optimus11 Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 Hi this is my first time using priceline, im not a US resident but i have shopped using my credit card online, so i hope it worksIm coming to miami my dates are, 23rd dec 2011 to 2nd jan 2012so thats about 10daysim looking at the following areas:1. Miami International Airport (MIA) (prefferably)2.Miami Airport West - Doral3.Miami Downtown My budget is around $50-70Im not to sure about what star rating this price would get me, from reading the board's previous posts, it seems like i can get a 3*, 31/2* or a 4*so please can anyone help me out with advise and a strategythanks Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!My guess is that you're budget will not be enough for a 4* hotel, but did you want to try for a 4* up to your limit, then if rejected try for a 3.5*, then if rejected try for a 3*... OR is your goal the least expensive 3* or better for this stay? As well, are you willing to pay more to be in your first choice of zone vs. your second choice of zone vs. your third choice... OR are you looking for the least expensive hotel in any of these zones at the minimum star level you designate?Let us know the above and we'll take it from there.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
optimus11 Posted October 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 i am trying to get the least expensive 3* or 3 1/2* within my budget (i dont really need the 4* anyways, i just wanted to know if it was possible in that budget)im not willing to pay more for for any of the zones, my budget is firmbut i really would like to get one in MIA area or downtown my 3rd choice is now doral area.so do u think its a good idea to bid $50 for a 3 1/2 *? Link to comment
Romelle Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 There aren't any problems with bidding $50 for a 3 1/2*. If it is too low, Priceline will just say "no". And then you can go on and bid the lower star levels.Your budget is possible, but not a sure thing. Hotwire had a 2 1/2* Miami airport hotel for $68. Hotwire does tend to be a little more expensive than Priceline though.Do consider as many zones as possible, as that will increase your chances of success.Romelle Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 ok so i tried bidding $50 for a 3 1/2 * in MIA area, that was rejected, then i added a zone Miami Downtown and increase my bid to $55rejected againI added Doral Zone, and increased the bid to $57rejectedadded a 3* rating, still bid rejectedI added North Miami and increased the bid to $62 rejected againI added miami lakes area, increased to $65rejected:)what now??? Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 You can improve upon your bidding strategy, but we first need to clarify your goals for this stay, as your bidding is not consistent with what you say you want...i am trying to get the least expensive 3* or 3 1/2* within my budgetok so i tried bidding $50 for a 3 1/2 * in MIA area, that was rejected, then i added a zone Miami Downtown and increase my bid to $55I added Doral Zone, and increased the bid to $57added a 3* rating...Since you bid 3.5* first, then increased your bid, and then added 3* to the bidding... you're not targeting the lowest price 3* or better for this stay. In other words, let's assume there was a 3* available at $40 and a 3.5* available at $50... you would have been accepted for a 3.5* at $50 without having a chance at the lower priced 3* at $40.but i really would like to get one in MIA area or downtown my 3rd choice is now doral area.To confirm... if a $50 hotel was available in Miami Airport and a $45 hotel available Downtown (or Doral)... you prefer the $45 Doral property over the Airport property?Please confirm/clarify teh above and we'll take it from there.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
optimus11 Posted October 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 ohhh i see what your saying in the 2nd pointthe last point, i would prefer to say in the MIA area, so if its a matter of $5 i would choose the airport propertybut the other 2 area are acceptable as well, so if i cant get a 3* or 3 1/2* in the airport area i would still be happy to take one that is available in the other 2 areas.ok so help me with a new strategy Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 It's still not clear what you want from this stay, for us to suggest a bidding strategy we'll need to know...What do you want to try for first, a 3.5* in the Airport zone OR any 3* or better in the Airport zone? How high are you willing to bid at this star level before adding the other two zones? If bidding at the 3.5* for the airport zone first and are rejected up to your limit, do you then want to try for a 3* in the Airport zone OR a 3.5* in the other two zones?Please clarify and we'll advise accordingly.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... 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 Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 i think im goin to try for a 3* or better in the airport zone first, im willing to go up to $65, then i think we can try adding the other 2 zones Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 16, 2011 Report Share Posted October 16, 2011 At the 3* level you have ONE 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.Since it appears you have already bid up to $57 at the 3* level in the Airport zone, i'd try:Select 3* Airport...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $63If the above is rejected post back and we'll try again in 24 hours up to your $65 limit, as well as then post another strategy should $65 fail. Looking ahead, should $65 be rejected, do you then want to only add Downtown or Doral up to your limit, or is the least expensive in either of these two zones your goal? Did you want to keep the star level at 3* when including either/both of these 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 Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2011 well i tried the above and was rejectedi would like to add the other 2 zones up to my limit Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 17, 2011 Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 Using your ONE re-bid zone at the 3* level...Select 3* Downtown...Bid $50, if rejected add Miami Airport...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $58, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 3* Doral...Bid $50, if rejected add Miami Airport...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $58, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 3* Downtown and Doral...Bid $60, if rejected add Miami Airport...Bid $63, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65Any questions feel free to ask.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 Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 Just to make sure, my rebid zone would be north miami Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 17, 2011 Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 Yes, that is correct (and be careful to not select North Miami Beach since the two are so similarly named and next to each other in the list of zones :) )Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 ok was rejected on all of the above :) need new strategydo u think its because of my length of stay that im not getting through? Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 18, 2011 Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 I don't think it's necessarily the length of your stay, but more likely the dates of your stay...1) your dates include New Years Eve, which for the most part is a very busy nite for hotels. If hotels think they can sell most of their rooms on their own at full price, there is little reason to offer inventory to third party suppliers at deep discounts. Any hotel that has not given PRICELINE any inventory for even just this one nite is out of the running to accept your bid since PRICELINE needs to have inventory available for each nite of your stay.2) overall it's a somewhat busy time in the area... lots of families taking vacation while the kids are off from school for winter break, especially those in the Northeast looking for a warm location to thaw out from the colder weatherWhat are your thoughts going forward... SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID, lower star rating, increase budget, consider other zones, etc?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
optimus11 Posted October 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 Well considering other zones is out of the question, I am going to try to lower my star rating and see what happens. Do u think I should try the same strategy above using a 2 1/2* and see or should I try a whole new strategy? Link to comment
Romelle Posted October 18, 2011 Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 I just looked at one location - MIA airport - on Hotwire. Interesting results. 3* 2.5*21 82 6522 82 6823 78 6924 78 6925 82 6626 82 6927 82 6928 82 6929 82 6930 78 7131 86 711 ** 83**no 3* offering, and the 2.5* is much higher than any of the other dates! It is possible that just having that New Year's Day (1/1-2/1) in your bid is causing the problem.Priceline tends to be less expensive than Hotwire, but the rate patterns from Hotwire can often give you some insight into Priceline bidding results.This suggests bidding on Priceline as I spaced it - 21/12-25/12, 25/12-30/12 and 30/12-2/1. Or maybe moving 12/25 into the first group. The last set of dates (30/12-1/2 will likely be more expensive than the other two). You may end up having to bid it separately. Checking your other areas may lead you to a different conclusion, but thought I'd just get your thinking started. Splitting your bid does give you the risk of getting different hotels for each time span, and having to move. On the other hand, it lets you bid higher star levels for the less expensive nights, and then drop back to lower star levels for the more expensive nights. Those lower star level hotels are more likely to offer the free breakfast, although they aren't as fancy as the higher star levels.I'd guess you will feel more comfortable if you just get one batch of dates done. And then deal with the more difficult ones.Romelle Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 Yes I was doing some research myself, I also feel that have new yrs included may be causing the problem. I might try to split the days into 2 sections, 23-31/12 and then 31/12- 2/1/12. Is that correct or should I split it another way? Also should my bidding strategy remain the same as the one previously posted? Is breakfast included in amenities of 3* or just 2*? Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 18, 2011 Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 Breakfast is not necessarily included as an amenity at any star level, but it's more common at the 2.5*/3* level than at the 3.5* and higher star level. However, there are certainly 2.5* and 3* properties which do not offer free breakfast as an amenity.Assuming you're still willing to pay a little more for a 3* hotel in the Airport zone, i would bid as follows:Select 3* Airport...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Downtown...Bid $50, if rejected add Miami Airport...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $58, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 3* Doral...Bid $50, if rejected add Miami Airport...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $58, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 3* Downtown and Doral...Bid $60, if rejected add Miami Airport...Bid $63, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65I would try the above for the following date combinations:12/23-1/212/23-1/112/24-1/212/23-12/3112/25-1/212/23-12/3012/26-1/2Any questions feel free to ask.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 Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 I tried the above for the following date combinations:12/23-1/2 all rejected12/23-1/1 all rejected12/23-12/31 all rejected12/23-12/30 all rejectedi want to make sure i have a hotel for at least the begining of my stay, so thats why i didnt try the other combinations that began in the middleim a bit discouraged now, whats my other options? Link to comment
Romelle Posted October 18, 2011 Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 Your choices now:Keep bidding the same level and $$, hoping something becomes availableIncrease the budget(I think you ruled out other zones, but that would normally be on this list)Bid the next lower star levelHave you looked at the hotels people have reported winning in the Hotel List at the very beginning of this Priceline - Florida area? Particularly the 2.5* levels. You mentioned you are not from the US. US hotels tend to be rated a little differently than European hotels, if you are familiar with them. A US 3 1/2* hotel might be a European 4* hotel. Similarly, a US 2.5* hotel might be a European 3*. While you are looking at the list, you will note some of them have reviews here. You can click on "review" and link to it. There are also reviews of most US hotels on www.tripadvisor.com. I recently did a trip to small towns in New Mexico. Some of them only offered 2 and 2 1/2* hotels so that is what I had to bid. They were surprisingly nice.Romelle Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 yes i look at the calendar of wins and searched the forums also. i see that someone won a 3* for $73 for around the same period minus new yrsi think i may lower the star level and bid from there using the same strategy as above Link to comment
Romelle Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 I did just check, and the zone you are using for a free re-bid - North Miami - only has 2* and lower hotels, so the pattern thereuare gave you will still safely work. But always a good idea to check again just before bidding. Romelle Link to comment
optimus11 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 ok so i lowered the star rating to 2 1/2* and i bid $58 for the 23/12 - 31/12 and i got Holiday Inn Express Miami International Airport i had the option to add my addition days at $74 thank for all ur help Link to comment
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