norsie

Wow! The Pre Cruise Hotels interactive map is very interesting! I will definitely share that. Thanks again for all your help!

Let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

So, we have an interesting update...we assumed that going through your link we wouldn't be able to use our bonus cash but that was fine with us because we figured we'd just budget the amount that Priceline gave us toward a hotel this time but actually use the bonus cash for spring break next year and it would all work out in the end. However, when we clicked through your link, we noticed that the bonus cash was available in the bottom right hand corner. We also noticed that it expired on 12/31 of this year (Priceline originally told us it would expire Dec of next year)! Then I searched to see if anyone else had used bonus cash through your link and found a post where you explained that we could. We were very excited!

Using your suggestions, here were our results (if another user doesn't have bonus cash, I'm not sure how accurate this is going to be but at least it's an idea):

Selected Resort San Juan...1 night-12/9/11

Bid $141 (incl $140 bonus cash)=Rejected

Added re-bid zone $145(incl $140 bonus cash)=Rejected

Added re-bid zone $150(incl $140 bonus cash)=Rejected

Added re-bid zone $155(incl $140 bonus cash)=Rejected (starting to get worried :) )

Added re-bid zone $160(incl $140 bonus cash)=ACCEPTED!

So, we paid $20 plus $27.14 in taxes and fees and received:

El San Juan Resort And Casino

We are excited! We leave in a few weeks! Thanks for your help!

Wow! That sounds great! I will digest that information and start the bidding process. I'll make sure I understand and ask questions if I need to. I'll be back...

I'm not sure how accurate the suggested bids are but I see that 3.5 median price is 135 and 4 median price is 196. Perhaps we were a little over anxious in saying a 4 star. That's a little more than we'd like to pay for one night. We would like the best hotel we can get for 140-150. If we can get a 4 star for that, great. If not, then the best 3.5. Is that helpful? I don't know how realistic my price range is for a 4 star. Thanks!

When bidding on PRICELINE, you have to be able to accept any hotel in the zone at the star level (or higher) that you choose... are you willing to accept a hotel anywhere within the shaded boundaries of the San Juan zone?

With HOTWIRE you can often take an educated guess as to what is being offered based upon the amenities associated with the property, but it's still a 'best guess' and no guarantees you will receive the hotel you're hoping for. As well, HOTWIRE only shows one hotel at each star level per zone, so there is a chance the hotel you're hoping for isn't the one which is offered for your particular dates.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and if on PRICELINE, what is your maximum bid for this stay? Are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel OR is your goal the least expensive 3.5* or better for this stay?

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

I have read all the FAQs and the bidding process but I still could use a little help with a strategy for bidding on a one-night pre-cruise hotel in San Juan on Dec. 9th near the Pan American Pier. I would be most interested in 3.5 stars or higher (I'm assuming that includes resorts. Thanks!

No go! How long before I can try again? And would I follow the same strategy and just keep increasing by $5? Is that what you would recommend?

May I get the strategy for a 3* for 3/6/09? If you need me to start another post, I can do that. We are just ready to firm up the hotel situation. It seems that others are getting them for $50-$80. The hotels seem to be increasing in price. Thanks!

Great feedback! Then I think we'll go with the Miramar (I'll use your link) as back up then I'll be back in touch in another week for 3* strategy help :).

Rochester Rich, if you find something before then, let me know.

Thanks to both for your help!

Forgot to address the question about the kids. We plan on bringing their blow up mattresses. I'm not sure I want the 2 year old on a bed anyway. So, we are ok with double occupancy if worse comes to worse.

I think the Doubletree would be an option. I could get the Hotel Miramar for $116 from Priceline's retail site. Or what seems to be the Normandie from Hotwire for $123. Knowing that Rochester Rich wasn't awarded the bid into the teens, I'm thinking I should maybe take the Miramar as a backup. From what I read, it's totally cancelleable until the week of the trip. Then I could bid again on Priceline in a couple days, right? As we've already said, the reviews are so mixed about both of them, it's hard to know what to do. Do you think the Doubletree is worth that much more? We just need some place decent to stay for the night before the cruise. The other option is bid at the 3* level. What would the recommended strategy be for that? RR said start at $80. Seems reasonable based on the other bids we've tried.

