Priceline Hotel: Newbie - just joined

[ilc]

Hi,

I really tried to figure this out on my own. I did read the board on what to do first, what to do before posting and checked the 14 days of winning bids. I'm not much of a risk taker, but I do want a great hotel without paying full price. It's a bit overwhelming to me, but I am confident I can do this!

I am interested in Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale or Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, 505 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. I tried to scan all the threads, but my eyes are quite tired from all the scrolling.

Kindly point me to where I can find the star ratings to read up on before I attempt bidding (I think Priceline would be ideal for me after reading the difference between that and Hotwire).

I can't seem to find the winning bids for these hotels and the search button only allows me to go back 14 days.

Are there other posts I should be reading that I missed?

Is anyone nervous their first time, or is it just me?

Thanks!

Feb 24-26-2011

Pre-cruise hotel in Fort Lauderdale

[thereuare]

Welcoeme to BetterBidding!

You can see a list of the hotels reported to the board at this Priceline Hotel List link.

Also, the SEARCH function on the board works very well (but only searches for 3 characters or more, so search for "Lauderdale" insteead of "Ft Lauderdale"). As well, you can use the QUICK SEARCH in the blue banner at the top of the board... enter "Lauderdale Pier" and you'll see all reported wins for that Pier 66 property... search for "Lauderdale Beach Hilton", etc, etc.

However, some other comments...

I am interested in Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale or Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, 505 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.... I think Priceline would be ideal for me after reading the difference between that and Hotwire

With PRICELINE there is no way to target a specific hotel in the zone and you have to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone at the star rating, or higher, that you select. With HOTWIRE you can take an educated guess as to the property being offered based upon the amenities shown before your purchase. With either service it's a risk and/or not recommended to choose the hotel you want and then try to win it, but if you are trying to target and/or avoid specific properties, HOTWIRE is usually the better option... what is it that makes you think PRICELINE is more ideal for you? (usually PRICELINE is a better option when lowest price is the primary goal)

Let's start with the above and we'll take it from there.

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

[Romelle]

Is anyone nervous their first time, or is it just me?

I think most everybody is nervous the first time. Some people just have enough sense to express it and get a little assistance. For that matter, I've bid on lots of hotels over quite a few years and I still get a little nervous. But in a fun way. The process is a bit addictive.

Unless I missed it, I don't think you mentioned the date(s) for which you wanted the hotel?

Thereuare gave you a really good start, and when you've worked your way though his suggestions you will be ready to truly get into the bidding process (or HOTWIRE if you decide to go that way).

Romelle

[ilc]

Hi,

I have read the getting started thread and what to do first, and want to make sure I understand so far, thanks for your patience!

1. With PRICELINE, I choose the area and stars and then bid on a price, if rejected, I have the option of waiting 24 hours or doing the techniques shown to re-bid.

With HOTWIRE, the same thing, but the price is actually already show to me already? Is this correct?

2. With PRICELINE, the page here under Florida for example, shows me the list of hotels that members have won under the star rating, so that is the hotel that I might get?

3. I'm from Canada, so I read the page for Canadians on how to use a zip code for my postal code, but enter my real address under lines 1&2.

How am I doing so far?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

1) correct

2) for the most part... those are the hotels you might get, but the lists only have hotels reported to the board, so there could be others and you could be the first to report a new hotel to the board (or you could win a hotel previously reported to the board at a different star level, as hotels are constantly upgraded/downgraded by PRICELINE as they receive and evaluate user feedback)

3) no need to mess with the zip code... PRICELINE now allows bidding from Canadian customers without any adjustments

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

[ilc]

I'm looking at Fort Lauderdale Beach or Downtown 4*

1. What should I start my bidding at for Priceline? Feb 24-26/11 - 2 nights

2. Other than the current winning bid page, I take it the Priceline Hotel List can change at any time?

TIA!

[thereuare]

What is your maximum bid for this stay?

I'm not sure what you're asking in the 2nd question, but the hotel list is updated whenever new wins (either star rating or hotels) are reported to the board.

