Priceline Hotel: Help in bidding 5* Mayfair - Soho area, 8-15 September 2011

[bungy]

Hi,

I'm new to bidding in Priceline and would like to ask you for advice.

Is it better to bid now in advance or is it too early for those dates? Right now the median price is 559$, at what rate is it recommended to start the bid, half of that?

Should I start the bid with my maximum budget?

What percentage of taxes should I take into my calculations?

I appreciate any help!

Thanks,

Ezer

[bungy]

Hi,

I'm looking for a hotel in London for the dates 8-15 in September.

The area: Bloomsberry - Marble Arch or Mayfair - Soho.

I get only two options: 1) 4* at Mayfair for 320$

2) 5* Marble Arch for 390$

Any idea what those hotels these could be?

Also, should I wait to get closer to the vacation date? Will more options open up?

What do you recommend?

Thanks,

Ezer

[ladybugsea]

You would have to list the amenities to compare to past wins. Then check out the Hotwire Hotel List to see if you can find a match and make an educated guess.

[ladybugsea]

Some people have had success starting at $165 so you could start there, but you would need luck for it to be available for your dates at that price. Have you checked to see what 5* hotel rates are for that zone for those dates? That's an indicator of what might be available on PL.

When you click the PRICELINE link from this site, you can do a 'fake/practice' bid (just be sure NOT to click the final 'place my bid' button), and then you can see how much the total taxes/fees for the whole stay at that bid amount will be. You can do this for different prices to get a feel. Do you understand free rebids? You will also need to start a fake bid to find out what your free rebid zones are.

Good luck!

[bungy]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, actually I know nothing about free rebids. Where can I find information about it?

Is seven nights too many in order to be able to win a bid on priceline? Is it too soon to bid for the dates I have mentioned?

I know the prices in that area are very high for 5* hotels.

How can I make a fake bid?

Thanks,

Ezer

[yakker]

Bungy,

Read this info on rebids:

Priceline Re-Bidding Explained

Also, have a look at recent London bids in the forum to get an idea of the best starting prices. You'll have 5 or six rebid zones in London. They allow you to rebid the same area by including another area that doesn't have any five stars available. For example, you get rejected at $165 for a 5* in Mayfair. Next time, bid $170 and select Mayfair and Wembley, because Wembley doesn't have any 5* available. You get the rebid without waiting 24 hours that way.

[thereuare]

bungy,

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages and click these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links before replying.

What is most important to you for this stay... the lowest price OR having a guess as to the hotel you may likely receive?

What is your maximum budget (per nite before fees and taxes) for this stay?

You can keep all posts for this trip in this thread, if you ultimately use HOTWIRE we'll then move the entire thread to that section of the board.

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

[bungy]

Thanks,

I'll keep all my posts here, sorry for the duality.

I'd rather have a better guess at the hotel than just getting the lowest price. Although my budget is not high for these expensive areas.

The budget is about 280-300 USD per night excluding taxes and fees.

Thanks,

Ezer

[thereuare]

Then both of the hotels above are over your budget... if you search HOTWIRE does anything appear within your budget?

If not, do you want to try bidding on PRICELINE for any hotel in the zone at the minimum star rating your designate?

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[bungy]

When I search Hotwire for those two area I get one 4* for 320$ a night in Marble Arch - I will pay that if I'll have a good guess of the hotel, as I've seen some 4* I wouldn't like to stay in for that price.

almost no results in Hotwire for those area.

Any advice?

Thanks a lot!

[thereuare]

What are the amenities HOTWIRE associates with the 4* Mayfair $320 hotel?

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