Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Austin (Downtown) Sheraton at the Capitol

[paintergirl]

I am trying to bid on 2 rooms in downtown Austin for April 21-26th. I would prefer a 4* but would be happy with a 3 1/2 * (especially if this meant I wouldn't have to pay extra for parking). I bid 3 times for a 4 *. $65, $70, and $75. I don't want to go much higher than that. So, then I tried a 3 1/2* at $65. All have been failed bids. Can you possibly help me get a room successfully? I am almost a week away from the trip. Thanks!

[yellowdog]

What is your max budgett/night for a 4* VS 3.5* ?

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

Yellowdog.

[paintergirl]

What is your max budgett/night for a 4* VS 3.5* ?

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

Yellowdog.

For 4* I probably wouldn't want to go any higher than $80/$85 per night. This would be hoping I could find reasonably cheap parking. For 3 1/2 * I would go up to $70 or so. This might be my better option since I would hopefully not have to pay for parking for a 3 1/2*. (I will be coming in 2 vehicles, one a cargo van that tends to be difficult in some parking situations)

Thanks so much!

[yellowdog]

Sorry to say that there's not much we can do to help you. You're $10 away from your budgett on the 4* and $5 on the 3.5*.

For the 4* would i go $79, $81, $85. And i would try up to $75 on the 3.5*. Or you have to lower your star rating or raise your budgett.

I looked at HOTWIRE and thre's nothing within your budget. best i found is 3.5* at $89.

Let us know.

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

Yellowdog.

[paintergirl]

Thanks so much for the help, and research. I tried $81 for a 4*, and $75 for a 3 1/2 * and didn't get the rooms. I will try again tomorrow and up my bid. I got the At&t conference center last year (4* for $75) I guess I got lucky last year! :) Looks like I will be spending a bit more.

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

[paintergirl]

Failed bids again 4* $86. 3 1/2 * $80. Will try again tomorrow. :)

[thereuare]

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option? The Friday and Saturday nites are pricing higher than the other nites of this stay.

Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.

[paintergirl]

It is not a bad idea. But, I am traveling with family, and have a chaotic schedule. So, I wouldn't want to risk having to change hotels.

I have failed bidding again. $91 for 4* and $86 for 3 1/2*

Can you help me what I need to bid to actually get the 3/12 star? I am getting worried that I am not going to get a room! Any help would be great!

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

There's a 3.5* in downtown Austin on HOTWIRE for $129. I'm guessing you're looking at a likely range of $97-110 for a 3.5* on PRICELINE.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

Plenty of re-bid zones at the 3.5* level in this area, so if you let us know your maximum bid we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[sailusvi]

We stay in Austin quite a bit, I usually get a 4* downtown for 79 bucks. Prolly something going on that week. Good luck

[thereuare]

We stay in Austin quite a bit, I usually get a 4* downtown for 79 bucks

sailusvi,

It would be appreciated if you started to share your wins with the board so that the information can best help other users.

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

Thanks.

[paintergirl]

Plenty of re-bid zones at the 3.5* level in this area, so if you let us know your maximum bid we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

I bid 3 1/2 * at 95$ and I still did not get the rooms. At this point, my max bid will be what I can get. I leave town in 5 days! I didn't think I would have to go over $100. The room has to be downtown due to the business I am in town for. Any other suggestions would be great!

I looked at Hotwire, and I didn't see anything that would work.

( I do have to wait 24 hours to rebid, correct? This is what I have been doing.)

[thereuare]

I do have to wait 24 hours to rebid, correct?

In this area not necessarily.

Re-bidding is adding a zone which only contains hotels which are lower than the minimum you have chosen... essentially allowing you to bid again immediately 'knowing' that you can't receive a hotel in the newly added zone since there are no hotels in that zone which meet the minimum star level criteria you have designated.

See this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained to learn how to determine your re-bid zones, and since you're new to the concept, it's highly recommended that you confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding. (HINT: at the 4* level you have EIGHT re-bid zones and at the 3.5* level you have SIX re-bid zones)

Let us know if you're able to determine your re-bid zone or if you have any questions in this regard, we'll then suggest s strategy for you to follow.

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

[paintergirl]

Thanks so much. Yes, I do know what you are talking about. I have done this before. I will take a look at the zones that don't have 4* or 3 1/2* and try to bid more.

[paintergirl]

Ok, I see that Central and Round Rock zones neither have 4* or 3 1/2*. I don't see the list of hotels in the other zones. ?? Sorry...

[paintergirl]

So, I added in the Round Rock location, along with the Downtown location. Failed bid for 4* at $105 per night. Accepted bid for 3 1/2 * at $100 per night. (Sheraton Austin @ the Capitol)

This is more than I wanted to pay. But, at this point I am happy that I at least got a room.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

While perhaps a bit more than you originally set out to spend, this is is a very nice, and substantial, discount vs. a conventionally booked room for these nites.

Glad to see you're happy to have gotten this stay settled and this property will work well for your needs.

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

Enjoy your stay.