Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC needed 9/16-9/19

niuniu_wang · August 27, 2009

I need a hotel room in MTE to meet my sister who has already reserved a room in The Benjamin. I used the strategy posted on the board to bid 4* hotel in MTE, CPS, MTW, TS and ESB. I failed even at $200/night. I followed the strategy exactly. Can anyone let me know why and how I should pursue? I am thinking if the time to check out is causing problem. I am checking in on Wednesday and checking out on Saturday. Do hotels prefer Sunday check-out? Following is what I am thinking ordered by my preference.

1. The best: check out on Saturday, stay in MTE hotels (The Benjamin is the best, but others in MTE are fine).

2. Second: any hotel in MTE, CPS, MTW, TS and ESB are fine, as far as lower than $200/night.

3. Third: check out on Sunday. Any hotel in those fine zones are fine.

4. Fourth: 3.5* level hotel in MTE

5. Fifth: 3.5* in CPS, MTW, TS and ESB

I appreciate your help.

thereuare · August 27, 2009

Since preference #1 has already been rejected, you can try #2.

At the 4* level you have FIVE 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 4* MTE, CPS, MTW, TS and ESB...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bdi zone3...

Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTE, CPS, MTW, TS and ESB and re-bid zone4...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bdi zone3...

Bid $165, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTE, CPS, MTW, TS and ESB and re-bid zone5...

Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bdi zone3...

Bid $185, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTE, CPS, MTW, TS and ESB and re-bid zone4 and re-bid zone5...

Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $200

Any questions feel free to ask.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

suntex · August 27, 2009

Not to be nosy,

But as of what I was doing,

for 9/17~9/20 between MTE, MTW and TS you're looking about $200 staying at Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

But that's for this combination only, I'm pretty sure you probably won't be able to go below $200 between MTE and MTW.

Because I tried that combination as well up to $190.

niuniu_wang · August 27, 2009

Tried your strategy already, but failed again. Before I bid again, I'd like to check with you to see if a Saturday stay is essential for getting the bid. If it does, I will try to do 9/16 to 9/20. Thanks.

thereuare · August 27, 2009

I don't think the Saturday nite is required... if you were successful by adding the Saturday nite it would likely be on account of the Saturday nite stay being cheaper than the other nites and therefore bringing the threashold for the required bid down.

Let's assume you could win at $225/nite for the 3 nites (which i think is possible/likely)... would you prefer to increase your bid to $225 costing you another $75 OR would you prefer to add an extra nite (which would still end up costing you more than increasing your 3-nite bid to $225... although you'll get an extra nite out of this stay, which i dont' know if that would be a postivie or negative for you)

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

niuniu_wang · August 27, 2009

I would like to do $225/night. But, can you give a strategy to bid a 3* hotel preferably in MTE? If it fails, other four zones with 3* hotel are fine. Thanks.

thereuare · August 27, 2009

Did you want to try for a 4* up to $225 first OR are you looking next to try for a 3*?

To confirm, you have done any 3* bidding yet, correct?

As well, i'm i'm understanding you correctly, you want to try for a 3* in the MTE zone up to $225, then if rejected, consider the other zones at the 3* level? (as an example, and these are ficticious prices, but you'd rather have a 3* for $220 in the MTE zone than a 3* in the MTW zone for $175??)

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

niuniu_wang · August 28, 2009

I haven't done 3* bidding. I want to bid 3* from the beginning (forget about previous 4* bidding). Is it possible to do it? The upper limit is $140/nite for 3*. Any 3* hotel in the MTE, CPS, MTW, TS, and ESB is fine. Could you please give me a strategy to follow?

thereuare · August 28, 2009

At the 3* level you don't have any re-bid zones.

Select 3* MTE...