Priceline Hotel: 4* London (Regents Park-Baker Street) Marriott Maida Vale

[kresi]

hi!

i am getting ready to bid on a 4* hotel in London (Notting Hill - Bayswater).

i won't bid until around the 14th of august, because we are flying standby and i have to make sure there will be some open seats.

traveling with wife and two little kids (both below 3 years of age).

i know, it's a little bit risky to use priceline bidding when traveling with kids, but i know that the hilton hotels accomodate 2 adults with two little kids in a regular room (although they suggest a deluxe room).

so the area i chose has only hilton hotels as 4* hotels.

i hope to get one for around $90.

what do you think?

thanks

[thereuare]

Please bump this thread once your flight plans are firm so we can see current rates at that time.

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

Thanks.

[kresi]

started bidding yesterday.

started with $65 for 4* at Notting Hill - Bayswater. declined.

added Bloomsbury - Marble Arch. declined

upped to $66 and added Kensington - Earl's Court. declined.

added Regents Park - Baker Street. declined.

i will increase my bid every day by $2 or $3. and i hope to get something around $90 around august 13th.

i used the the PRICELINE link on the board to begin my travel purchases.

[thereuare]

You can improve the way you're bidding as your current methodology risks an overbid in the zones you add later in the cycle.

If you let us know your maximum bid we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board for your purchases.

[kresi]

my maximum bid is $90 for a 4* hotel.

my first choice area is Notting Hill - Bayswater

second choice area: Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

third choice: Kensington - Earl's Court

fourth choice: Regents Park - Baker Street

should i start a new bid?

thanks

[thereuare]

Are you willing to pay more to be in your first preference zone vs. your second preferred zone, more to stay in the second preferred zone vs. the third, etc, etc... OR is your goal the least expensive 4* or better in any of the above zones?

piceline.hotwire

[kresi]

Yes, I would pay more for my first preference (Notting Hill) vs my second preference (Kensington) and so on.

[thereuare]

Yes, I would pay more for my first preference (Notting Hill) vs my second preference (Kensington) and so on.

You realize that you weren't bidding with this prefernce in mind with your previous bids? To confirm, you'd prefer a $90 Notting Hill property vs. a $65 Kensington property? If so, it will take longer to bid, but you have enough time to give it a try, although you'll need to be increasing your bids by more than $2-3 each time. Is this how you wan to bid?

Please confirm and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[kresi]

yes, this is how i want to bid.

[thereuare]

At the 4* level in London you don't have any re-bid zones. Taking into consideration your previous bids, i'd resume as follows:

Select 4* Notting Hill...

Bid $70, if rejected wait 24 hours and...

Bid $75, if rejected wait 24 hours and...

Bid $80, if rejected wait 24 hours and...

Bid $85, if rejected wait 24 hours and...

Bid $90

If the above is rejected we'll revise and incorporate your next zone into the mix.

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

Keep us updated and let us know how it goes.

[kresi]

all my bids up to $90 got rejected.

what's next?

thanks

[yellowdog]

kresi

Is $90 your max budget/night or can you go higher? If not would a lower star rating be an option?

I can't find the dates for your stay in thread?

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

Yellowdog.

[kresi]

it's for one night

august 20, 2010 - august 21, 2010

i will go over the $90, if necessary, but lower star rating is not an option.

the hilton metropole is $109 on HOTWIRE right now.

it's in the Regents Park - Baker Street area on priceline.

if nothing better comes up, i hope i can get the hilton metropole for $90. that would be ok.

thanks

[thereuare]

if nothing better comes up, i hope i can get the hilton metropole for $90. that

Since this property is in another zone, are you willing to start including other zone(s) in your bidding... or do you want to wait it out and try again only in Notting Hill??

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

[kresi]

yes, i am willing to start including other zone(s) in my bidding.

thanks

[yellowdog]

kresi

And the zones you're willing to stay in would be?

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

Yellowdog.

[kresi]

Notting Hill - Bayswater

Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

Kensington - Earl's Court

Mayfair - Soho

Westminster

Regents Park - Baker Street

thanks

[kresi]

i had my wife bid...

$80 Notting Hill - Bayswater - rejected

added Westminster - rejected

added Bloomsbury - Marble Arch and upped to $85 - rejected

added Kensington - Earl's Court - rejected

added Regents Park - Baker Street - accepted

i won the London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale

one night from 8/20/2010 to 8/21/2010

$85 + $22.64 (taxes & fees) = $107.64

the current PRICELINE rate for that hotel is $169

i think i got a very good deal

thanks

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you're happy with the results and this property works well for your plans.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.