Priceline Hotel: 5* Las Vegas (North Strip) Palazzo

[wanderfool]

Oct 1-3 or Oct 1-4

Attending a wedding at the Bellagio on the 2nd, and I'm trying to book a hotel nearby. Ideally looking for a 5 star hotel at max $100.

QUESTION 1: Can this be done, and if so how?

Thus far I have bid between $75 and $129 (just to test it out) in both the Strip North and Strip Vicinity South areas. No luck.

I read that if you take the hotwire rate and subtract 30%, that is realistic and do-able as a bid on priceline.

However, even that doesn't seem to be working, as the $100 - 129 bids were declined.

I have some time to bid, but need some help with a better strategy.

QUESTION 2:

Now that I have already gone to $129 and been declined, will priceline keep track of this history and only give me a 5 star if I'm close to that figure?

QUESTION 3:

Hotwire currently has 3 options for 5* hotels on the strip. Can you help me identify them?

HOTEL 1 =

5* Strip South Area Hotel on hotwire

$169 + Resort fee $15 extra.

Amenities:

Smoke Free Rooms

Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free.

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Pool(s)

Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal.

Restaurant(s)

Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary.

Spa Services

Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

HOTEL 2 =

5-star hotel in Las Vegas Strip - North

This hotel features the following amenities:

Resort

Resorts offer a complete destination experience. Facilities generally include a spa or fitness center, one or more swimming pools, and superior dining options. Depending on location, recreational activities may include water sports, golf, tennis or skiing. Coastal resorts usually boast ocean views or beachfront access. Note: A resort fee may be charged.

Suite

A guestroom designed for an extended stay and/or that is more spacious than the average hotel room. Suites typically offer residential-style furnishings, as well as separate living and sleeping areas; some also offer kitchenettes.

Casino

Property offers a full-service casino accessible from the lobby.

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Pool(s)

Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal.

Restaurant(s)

Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary.

Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Golf Nearby

Property is located within walking distance or a short drive of at least one golf course; an extra charge typically applies.

Tennis Nearby

Property is located within walking distance or a short drive of at least one tennis court; an extra charge typically applies.

Spa Services

Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

HOTEL 3:

5* Strip North Area Condo

5-star hotel in Las Vegas Strip - North

This hotel features the following amenities:

Spa Services

Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

Resort

Resorts offer a complete destination experience. Facilities generally include a spa or fitness center, one or more swimming pools, and superior dining options. Depending on location, recreational activities may include water sports, golf, tennis or skiing. Coastal resorts usually boast ocean views or beachfront access. Note: A resort fee may be charged.

Studio

Condominium offers a combined living and sleeping area, plus a kitchenette or complete kitchen.

Smoke Free Rooms

Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free.

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Pool(s)

Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal.

Restaurant(s)

Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary.

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Kitchenette

Accommodations include a stovetop or microwave oven, a sink and a mini-refrigerator.

Condo

Condos are typically larger than a hotel room. Most condos offer separate sleeping and living areas and a full kitchen or kitchenette.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

A few notes:

The price variation between PRICELINE and HOTWIRE varies by date, city and other factors. 30% less is aggressive; it's generally less than that (and it would seem to me as if the difference - on average - has narrowed a tiny bit over the last year.)

If you have bid $129 and that bid has not been accepted, you can bid $129 again. There is no way to know if inventory at that price point will appear between now and your trip, though.

5* Strip South = likely Vdara

5* Strip North = possibly Venetian or Palazzo

5* Strip North Condo = likely Trump.

I'm seeing the 5* Condo at $129. The Trump is the only 5* that has been reported to the board in the Strip North Vicinity-Condo area on PRICELINE. Would you be interested in trying for the Trump?

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

[thereuare]

To add to the above based upon information AaronJB provided, note that the Vdara has never been reported to the board via PRICELINE, and the Trump is not in either of the zones that you tried bidding up to $129, so you aren't really comparing apples-to-apples when trying to use the HOTWIRE prices to determine your PRICELINE bid.

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

[wanderfool]

Thank you for your feedback so quickly. IMPRESSIVE!

I'm not interested in the Trump. I've Heard too many bad things about it.

I'm aiming for $100 max. That particular day, I bid up to $129 just to see if it would make a difference. I will not do that again, as I have lots of time and also a backup plan (staying with a friend).

I'm specifically looking for a 5* to make it something special (and worth paying for a hotel).

With that in mind, what's my best strategy: Keep bidding each day and see what comes?

[AaronJB]

HOTWIRE's a good choice if you are looking for something in particular, as you can try to make an educated guess as to which hotels are showing. PRICELINE offers a cheaper rate, but one has to be more flexible as to which hotels they may get.

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

[wanderfool]

Got the Palazzo

$130 a night

Better than full price

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success and thank you for sharing your results with the board.

Can you please add a reply to this thread with the date(s) of the stay you decided upon so we can add this information to the topic title and enable your win to appear in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins.

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

Enjoy your stay.

[wanderfool]

Oct 1- 3, 2010

[AaronJB]

Thank you for the follow-up.