Thanks for all your help!

Well, unfortunately it didn't work. The process was simple the way you outlined it. What would you do at this point? I see that Priceline and Hotwire have 3-3.5* hotels between 113-139 (They've gone up $10 since I've been bidding tonight so that's a little concerning). Should I reserve something on Priceline's retail site and keep trying to bid? It's so hard to pick a hotel because the reviews are so mixed on every hotel. If we didn't have young children, I wouldn't even worry about it but I want to make sure we are in a fairly safe area. I guess it's all dependent on your needs/personality. Should I bid a little more up to about $110? If so, what strategy should I use and how long do I have to wait until I place those bids? 24 or 72 hours? Thanks for all your help!

Thereuare, thanks for the bidding information. I am going to digest it and try tomorrow when I'm a little more "with it." One more question before I try this...what does closing the browser do? Thanks!

Rochester Rich, I've been away for the weekend so I'm going to give it a try tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you know what I end up with.

Thanks for all the help!

I would say about 90-$95. Is that reasonable?

Rochester Rich, When are you going to start bidding for your other room? Are you waiting for a strategic time?

Thereuare, thanks for all the info. It all makes sense now! I would like the strategy for 3.5*, if you don't mind. RR has conviced me :).

Thanks!

Thanks, Rochester Rich and Thereuare for the information. I'm starting to catch on a little bit. There are a couple things I don't understand. What is the difference between the "retail" site and the "Opaque" site and how do I know which one I'm in? If I just click the link, will I be in the right place? Also, I finally see what you mean by clicking on the different zones to see what star ratings each zone has but I still don't understand how the rebid zones are numbered. For example, when I look at Priceline, Ponce is zone 4 but it looks like it is rebid zone 2. I'm not sure I understand why that is.

Also, you said "With your stay not until March..." Do you think I am bidding too early? Is there a strategy to waiting? Do you find that there are certain days, times, times of the month, etc. that are better than others?

Rochester Rich, I am going to be on the Serenade also! Thanks for elaborating on what rebid zones were called because the numbers are confusing.

I would also like to end up in the Sheraton but I think any of the 3 or 3.5 sound reasonable for one night. Is there a reason to start with the 3.5 stars? If I remember from the hotel list, the Sheraton is now a 3* (I don't want to lose this info by confirming that right now). I like your idea about having more options. We are actually looking for 2 rooms in case that would affect my strategy.

To confirm my understanding...

I'm going to click the San Juan zone (should I start in the 50's or 70's? I've seen both accepted lately)

Then I'm going to click San Juan and Cabo Rojo (Rebid zone 1)-The other night when I tried to click or unclick anything and everything was greyed out. Maybe that was a technical issue?

Then I'm going to come back to this site and

Click San Juan and Ponce-Guanica (Rebid zone 2)

Then I'm going to click all three because San Juan, Cabo Rojo, and Ponce-Guanica (Rebid zones 1 and 2) only SJ has 3*+

Did I get all that right?

I would be interested in a strategy for 3.5*. Maybe I should try that also.

Thanks for all the help. I appreciate it!

I have been lurking trying to understand the priceline rebid process but I think I need the remedial rebid for dummies course :)

I am trying to bid on a 3 or 4 star hotel in San Juan for 3/6. I tried to follow exactly what you told a previous poster to do but I just don't get it. I also read the articles about rebidding that you directed them to and I'm afraid I am confused about rebid zones versus regular zones and opaque versus retail. I think I need some hand-holding with my first Priceline experience.

This is the information (See below) I read that you gave the other poster. So far I've tried the first step of bidding 3*, Zone 1 but I was rejected. I tried to add zones (or in my case, unclick the other zones that Priceline was suggesting when I didn't win). I couldn't figure out what you menat by rebid Zone 2 versus Priceline Zone 2 because I don't see Zone #s. I'm sure it's blatantly obvious but I'm apparently a little slow. Any help you can provide would be appreciated! Thanks!

From a previous post...

At the 3* level you have two 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.

(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)

Select 3* San Juan...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $55, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* San Juan and re-bid zone2...

Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $65