vulcan25 Posted August 15, 2010 Report Posted August 15, 2010 Hello,Two of us would be in DC for 3 nights 9/3, 9/4 & 9/5 in the first leg of our East Coast trip. We are flying into BWI on the night of 9/3. I am looking to stay in or around DC, in an area serviced my the Metro. Since we won't have a car, getting a hotel near a metro station is important. I have identified 4 such areas:1.White House - Downtown2.Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill area3.Crystal City4.Dupont Circle - Woodley ParkWe are not looking for anything fancy, anything in or above 2.5* is OK as we would be out for most of the day and would only need the place for the night. Using the PRICELINE link above I have bid upto $50 in these 4 zones without success.Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, which is very close to the Crystal City metro station, has rooms for $77 a night including taxes. I am looking for assistance in confirming my selection of locations and a strategy for bidding.Thanks in advance for any help.
thereuare Posted August 15, 2010 Report Posted August 15, 2010 Based upon the rate at the Sheraton what is your maximum bid for this stay?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or please use our Sheraton link as also founnd in our support page should you decide to book direct) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
vulcan25 Posted August 15, 2010 Author Report Posted August 15, 2010 Since the Sheraton is a 3.5* rated property on PRICELINE, I would be happy to get a 2.5* or above in the 4 areas mentioned in my original post for anything under $65 including taxes. Also, as in NYC, is it advisable to stick to 3* and above hotels in DC as well?
thereuare Posted August 15, 2010 Report Posted August 15, 2010 Also, as in NYC, is it advisable to stick to 3* and above hotels in DC as well?When purchasing an opaque hotel i think it's advisable to stick with the higher rated hotels whenever possible, unless there is a particular 'known' hotel at the lower star levels which you're trying to target and have a reason to believe you have a high probability of landing it. The star rating 'warning' is particularly true in NYC where hotels at the lower star ratings vary by such a large degree, and is likely 'mostly true' for DC as well, although admittedly i don't have as much 'deep' knowledge of the DC market as i do of the NYC market.At both the 3* and 2.5* level you have ONE re-bid zone.Select 3* White House and Convention Center...Bid $38, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $40, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Crystal City and Dupont...Bid $38, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $40, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Crystal City and Convention Center...Bid $43, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $45, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* White House and Dupont...Bid $43, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $45, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* White House and Crystal City...Bid $48, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $50, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3*Convention Center and Dupont...Bid $48, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $50, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* White House and Convention Center and Crystal City...Bid $53, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $55, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* White House and Convention Center and Dupont...Bid $53, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $55, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Crystal City and Dupont and White House...Bid $58, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Crystal City and Dupont and Convention Center...Bid $58, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Crystal City and Dupont and White House and Dupont...Bid $63, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65Since you only have one re-bid zone at both the 3* and 2.5* levels, you could go thru the above 3* strategy and if rejected close the browser, re-access PRICELINE, and go thru it all again at the 2.5* level. If you decide you don't need a 3* hotel and would be fine with a 2.5*, you can just substitute 2.5* for all instances of 3* above and bid accordingly (but i recommend sticking with 3* as per my comments above)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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
vulcan25 Posted August 16, 2010 Author Report Posted August 16, 2010 Followed this sequence of bidding, got Courtyard By Marriott Crystal City for $60 a night.Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $60.00Subtotal: $180.00Taxes & Fees: $34.02Total Charges*: $214.02This is a lot farther away from the Crystal City Station than the Sheraton, however they do have a Complimentary shuttle service to the Crystal City metro rail station from 6am to 10am & 2pm to 10pm.Thanks again for your assistance.
44disney Posted August 16, 2010 Report Posted August 16, 2010 For future reference, or for others, Arlington can be as useful (or more useful) than Crystal City if you want a hotel at or near a metro. I'm not sure about all star levels but at least some, including 4*, ONLY have hotels near metro stops.
yellowdog Posted August 16, 2010 Report Posted August 16, 2010 vulcan25Thank you for sharing your result with the board!Enjoy your stay.Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases.Yellowdog.
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