mississippijulie Posted October 11, 2011 Report Posted October 11, 2011 Hi, I'm trying to book a hotel for firm dates of Nov 10-14 in Manhattan. A friend told us for what we wanted out of our trip to book in either MTW, MTE, TS or Chelsea. I tried Priceline yesterday before getting your tips and bid up to $200 on 3 star. It was not apparent that I was "locked out" of bidding. Do they just block you without telling you? Anyway we are willing to pay up to $215, otherwise we should just book direct to hotel (I've seen some rates $212-$250 that are acceptable, Park Central and the New Yorker, but to be honest I don't know what star rating they are). We would *love* a 4 star but would be willing to go as low as a 3 star. Main concern is that we would like our own bathroom, I seen some "hotels" that are really hostels and we do not want to share a bathroom. I've seen some examples that you've given with start with one zone and star and proceed adding zones, is there a strategy to what star to start with and which zone to use first? I tried to wrap my head around it but do not completely understand. Like for a free bid, the zones i have chosen all have 4 star or less but Chelsea goes as high as 5. So for one rebid I could go up to 5 in Chelsea, but maybe try that first? This is where I don't understand. Argh, my head hurts! Any other help is much appreciated, I've spent way too much time on this and I'm getting dizzy. Thank you, Julie
thereuare Posted October 11, 2011 Report Posted October 11, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!Did you want to bid for a 4* up to your $215 limit, then if rejected try for a 3.5* up to your $215 limit, then if rejected try for a 3* up to $215?Also, note that at the 3.5* and under level the MTE zone contains some hotels which can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway, is this acceptable?If you were 'locked out' yesterday you would receive a "Duplicate Bid" error message informing you that you need to change something in order to try again. Do you think you were able to bid on all four zones at the 3* level yesterday up to $200... or do you believe that some of your bids weren't processed and you received a duplicate bid message?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and please click this PRICELINE link before replying.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mississippijulie Posted October 11, 2011 Author Report Posted October 11, 2011 Below is what I most recently bid yesterday (Monday), and it was before I read some of your posts. I never got locked out. Also I bid Sunday 7 times, really low balling it. I would just use the previous page button and start it all again, never being warned of a duplicate bid or locked out. All 7 bids came in 3 emails. On the second day of trials (Monday), I figured it was better to add one area at a time and start with a much higher bid (but I started with 2 areas). I never added Cheslea area for some reason, I think just was so sure that I'd get Midtown for $200. I finally gave up since I was entering territory in which I could book straight with the hotel for the same price. * (last bid, these are in reverse order)*11/10/2011 11/14/2011 Midtown West, Midtown East, Times Square - Theatre District 2 .5-Star $175 11/10/2011 11/14/2011 Midtown West, Times Square - Theatre District, Midtown East 3-Star $201 11/10/2011 11/14/2011 Midtown West, Midtown East 3-Star $191I will try again today from your links in a few hours just to be sure 24 hrs has passed. I'd be willing to bid for a 4* up to a $215 limit, then if rejected try for a 3.5* up to $215 limit, then if rejected try for a 3* up to $215. I'm okay with a 15 minute walk to the subway. So would I do something like start with 4* in CA at $170, then add an area AND up the bid or just add an area? This is where I don't understand. Or start at $215 for the 4* and add areas. I'm not sure if it is best to increase the bid each time or add an area? Thanks for your help, I feel kinda dumb not getting it right off. Julie
thereuare Posted October 12, 2011 Report Posted October 12, 2011 At the 4* level you have FIVE re-bid zones... at the 3.5* level you have FOUR 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.We will use FOUR re-bid zones at the 4* level, so that if rejected you can simply close the browser, use a PRICELINE link on the board to re-access PRICELINE, and repeat the process at the 3.5* level...Select 4* MTW and MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and Chelsea...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTE...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and Chelsea...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Chelsea and MTE...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTW...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and MTW and Chelsea...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and MTW and TS...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Chelsea and TS and MTE...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Chelsea and TS and MTW...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and MTE and TS and Chelsea...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $215You should be able to place all the bids above in the same bidding cycle. If that is rejected close the current browser, use this link to re-access PRICELINE, and repeat using 3.5* instead of 4*. If that is rejected post back and we'll revise for a 3* property (which will require an entirely different strategy since there is only ONE re-bid zones at the 3* 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mississippijulie Posted October 12, 2011 Author Report Posted October 12, 2011 Now when I try to start again, I get the duplicate request message. But now I can't try again until midnight tomorrow.If you have any suggestions to what I'm doing wrong let me know. Thanks,Julie
thereuare Posted October 12, 2011 Report Posted October 12, 2011 What are you using as your re-bid zones?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
mississippijulie Posted October 12, 2011 Author Report Posted October 12, 2011 I still do not understand how to bid because I got locked out after trying it. I'd like to find where I'm missing how to bid. Below is the first part of what was suggested to me to try for the areas in NYC of MTW,MTE,CA, and TS. I chose the name your own price, save up to 60% option for NYC. I then chose 4* and 2 areas MTW and MTE @$120. Rejected so upped the price to $125 and added TS. Rejected so upped the price to $130 and added CA. Rejected. So tried to start over. Did 4 * $120 TS and Chelsearejected so added MTW and upped price to $125 Was told I made a duplicate bid and was locked out. Must wait 24hrs to try again. For reference, partial (first 1/3 of) suggested bidding order: Select 4* MTW and MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and Chelsea...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTE...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and Chelsea...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINEThanks for you help,Julie
