hootio

After trying numerous times for 3* hotel all over most of the Portland area, I had incrementally bid up to $74 and still not offered a rebid opportunity, I decided to take a calculated gamble.  I dropped the star rating to 2.5 in the Hillsboro area (our preferred area) and ended up getting a hotel that is not on the Betterbidding Priceline list.  Judging from reviews, it seems like a decent place to stay and it saved me atleast $50 over 3 nights. 

First bid at $46 got accepted. Stayed here in June and it was a nice, clean hotel which is conveniently located for shopping, and dining. I had the coupon for $7 off per night so I am only paying $39 per night. Of course I used the PRICELINE link before starting my bidding.

Started my bidding in the East Zone of Prague, looking for a 5* at $71, but was rejected. Added the West zone for free re-bid zone at $72 but was also rejected. 24 hours later, tried the East zone again for $73 and rejected...added the West zone for free re-bid and got accepted at $75. Used the PRICELINE.com quickquote link at the top of the page!

Followed the same strategy as a previous post. Started with a $65 bid for 5* in the Pest region but was rejected. Re-bid adding the Buda region and won the 5* Hilton Budapest Westend for $67 per night. Again, thanks to the information shared by others and don't forget to use the PRICELINE link!

Using the information from other bidders, I managed to get the Hilton London Olympia in Kensington. My first preference was actually in the Finsbury and Islington area with a starting bid at $92. With each re-bid zone, I increased my bidding at increments of $2 and the results are as such:

$92 - Finsbury and Islington

$94 - Mayfair - Soho

$96 - Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

$98 - Notting Hill - Bayswater

$100 - The City and London Bridge

$102 - Kensington - Earl's Court

Surprised with the result in the Kensington area, it is a Hilton with okay reviews and a 2012 Olympic makeover. Either way, managed to get the hotel for the weekend nights at a decent price so I am pleased about that.

After patiently bidding for weeks looking for a 4* central London hotel in the following areas:

Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

Kensington - Earl's Court

Mayfair - Soho

Notting Hill - Bayswater

Regents Park - North London

The City and London Bridge

Westminster

I reached my max bid of $125...

Today, I took a chance by expanding my bidding zone and adding Finsbury and Islington with a starting bid of

$85 - Rejected, added Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

$90 - Rejected, added Notting Hill - Bayswater

$93 - Rejected, added Mayfair - Soho

$95 - Rejected, added Kensington - Earl's Court

$97 - Rejected, added Westminster

$99 - Accepted!

with the winning bid at Hilton London Islington. Hotel has decent reviews and most importantly within minutes to a tube station. It isn't central London but with convenient transportation...and priced under my budget...i'm very satisfied with the win.

Again, rates have been marked up quite a bit for dates of 9/18/11-9/20/11 and it appears that splitting up my stay was the best option.

As always, thanks to the BetterBidding community for sharing all their wonderful wins and strategies...and of course, started all my bids with the Priceline links!

First off, thanks again for all the tips and information posted on this site by all the members and administrators. Of course, I used the Priceline link on this site and won the following:

4*

Hilton Dublin

3 Nights (Oct 2-5th, 2011)

7/18/2011 - $65 Rejected

7/19/2011 - $70 Rejected

7/20/2011 - $71 Rejected

7/21/2011 - $72 Rejected

7/22/2011 - $73 Rejected

7/23/2011 - $74 Rejected

7/25/2011 - $75 Rejected

7/26/2011 - $77 Rejected

7/28/2011 - $77 Success!

Market Price: $160/night

Seeing as my previously rejected bid of $77 (with no counter offers) was exactly the same as my winning bid...it might be the case that some rooms have been just put up on the PRICELINE block for Dublin? Either way, patience and persistance seems to pay off.

After several days of bidding, I got 1 night for Oct 5th-6th at the Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport Hotel for $47. Pretty decent reviews for 3* hotel within 10min walk to Gatwick Airport for my morning flight home!

Here's my bidding history:

7/18/2011: $42 Rejected

7/19/2011: $43 Rejected

7/21/2011: $44 Rejected

7/22/2011: $45 Rejected (Counter Offer of $60)

7/23/2011: $46 Rejected (Counter Offer of $61)

7/25/2011: $47 Success!

Followed all the tips (and PRICELINE links) from this forum....thanks to everybody for their tips!

Tried to get 4 nights...bid up to $105 for 4* in the following areas:

Mayfair - Soho,

Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

Notting Hill - Bayswater,

The City and London Bridge

Westminster

No Success...re-bid with dates split up and added Regents Park-North London and finally got Marriott Regents Park

Seems like Sunday, September 19th, 2011 is a busy date because retail hotel rates seem to go up for that night.

Will follow up with the remaining 2 nights of my trip in a new thread when it gets booked.