gleff

It's an alright piece -- actually does a pretty good job of explaining some useful things for the uninitiated. I spent a long time with the author explaining rebids and going into greater depth than could ever appear in a Sunday paper (including how to figure free rebids when there aren't any zones without the quality level you're bidding for, as well as how Priceline's revenue model works). In the end, he used a pretty run of the mill bid of mine as an example. And by the way -- when he wanted to know the taxes and fees on the room, he just looked up the bid here on this website. :)

Interesting that your average bid was $50. As I understand it, the average Priceline bid across all regions and quality levels is $50.

Or possibly next Sunday -- since I don't see it online yet and the Post usually puts their Sunday sections up on Saturday.

Check next Sunday's (7/20) Washington Post.

Your Offer Price: $45.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $90.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $22.28 Total Charges: $112.28

First bid: 4* MTE $75, rejected Second bid: Added UWS and bid $85, rejected Third bid: Added MTS and bid $95 Your Offer Price: $95.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $95.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $20.32 Total Charges: $115.32 I added Upper West Side because it has no 4*. I then added Midtown South because I've never seen a sub-$100 price accepted on a 4* property there, hence it served as a free re-bid. With the first and second offer, I assumed the hotel would by the Grand Hyatt. With the third offer I figured it could have been any 4* in the zone. Not at all displeased with the Waldorf, and only about 3 blocks from the reason for being in New York. :)

Ok, I bid to US$69 and received the Marriott Courtyard CDG. Not a $40 deal as many have gotten at that hotel, but still better than the alternatives -- by far, IMHO.

I've bid 3* CDG up to $61 with no luck so far for the night of 7/27 (overnighting on the way back from SOF). The Marriott is pricing out @ 125 Euros on the web. Thoughts or suggestions? Anyone know what the 2* property might be?

Hotels seemed pretty jam packed across the board in Detroit that evening. Don't know what's driving that. This was my third bid (using both of my 4* rebids). $82 had been rejected. $84 accepted. Your Offer Price: $84.00 Number of Rooms: 4 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $336.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $54.12 Total Charges: $390.12

So in this special case, it comes down to whether you're willing to gamble the $20 and whether you're willing to settle for the lesser property. In the example above, if you absolutely don't want the Grand Hyatt, don't bid the zone. (Including don't bid 3* at a price that the hotel will accept -- in this case, ~ $75 -- because Priceline could even upgrade you.) If you don't really want the Hyatt but would accept it, it may be worth a $20 overbid on the chance of the better property. But you're absolutely right that a reject $75 and then a $95 bid is the best possible world. Thanks! :)

In general that's right, but let me ask a question with one counterexample. In the Midtown East zone of New York City, a 4* $75 bid generally yields the Grand Hyatt. Bidding $20 more generally yields one of the other possibilities (e.g. Waldorf Astoria, W). I've never seen the other hotels come up with a $75 bid. So while it's possible that PL could stick you with the Grand Hyatt @ $95, I don't think PL could give you the W for $75. I guess my point is that while bidding higher doesn't guarantee you a better room, it's still sometimes worth the risk on the chance of getting the better property -- especially if you'd really value a hotel other than the Grand Hyatt. Thoughts?

Your Offer Price: $48.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $96.00 Taxes: $12.56 Processing Fee: $11.90 Total Charges: $120.46

(DON'T KNOW HOW I MANAGED TO TYPE $35 IN THE SUBJECT LINE. MODERATOR, PLEASE EDIT TO $48. THANKS!) Bid 4* Galleria at $42 and was rejected. Priceline countered with $54. I declined. While I had gobs and gobs of free rebids, I didn't feel like spending the time going up a buck or so at a time so I met them halfway. Bid $48 by adding Hobby Airport zone. Got the Omni, which is the closest hotel in Houston to a 9am meeting. Perfect. :) Your Offer Price: $48.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $48.00 Taxes: $7.65 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $61.60

Actually, I bid for this room and then moments later realized I needed a second room. I bid again with the exact same request and came up with a second room. It was a great hotel. :)

This hotel is definitely Alexandria-Mt. Vernon. I've nabbed it for folks for less than $40 several times. The closest hotel to my home, actually. They have a shuttle to the metro, and on a nice day I wouldn't mind the walk either (though it's probably ~ 15 mins that way). Right next to a Giant grocery and a Holiday Inn that you risk getting at the same zone/quality level on PL. It's about a mile from Old Town.

In order to exchange Hilton points into airline miles, please see http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/e...xchange_2.jhtml 10,000 points converts to 1,500 airline miles in: Aero California American Airlines Continental Airlines Hawaiian Airlines LanChile*(kms) GlobalPass Mexicana Airlines

Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $95.00 Taxes: $11.93 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $112.88

Going to the Freddie Awards and this is the conference hotel. Discounted conference rate was $79 Here's what I got: Your Offer Price: $32.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $32.00 Taxes: $2.59 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $40.54

Actually, no -- this was a booking for someone else who is a bit overzealous in planning. They're flying SEA-IAD in December and spending a week. So they're already booked for their flights with confirmed upgrades and now they have their hotel... A full 10 months in advance! 2 rooms, 8 nights.. didn't have to break up the stay at all.

Your Offer Price: $98.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 6 Subtotal: $588.00 Taxes: $100.98 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $694.93

Your Offer Price: $56.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $56.00 Taxes: $3.92 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $65.87

Your Offer Price: $60.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $120.00 Taxes: $10.80 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $136.75

Your Offer Price: $36.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $36.00 Taxes: $3.98 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $45.93

Your Offer Price: $46.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $92.00 Taxes: $10.48 Processing Fee: $11.90 Total Charges: $114.38

Your Offer Price: $55.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $55.00 Taxes: $4.94 Processing Fee: $5.95 Total Charges: $65.89