yukonprince Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Hi everyone...I am going to bid on a room in London. I would like to stay in central London.Can anyone please tell me which Priceline area numbers are central London.I am going October 20 - 27.I'll likely bid on 5* and 4* hotels.Any London advice for this newbie on the board?Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment
Romelle Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 If you Google "central london" you will find lots of definitions and maps. I don't think there is one specific definition. I'd suggest you map the things you want to see and do in London, and then study those Priceline zone maps and see if your choices are favoring a certain zone or a group of zones. The Priceline zone maps can be zoomed in so you can see actual street names and markings for Underground stations. To get you started, this site even has one top 10 list marked on a map:http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/cul...ten-attractionsRomelle Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!Your options will be limited by your budget... what is your target budget (per nite before fees and taxes) for this stay?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.... and your searches too! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Thank you Romelle!!!I love walking so will only be using public transportation for longer distances. Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Up to $150/night... Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 You should check how these zones fit with your plans, but the following are frequently bid by board users:Bloomsbury-Marble ArchKensington-Earls CourtMayfair-SohoNotting Hill-BayswaterLet us know which of these, or other zones, you decide are acceptable and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 Great stuff, thanks!They all look good to me - looking forward to your bidding strategy! Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 At the 4* level 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* Bloomsbury and Kensington...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Notting Hill...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Kensington...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Bloomsbury and Notting Hill...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Notting Hill and Kensington...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Bloomsbury...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Notting Hill and Kensington and Mayfair...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Notting Hill and Kensington and Bloomsbury...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Bloomsury and Kensington...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Bloomsury and Notting Hill...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Bloomsbury, Kensington, Mayfair, Notting Hill...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135We stopped at $135 as HOTWIRE has a 4* property in the Earls Court zone for $135/nite which we'll investigate further should the above be rejected.Any questions feel free to ask.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck nad let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I'll start bidding now and will let you know the results! Link to comment
Romelle Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 If you would like somebody to double check your understanding of just which zones are the free re-bid ones, please post back and list the ones you believe are right.Romelle Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 If you would like somebody to double check your understanding of just which zones are the free re-bid ones, please post back and list the ones you believe are right.RomelleI tried but I do not think I got my rebid zones correct - thank you for asking!I got stuck at the $100 point and was unable to rebid for 24 hours - not that big a deal as I do not leave until October 20.As I understand it I will 4* select Mayfair and Kensington @ $105 and add Notting Hill if unsuccesful and bid $110.If not, close and restart with Bloomsbury and Notting Hill 4* at $105 and add in Kensington....Is that correct? Link to comment
Romelle Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 In Priceline above (right corner), fill in your dates and London hit "GO". Check and uncheck the zones one at a time until you find the ones that DO NOT have 4* bidding available. THOSE are your free re-bid zones. I'm glad you checked back. Please post your conclusions after the above exercise.Free re-bid zones change from time to time. It is important to check just before you are bidding, rather than relying on an old list. That is why nobody will supply the list, but rather just the technique.RomellePS - Be sure to wait the full 24 hours before trying to bid again (although it is OK to do the above now). If you jump in too early and try to bid, that annoying Priceline clock can reset all over. Then you have to wait another 24 hours. Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Hi Romelle...You are my hero hee, hee!!Both Wembley and Hammersmith have no 4* hotels at this moment - will re-confirm when I go to bid again later this afternoon.The zones I want are Bloomsbury, Kensington, Mayfair and Notting Hill.Question - why does the browser need to be closed each time?So the plan is:Select 4* Mayfair and Kensington...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone = WembleyBid $110, with both Wembly and Hammersmithif rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Bloomsbury and Notting Hill...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone = WembleyBid $110, with Wembley and Hammersmith - if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Notting Hill and Kensington...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone = WembleyBid $118, with both Wembley and Hammersmith if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Bloomsbury...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINEAnd the same for the ones below....Select 4* Notting Hill and Kensington and Mayfair...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Notting Hill and Kensington and Bloomsbury...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Bloomsury and Kensington...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Mayfair and Bloomsury and Notting Hill...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Bloomsbury, Kensington, Mayfair, Notting Hill...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135Thank you both for being so patient with me. I have been bidding for about four years now but this makes it much easier and faster!...Peter Link to comment
