Priceline Hotel: 5* Amsterdam (City Center and Museum Quarter)

[Kozachka]

I clicked n PRICELINE link from this site and bid $150 (or $170.36 with fees) for 1 night on April 26th. No luck. Hotel prices are very high that week-end as April 25th is Queen's Day. I reserved Marriott for about 200 EUR as AAA member but it pains me to pay that much for one night in a hotel. I am aiming for a nice property as this trip is for my spouse's birthday and we are travelling with our son so would like to stay as central as possible.

Should I use a free (?) re-bid for Amsterdam East and if so how much should I raise the price by? $50? More? Less? I would appreciate any insights re: Amsterdam bidding.

[WillTravel]

Does the Marriott rate allow three people, or did you book two rooms?

I wouldn't use Priceline for Amsterdam if you want three people in the room.

If you are getting two rooms, how about 4* bidding? That said, one reason I did not use Priceline for Amsterdam is that I didn't want the Moevenpick (4*). It seems like a great hotel, but not in a great location for getting back late at night.

[thereuare]

What is the actual date of your stay, the date(s) in your title 3/26-3/27 have already passed.

Should I use a free (?) re-bid for Amsterdam East

What zone are you refering to? Amsterdam East is not the name of a PRICELINE zone.

[Kozachka]

I am sorry, my brain must have been fried :). I was bidding well past midnight after a more than full day at work. I meant to write April 26-27.

And you are right, there is no such Priceline zone as Amsterdam East. I was referring to Amsterdam City Center South. It would be a free rebid since there are no 5* hotels. Just answered one of my questions. Amsterdam North does not have 5* properties either so I have 2 free re-bids. I would not be too disappointed if I end up winning Sheraton in Schiphol airport so can try Airport area.

Not too concerned about using the room for 3 people. I've been to most of Amsterdam 4-5* hotels in the last 12 years that I've regularly been travelling through Amsterdam and it's never been a problem. Nor was it an issue the few times I've booked through PRICELINE.

[Kozachka]

Marriott rate allows two adults and one small child to share a room so I have only reserved one room. I did not bid for 4* hotels for the fair of getting Moevenpick property, which in my opinion is not convenient to the Central Station and city center. It would not be worth the hassle with a small child and my husband would b!tch the whole time. He is not too big into saving money by sacrificing on convenience. We'd rather stay in a less fancy property that is centrally located.

[thereuare]

Should I use a free (?) re-bid... raise the price by? $50? More? Less?

Let us know your maximum bid for this stay we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

[Kozachka]

Let us know your maximum bid for this stay we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Since I can get Sheraton Amsterdam Airport hotel for 169 Euro or about $267 online, the most I'd be willing to pay on PL is $200-$220. So in case I get hotel a bit out of the center, I can spend the difference for a cab.

[thereuare]

There may be something happening in the city on this date as HOTWIRE shows NO hotels offered in the 'city center' zone. (EDIT: just re-read thread from top and it's Queens Day)

HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel for $156 in the Airport zone with Shuttle, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business icons, best guess is that this is the Crowne Plaza Schiphol. Would this work for your needs or would you prefer to bid higher, up to your limit, for the city center zone first? (if you go with this offering please use our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase)

Let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

[Kozachka]

Crowne Plaza Schiphol would not work for us. Sheraton is the only airport hotel that would work for us since it's connected to the terminal by a walkway and is the only 5* hotel in that area. Hilton (which is a 4* property I believe) is also VERY close to the airport, you can walk to it through the same walkway, but it does not allow two people in its deluxe rooms, only in executive ones. So I'd rather not bid for a 4* property.

I have checked Hotwire via you link before posting here and while there were hotels listed in the center when I originally posted (my guess Hilton Amsterdam) for $345 there are none now. Also want to correct myself, Queen's Day is April 30th but it is still driving hotel availability and prices for the week-end that I am interested in.

Look forward to you PRICELINE bidding strategy tips.

[thereuare]

So to clarify (sorry, one more question as i re-read the thread) you are looking to bid 5* in only the City Center zone... or are you bidding 5* for both City Center and Airport zone?

Let us know the above and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

[Kozachka]

So far I have only bid on 5* Amsterdam Center hotels but would be equally, if not more, happy to end up in a 5* Amsterdam Airport.

[Kozachka]

I bid through the posted link $150 again, this time for 5* in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport zone. My offer was rejected and I got the following message During our search we found a hotel room available for US$302 per room, per night. U-h-m, thank but no thanks.

Added City Center South zone and bid $175. Got the same message again. Did not accept it again. I can get Sheraton for about this much directly, why give business to PL?

So I added North zone and bid $200 - no go again. This time I was offered a matrix with PL regular prices.

Finally I bid $225 for a 5* hotel in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Center and got rejected. For some reason I was given another chance - I bid $235 for Amsterdam Center, Schiphol Airport, City Center South and North - and got rejected. Guess PL won't do the trick for this trip. HTH some one else :)!

[thereuare]

Thanks for the update.

If the rate at the Sheraton is cancellable i'd still continue to try PRICELINE every few days up to your check-in date.

Any changes let us know.

Enjoy your stay.

[Kozachka]

Tried Priceline using the link above. Started at $175 for Airport zone and with re-bids went up to $245 with no luck again. I've added both areas that have 5* hotels. Looks like 169 EUR Sheraton rate is gone, it is now 189 EUR. It was not refundable so I did not book it. Still am holding on to refundable 197 EUR rate at Marriot in Leidsplein.

[Kozachka]

I've bid all the way up to $299 and still no go :) . I am laying it off for some time. Guess it's just one of those times when there is no point for hotels to dump their inventory at PL.