ibh02 Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 This is the first time I'm bidding on priceline with Canadian credit card. The location I want to stay in is in seattle. What's the best location?My buget is 50-100 USD including all associated fees. How many stars should I bid? Oh, the date is july 23-24.What do you think Link to comment
WillTravel Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Hi, will you have a car with you on this trip? Are you considering parking fees in this total?Am I correct in assuming you want a bid for the night of July 23, leaving on the 24th? Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 yes, will have a car, so it must include parking fees... I don't mind staying at holiday inn or days inn... as long as it's about $50 or less a night. Link to comment
WillTravel Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 In that case, you might want to consider a 2.5* bid or less in an outlying area. Take a look at some of the offerings in Renton and near SEA airport, and perhaps some other areas, and see what you think.Anything in downtown Seattle will undoubtedly require extra parking fees, which might be quite expensive. This is true even for 1* hotels in downtown Seattle. Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Thank you for the quick reply. I've seen $50 USD a night for 3 stars near the airport & renton, what are my chances? Link to comment
WillTravel Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Those 3* hotels are much more likely to charge for parking, even in outlying areas, than lesser-starred hotels. But I think you have a good chance of success at a rate lower than $50. Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 do you know how much hotels charge for parking? just approx. Thanks for your input! Link to comment
WillTravel Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Check the Seattle Airport Doubletree web site for starters. I should add, that if you bid for a lower-starred hotel, you might get a 3* hotel anyway on an upgrade, and not be able to avoid parking fees. So that's a risk to factor in. Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 if I book two rooms at the same time, does that reduce my chances? Link to comment
WillTravel Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 I don't think that would reduce your chances of getting an "upgrade". Link to comment
AEmgee Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 ibh02, you might be able to get rooms at the 3* Coast Hotel in Bellevue for under $50 (they have availability for $89 on their website). I would start bidding at $40 and using free rebids, go up $1 or $2 at a time. I think free rebids are Bothell, Lake Union, Lynnwood-Edmonds, and Univ of Washington - Northgate.Make sure to use the BetterBidding.com link, which can be found here:http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?act...T&f=426&t=4561&Given such a last minute bid, I think this is your best bet mainly because Bellevue has so many free rebid zones.There is free parking at the Coast, although be warned that you could also get the Doubletree (possible) or Hyatt (very unlikely) in Bellevue - both hotels that charge ~$12 for parking! This is the "risk" of using Priceline.Good luck! Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 What do you mean by "free rebids are Bothell, Lake Union, Lynnwood-Edmonds, and Univ of Washington - Northgate."Thanks Link to comment
AEmgee Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 You need to do some reading...http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?act...=ST&f=173&t=16& Link to comment
shammes53 Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 If you are bidding for a 3* hotel in a certain zone and are rejected on your first bid, in order to bid again you must change one (or more) items relating to your stay. You can change the date(s) of your stay (last thing you want to do) or add another zone or change the the star quality you are bidding on (it will always be lower) The recommended thing to change to keep bidding for a 3* is to add other zones (one at a time) that only have hotels available at star ratings below 3*, usually highest is 2 1/2 stars or even 2 * hotels. Before starting your bidding, look at each zone seperately and note the highest star quality in each zone (put in a check mark in only one zone and click next to do this) Ypu will then see the star ratings that particular zone has available for bidding. Those are your free rebid, for Seattle they would be:Bothell 2 1/2*, Lake Union 2 1/2*, Lynnwood-Edmonds 2 1/2*, and Univ of Washington - Northgate 2 All other zones would have 3* or higher. By adding the free rebid zones, you can keep bidding in the same zone (say the airport zone) at 3*, remembering to increase your bid as well each time (I'd say $3 - $5 each time) Hopefully with 4 rebid zones you will be able to secure a winning bid. If you are rejected on all bids close your browser and start over (if you are willing to stay in a different area with 3* hotels), choose a different zone than the first time (say Renton-Kent) and repeat procedure from above. It is always important to look at recent winning bids and re-check zones each time you bid (they can change anytime, higher star rating can be added/taken away) In all it would be possible to make 20 bids for hotels 3* or above in the Seattle area, making 5 bids in each zone that have 3* hotels (4 zones) and adding the free rebid zones (4) to the opening bid. The most important thing to remember when bidding Priceline is that your are bidding for a certain area (zone) and star rating, never for a particular hotel (although hoping always to get a decent property in the end) Good Luck! Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 thank you so much for your replies. last question... do you think I can get 3 star for downtown seattle for the dates specified? @ $50? Link to comment
shammes53 Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Not likely the downtown area is a lot higher than other zones, your dates in particular there may be nothing available. See this thread:http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?act...T&f=155&t=15534SEA Airport or another area would be more in your price range (for a 3*) Link to comment
AEmgee Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 For downtown, you're probably looking at a winning bid of closer to $70 + parking. Unless you have a specific reason why you need to be downtown, it would be much cheaper to stay elsewhere and just commute.Personally, I would avoid the Airport zone because almost all hotels there charge for parking. I still think you could stay in Bellevue on a winning bid of between $45 and $50. Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 anyone know the 2.5 stars hotel in downtown seattle? Link to comment
AEmgee Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hotel list for SeattleWinning bid for 2.5* downtown would probably be $50+, which is a moot point anyway since all 3 are sold out for your dates. Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Date: July 23-24Radisson Hotel Seattle AirportBid : $45Status: AcceptedThanks everyone!History bids:$50 downtown - not available for 3 stars Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Glad to see your success.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 maybe $40 would have gotten the same bookings.. hmmm what do you guys think Link to comment
shammes53 Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Was $45 your first bid in the zone? If so, you could have started lower and used the free rebid zones discussed in my earlier post. Recent bids won in that area range from $35 - $45, so it's hard to say if less than $45 would have gotten it, but with rebid zones you can work your way up to your set price (if you have one) Link to comment
AEmgee Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Congratulations on your first winning bid!Be sure to ask for a quieter room, as this hotel is practically on the runway :) Also it charges for parking. Link to comment
ibh02 Posted July 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 thanks guys! Yeah. it was my first bidding...I wonder though, if I walked in to like days inn, or holiday inn what price would I get? Link to comment
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