Priceline Hotel: How to use priceline bidding for Toronto 4*

[World Travel]

Hi,

I am trying to book a Toronto South 4* and want to make sure I am doing this correctly.

I placed my first bid at 70, only selected toronto south - rejected

my second bid was 75, toronto south and north - rejected

now for my third bid, i understand that I need to go higher, and select a new zone that DOES NOT contain a 4* hotel. Where is this list? How do I know that I can add a zone, rebid, and ensure that I will not be stuck where I do NOT want to be?

Thanks

[Romelle]

The list is on Priceline. When you are about to bid, before you enter in any money, you check each of the areas (one at a time and uncheck before checkingthe next one) and note which ones do not have 4* OR HIGHER (the buttons will stay "greyed out"). If you are still not sure, post back here with what you believe to be the 4* free rebid areas and somebody will double check for you.

For the ones that are biddable, the buttons will "light up" or turn white. You probably didn't notice the change, since the two areas you chose to bid each had all the buttons lit.

There are lots for Toronto. You are fortunate, as this makes the bidding easier.

You always want to do the check JUST BEFORE you bid, just in case there have been recent changes.

Romelle

[World Travel]

Ok Thanks! When I look at the rebid page and the list of additional areas is listed, I can see that it says details beside it. WHen I click on that it brings up a map of the zone, however it does not show what star type hotels are in it? Am I missing something? I know that this is the case for every city, so i know that i am missing something.

thanks again

[Romelle]

Yup, you are missing something. You want to click on the area as if you were going to bid it. The little white box between #1 and Brampton. The one where it puts a check mark in it. That is your first one. You will then see that Brampton only has 3* and lower hotels.

Romelle

[World Travel]

Ok, I see the little checkbox that I need to click, however when i click it and it is marked, how do I see whether or not it has a 4star hotel in it?

What I am doing now is click on the little box (say next to brampton, a place i do not want to stay) however where do i next click to see if it has a four star?

Thanks

[Romelle]

You don't click anywhere else. You just look at the lower left quarter of the page where it lists the star levels.

Straight below where you clicked on Brampton where you don't want to stay. 3* and lower turned white. 4* and higher stayed grey.

Romelle

[World Travel]

ahhhh, ok i see. Actually, I was trying to click on another area, like brampton, on the re-bid page and nothing would change or grey out! I figure it was because I cannot uncheck my toronto south pick, which has 4*s.

So I went to a new search and I see what you mean now! When I click on, say brampton, it does not give me the option to choose a 4* hotel.

so at this point, I would pick say brampton or toronto east (2 star or less) and raise my bid slightly and try to win? I think I finally have it figured out.

Thanks Romelle!!

[Romelle]

Yes, you have it figured out. While you are at it, might as well uncheck Brampton and check the other ones (still one at a time and unchecking the previous one first). You will find quite a few with results similar to Brampton. They all are the free rebid zones.

I like to make a paper and pencil side list of the free ones, and then check them off as I use them.

Also, sometimes Priceline will throw you clear out of the bidding area and into the retail area. Just click someplace there where it says Name Your Own PRice and continue. Check all the areas you want, all the prior ones you used as free rebid that you don't want, and one more new free rebid one and continue raising your bid.

I'm going to go do something else now. You can fly.

Romelle

I should have realized you were still in the middle of your original bidding session and would have to get out and back in again for things to work. Sorry. Glad you got that on your own.

And for the record, I learn new things sort of like you do - kicking and screaming and fighting the situation. But I do eventually get it, and then I got it good.

[thereuare]

When bidding 4* in Toronto you actually have TEN such re-bid zones. Feel free to confirm them with the board, and if you'd like help with a bidding strategy, 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.