Priceline Hotel: 4* DC (Dupont Circle-Woodley Park) Hotel Palomar

[verga]

This is our first time to visit Washington, DC so we don't know what area is best for us although we read somewhere that the Dupont Circle is the more interesting place to stay. My husband and I are visiting from Sep 10 (Fri) to Sep 14 (Tues). We also understand that a Monday stay would cost more than a Friday to Sunday night stay so we may have to break up our bid in order to get the best price.

I have a PRICELINE $50 Hotel Cash Award that I can use for this bid with a max of $10 per night (expiring June 30).

Please suggest a bidding strategy. We would like a 4* hotel if possible but a 3.5* is okay too. I don't know what is a reasonable max bid or if it is too early to bid right now however I would like to use the Cash Award now before it expires on June 30.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[thereuare]

To begin, please note that you can use our PRICELINE link along with your bonus money as follows:

1) click the PRICELINE link on the board

2) go to the MY PROFILE >> MY REWARDS link at the top right of their home page

3) use the bonus money link in the MY REWARDS section of your profile (not a link from an email) and bid as usual

Researching this stay, i do think you would benefit from SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID. For the weekend, i suspect you'll be successful for ~$100/nite (give or take) whereas including Monday will take a bit more. Assuming ~$100 is the 'right' price for Friday-Sunday, i would try ~$110-$120 for the complete stay, if that is rejected, then try up to $100 for the Friday-Sunday nites. Not sure of your thoughts and/or how this fits in with your expected budget.

Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

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

[verga]

I see that quite a few are successful getting their bids accepted from $60 to $80 for a 4* weekend stay but the Monday stay appears to be problematic. I checked Hotwire and the price for a 4* is $109 for the weekend and $239 for the Monday stay and $145 for the complete stay (Dupont Circle).

Should I try bidding low first since I can holdout until June 30 (with cash awards)? Would I get better rate if I bid closer to my travel dates (even without cash awards)?

Should I bid for the Monday stay first up to $160 for 4* and if successful, try lower bids for the weekend stay up to $75 for 4*?

Any zone in DC (near metro) would work for us.

For a complete stay, I would like to start with 4* up to $100 then 3.5* up to $75 (and if too low, will increase bids later).

[thereuare]

Would I get better rate if I bid closer to my travel dates?

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

Should I bid for the Monday stay first up to $160 for 4* and if successful, try lower bids for the weekend stay up to $75 for 4*?

I would bid the complete stay first up to whatever limit you decide would be worthwhile to avoid the inconvenience of changing hotels. From there i would bid the cheaper weekend dates, then if successful, 'fill-in' the last nite.

Any zone in DC (near metro) would work for us.

You must be able to accept a hotel anywhere within the shaded boundary of the zone(s) you select... there is no way to select a zone and then add the caveat 'near a metro'. :) If you're ready to bid now let us know if there are other zones which are acceptable to you and we'll include them in a bidding strategy.

For a complete stay, I would like to start with 4* up to $100 then 3.5* up to $75 (and if too low, will increase bids later).

If you bid the complete stay and are rejected you then want to try for a 3.5* for the complete stay rather than SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID for a 4*?

Please be sure to click our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding and access your bonus money as described above (not using the link in any email sent to you by PRICELINE)

Thanks.

[verga]

I would like to bid now for Dupont, WH-DT, CC-CH. Is Georgetown a good, safe area?

My max for 4* is $105, 3.5* is $80 and 3* is $60?

[thereuare]

At the 4* level you have FIVE re-bid zones; at the 3.5* level you have TWO re-bid zones; at the 3* level you have ONE re-bid zone. 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.

Select 4* Dupont and Convention Center...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* White House...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Dupont and Convention Center and White House...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $103, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105

If the above is rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Dupont...

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

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* White House...

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

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Convention Center...

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

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Dupont and White House...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $73, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Dupont and Convention Center...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $73, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Dupont and Convention Center and White House...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80

I'd start with the above, if rejected we'll take it from there.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[verga]

I bid using your 4* strategy and actually changed the last 2 bids to $105 and $110 + my $10 cash award = $120 max bid and was rejected - no counterbid received either.

I didn't bid the 3.5* right now as we would prefer 4* at this time.

I'll try your 4* strategy again tomorrow.

[thereuare]

Keep us updated and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.

Please remember to use the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding (and not the links in any email PRICELINE may send informing you that you're eligible to bid again)

Thanks, and good luck with your next round of bidding.

[verga]

I tried your strategy again using your PRICELINE links but alas no luck in bagging a deal. This time, I added another rebid zone and bid up to $125.

I will try again in a couple of days. The median price today for 4* was $235 vs $240 2 days ago.

[thereuare]

If you're looking for a back-up reservation, Hotels.com has the Donovan House on sale for $155/nite (confirm yourself but appears to be cancellable up until the day before your arrival). This property has not yet been reported to the board via PRICELINE, but is rated 4* by Expedia and Orbitz... only 3* by Travelocity.

