Priceline Hotel: Need help with bidding strategy! 4* Miami Beach area

[Normstorm]

Hello!

I want to find a great 4 star hotel in Miami Beach or in South Beach using Priceline.

Dates: 27-29th January 2011

If it is possible to get for 130-160 dollar per night it would be great!

180 dollar is maximum.

Please help me with a bidding strategy because i'm new at this.

And please share your earlier results for this area.

Thank you very much! :)

Best regards,

Normstorm

[thereuare]

There are multiple South Beach zones (Central, Collins Ave, Ocean Drive) within this area... please go to PRICELINE and look at the map of this region and let us know which zone(s), by PRICELINE name, you're willing to accept. We'll then have a look at rates and see what might be possible within your budget.

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

[Normstorm]

I want these areas.

My favourite is nr 1.

1. South Beach - Ocean Drive

2. South Beach - Collins Avenue Oceanfront

3. South Beach - Central

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

Is price more important than zone... would you prefer a less expensive hotel in the Collins Ave or Central zones vs. a more expensive hotel in the Ocean Drive zone? Also, in your fist post you also mentioned the Miami Beach zone... did you still want to include that in your bidding as well?

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

[Normstorm]

I dont want to include Miami Beach any more, because i saw that the cruiseship departs from south of South Beach.

The location and the luxury is more important than the price.

So i happily pay 30-40dollar extra per night to get i good looking hotel in a good area.

I have never been in Miami so i dont know so much about the different areas.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

So how high do you want to bid for your first choice of zone (South Beach - Ocean Drive) before adding the 2nd and 3rd choice areas?

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

[Normstorm]

If it is possible to get a good hotel for 130-160 dollar per night it would be great!

But for the right hotell 200 dollar is maximum.

So 130dollar maybe would be my first bid i think.

But like I said i need help with how I should bet because i dont know what i should start with or anything.

[thereuare]

If it is possible to get a good hotel for 130-160 dollar per night it would be great!

But for the right hotell 200 dollar is maximum.

You're purchasing an 'opaque' hotel so you're not going to know if it's the "right" hotel until after you commit to the purchase.

Since you prefer the first zone over the other two, you can basically:

1) try for the least expensive hotel in any of the three zones OR

2) try up to a certain price in the first zone (say $150 to pick a number), then if rejected try the other two zones up to $150, if that is rejected then re-try for just the first zone again (say up to $180) if that is rejected try for the other two zones up to $180, then if that is rejected re-try for just the first zone again up to $200, if that is rejected then try for the other two zones up to $200. Of course if you really want the first zone you could bid just that zone up to $200, then if rejected try for the other two zones at a lower price.

The numbers above are just chosen for example and the bid prices you choose may be different based upon your need to stay within a certain price vs. getting a hotel in your preferred zone.

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

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[Normstorm]

I tried to bid first 160dollar for Centra South beach with no luck.

Then with Ocean Drive.

Then with both areas and 190dollar without luck.

Then i got a suggestion to raise 40dollar.

But i quit.

I booked the new fantastic 4* hotel Grand Beach Hotel instead for 260dollar including tax per night thru www.otel.com

440sqf with oceanview.

Not that central but very luxury and new.

[AaronJB]

Thanks for closing the thread.

Enjoy your stay.