Priceline Hotel: Bidding When rates change Downtown Los Angeles

[jerry2004]

Hello - I'm currently in the process of bidding for hotels in Downtown LA for 3rd Feb - 7th feb.

I've noticed on the hotels own websites that the price of the rooms decreases on the 4th Fed (looking at Expedia and Marriot for example).

Would this affect my bidding prices? Say for instance if I bid on 4th-7th would I get a lower bidding price accepted? Or is it averaging out my bidding price across the 4 days? So I'm going to have to up it?

Hope that makes sense.

currently bidding at $57 for 3 star downtown using the PRICELINE link

[thereuare]

It depends upon the hotel... it used to be that your bid price needed to be high enough to win the most expensive nite of the stay on its own, but as technology has evolved, most hotels average the price over the entire stay (although if prices are really high for that solo nite, there may be no inventory given to the opaque suppliers, at which point it doesn't matter how much you average it, you won't be able to win the entire stay). Even if the hotel does average their opaque rate, SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID can still be beneficial if you're willing to change hotels during the stay.

Historically HOTWIRE has had a better history of averaging the rates, but the gap has been narrowing over the years.

My guess is that you're going to need to be closer to the $65-$75 area to succeed for this stay... what is your maximum bid?

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board for your purchases.

[jerry2004]

Thanks for your reply. I thought there might be a couple of options to get over this problem. I'll take a look at HOTWIRE. I am willing to take the first night somewhere else (perhaps at the airport) in order to get the cheapest option overall for my stay. I'll continue to bid for the 4 nights probably up to $70 then if still nothing I'll split the dates. Although I do wonder why this Feb date causes such a change.

[thereuare]

The increased price could be any number of things... a big event in the city that day or the last day of a large conference at which point everyone heads back home and rates come back down to lower levels.

Keep us updated and thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

Good luck.

[jerry2004]

Just an Update. Up to $68 for 3* 3rd Feb-7th Feb still no success. Going to try again starting at $55 and diiferent dates. Not sure if 3-6th Feb + 7th at a different hotel or 4th-7th and the 3rd at a different hotel would work?

Any suggestions?

[yellowdog]

jerry2004

Not sure if 3-6th Feb + 7th at a different hotel or 4th-7th and the 3rd at a different hotel would work?

Any suggestions?

How does the nightly rate look at the hotels you have checked if you break them down. Please look at the hotels websites when getting information about the rates.

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

Yellowdog.

[jerry2004]

jerry2004

How does the nightly rate look at the hotels you have checked if you break them down. Please look at the hotels websites when getting information about the rates.

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

Yellowdog.

Hi Thanks for getting back to me.

The Marriot has a higher price on the Thurs 3rd Feb and the Sunday 6th Feb - 4th +5th (Fri + Sat) are the cheapest nights.

The Kyoto is constantly $125 a night (is this not coming up in Priceline as they have allocated their Priceline rooms already?)

Millenium Biltmore the 3rd Feb night is higher than the rest of my 4 nights.

I'm thinking now of trying to get the Marriot for the two cheaper nights for $55 and just bid on the one night either side and have to change hotel?

Thanks.

[yellowdog]

I looked at HOTWIRE for your dates and they have a 3.5* $86/night. I can see that you have tried up to $68/3* but do you have the time to try that bid again or try $70 or $72 for your complete stay?

Yellowdog.

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

[jerry2004]

Hi Thanks for your reply. I've just had a look at the Hotwire one you've mentioned (thanks for that).

It's still a bit more than I'd like to pay. I'll try at $70 then if nothing after that I'll bid again by changing the dates and try splitting the dates. I may spend the 3rd at a hotel near LAX then travel into downtown the next day and see if I can split it that way. I'll keep you posted.

[yellowdog]

Ok, just let us know when your location plans are firm and we'll take a deeper look at this.

Good luck with your next round!

Yellowdog.

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

[jerry2004]

Currently bidding on 3* downtown at $70 for 3-6 Feb

And currently on 3* downtown at $61 for 4-6 feb to see if that made any difference.

What would you recommend a reasonable price would be for the 3* ? As I'm almost at the limit of what I would like to pay for a 3* through Priceline.

Thanks for your help.

[Colfax]

HOTWIRE rates have gone up since you started.

3* Downtown 2/3-2/7 now $110.

3* Downtown 2/4-2/7 now $91.

You've bid to $70 on PRICELINE for four nights, but only to $61 for three nights. I suggest trying to $70 for three nights.

If $70's your firm limit you may have to go 2.5*...or keep trying to $70 for 3* every few days now and hope that rates come down.

[jerry2004]

Hello I've actually been bidding on three nights - 3, 4, 5th Feb -up to $75 now for downtown 3*. I tried bidding on 2 nights to see if I could get those two nights cheaper (4th +5th) but hasn't worked so far. What shoud I be bidding in your experience on this now? I'm already over what I'd like to pay and not had any success?

Thanks.

[thereuare]

What shoud I be bidding in your experience on this now?

For which set of dates?

Do you have to stay Downtown... the Airport area is looking relatively cheap for these dates.

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