Priceline Hotel: First Time in London - Please Help with areas and bidding

[elader]

Hi -

My husband and I will be heading to London July 6 - 10. After looking for weeks at hotels on every imaginable site, I find myself completely overwhelmed. Since I don't know the city, I am not sure what area to even bid on should I look at Priceline or Hotwire. We want to primarily do main tourist sites: Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, Harrods, maybe theatre, etc. Would like to be central, even though I know transportation is pretty good there. If you could help me narrow down where I should be bidding, and strategy for a 4*/5* within these areas, I'd appreciate it. Looking to stay under $150 if at all possible. Less would certainly be better though. Thanks -

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your previous Priceline NYC thread with whatever you ended up doing for that stay... then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at and comment on your stay above.

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

[elader]

Sorry about the delay - completely forgot about that post. I have responded now. Thank you for your help!

[Romelle]

This is not a terribly original approach, but one I usually find useful. If you get a map of London from some guide book and mark the things you want to see, and then roughly pencil the Priceline bidding zones on it, your desired zones will pretty much define themselves.

http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/cul...ten-attractions has a map with the short list most common to tourists. There are other similar ones if you search on something like "london tourist top sights".

When I go through the routine, as a bonus I find I've got a better understanding of a city's layout and an awareness of which sights are adjacent. It really helps plan the days and routes while there.

Also, it took me a while to realize the Priceline specific zone maps can be zoomed in on. Then more detail shows up, particularly the Underground stations.

Another way to get to most of your desired sights is to purchase one of those "hop-on hop-off" bus tours. If you can find one that lets you have an anytime 24-hour block of time, you can use part of it one afternoon and evening, and the rest the next morning. Not quite as wearing as trying to go an entire day.

Romelle

[thereuare]

Romelle's approach is a good one, and while i wouldn't use the following as the 'sole' method to research zones, it's a good add-on to the approach above...

Simply enter "London" in the QUICK SEARCH box above and scan the forum topic titles to determine which zones are bid/won the most. This also provides some insight as to which areas are actually won at reasonable prices (so you don't waste time hoping for a zone which seldom accepts bids) and offers the best bang for the buck. When you get a short list of zones you can then compare to the maps/attractions as per the post above.

Once you decide upon the zone(s), star rating, and budget you're seeking we'll be able to suggest a strategy for you to follow (or confirm/negate some of the zones you selected as being 'good ones')

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

[kareena2b]

There are 2 big hotels that I know of near Tower Bridge-but the only other attractions in that part of London is Canary Wharf and Petticoat Lane Market,there are some nice old buildings, but no night life or restaurants to speak of. Moving along the river, you will come to where the Fire Of London started, London Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Tooley St-where London Dungeons and Battle of Britain toursit spots are the City-I dont think there are any hotels here, Liverpool Street station may have one, but you are in the financial district.

Next stop along the river is Southwark Bridge & Blackfriars, were Shakespeares globe, Coin Street, St Pauls Cathedral, London Musuem/Barbican, the Old Bailey and in essence the end of the City-again not too many hotels come to mind.

Now you are entering Lambeth/Victora and Westminster area and a few hotels, with Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Westend, Theatres, restaurants, oxford Street etc. all going in land and you then hit Piccadily and Pall Mall this is were there are lots of Hotels and this is where I would suggest it is happening-but maybe at a price .

The next part of the river is Chelsea, Battersea-any further and you are not in the heart of London.

Fulham/kensington/Earls Court are inland-the only sites are the Museums, Royal Parks, Earls Court exhibition centre, Wembley etc

The other area would be Regents Park/Euston/Tottenham Court Road/Paddington-but you are more in a local resident area and some areas not too good. Transport is excellant so it wouldnt be an issue to get something out of the "area" if that meant you were saving lots of money. Victoria has a coach station if you were planning on seeig other parts of England and each major train station has trains that go in a specific direction.

Hope this helps & I havent told you something you already knew-enjoy London

[elader]

Thanks, that is great information. I do think we would like to stay in the area of Westminster, Victoria, Soho, or Picadilly, so it looks like on Priceline, we would probably want to be focusing on Mayfair/Soho or Westminster. Would prefer 4* or 5*, and would like to stay under $170 if possible, but willing to go higher - like up to $200 - if necessary. Had noticed a hotel on Hotwire that fit the Park Plaza Victoria a few days ago, but it's gone now. Do you think there's a chance it will come back? Thanks again -

[thereuare]

Inventory comes/goes frequently on HOTWIRE... they only show one hotel at each star rating per zone (the hotel with the lowest rate is the one shown) so a hotel can disappear if another hotel at the same star rating in the zone offers a lower price OR if the hotel itself increases their price and/or withdraws the previous inventory.

