Priceline Hotel: Bidding Strategy-Kamuela Resort

[PatShaver]

We're hoping to use Priceline to get the Hilton Waikoloa next summer. Has anyone had problems with this hotel and bringing children? I don't want to ruin or vacation but these prices sure look a lot better than the $214 on their websit.

Also, how soon should I start bidding?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I don't suspect you'll have a problem withing bringing kids along in Hawaii as it's usually a bigger problem in large cities that notorious for small rooms. I'd suspect less of a problem at a resort property, but there is always a risk, and you have to calculate whether the savings are worth it or not. Also, i'm refering to 2 kids... not a family of 8 :)

Keep in mind that although the Hilton resort is the only resort that has been reported in this zone, there could always be others that we don't yet know about (i don't know the area well enough to say).

As to when to start bidding i prefer to bid as soon as my plans are firm. Gives me time to try some lowball offers and it's always better to have time on your side. Let us know if we can help with a strategy.

Here is another thread you may want to read: SHOULD I BID EARLY OR LATE?

[PatShaver]

Thanks for your reply, thereuare!

I researched the hotel on their website and all rooms are either 2 doubles or a king and a sleeper sofa. I confirmed this with the hotel front desk and it's no problem to bring 2 children with a Priceline confirmation. However, they were really trying to sell me on booking through their website!

[PatShaver]

I need help trying to identify a 3-star hotel in the Waikiki "Near Beach" area. I'm considering it for a group and because we have children, we are using Hotwire rather than Priceline.

Here the information on the hotel: Hotel, Near Beach, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness Center, Business Center, Laundry Facilities for $96 a night.

[bbbb]

What are the dates that this comes up for?

[PatShaver]

It's for July 6 - 9th. I think I've determined that it's the Ohana East.

[thereuare]

Yes, seems to be a match for the Ohana East based upon our HOTWIRE HOTEL LIST (second post in the thread).

Please let us know if you ultimately end up taking this property and how it works out, and please use THIS LINK should you decide to purchase it.

Thanks!

[PatShaver]

After checking here, Hotwire and Priceline for months to book hotels for a group of 16 for July 6th - 9th, the group finally agreed to book the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach for $159 a night through www.bookit.com.

Priceline made me nervous because we all would want non-smoking and two double beds. And, then, I didn't want everyone to be mad if we didn't get the "right" hotel. Hotwire was a good alternative for us because of the bedding issue but the Outrigger on the Beach was not offered and that was our first choice of hotel. HHV was tempting at $176 a night but the reviews were better at tripadvisor for the Outrigger.

I wanted to share this for others that are looking for a deal and wanted to be comfortable with which hotel they were getting. I hope it's ok to post this. Take care!

[LoneStar]

For others wanting to go this "safe" route, make sure you check the Entertainment Card rates with Outrigger/Ohana and Aston (the two biggest Hawaiian chains) before booking with an outside agency. My experience -- especially with Aston -- is that the 50% discount is better than other offers.

FWIW, I really only recommend this strategy for those needing non-standard accomodations (those desiring a condo or an unusual property, like the Waimea Plantation cottages). Otherwise, we've been having remarkable success "guessing" priceline and hotwire Hawaiian hotels, and the prices are usually significantly lower.

[PatShaver]

I'm trying to bid for a resort in the Kamuela area for July 2 - 6 (4 nights). I put in unsuccessful bids for $130, $135, and $140 by using the re-bid areas of Hilo and Kona. I know that you're not supposed to be trying to get specific hotels but I really want the Hilton because we have kids. I've been running the Packages feature with Priceline and the Hilton comes up for all those dates.

I hesitate to bid too high because I'm afraid that I will get the Hapuna Prince. I can bid for less nights but I don't understand why it would show up in the Packages feature for all 4 nights but not be available. Should I bid for 2 nights and try to add additional nights? I have backup reservations for $245 a night with breakfast included. Thanks!

[thereuare]

I don't see the Hilton appear thru the Vacation Package for these dates... are you selecting Hawaii-Big Island as the destination?

[PatShaver]

I tried it again and when I put in a package request for July 2 - 6, 2005 for the Big Island from SFO for 2 adults, the Hilton Waikoloa Village is my first selection for $1,180 and the Hapuna Beach Prince is my second selection for $1,146. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[PatShaver]

I'm finding when I use other dates for the Packages section of Priceline, that the Hilton is less expensive and most of the time, it is less than the Hapuna. I think the price is not low enough for me to win or if I keep bidding higher, I will get the Hapuna.

For example:

July 2 - 6 Hilton Waikoloa $1,180 Hapuna Prince $1,146

June 4 - 8 Hilton Waikoloa $950 Hapuna Prince $1,062

I think I need a situation like June 4th - 8th to win. Don't you agree? Have people bidding for the Hilton seen the prices go down as the dates get closer? The hotel lists the lowest prices for the July 2 - 6th dates as $239 a night while the June 4 - 8th dates are $219 a night.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

I think your assessment is correct, although not as conclusive as you'd like to believe (ie- it's not foolproof).

I'm still not seeing the Hilton show up on a vacation package search for 7/2-7/6 :) (only when i change the check-out date to the 5th am i able to see it).

[PatShaver]

I think the Package section is not working consistently. Now when I try it for 7/2 -7/6, it does not show the Hilton. So I changed the dates for 7/1 - 7/5, the Hilton shows up. Then I changed the dates for 7/2 - 7/5 just to see what the price of the Hilton versus the Hapuna Prince is and the Hilton doesn't show up at all! :)

[LoneStar]

Sadly, the packages feature seems less reliable of late (I hope it's not priceline's attempt to thwart us from gaming it!).

Regardless, if you want the Hilton, break up your stay into the minimum nights you are willing to accept and bid $130 and then up to $135. You will either get thumbs up or thumbs down, with very little risk of getting anything else. And, of course, you can rebid again as your dates get closer.