Priceline Hotel: New Priceline User....Help Please

[TravelingJ]

I am planning a trip to LV on 10/09 to 10/11 and would like to try using priceline. I am looking to stay at either Aria or Vdara. I have already used the PRICELINE link on this site and am seeing "Las Vegas Strip Vicinity South" as the choice for South strip. If I select this choice and select 5 star luxury, will I likely get either Aria and Vdara?

Also, could you please tell me how much I can expect to pay in "service fees" by using priceline?

Any other bidding tips you could give me would be very helpful as I have never used this service before. I will definitely use the PRICELINE link provided on betterbidding!

Thanks,

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you look at the Priceline Hotel List you'll see that besides the Vdara and Aria, the Cosmopolitan has also been reported to the board in this zone at the 5* level, so any of these, as well as any 'new' unreported (or upgraded) properties would be possible as well. There is no way to target a specific hotel within a given zone, if that is your goal, then HOTWIRE may be a better, yet slightly more expensive option.

PRICELINE's booking fee is partially based upon the amount of your bid, but typically amounts to about $6-$7/nite. Before you submit your bid you'll be shown the total, including taxes and fees (but not resort fees if applicable at the hotel), should your bid be accepted.

Based upon the above let us know your thoughts, additional questions, and/or how you'd like to proceed. What is your expected budget for this stay?

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

[TravelingJ]

Thanks you for your reply thereuare. Your information was very helpful. I'd like to keep my nightly rate to no more than $100, since I'll likely be paying resort fees. I figure I will start low and see if I get any bites. Based on what others have reported here for successful wins, I think I am on the right track.

I will post back on whether my bid was accepted or not with all the details. Wish me luck!

[TravelingJ]

Hi,

I submitted my first bid last night and it was too low... I am not surprised by this. I want Vdara so I selected 5 star luxury and South Strip Vicinity- when my bid was rejected, I added North Strip to see if I could get Wynn, Venetian, or Palazzo. I was afraid to add different zones (even though other bidders have done so successfully...thnot North Condo b/c I don't want Trump!) for fear that another property might fall under 5 start that is not on the list of 5 star properties. I only want to stay in the 5 star listed properties in the South zone (Aria, Vdara, Cosmo) or North (Wynn, Venetian, Palazzo). If I solely stick with South/North Strip will this be enough to avoid Trump? I absolutely do not want to stay off the strip!

[AaronJB]

In terms of the Vdara, you could wind up with a different property when bidding 5* South Strip - would that be acceptable?

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

[thereuare]

I submitted my first bid last night and it was too low... I am not surprised by this. I want Vdara so I selected 5 star luxury and South Strip Vicinity- when my bid was rejected, I added North Strip to see if I could get Wynn, Venetian, or Palazzo.

What were the bid amounts you made?

I was afraid to add different zones (even though other bidders have done so successfully...thnot North Condo b/c I don't want Trump!) for fear that another property might fall under 5 start that is not on the list of 5 star properties.

As well you should, since you don't want to use the hotel lists to determine your re-bid zones. See this Priceline Re-Bidding Explained thread for the correct (and only) method you should use to determine your re-bid zones.

I only want to stay in the 5 star listed properties in the South zone (Aria, Vdara, Cosmo) or North (Wynn, Venetian, Palazzo). If I solely stick with South/North Strip will this be enough to avoid Trump? I absolutely do not want to stay off the strip!

Would Encore be ok?

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

[TravelingJ]

Thank you for your reply thereuare. My starting bid was $80- I know it was low. I plan to try again tonight. I really don't feel comfortable expanding my zones beyond South and North. Yes, Encore would be great too. Could you please confirm that I wont get Trump is I select North Strip? If I select North Strip and 5 star, am I guaranteed Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn, Encore?

[thereuare]

Most maps do not properly display the exact location of the Trump and zone boundaries can change at any time, so i won't (and very seldom) will guarantee anything, but i will say that i'm fairly conservative and i would currently have no problem bidding the Strip North zone with the assumption that i wouldn't receive the Trump, since that is, and has been reported to be, in the Strip North Condo zone.

I will also add that since you're a bit concerned with what you will get, and don't want to use re-bid zones, why not just take the 5* HOTWIRE property for $106/nite with Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Smoke Free, Spa... which is presumed to be the Vdara? It's just a few dollars over your $100 budget and would appear to be a purchase you'd be more comfortable with.

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