honeymooners Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 Please provide me with a bidding strategy for a resort hotel in Kaanapali for 5.15 - 5.22. Here are the published rack rates:Westin - $248Hyatt - $280Sheraton - $345Free re-bid zones: Kahului, KiheiNoticed some winning bids around the same time for $150. Is that where I should start?TIA!Honeymooners Link to comment
bschnuck Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 Yes, $150 is the perfect place to start. Be patient, as i've learned from the people here, patience is the key. You should be able to get it for $150. Be willing to break the date range apart as well. It helps. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 Welcome to BetterBidding!Did you see and understand the thread on RE-BIDDING? Feel free to ask any questions that you may have and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 I used the link you provided.Started off with the Kaanapali area and checked ResortBid $150RejectedAdded free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $155RejectedAdded free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $160RejectedShould I follow the same stategty in 72 hours? What happens when you break the date range? Is there a possibility of getting two different hotels? How should I break the bids down?Thanks! Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 In splitting the bid there would be a chance of receiving different hotels, as discused here: SPLIT PRICELINE BID.Is this an option for you? Let us know either way and we'll advise on how to proceed. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 I'd accept the risk if the reward is big enough. What do you think the per night savings would be...$25 or more? If the answer is yes, then I'd try splitting. If it's most likely $20 or less, I'd rather up my max bid. Thoughts? Thanks for your help! Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Try bidding again as follows:Started off with the Kaanapali area and checked ResortBid $170Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $175Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $180If rejected try the bid split as follows:Started off with the Kaanapali area and checked Resort for 5/15-5/20Bid $150Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $155Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $160If rejected try the previous series of bids for 5/15-5/19Hopefully you follow the above, but if not ask any questions you may have. Thanks for continuing to use the link you have been. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Waited 72 hours from my last bidUsed the SB linkFollowed strategy (started @ $170) #1RejectedFollowed strategy (split dates 5/15 - 5/20) #2RejectedFollow stategy (split dates 5/15 - 5/19) #3RejectedAs a final attempt, I split the dates to 5/15 - 5/18 and bid up to $160RejectedGiven my history, how should I bid in 72 hours? Thanks! Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Rates are now higher than 3 days ago when we suggested the strategy above... bymp this thread a few hours before your 72 hour lock-out expires and we'll take a look at current rates at that time.Thanks for trying your bids thru SavingsBarn.com :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Hello, another 72 hours has passed and I'm ready to bid again.Here are current rates:$345 - Sheraton$269 - Westin$280 - Hyatt ($269 on Expedia)Please provide a bidding strategy...thanks!Honeymooners Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Start off with the Kaanapali area and checked Resort for complete stayBid $170Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $175Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $180If rejected try the bid split as follows:Started off with the Kaanapali area and checked Resort for 5/15-5/20Bid $150Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $160Added free re-bid zone and upped the bid to $165If rejected try the previous series of bids for 5/15-5/19I'm almost certain you could have success for 5/17-5/19, but since this is neither a begin or an end date, it's too risky bidding for it as you could then be faced with two hotel changes.Thinks may not 'break' for a weeks yet but i would try the above in hopes of resolving it a bit sooner. If you're nervous about not having a hotel i would book a fully cancellable back-up as it will likely make the entire process a lot less stressful for you (and it's also always better to bid with a level head). Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Thank you -- I'll keep you posted. It's true -- a level head is a good thing to have when bidding! Link to comment
LoneStar Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there's no reason to continue bidding at this point. The packages feature shows that there is no priceline availability in Kaanapali below $200 for ANY of those nights.So you have some choices. The first is to wait. There's not a lot of time left, but there's certainly a few weeks. Just wait. In the meantime, it might be a good idea to call one of the hotels and ask if anything is going on in town those days. I find it odd that May would be so tough.The second is pick another island. Even if you have non-refundable, non-changable tickets, the extra airfare to a neighbor island may be a lot less than the "surcharge" for staying on Maui that week. Think about splitting your time.Finally, do you have any family members with Starwood points? Make that their wedding gift. :) MAUI WESTIN Link to comment
