Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Orange County (Disneyland-Garden Grove) Crowne Plaza

[TJB]

I am looking to bid either 5/30-6/5 or 6/1-6/5 in the Garden Grove area. I have a good rate for the first two nights (5/30 and 5/31) elsewhere, but am considering bidding all the nights for the convenience of not having to move hotels and if it will make a difference on the rate.

I thought it was interesting how when I started with the 5/30 date the rate for the remaining days remained low for the Crowne and the Hyatt, but when I did just the last four dates, the rate was higher for the whole week.

The rates for the Crowne Plaza are $70 (5/30-6/5) and $105 (6/1-6/5).

The rates for the Hyatt are $89 (5/30-6/5 going up to $99 on Fri.) and $99 (6/1-6/5).

The Marriott Suites is $125 and doesn't change with the date change.

The Sheraton is $112 (5/30-6/5) and $93 (6/1-6/5).

Do you think this will make a difference in the name your own price option? Would I likely get a better rate for the whole week if I bid starting with 5/30? (I just won't be arriving until late that night and don't know if that will influence the room I'm assigned.)

Thank you!

[thereuare]

There is no definitive answer, but i'll give you the two opposing views...

Longer stays can be more difficult since the hotel needs to be offering a deeply discounted rate for the entire length of your stay. Have a 5 nite stay and just one nite at the hotel is very busy so they don't offer any inventory to PRICELINE... you won't be able to win that hotel for the entire stay.

The other side, and what i suspect is occurring above, is that longer stays are more profitable for the hotel... guests staying longer are more likely to eat the restaurant, order room service, watch an in room movie, use internet, etc, etc. Therefore some hotels will discount a longer stay in order to lure in the customer (both from competitors as well as to entice the guest to stay an additional nite or two).

Nobody can say which scenario above will play out for this particular stay, as each hotel has their own business models and philosophies on revenue management.

Where, and how much, is your separate reservation for the first 2 nites?

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

[TJB]

I have a $59 rate at the Howard Johnson on Harbor for Sunday and Monday night.

Thank you for your insight...sounds like maybe I should try the whole stay first and if it doesn't come through I can keep my current reservation and try just bidding the remaining four nights. I know I have to be happy with any result, but I'll be crossing my fingers for the Crowne or Hyatt because I'm not a big fan of ART.

[thereuare]

I wouldn't give up your reservation just yet, but this seems like an easy decision... i'd bid for the complete stay as 1) it appears these hotels are encouraging/discounting longer stays and 2) i don't think the rate for the HoJo is that great, you can likely do better via PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, increasing your star quality for a similar or lower price.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[TJB]

I just bid for 3.5* with no success for the dates 5/30-6/5. I bid $35, $38, $39, $40, and $41. I guess I'll try again tomorrow.

I really thought I would hit it at $40 or $41.

[thereuare]

While their are wins at $41 and under, if you enter "Garden Grove" in the QUICK SEARCH box at the top of the board (in the blue banner), there are many more wins at amounts higher than this.

Given your back-up is $59, and at a lower rated hotel than you're bidding, and the remaining nites of your stay more expensive, i still think you'd be getting a very good deal with a bid higher than $41... what is your maximum bid for this stay?

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

[TJB]

I just bid again and got the Crowne Plaza which I am very happy with. I started with a bid of $40 and then increased it to $42 and it was accepted.

[AaronJB]

Congratulations on your success. :)

Quite a good deal for this Crowne Plaza property! Hope you are looking forward to your stay.

Can you confirm the dates of travel are 5/30-6/5?

Thank you for sharing your win with the board. Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

[TJB]

Yes, my dates of travel are 5/30-6/5.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for the follow-up.