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

[verga]

Thanks for your suggestion thereuare. Although Donovan Hotel's booking is cancelable up to midnight prior to the first night stay, my credit card will be charged right away which kind of sucks.

Your charge card will be charged for the full payment upon submitting your reservation request.

I wonder if I should split my bids: 2 days (Fri and Sat) + 2 days (Sun and Mon). My sister has a timeshare and she can book us with Wyndham Old Town Alexandria (WOTA). The Sun and Mon rates (Wyndham points) are much cheaper than the Fri and Sat ones. There is nothing available for my dates at WOTA right now but it may open up closer to my arrival date. I am thinking of bidding for Fri and Sat and am hoping to stay at WOTA on Sun and Mon (we leave DC at 9:30 am on Tues).

[verga]

The median price was $159 so my husband tried bidding for the whole stay. I bid up to $125 ($115 + $10 cash award) using your PRICELINE links and strategy but unfortunately NO success.

[thereuare]

As per my first post in this thread, if you're going to try SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID i would try for the first three nites and then try to fill-in the last nite... either at the Wyndham or a hotel close to the airport (given your early departure and usually inexpensive rates in airport zones)

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

[verga]

I bid 4* up to $135 ($125 + $10 cash award) 3 times for the whole stay and up to $92 ($81 + $10) and $101 ($91 + $10) for weekend (3 days) for Dupont Circle (hoping to score Hotel Palomar) with no success, using your PRICELINE links and strategy.

I'll continue to bid but maybe wait a couple of days in between.

[thereuare]

I would inch up a few dollars your next round of bidding...

HOTWIRE still has their 4* hotel in this zone, with a very high tripadvisor user review rating for 4.5/5.0... i wouldn't want to see that one disappear while you're hoping for prices to come down by a few dollars per nite. My .02 :)

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

Good luck and keep us updated.

[verga]

Thereuare - the Priceline page shows a 30% negotiated special for Westin Washington Hotel (3.5*) at $124 for the whole stay and I can choose 2 double beds for the same price. I just spoke with my daughter. Although not certain yet, there is a good chance that she may join us in Washington, DC from Toronto, so having an extra bed would be nice, just in case she does join us. This hotel doesn't have the best reviews but it is central.

I am in a quandry here -

- I have bid 3.5* as per your strategy for the whole stay using the PRICELINE link twice (Wed and Thurs) up to $100 ($90 + $10 cash award) with no success and no counterbid.

- My heart wants to bid 4* at Dupont Circle for 3 nights up to $110 ($100 + $10 cash award). Although no guarantee, I hope to score Hotel Palomar (and experience the Kimpton touch). If we win our bid, maybe we can ask/pay for a 2 double beds upgrade on check-in. On the last night, we can stay in Crystal City .

We are actually taking the BOLT bus to NYC at 9:30 am on Sep 14 so staying in a central hotel is a plus since we would be lugging our luggage around.

So, at this point....weighing everything, it looks like getting a central hotel with 2 double beds is the best option.

Hmmm.. Should I just book the $124 Westin Washington special or wait until closer to travel date? Orbitz show the same deal but doesn't show 2Bs. For Orbitz, since this is a non-refundable deal, would their low price guarantee still be valid?

Thanks,

Verga

[thereuare]

I don't have much experience with Orbitz's track record for honoring their best price guarantee, but from their website:

Low Price Guarantee

If you prepay for your hotel and find the same hotel, room and dates at a lower price online, we'll refund the difference and give you $50 off a future hotel booking.

Of course you'll need to double/triple check the terms during the checkout process to see if there is anything which would exclude this purchase from their guarantee.

I too have yet to stay at a Kimpton property and look forward to experiencing their daily wine tastings, but ultimately it depends what type of experience you're looking for from this stay. (as well as your risk tolerance in regards to the occupancy issue)

Please note that besides links to PRICELINE and HOTWIRE, we also have links (in this thread and in the support page) to Orbitz as well, so please use the links on the board for whatever route you decide to take.

[verga]

I bid 4* using your strategy and PRICELINE link up to $150 ($140 + $10 cash award) for period Sep 10 - 14/10 - FAILED and no counterbid.

I checked HOTWIRE for period Sep 10 - 13/10. 4* Dupont Circle is available at $109 (previous nights were at $115). I checked amenities and it appears to be Hotel Palomar). If I add Sep 14 - this hotel is not showing up.

So I started my bid at $85 (using your PRICELINE link), adding increments of $2 or $3. No counterbid even at $105 ($95 + $10 cash award). I have 2 free bids left so I upped the bid to $109 ($99 + $10 cash award) and SUCCESS at last. Very pleased as I wanted to try out a Kimpton Hotel.

I will bid for the Monday stay (Sep 14) closer to my arrival date.

Thereuare - Thank you so much for all your assistance, specially the permutation formula.

Please edit heading to show Sep 10 - 13/10 $109, Dupont Circle, Hotel Palomar.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you're happy with the results and that the Palomar came thru for you as it get great reviews... we're happy to have helped. :)

Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.

If/when you need help with the remaining nite of your stay feel free to start a NEW TOPIC.

Enjoy this leg of your trip.