booking 3 nights and 3 nights which i realise may mean we end up in two different hotels, but that would be okay.

Will this help chances for getting a booking?

[thereuare]

I didn't expect the above to be successful as it was a bit of lowballing since you had the time and we don't see too many successful 3* bids on the board (the 4* hotels in the area seem to be more competitive in their pricing)... i was expecting your next round of bidding to try higher up towards your limit (as i do think you'll be successful at $90 or less for this stay)

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

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

[Rob F]

Just to close the thread and let the board know how my bids eventually played out.

Bidded as follows:

$65 Toronto Downtown South 3* Rejected but offered further bid for a further $17 therfore $82 per night ( I refused)
$70 South & East 3* Rejected - no offer

$70 Downtown North 3* Rejected
$75 North & East 3* Rejected

$75 South & North 3 * Accepted bid -Residence Inn

So booked 6 nights at the Residence Inn -Marriott for $75 per night. Saved $7 per night by refusing the offer so over our 6 nights
that a nice further saving.

Just out of interest I had a look at the Marriott website for the cost of our stay at rack rate. The only option available on their website
for our stay period is a quote at 475CAD per night!!!! Obviously can't be right but just wondered if anyone knew why the websites throwing out
such a high price.

Used the PRICELINE links on the board throughout the bidding and very grateful of the boards help. Cheers.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

The hotel is actually sold-out for the weekend nites of your stay (or has a very limited number of rooms available). If you search for just the weekend nites you'll see no availability, but when searching for 6 nites you see the 'inflated' price as the hotel is willing to 'make an exception' (or give one of the few rooms still available) if staying 'x' number of nites.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.