So we don't suggest a strategy which goes higher than you're willing to pay, let us know your maximum bid and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[AaronJB]

Is anyone nervous their first time, or is it just me?

I think I was somewhat nervous, but it's one of those things where, having used both services I don't see how I could go back to paying full price.

I think the nervousness is there every time you use the service, but in a fun way - it's like rolling the dice, and in this case, if you research enough about availability and other factors, you can take some steps to reduce your risk. There's always going to be at least some risk when using the two services, but when you're paying in many cases substantially less than regular price -and that savings can go towards many other things - many, many people find the risk well worth it.

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

[ilc]

I'm looking at Fort Lauderdale Beach or Downtown 4*

1. What should I start my bidding at for Priceline? Feb 24-26/11 - 2 nights

2. Other than the current winning bid page, I take it the Priceline Hotel List can change at any time?

TIA!

Hi, I've never bid before but I'm willing to pay $80 to start? Is that too low?

[ilc]

Hi, I've never bid before but I'm willing to pay $80 to start? Is that too low?

For my second question, is this hotel list the correct page to view recent wins?

[thereuare]

The Hotel List contains all hotels reported to the board... to see winning bids enter "Lauderdale Downtown" and/or "Lauderdale Beach" (without the quotes) into the QUICK SEARCH BOX in the blue banner at the top of the board... this will give you a search for just the zones you're looking for.

Rates are date specific, and at the moment rates look very high for your dates... what is the best rate you're able to find at a 4* property thru conventional booking channels?

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

[ilc]

I got it, was looking at the wrong boards, thank you for pointing me in the right direction. Rates are well over $250 for our dates and more.

Another question, if a hotel is sold out through websites (hotel website, other booking sites), does this mean that it's not available through PRICELINE / HOTWIRE? Example (Renaissance on 17th St. Downtown).

[AaronJB]

If a hotel is showing as sold out on some travel websites, that would mean that it is less likely to appear on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, but it does not mean that it has no chance of appearing on HOTWIRE or PRICELINE - it has happened previously.

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

[thereuare]

Rates are well over $250 for our dates and more.

So with rates well over $250 is your maximum bid for this stay still only $80?

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

[ilc]

Hi there, I had asked what to start my bid at, I have never bid before, and I did read what others bid, but their dates and zone are not the same as mine. You asked me what the going regular rate for the hotels were and I found out it's about $250. Are you saying I should bid closer to $250? If $80 is not enough, then perhaps $150, $175? I have read posts on not to bid too high, so that is why I'm not sure, and I'm asking.

Thanks

[thereuare]

My point was that with rates at $250+ an $80 bid would be less than 1/3 of prevailing rates, which would not give you a very high probability of success. While i think $150 may still be too low, but it would at least begin to put you into the range where you might have a chance (and we'll start much lower as well in case something happens to be available for less). You can stop at whatever price point you're comfortable with, but if you want to give it a try you can proceed as follows:

At the 4* level in the Ft Lauderdale area you have SIX re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Select 4* Beach...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Downtown...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Beach and Downtown...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150

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.

[ilc]

Excellent strategy and I do understand it all now! I eliminated beach because I was afraid of getting Il Lugano, so I bid only downtown. I wrote down the 6 areas that have less than 4 * and crossed each one off to re-bid, 6 times, exactly as you advised. I was so nervous, but I truly understand it now!!

I obviously didn't get the downtown hotel because as you said, the rates are sky high rate now. I stopped at $115 as I ran out of re-bid zones.

I will definitely try this again and feel more confident.

The only part that I felt was really nerve wrecking was even though I saw the areas that were grayed out, I felt like the system might at any time change it's star ratings or trick me somehow.

Anyhow, thank you so much for your valuable tips and info. I have to admit, I didn't get it at first, or second, or third. I had to make myself come back here and read over and over again, but until you actually do it, then it all comes into place.

I have a back up hotel in Plantation so I'll stick with that.

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

Glad to see you dipped your big toe in the water... next time it will be easier to jump right in! :)

Where and how much is your back-up in the Plantation area?

