Priceline Hotel: Help with strategy for 4* downtown Memphis

[Turquoise]

Hi,

I'm brand new here, and I've never tried PRICELINE or HOTWIRE. I heard some horror stories about Hotwire, so I'm hoping my first experience trying Priceline or Hotwire will be positive. What I'd like is help on a strategy for PRICELINE bidding for a 4* in downtown Memphis, and the one I really want is the Westin. The dates would be September 19, 2010 for four nights, and hoping to get it for 110 or less. Any other tips or information would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you so much!

[yellowdog]

Welcome to BetterBidding :)

You can't bid on a specific hotel when using PRICELINE. You need to be willing to stay at any 4* in the zone you're bidding at.

If you're trying to target a specific property then HOTWIRE can often be a better option if you're successfully able to identify it based upon the star rating and amenities shown before your purchase... the trade-off is that HOTWIRE usually costs a little more than PRICELINE, so you need to decide what is most important to you for a given stay, the lowest possible price OR the ability to take an educated guess as to the property you may receive.

Let us know how we can help you further.

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

Yellowdog.

[Turquoise]

Thanks for the reply, yellowdog. You know, I was just thinking, awhile after I posted this request, that this would be the answer. I have seen the hotel I wanted offered on Priceline's retail section, and was speculating whether or not it would be offered in their bidding section (based on what I read in the FAQs here). I'm pretty sure I've seen it on Hotwire, but today the rate they were offering was the same rate as Expedia was offering (Expedia Special Rate). I'll do a little more research on the Tennessee forum regarding posted wins before I decide what my next course of action will be. I'll definitely use your links when browsing and booking.

[Turquoise]

I just noticed today (07/23/10) that Expedia has inserted "Expedia Unpublished Rate" into their search results...looks like their take on Hotwire. Any chance that this board would include an "Expedia Unpublished Rate" forum? What about "Travelocity Top Secret Hotels"? Just wondering...

[thereuare]

The Expedia Unpublished Rate are HOTWIRE hotels, so you can use the HOTWIRE information on the board for those listings.

We're trying to gather data on the Travelocity Top Secret properties and users are reporting them in the Other Hotel Deals forum with the words "Top Secret" in the topic title. As we get more/enough data we'll figure out the best way to collect and display the information.

[Turquoise]

Thanks for the info.

Let's say I didn't have a specific hotel in mind...may I ask for help with a strategy for bidding on Priceline for a 4* downtown Memphis hotel for the dates of September 19-23/10 for $110 or less? Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Is your desired budget $110 "all-in" (w/taxes/fees) or $110 + taxes/fees? The known 4* properties in this zone are a bit expensive for these dates, and while I'd recommend starting lower, I'd guess it may take as much as a $110 bid, based upon the rates I'm seeing in terms of HOTWIRE and regular rate.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Turquoise]

Hi AaronJB,

Let's say it's $110 not including taxes/fees. Any idea what would make these dates more expensive?

[thereuare]

At the 4* level in Memphis 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* Downtown...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone4...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone5...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone4...

Bid $110

Any questions feel free to ask.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Turquoise]

Hi thereuare,

Thank you so much for the detailed strategy and the link. I will let you know how it goes, and will use your PRICELINE link on the board. I'm not quite ready to buy the product, until we know for sure that we really are going to be able to go, but either way, I'll report back.

Thanks, again, and I really appreciate all this information-sharing and help!

[Turquoise]

Update:

I decided not to use PRICELINE at this particular time, after discussing budget, etc. with my travel partner, as well as doing some extra research on probable hotel wins and their reviews on TripAdvisor. I guess I'm not too much of a gambler. Even though there are some good deals to be had on four star hotels, the extra costs (parking, etc.) for choosing a downtown location, seemed too great. I thank you all again for this website and your invaluable advice, and plan to use it always in the future, and will use your PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links when I am ready to "gamble" (I know, HOTWIRE may be more suited to my personality).

[thereuare]

Thank you for closing this thread with your decision.

Please check our support page for your hotel direct purchases where we have links to most of the major hotel chains and online suppliers.

Enjoy your stay wherever you ultimately end up.