LoneStar Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 I'm almost certain you could have success for 5/17-5/19, but since this is neither a begin or an end date, it's too risky bidding for it as you could then be faced with two hotel changes. That's interesting, thereuare. I do see the rates dip a bit for those 2 days, but probably not enough to hit "the usual" discounts. For instance, the Sheraton is coming up at slightly less than $200/night after airfare on the packages front. (Most nights, the cheapest is about $230.) I don't think they'll sell it for $150.I agree, though, the best thing to do is wait. Or figure out someplace else to stay. Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 It's bidding time again...I called the hotels to asked if there is something going on and the only thing they show for that week is the International Canoe Festival. It doesn't sound that big but they did say that people visiting for the event are staying at their resort. I just looked at the packages and the Hyatt, Sheraton and Westin aren't event showing up for that week. However, if I search for May 15 - 21 the Hyatt shows up. I have SPG points for one night at the Westin so we could always stay there on our last night.I've booked the Maui Westin at the SPG rate of $260 a night as a backup. I have until April 5 to cancel.Is it worth it to bid for the entire week given that info? It it typical that rooms open up closer to the actual travel dates or is this a bad sign for future vacancies? Switching islands is not an option and it is unlikely that I'll be able to find 24,000 SPG points as suggested by Lonestar.Thank you! Link to comment
sk84fungirl Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 honeymooners,I've been unsuccessful with my bid for a hotel in this area as well. However, I am also being patient. I have booked a backup hotel as well. Mine is with the Hyatt. It also includes a $25 a day resort credit. That brings the per day cost to under $200. So, I'm comfortable with what I have if I can't get a room in the $150 range via Priceline.Good luck to you. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Rates change, both up and down... book a cancellable back-up and continue with your bidding. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 sk84fungirl,Thanks for the feedback. Where did you find that rate for the Hyatt? Link to comment
LoneStar Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 It's not really a question of whether hotels "show up" on the packages page. What matters is that the price, after subtracting airfare (about $180 pp if you use HNL as the origin) is within "the ballpark" (say 30 bucks/night) from what folks have been successful in bidding. If the hotel is priced a lot higher on packages, it's unlikely there's "a deal."As far as getting 24,000 SPG points, there's nothing to stop you from splitting up your stay. You're not going to get a deal as good as that one on priceline for Maui (60 bucks a night -- the Hawaiian hotel deal of the year!!), and you're probably not going to get a week at the same hotel anyway.Good luck. I'm off to the Big Island now. Where hotel prices are mercifully a little cheaper. :) Link to comment
bluedog925 Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 We were in Maui last year during the Canoe Festival. It's not that huge of a deal that it would impact the hotels that much, at least we didn't noticeany large groups at the Hyatt. The Canoe festival was held under theBanyan Tree in Lahaina, but like I say, it didn't seem to be like, say, aLas Vegas type of convention packed to the gills with canoe festival people.I'm somewhat surprised the rates aren't a little lower. This is the low-priced season in Maui before the summer rush.Guess it must be all those people flocking to Hawaii instead of theirEuropean trips since the dollar isn't that strong against the euro. Link to comment
honeymooners Posted March 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 I was able to snag 5 nights (May 16 - 21) at the Maui Westin for 20,000 Starwood points plus $300. I booked the first and last night at the SPG 35% off rate of $260. The total cost of my trip is $820 for 7 nights and I had to give away a free flight on America West in exchange for the SGP points. A 4.5 star resort on Hotwire in Kaanapali just dropped to $199 so perhaps some inventory has finally opened up. A little too late for me, but regardless I ended up with a smoking deal.Thanks everyone!Happy Honeymooners Link to comment
sk84fungirl Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Wow, that is awesome. Smart thinking. Link to comment
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