Priceline Hotel: 4* London (Kensington-Earls Court) Holiday Inn Kensington Forum

[elizat]

Hello, I'm looking for a bit of help on bidding for a hotel. Using the PRICELINE link from here, I've tried to bid for the last few days without success. I am going to be in London from March 20th for 7 nights. So far, my failed combinations include:

4 * Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Kensington, Mayfair, Notting Hill and Westminster up to $84 per night.

Before that, I tried the same star level for Bloomsbury, Mayfair and Westminster up to $83 per night, as well as those areas at $81 per night.

I was hoping to get something under $90 per night, but so far no counters at all. Does anything think I should add in Regent Park? It is my first time to London and I am taking my 15 year old brother on a spring break trip, so I want something convenient to transportation, nice area, etc. I have read that Wembley is a re-bid zone and I think I understand that, but it seems a bit further out and I don't know what it would be as convenient.

Any help to offer?

Thanks in advance.

[thereuare]

I don't think you're too far off from a winning bid, but it may take as much as $100 to be successful. If you want to try with your current $90 maximum bid you can do so as follows:

Select 4* Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Kensington...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Mayfair, Notting Hill, Westminster...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Mayfair, Chelsea, Kensington...

Bid $86, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4*Bloomsbury, Notting Hill, Westminster...

Bid $86, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Bloomsbury, Notting Hill, Kensington...

Bid $87, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Mayfair, Chelsea, Westminster...

Bid $87, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Westminster...

Bid $88, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Mayfair, Notting Hill, Kensington...

Bid $88, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Kensington, Mayfair...

Bid $89, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill...

Bid $89, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Kensington, Westminster...

Bid $89, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Kensington, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Westminster...

Bid $90

If you follow the bids as described you'll be able to make all of this in the same bidding session without any duplicates.

If the above fails we'll then discuss options regarding adding Regents Park and/or raising your maximum bid.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Romelle]

Wembley is indeed a free re-bid zone at the 4* level. The reason it is a free re-bid zone is it DOESN'T have any 4* PRICELINE offerings, so it can be safely used in bidding 4*s without chancing getting that area. It does have 3* offerings, and also the Wembley Stadium which might be an attraction if your brother is a sports fan. It is out a fair distance, but does have an underground station so it would be relatively easy to get to other areas of London.

Regent's Park has some interesting things also. You might look both of the areas up in Wikipedia and/or www.tripadvisor.com to get your impressions of them while you are pursuing the strategy thereuare just set up for you.

Romelle

[elizat]

Thanks for the help and tips!

For some reason, it won't let me do all the bids in one transaction. I get a message that it is a duplicate request.

I have broken up my bids as above, but by each day, if that makes sense, because it won't let me do it at once. I have gone up to $88 in my areas and have added Wembley as a free re-bid zone. I have had a counter of $111 so far. I'm going to keep working and see what I can do. Maybe once I hit $90 or 92 I'll have a win.

[thereuare]

For some reason, it won't let me do all the bids in one transaction. I get a message that it is a duplicate request.

Sorry about that. I had an error above but have edited accordingly... if you wait 24 hours from your last bid you should now be able to make all of the bids above in one bidding cycle.

Or based upon the $111 counter-offer let us know if you're willing to increase your maximum bid and we'll revise to your new limit.

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

[elizat]

^ Thanks for doing that!

For failed history reference, I went up to $92 this morning and was rejected- no counters either. I saw on the Priceline page that recent wins for London in 4* in my areas are at $100, but they don't give any info on dates, etc.

I'm going to keep working on it. I would have loved to pay under $90, but I have more room to move. I just wanted a room as cheap as possible! Right now, with taxes and fees at $92 per night, I think 7 nights was around $780.

[thereuare]

Since rates are date specific the $100 wins referenced may have little correlation to your own stay... how high are you willing to bid at this time?

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

[elizat]

I had a winning bid today. $94 per night and ended up at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum.

Breaks out as follows:

Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $94.00 (USD)

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 7

Room Subtotal: $658.00 (USD)

Taxes and Fees: $144.34 (USD)

Total Room Cost: $802.34 (USD)

It looks like it is in a good location and close to transportation as well. The same room on Expedia for my dates with taxes, etc. is $1300.00 for the trip, so I think I did okay. I generally would not pick a Holiday Inn, but it appears that I got a good deal in a nice area that is also convenient.

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Nice deal, and glad to hear that the hotel will work out okay for your travel plans.

Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.