Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Tampa (Downtown) Hyatt Regency

[captnamo]

Dates: Feb 4 - 7; Area: Busch Gardens/USF, but that's within driving distance of Downtown or Tampa North.

Me, wife, and 2 adult children. Looking to get best hotel for lowest price (aren't we all?) Since priceline only guarantees comfort for two adults in their rooms, trying to nab a suite is out of the question. Go for high star level and get two rooms if under $50 each?

Priceline suggestions for starting bids and star level stategies? Other suggestions?

[thereuare]

Area: Busch Gardens/USF, but that's within driving distance of Downtown or Tampa North.

I'm not sure i'm understading... which zone(s) are you willing to accept?

What is your desired star rating for this stay?

Also, keep in mind that you won't be guaranteed connecting rooms... HOTWIRE may be an option as well as they will allow you to search for up to quad occupancy.

Let us know the above and we'll take it from there.

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

[captnamo]

Sorry I wasn't more clear.

Priceline areas, in order of preference:

2 - Busch Gardens

8 - Tampa North

6 - Tampa Downtown

Star level: Based on a few recent threads, 3 or higher expecting that 3's will be well below $100, but willing to pay a little more than a 3 for a 3.5 or 4 star.

I saw some wins at under $50 for a 4-star on your site, is this possible still? In these areas?

[thereuare]

Priceline areas, in order of preference:

2 - Busch Gardens

8 - Tampa North

6 - Tampa Downtown

What is more important... price or zone? Are you willing to pay more to stay in your first choice of zone vs. your second choice, and more in your second choice of zone vs. your third choice... OR is your goal the least expensive in any of these three zones?

How much more are you willing to pay for a 4* vs. a 3.5* vs. a 3*?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and please click this PRICELINE link before replying.

Thanks.

[captnamo]

What is more important... price or zone?

Let me complicate this further. My answer is value. But, of the two (price or zone), price is more important as any of the three zones are acceptable. Visiting my mom for her 90th birthday. She's north of Busch Gardens. But from Downtown, that's a 15 or 20 minute drive, and that's fine.

Are you willing to pay more to stay in your first choice of zone vs. your second choice, and more in your second choice of zone vs. your third choice... OR is your goal the least expensive in any of these three zones? More the later. Again value, the ratio of what you get for what you pay. I can go to any site and get a 3 star for $75 - $85. But a 3 star for $45 or a 4 star for $65 would be value. (My numbers may be way off here.)

How much more are you willing to pay for a 4* vs. a 3.5* vs. a 3*? Good question. I don't know. Maybe this would simplify it. If you were making this trip, and these were the only three areas you could choose from, how much more are you willing to pay? I'm guessing the 4 star hotels in downtown probably charge for parking in addition, which would make them more expensive. The other two areas have 3 to 3.5 star at best. So, let's just say $20 more for 4* vs. 3.5*; $10 more for 3.5 vs. 3 star?

Hope this helps. Thanks for asking and for your help.

PS, anyone reading this thread, if you travel to New York, ThereUAre has the hotel scene there down to a science!

[thereuare]

None of the zones above have 4* properties... Downtown goes as high as 3.5*... the other two go as high as 3*.

So do you want to start by bidding for a 3.5* Downtown hotel say up to $55 (or what number do you have mind?), then if that is rejected try for the least expensive 3* up to $45... then if unsuccessful we'll revise and move up from there?

Thoughts?

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

[captnamo]

Tried 3.5 in Downtown area at $45.

Priceline came back with "one time" opportunity to give an immediate second try if I was willing to increase my price $15 to $60 due to the dates, star level etc.

Suggestions? Wait 24 hrs and try something in between? Or do you think this indicates $60 is as low as they'll go?

[yellowdog]

captnamo

Suggestions? Wait 24 hrs and try something in between? Or do you think this indicates $60 is as low as they'll go?

Bid in $3 steps from here, you have 5 zones to use so this can be done in on session. Hard to say when PRICELINE will bite.

If you don't know how to use your free zones so take look at this link: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained

Let us know if you need any further help.

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

Yellowdog.

[captnamo]

Thanks, Yellow Dog. Downtown zone is only one in my target area with 3.5* choices. With 4 people traveling, I"m hoping a 3.5 star will be more likely to have larger more comfy rooms.

I'm a little depressed reading some of the reviews of the 3* hotels in the Busch Garden and Tampa North areas. One reported finding mushrooms growing in their carpet in the morning. Also conflicting reports like "will stay here again" and two reviews later "worst hotel stay of my life," or "stay away."

I wish there was a site that would give info. like when the property was built and when it was last remodeled.

[captnamo]

Yellow Dog, Ignore my last post.

I understand, I should add those areas that don't have a 3.5 star to my choices so I can re-bid in smaller dollar increments without waiting 24 hours.

Thanks again for your reply.

[AaronJB]

When searching for 2/2 (all 4 in one room) on HOTWIRE for these dates, there is a 3.5* in downtown Tampa for $80. If you were able to get a comparable hotel for $50/$55 (and I'm guessing the acceptable win is less than the counter) offer, that would certainly be a nice win - and rates for these dates are a bit on the higher side.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Romelle]

I understand, I should add those areas that don't have a 3.5 star to my choices so I can re-bid in smaller dollar increments without waiting 24 hours.

Just to make sure here, you can add those areas that don't have 3.5 star OR HIGHER to your choices for free rebids. So, if there is a 3* option, no 3.5, but there IS a 4*, 4.5*, 5* or even a Resort option you still don't want to use this area - Priceline can "upgrade" your 3.5* bid and you can find yourself winning in that area.

Romelle

[captnamo]

Thanks all for your input.

The good news, I got the Hyatt Regency Tampa, Downtown, 3 nights @ $51.00/night. :o

Play by play:

Site indicates median price of 3.5 star hotels in this area at $151/night. I put in a really low offer of $45. They came back and said I wouldn't have to wait 24 hours for a rebid if I was willing to raise my sites by $15 and bid $60. I went back and put in a new bid of $48 by adding an area that didn't have a 3.5 star choice, they came back with a don't wait 24 hours minimum rebid of $63. I placed another new bid of $51 (notice $3 increments) right away by adding a third area that had no 3.5 star choice. And it was accepted.

The bad news, I think I forgot to use the betterbidding.com link to make my second offer. :) AAAARRRRGGGG! :) If I didn't, I am sorry and promise that it won't happen again. :)

I don't do a lot of traveling, but have used PRICELINE and HOTWIRE before. But, from now on, Better bidding is my travel site!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

FANTASTIC deal for this property, which is otherwise $159 a night. If you did get two rooms, I would write Hyatt and make any basic requests (two beds, non-smoking, rooms next to each other if you have two.) While there is no guarantees and the hotel may not be able to fill the request, Hyatt is generally pretty good about basic requests. I believe there is a PRICELINE-specific email: plhelp{AT}hyatt.com, for requests - the email should also be listed on your PRICELINE confirmation.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE link. We look forward to helping with future stays.

Enjoy your stay.