Did you want to try bidding on PRICELINE now or wait a little while in hopes of the HOTWIRE property re-appearing?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.... and your searches too! (please click both of these previous links before replying)

Thanks.

[elader]

I have been keeping an eye on HOTWIRE for the past few days but have not seen the hotel come up again. I did notice one tonight in Westminster, 4*, fitness center, business center, internet, restaurant, near golf, near tennis. Any thoughts on what that might be? If that doesn't seem to work out (a little higher than we would like, too), I think I will try PRICELINE, so any strategy you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks again -

[thereuare]

This HOTWIRE property has not yet been reported to the board.

If you'd like to try bidding on PRICELINE, which zone(s) are you willing to accept and what is your maximum bid?

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

[elader]

Regarding Priceline, I'd be interested in Mayfair/Soho or Westminster, 5* up to $180 (would go a bit higher if necessary - up to $200), 4* up to $150. (Curious about the Grand at Trafalgar Square, which seems to be consistently won for under $100....)

Thanks again for your help -

[thereuare]

Did you want to first bid for a 5* up to your limit, then if rejected try for a 4*?

Please confirm and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[elader]

Yes, I would prefer to try for the 5* first. Thank you.

[thereuare]

Based upon current rates i'm doubtful that $180 will be enough for a 5* hotel in one of the zones you've indicated, but you have plenty of time so no harm in giving it a try:

At the 5* level you have SIX 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.

Select 5* Westminster...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 5* Mayfair-Soho...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 5* Westminster and Mayfair-Soho...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $185 (for good measure if you want to make the additional $5 bid :) )

Any questions feel free to ask. If the above is rejected, which zone(s) did you want to try at the 4* level?

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[elader]

Thank you - just want to confirm the rebid zones... I see them as Finbury, Hammersmith, Kensington, The City, Bloomsbury, and Wembley..is that correct?

[Romelle]

Thank you - just want to confirm the rebid zones... I see them as Finbury, Hammersmith, Kensington, The City, Bloomsbury, and Wembley..is that correct?

Your list is correct at the 5* level, as of now. But when you start bidding, it is a very good idea to double check just before.

Romelle

[elader]

Thanks. Rejected at all levels. Got as high as $195. Thinking I might try again with slightly higher numbers in a few days before going down to the 4*s.

[thereuare]

Sorry to hear you weren't accepted on this latest round of bidding.

Keep us updated and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.

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

[elader]

Tried again today. Went up to $220 but no luck. Do you think it would make any difference if I waited a bit and tried again, or should I give up and just try for a 4* in those areas?

Thanks

[thereuare]

Based upon current rates i'm doubtful that $180 will be enough for a 5* hotel in one of the zones you've indicated...

You can certainly try again, but rates are current far enough away from your bidding levels that you'll need to see a pretty big change in rates to be successful at ~$200, imo.

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

[elader]

Any thoughts on what you think it would take to get a 5* in those areas? Also any recommendation on price to try for a 4* in those same areas? Would I follow the same strategy with a 4*?

Thanks again for all the help!

[thereuare]

At the moment a 5* would likely cost at least mid-high $200's. If you decide to switch to a 4* you need to bid different since you don't have as many re-bid zones. Are these the only two zones you're interested in at the 4* level?

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

[elader]

At the moment a 5* would likely cost at least mid-high $200's. If you decide to switch to a 4* you need to bid different since you don't have as many re-bid zones. Are these the only two zones you're interested in at the 4* level?

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

I think so. I'd like to stay pretty central to the top tourist attractions, and I'm feeling like these two zones pretty much cover it.

[thereuare]

While i don't think that the following will be enough, with time on your side i would begin as follows:

At the 4* level in London you have TWO 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.

Select 4* Mayfair...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Westminster...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Mayfair and Westminster...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115

Any 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.

[elader]

Just as a final follow-up to this post (sorry it's a few years late), we wound up having to cancel our trip due to a medical emergency. Thank you all for your very valuable help though!!