Priceline Hotel: help with 4* palm springs, CA 4/30-5/2/05

[jonas1978]

Hi,

I just happened upon this forum. THis is a great resource, thanks for organizing and adding. I plan to post my bid as soon as I get one...

for palm springs, CA, a 4* hotel, on 4/30-5/2/05, what should be starting bid be?? there are 2 other zones which don't have 4* hotels, so i at least have 2 more chances after my original bid.

thanks for your help!

jonas1978

[Guest aldo]

This is the weekend of the Coachella Valley Music Festival. There may be no availability anywhere in the area through Priceline. Rates are high and choices are limited on Hotwire. Palm Springs Hyatt Suites (a 4*) shows $244 on HW and direct on Hyatt.com: $309 for Saturday, $179 on Sunday.

It's going to be tough. Big weekend with a Saturday night checkin... hope you have a back up reservation, you may need it. Good luck!

[jonas1978]

Thanks for the info Aldo...

So should I start bidding a little under Hotwire's price?? Or start very low and wait for a counter offer??

jonas1978

[Guest aldo]

The vacation package on Priceline for those dates shows availability at the PS Hyatt, but it is much more expensive than the weekend before or after (Sat-Mon). PD does have resorts, which you could be upgraded to. If you're ok with Palm Desert, then you actually have 3 free rebids (A, A+B, A+C, A+B+C). I don't think you could get this under $125, so if you start there and add $15 or $20 per free rebid, you might get a counter offer to tell you what it's going to take, if it's going to take at all. If no luck, keep an eye on Hotwire and try again every 72 hours.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Rates at HOTWIRE are in the $200's :) ... if necessary are you willing to bid this high?

Do you have a back-up anywhere (and if so at what price?)

[jonas1978]

Hi,

THanks for the 2 advice posts... against the rules, I have no backup reservation! I am planning to make these later tonight. I think I will give Priceline a shot tonight and see what happens!

THanks again,

jonas1978

[thereuare]

If you haven't bid yet and would like a strategy to follow let us know your maximum bid and we'll try to advise accordingly.

[jonas1978]

tried to bid today on priceline. difficult indeed! but worth a try, i guess...

4/30-5/2/05, 2 nights

1st bid $75 4*+resort Palm Springs

2nd bid $90 4*+resort Palm Springs + Indio

3rd bid $120 4*+resort Palm Springs, Indio + Indian Wells/Rancho Mirage

all denied. perhaps i'll try again, maybe with 3*? its very expensive and soldout this weekend (probably due to Coachella Music)

thanks for your help,

jonas1978