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

[Romelle]

If your back-up hotel is cancelable, you can keep having all this fun bidding up until the very last moment before the cancelation deadline! Lots of people do that, just trying to improve their situation. Hotels can add rooms to Priceline inventory at any moment, so a bid that didn't work one day can work the next day.

Nice work taking the plunge finally.

And for the record, I approach new things exactly like you do. Very cautiously and with LOTS of questions.

Romelle

[ilc]

Glad to see you dipped your big toe in the water... next time it will be easier to jump right in! :)

Where and how much is your back-up in the Plantation area?

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

Thanks to you Thereuare I am now a novice Priceline addict! Our hotel is the Hampton Inn on SW. 6th Street. We got it for $135.00. I'm happy with the hotel, but since it's our first time in Fort Lauderdale, we would have preferred to be closer to Downtown to explore, and not have to rely on their shuttle service, even though it's free. Their shuttle to the cruiseport doesn't start until 11am, and even thought we won't be able to board our ship until then, we wanted to get to the cruiseport a bit earlier (around 10/10:30) to take pictures, etc.

That is why I wouldn't want to pay more than $120 since we'd need to factor in taxi costs to our rate (for a Downtown/Beach hotel).

Ok, I'm addicted to Priceleine and I'm thinking of 3* hotels now, since I know 4* is out of the question. The only thing is that I don't want Riverside Hotel.

My question is that the list of winning bids only shows 3* but Priceline is showing 3 and 3.5* for Downtown?

[ilc]

If your back-up hotel is cancelable, you can keep having all this fun bidding up until the very last moment before the cancelation deadline! Lots of people do that, just trying to improve their situation. Hotels can add rooms to Priceline inventory at any moment, so a bid that didn't work one day can work the next day.

Nice work taking the plunge finally.

And for the record, I approach new things exactly like you do. Very cautiously and with LOTS of questions.

Romelle

Yes, I'm become an addict, woke up this morning and I'm back on this board and looking around Priceline!! I'm glad I overcame my fear and that I wouldn't be able to do it. I kept thinking, hundreds of people are doing this all the time, and posting their winning bids, surely I can do it too!!

Thanks for your last comment, I didn't want to regret anything because I wasn't informed enough, so I had to ask questions (too many some times ...LOL) and really understand it thoroughly before jumping in. It all came into place once I got to the next page of the bidding process.

I will continue to try bidding, right up until our refundable date, but I'm stopping at 3* personally.

[ilc]

Hi everyone, a few questions

Re: Fort Lauderdale

1. PRICELINE has Downtown as one zone and HOTWIRE has Las Olas Downtown for their zone, are they the same listing zones?

2. PRICELINE has Hollywood for one zone and HOTWIRE has Hollywood Beach and South for their listing?

3. PRICELINE has 3 and 3.5* for Hollywood, but the winning hotel listing only shows 3*. What would I get for the 3.5*?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

My question is that the list of winning bids only shows 3* but Priceline is showing 3 and 3.5* for Downtown?

The hotel lists on the board only contain hotels reported to the board... there could always be others not yet know, and hotels previously reported may have been upgraded/downgraded since last reported.

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

[Romelle]

PRICELINE and HOTWIRE areas can (and usually do) have different physical boundaries. There rarely is a clean direct comparison between the areas. You have to study the maps of the areas in which you have an interest, rather than go by the names. And for that matter, both PRICELINE and HOTWIRE choose to change the boundaries and areas. I just noticed a new one for London for PRICELINE. At least new to me, although it may have been there for quite a few months.

When PRICELINE shows an area is biddable up to 3.5*, but there are only reports up to 3* in the list of hotels here, that can mean a few different things. First, maybe the 3.5* hotels have been there all along, but no one has reported the win here. Second, there may be an entirely new hotel offering from PRICELINE. And third, maybe one of the 3* hotels has had its rating raised to 3.5*s. Might be more possibilities, but that is all I can think of right now.

The whole situation is pretty fluid. Hotels have ownership and name changes too.

Romelle

[ilc]

Thanks Romelle