thereuare Posted October 13, 2011 Report Posted October 13, 2011 I still do not understand how to bid because I got locked out after trying it....I chose the name your own price, save up to 60% option for NYC. I then chose 4* and 2 areas MTW and MTE @$120. Rejected so upped the price to $125 and added TS. Rejected so upped the price to $130 and added CA. Rejected. So tried to start over.The issue is that these are NOT your re-bid zones.See this thread for a discussion on re-bidding: Priceline Re-Bidding ExplainedIf you're still confused we can break it down one step at a time by starting with the following:1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter New York City 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 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
mississippijulie Posted October 13, 2011 Author Report Posted October 13, 2011 Ok, I think I finally found the part I was not understanding. "Re-bidding is adding a zone you don't really want, but since that zone only contains star ratings lower than the minimum quality level you selected, you don't have a chance of receiving a hotel in that newly added zone. Therefore, it's as if you're only bidding (again) for the original zone."So I've been adding the zones I've WANTED and should be adding lower star zones that I don't want. So here is my list of the highest* for each zone. 1)Brooklyn highest *42)CPS '' 43)CA '' 44)CI '' 25)SH '' 46)ESB '' 47)HK '' 48)LI '' 39)MSG '' 3.510)ME '' 411)MW '' 412)Q '' 313)TS '' 514)UES " 315)UWS '' 4Therefore my rebid zones when bidding at the 4* level are CI, LI,MSG,Q,UES And my rebid zones when bidding at 3.5* level are CI,LI, Q,UES A few questions: 1)Why do I only add 2 rebid zones when bidding for the areas I want. For example the proposed bidding from your list says start with ME and MW, bid if rejected add 1 rebid, then if rejected try another rebid, but if rejected Close and Start over. Also do I need to make note of which 2 rebids I've previously used when closing window and starting over? Or could I use the same 2 each time and that does not matter? 2)Also is the order in the list extremely important to follow to avoid a duplicate bid? 3) I feel like the bidding proposed is too low, especially when going for a higher star hotel. I know that these hotels are going for $350-400 so why start at $120?I think that is it for now. :) Thank you,Julie
thereuare Posted October 13, 2011 Report Posted October 13, 2011 YES... you have re-bidding understood. HOWEVER, always check your zones just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked (as new hotels can be added and other upgraded/downgraded at any time)1)Why do I only add 2 rebid zones when bidding for the areas I want. For example the proposed bidding from your list says start with ME and MW, bid if rejected add 1 rebid, then if rejected try another rebid, but if rejected Close and Start over. Also do I need to make note of which 2 rebids I've previously used when closing window and starting over? Or could I use the same 2 each time and that does not matter?It gives you more bidding opportunities by not including all four acceptable zones on your first bid. You can use the same re-bid zones until you get to the last step at which point on the last two bids you need to add your additional re-bid zones. 2)Also is the order in the list extremely important to follow to avoid a duplicate bid?You could swap bids within the same 'block' (ie- between the breaks... but do you have a reason to?)3) I feel like the bidding proposed is too low, especially when going for a higher star hotel. I know that these hotels are going for $350-400 so why start at $120?Because sometimes we're surprised with a bid that seems like it would never have been accepted, and given that you have enough re-bids available to read your maximum bid, why not start low just in case there happens to be a hotel which has an unbelievably low rate out there? As well, the strategy is designed so that you can easily change to 3.5* bidding with the same rates, and if you're rejected today, you can continue to bid these rates for weeks too come, so that if rejected today but there is a big rate drop tomorrow, you'll still be in a position to take advantage of the lower rates.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
mississippijulie Posted October 14, 2011 Author Report Posted October 14, 2011 Last night I bid according to the list for 4* and 3.5 * up to $235 (I upped the last few bids a few dollars, decided my limit could be pushed up a bit) with no successful win of a hotel. I'm willing to try 3* up to $215, if you have a strategy how to do that since it only has one rebid zone. Thanks,Julie
AaronJB Posted October 14, 2011 Report Posted October 14, 2011 It has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board, but there is a 3.5* in Midtown Central w/omplimentary Breakfast, Fitness Center, Restaurant, business, internet for $184. Not sure what the hotel is, but I thought I'd offer the suggestion, given the added value of breakfast.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted October 15, 2011 Report Posted October 15, 2011 Given the 3.5* HOTWIRE property (which could potentially be a 3* rated hotel on PRICELINE) do you want to go with this OR, at the very least, lower your PRICELINE bid for a 3* hotel? (HOTWIRE also has what i'm guessing to be the New Yorker Ramada Plaza or the Doubletree (not sure of which, but the New Yorker the more likely of the two, imo) for $215/nite.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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mississippijulie Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Posted October 15, 2011 I went ahead and booked the Thirty Thirty hotel direct for $218 per night on my dates of 11/10-11/14. I wanted to insure something because I still had not purchased plane tickets and some flights were booking up. I did not want to book flights without a hotel. I can cancel up to 24hrs in advance at the Thirty Thirty. I will continue to try for 4* and 3.5* hotels on Priceline in case an awesome deal comes up. Otherwise I'm happy with $218 knowing its a clean, decently renovated hotel with a queen bed.I'll update this thread if I find a great deal between now and 11/8. Thanks for you help! :) Julie
thereuare Posted October 16, 2011 Report Posted October 16, 2011 Given the price and star rating of your back-up, if it's worth another $25 or so, you might want to consider bumping your budget for a 4* hotel as it think you could win something at this star rating at about $245.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
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