HardBoiled Posted January 11, 2011 Report Posted January 11, 2011 As the thread title states I'd like to ask for your assistance with a bidding strategy.I'm fine with using either Priceline or Hotwire.My budget is flexible around $120 not including taxes. Location is important, we'd prefer the Hyatt Regency but will consider other 4* properties in the immediate vicinity. We like the public transportation options the Hyatt Regency offers at it's front door steps. This isn't as important as location but cheaper parking would be nice as well.Thank you and I look forward to your ninja-like bidding strategies :)
thereuare Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Based upon current prices i'm not sure if $120 will be enough for these dates, but to give it a try:At the 4* level you have FOUR 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.(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)Select 4* Financial-Embarcadero...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Financial-Embarcadero and re-bid zone4...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $120Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
HardBoiled Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 Thank you for your reply.Based upon current prices i'm not sure if $120 will be enough for these dates, but to give it a try:How high do you think we'll have to go to?If anyone else has suggestions, a bidding strategy or other 4* hotels we should consider ... please chime in :)
Romelle Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 It might be a challenge. For your dates Hotwire has a 3 1/2* for $153 and a non-opaque 4* for - gasp - $339. From the calendar of wins there were only a couple lower star less expensive wins for USE. However, on the retail side of Priceline the low 4* in the area was the Hilton at $157. A good sign.Romelle
HardBoiled Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 Maybe I picked the wrong week to visit SF :)Is there some sort of convention going on in SF during that week?Regarding the 4* bidding strategy, how much should we start our bids at?
Colfax Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Location is important, we'd prefer the Hyatt RegencyThe Hyatt is sold out for your dates. Is the Hilton Financial District an acceptable location?Are you willing to bid any other Downtown zones (SOMA, USE, USW)?p.s. Hi, Romelle!
Colfax Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Is there some sort of convention going on in SF during that week?MacWorld is Jan 26-29. Convention calendar says 35,000 expected. :)
HardBoiled Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 The Hyatt is sold out for your dates. Is the Hilton Financial District an acceptable location?In order of preference:1) Hyatt Regency2) Le Meridien - do you have any bidding strategies for the $130 range?3) Omni - do you have any bidding strategies for the $130 range?4) HiltonI suppose the Hilton would be fine if those dates are available and the price is reasonable ($100-ish?).Are you willing to bid any other Downtown zones (SOMA, USE, USW)?Sorry I'm not familiar with those areas, what do they stand for?Since we're only there for a few days I'd like to stay close to the fishermans wharf or financial district/Chinatown.
Colfax Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 You can't bid for a particular hotel on Priceline. Based on pricing for your dates if you win something in Embarcadero-Financial zone it will probably be the Hilton, which seems to be your last choice. Do you still want to bid that zone? If so you can follow the strategy thereuare gave above. You don't have to go to $120. You can stop at $100 or anywhere you like.Since you want to be near Fisherman's Wharf what about bidding Priceline's Fisherman's Wharf zone? FW zone only goes to 3.5* but all the 3.5* have good reputation there.I think you'll have a better chance of success in FW than Downtown. The MacWorld people will be preferring Downtown because it's near the Convention Center. Hotwire has a 4* in FW for $114. Would you like to try up to $100 for a 3.5* in Priceline's Fisherman's Wharf zone? Or try 4* in Financial-Embarcadero first?
HardBoiled Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 Now we're considering changing our vacation dates so it doesn't coincide with any major conventions or gatherings. The only downside is Southwest Airlines will charge us an additional $230 (total) change our flight. Although it will cost us more, going in the Spring season should result in warmer and better weather.Under normal circumstances for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings ... how much can we expect to get the Hyatt Regency for? We're looking at anytime in March, April or May 2011.
Colfax Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 There isn't an "average" March or April rate. Rates can be high or low any day of the week, any month, depending what's going on in town on your exact travel dates. There are conventions and events throughout the year.You can plug different sets of dates into Hyatt's website and see which are cheapest.Spring weather is usually better in SF than January but you can have a good time in January too. If you still want to visit in two weeks I think you have a good shot at a decent hotel in Fisherman's Wharf for under $100.Or if you'd rather wait for Spring we'll be happy to help you then too.
slruud Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Nothing special about the Hyatt, but other options available.For the OP's current January dates, Lastminutetravel.com has the Clift for $107/nite. Close enough to public transportation or a short walk to it.
Romelle Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Sorry I'm not familiar with those areas, what do they stand for?SOMA, USE, and USW are respectively areas # 7, 10 and 11 on the Priceline bidding list of San Francisco areas. The abbreviations are mostly used to save on typing. The numbers aren't a good idea to use, since they change from time to time. I'll give you one - Union Square East.If you click on the "detail map" along side the name you will get a very nice map of the particular area and a nice general description.Have you found the "Calendar of Wins" yet? Center of page here. If you enter some dates and a location you can see reports by others of their winning bids. The same deals aren't necessarily still available and maybe you can get an even better deal, but sometimes there is information that will give you a general idea of possibilities. RomellePS - Hey Colfax! Still waiting for that cup of coffee. I'm going to Washington, DC early April and then on to Bucharest and Sofia. Path crossing?
Colfax Posted January 13, 2011 Report Posted January 13, 2011 HardBoiled, Let the board know if we can be of further help.
HardBoiled Posted January 23, 2011 Author Report Posted January 23, 2011 Or if you'd rather wait for Spring we'll be happy to help you then too.We've decided to postpone our trip until the first week of May 2011. Vacation has been approved at work and airplane tickets have been changed.I'll definitely take you up on your offer then :)THANK YOU to everyone for your valuable guidance and insight, your efforts are deeply appreciated.
yellowdog Posted January 23, 2011 Report Posted January 23, 2011 HardBoiledThanks for the follow-up and closing this thread.Yellowdog.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.
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