Priceline Hotel: 4* Vancouver Sheraton Wall Centre

[njg]

I need 2 rooms for the following nights: 8/1 8/2 8/3 in Vancouver.

So far I have tried:

4* downtown $50.00 rejected

4* downtown + Delta $60.00 rejected

(At this point I should've closed my browser & began again, but I was confused. :) )

4* downtown + Delta + Langley $65.00 rejected.

Closed browser & restarted.

4 *Downtown + Surrey $70.00 rejected

4* Downtown + Surrey + Langley $75.00 rejected

4* Downtown + Surrey + Langley + Delta $81.00 rejected.

I re-read the rebidding strategy & decided to split the bid & do the new browser thing correctly this time.

Tried for 8/2 & 8/3 2 rooms: (all bids were for 4*)

4*Downtown Vancouver $60.00 rejected

Downtown + Surrey $70.00 rejected

Closed & restarted:

4* downtown + Langley $75.00 rejected

downtown + Langley + Surrey $80.00 rejected

I understand (I think) that I can still begin again with

downtown + Delta,

then downtown + Delta + Surrey

Close & restart

Downtown +Langley + Delta

Downtown + Langley + Delta + Surrey

Is that correct?

How high should I go?

Is there a convention checker somewhere on the board where I can see what is gong on in the city for theses dates?

I don't really have an upper limit, I just want to get a good price.

What do you guys think?

THANKS!!!

[Scorp]

Well, Festival Vancouver (Classical/Jazz/World Music) is on from Aug 1 - 14, the HSBC Celebration of Light fireworks competition is on Aug 3. And August 1 is a statutory holiday for many Canadians, so it's a popular long weekend to visit Vancouver. And there are a couple of Alaska cruise ships leaving on the 3rd, so some people will be overnighting in the city the night of the 2nd.

Have you checked hotel rates at any of the downtown hotels? I would guess they are fairly high. Can you let us know some of the rates?

[njg]

Yeah, I did a Travelocity search & the Hyatt is going for $241 all three nights. The Sheraton Wall Centre is only $141 for each night. I realize that is still quite a bit more than the $81.00 I went up to.

The Sutton is $ 185.00 Le Soleil is $208.

Is using Travelocity accurate enough or should I go to the individual hotel sites?

[njg]

I see from the Sheraton's web site that their Internet rates are $175 & $199 canadian. 174 = 139 according to the currency converter.

[Scorp]

The Travelocity rate is probably the Internet Only rate in US. ($140 US = $175 Cdn). Their best available rate jumps to $279 Cdn or $222 US for a cancellable booking. And the Marriott is showing $249 Cdn or about $200 US.

[njg]

So, do you think I ought to be more aggressive & go up to $100 or so?

[Scorp]

I checked Hotwire and they are showing $125 to $155 for the 4* + hotels for those dates.

I suspect you would have to bid at least $100 (and maybe $110) to win a PL bid for a 4* hotel for your dates.

If you wanted to wait, you could keep bidding at a lower level, but it is a fairly busy time of year so I don't know if or when you might be successful at a lower bid amount.

thereuare may have some suggestions, as well.

[njg]

So, do you think I ought to be more aggressive & go up to $100 or so?

[njg]

Sorry, I posted that reply twice. Thanks for your advice, Scorp, it does seem to be a busy time--but that will make the trip all the more fun!! I'll let you know how I do.

[Scorp]

It really is a beautiful time to visit Vancouver and there will be varied events on all over the greater Vancouver area. Even if you end up paying $100 to $110/night, you are still paying only about 1/2 of the going rate!!! Let us know how it goes....

[njg]

Thought I should start a new post for simplicity's sake (better title) since I was successful.

Bid history:

(All bids are 4*)

Downtown $80.00 rejected

Downtown + Surry $85 rejected

Closed browser & made a new attempt:

Downtown + Langley $90.00 rejected

Downtown + Langley + Surry $95.00 rejected

Closed browser & made a new attempt:

Downtown + Delta $100 Priceline counterofferred with $22.00 increase.

Closed browser.

Vancouver + Surry + Delta $105.00 ACCEPTED!!

Check-In Date: Mon, Aug 1, 2005

Check-In Time: After 03:00 PM

Check-Out Date: Thu, Aug 4, 2005

Check-Out Time: 12:00 PM

Your Offer Price: $105.00 (US dollars)

Number of Rooms: 2

Number of Nights: 3

Subtotal: $630.00 (US dollars)

Taxes & Service Fees:

$83.26 (US dollars)

Total Charges: $713.26 (US dollars)

This is probably the first time I have been totally confident with Priceline that I did not over-bid. Thanks to this forum I knew what I was doing & got the best possible price for a busy time in Vancouver.

[njg]

I worked my way up in $5.00 increments & was successful at $105.00. I started a new topic so the title would tell the price, etc. Thanks again for your help, Scorp!

[Scorp]

I'm so pleased that worked out for you! I know you will have a great time in Vancouver!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

Thank you for sharing your ultimate success with the board.

Enjoy your stay.

[njg]

Thanks! :)