Romelle Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Peter,Yes, now you've got it! The browser needs closed so Priceline unchecks all the checked boxes and lets you start with a fresh. Otherwise, as you just add something, all the prior boxes stay checked.This lets you try all the zones you are considering at EACH bidding level. The guy that figured out the concept is my hero.RomellePS - and I'm looking forward to all your successful bid reports in the future! Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Hi Romelle and Admin...That worked like a charm - - except - no bid was accepted.I stopped at $130 because Hotwire bas a 4* in Earls Court for $137 and a 3.5* in Nottinghill for $116.Two questions:*** I am not going until October 20 so should I wait ??? days and repeat the process? Does availability generally speaking increase nearer the date?*** Is there a way to find out the names of the Hotwire hotels?Thank you both for your help so far - really appreciated!...Peter Link to comment
Romelle Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Hotwire hotels can often be "de-coded" by looking at the amenities offered. If you post back with the list of amenities (make sure you have them all by clicking something like "to see all .....", the dates you used, and the number of people you used, one of the pros will provide their best guess. Alternatively, you can take a swing at it yourself by looking in the Hotwire area at the London hotels.Hotwire sometimes is a little more generous with their stars than Priceline is. Maybe a 1/2 star. So comparing offerings is a little tricky. Hotwire offerings come and go.There doesn't seem to be any pattern to availability increasing or decreasing as the date gets closer. Sometimes people find and book a cancelable back-up reservation, and then they can bid up until the last minute. Lots of "ifs" for your decision making.Romelle Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 This is same as Romelle's approach above, just worded differently and numbered so it's easy to follow:Start with the following...1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'London, England' and your dates, and click "GO".2) List each zone that is offered in this region. 3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest star rating offered in the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.4) post your findings and we'll take it from thereIf you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Thank you Romelle - I'll take a chance and try again in a few days. Will keep you posted! Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Were you able to identify your re-bid zones? Do you want to confirm them with the board so you're prepared once you're ready to bid again?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Romelle Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 He identified them - correctly. Slipped them into his reply in Post #13 to further verify he was using them correctly. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Thanks for letting me know... i saw the text in that post, saw it was my 'style' of posting, and just assumed the post was mine and didn't read it that closely. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Yes, there were two rebid zones = Hammersmith and Wembley that only had 3* hotels or less.My bidding went well yesterday - no issues except nothing under $130. I did get a message near the end that a $156 hotel was available if I bid I think $30 or something like that extra. I did not do that because in the past I have found hotels become available at only $10 or $15 more.My plan is to try again Wednesday and Saturday and next Wednesday up to $130 (my departure date is October 20) each time making sure no better deal is on Hotwire. After that I may have to bite the bullet :) ... Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 ... no issues except nothing under $130. I did get a message near the end that a $156 hotel was available...This would indicate that the 'right' number is between $131 and $156... are you willing to increase your maximum bid towards $156/nite (ie- not bidding $156 right away, but using a strategy to slowly increase along the way... succeeding close to whatever the 'right' number is at this point in time.Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
yukonprince Posted September 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Today I bid $135 and was succesful and got the Millennium Gloucester London.a VERY BIG THANK YOU to you all for your advice and patience in helping me understand re-bid zones :) !!!!And I did use your PRICELINE link to do it as well. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Congratulations on your success!Nice to see you gave it another shot and that it only took a few dollars more than your previous failed bid. We're glad you're pleased with the results and happy to have helped.Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Register now, we have a huge community of travel enthusiasts to answer any questions you might have.
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountAlready have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now