nerfbert Posted June 15, 2005 Report Posted June 15, 2005 Hi This is my first attempt at using Priceline - I would like to try for a room in either the Convention Center or Capitol Hill area close to a Metro station. I am looking to get a room for either a 3 star or 4 star hotel for a one night stay on Saturday, October 1 to Sunday October 2 for 3 people (I understand I can only make the request for 2 beds after my bid).I've done some research on the usual hotel discount sites and found that I can book a room at Courtyard by Marriott DC Convention Center Hilton Garden Inn - Franklin Square JW Marriotton those days for around $150 to $160 /night.I would be grateful for any assistance in a bidding strategy and what price to start from - I've read the instructions and think I understand how to bid with free zones.Thanks!
thereuare Posted June 15, 2005 Report Posted June 15, 2005 Welcome to BetterBidding!You state:...close to a Metro stationYou can not stipulate this when you place your bid... are the zones that you're bidding small enough that you would be close enough to a Metro station no matter where in the zone your hotel was located? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted June 15, 2005 Author Report Posted June 15, 2005 I think it probably doesn't matter because in those 2 zones, it seems everything is within a reasonable walking distance. thanks
thereuare Posted June 16, 2005 Report Posted June 16, 2005 The most common acceptor in the area, the Grand Hyatt, is sold-out for this date. Doesn't make this impossible, but likely a bit tougher.What is more important, price or star level? (ie- would you rather spend more for a 4* hotel vs. a 3*... or is lowest price most important)Let us know your maximum bid and we'll suggest a strategy. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted June 16, 2005 Author Report Posted June 16, 2005 I would prefer to pay less for a 3 star but if the difference between 3 star and 4 star is only $15 or less then I am happy to pay that. I'm not sure what my maximum bid should be - I can book a 4 star hotel on a "normal" discount website for approx. $150 so based on that is $90-100 a realistic maximum for priceline?
thereuare Posted June 16, 2005 Report Posted June 16, 2005 Re-Bidding is explained in the PRICELINE RE-BIDDING thread and you should feel free to ask any questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board (strongly recommended if this is your first time using Priceline and re-bid zones).You have one re-bid zone available at the 3* level, and 5 re-bid zones available at the 4* level. I would bid as follows:Select 3*...Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $50.If rejected wait 72 hours....Select 3*...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4*....Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone (anyone of the five except the one you used above in your 3* bidding)....Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone (now any one will do)...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $100.Any questions please ask.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
nerfbert Posted June 16, 2005 Author Report Posted June 16, 2005 Thank you for the strategy - I will try this - one quick question before I start. My preference is for Convention Center-Capitol Hill and then White House-Downtown.So when I start my 3* bid should I:Select 3* CC-CH and bid $45,if rejected add WH-DT and bid $45if rejected add free re-bid zone and bid $50Thanks for all your help. I will bid using the link.
thereuare Posted June 16, 2005 Report Posted June 16, 2005 So price is more important than your first choice of zone?(if that's the case don't bid as previously suggested, nor as you posted, we'll re-post an update) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted June 16, 2005 Author Report Posted June 16, 2005 Hi sorry for the confusion, yes that's right. My first preference is the CC-CH zone and my 2nd preference is the WH-DT zone but I am ok with either so would prefer to pay a lower price rather than stick with one zone.
thereuare Posted June 16, 2005 Report Posted June 16, 2005 Select 3* CC-CH...Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $50, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* WH-DT...Bid $50, if rejected add CC-CH...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* CC-CH....Bid $70, if rejected add WH-DT...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $100.The above elimnates your need to wait 72 hours between your 3* bids as was previously necessary. If you feel that $100 is too high for nor relative to your 3* bids, you can stop short of the prices above and continue to go thru the steps every 72 hours, keeping your 4* bids the same but increaseing your starting point for the 3* properties by $5-$10 each bidding cycle.Any questions feel free to ask. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted June 17, 2005 Author Report Posted June 17, 2005 Hello, I tried this bidding strategy but unfortunately was not successful. I will try again in 72 hours. When I tried to do the 4 star bidding, it didn't let me do the 1st 2 steps - it said these were duplicate bids - I'm not sure why. However, it let me bid after I started adding some re-bid zones but of course this meant I had 2 fewer bids than I otherwise would have so only got up to $90 on the 4 star. But anyway I will try again in 72 hours. Thanks for all your help.
thereuare Posted June 17, 2005 Report Posted June 17, 2005 That's my fault... they are duplicate bids. I remember being consious of it when i was formulating the strategy but somehow it got lost between my brain and the keyboard :) Do this for the 4* bidding on future attempts:Select 4* CC-CH and re-bid zone (not one that you used above)....Bid $70, if rejected add WH-DT...Bid $75, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* CC-CH and re-bid zone (one different than the one you used immediately prior or in the 3* bidding)...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone....Bid $100. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Posted June 21, 2005 Thanks for the new bidding strategy thereuare. I tried this earlier today but unfortunately wasn't successful. No problems this time with duplicate bids. I will try again in 72 hours.
nerfbert Posted June 24, 2005 Author Report Posted June 24, 2005 Just reporting that I tried again but still no success. Would you recommend I just continue with this strategy or do you think because the Grand Hyatt is booked out, there's little chance of success?
thereuare Posted June 24, 2005 Report Posted June 24, 2005 Where do you show the Grand Hyatt being booked? I show availability thru the Hyatt Website for 10/1. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted June 24, 2005 Author Report Posted June 24, 2005 sorry probably my confusion - I was reading in one of the earlier posts to this thread that the grand hyatt was sold out but I guess it might have changed.
thereuare Posted June 25, 2005 Report Posted June 25, 2005 Actually i just scrolled above and this hotel was sold-out, but no longer is. I don't know when that condition changed or when you made your last bid, but i would continue to try the above strategy for at least a few weeks.Keep us updated. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted June 27, 2005 Author Report Posted June 27, 2005 Just an update - bid up to $110 today for 4 star and $70 for 3 star but no luck. Will keep trying.
nerfbert Posted July 8, 2005 Author Report Posted July 8, 2005 Hi, Have bid every 72 hours up to $80 for 3 star and $120 for a 4 star - but still no success. Do you recommend I stay with the same strategy?Do you think I might have more luck if I added Dupont Circle?thanks for all your help.
thereuare Posted July 8, 2005 Report Posted July 8, 2005 Yes, October is still a while away.Do book yourself a cancellable back-up though! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nerfbert Posted July 24, 2005 Author Report Posted July 24, 2005 I decided to bid up to $130 for 4 star and got the Renaissance Mayflower for that price. I'm very happy that I finally had a bid accepted! I had been bidding up to $125 for a while so I wonder if I had been just below the price threshold for some time?
thereuare Posted July 25, 2005 Report Posted July 25, 2005 Congratulations on your winning bid.Glad to see you ultimately found success... had you also bid $125 on the day that this bid was accepted?Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
TravelGuy Posted July 25, 2005 Report Posted July 25, 2005 $189 on Marriot.com.JW Marriott also $189Often one can get a 4* in DC on the weekends for $75-80, but there must be something going on this weekend. The Grand Hyatt is sold out, and the Omni rates are on steroids: Daily Rate (per room):2000.00 US Dollars per night Rate Description:RACK RATERoom Description:CLASSIC ROOM TWO QUEEN BEDS--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Daily Rate (per room):2000.00 US Dollars per nightRoom Description:CLASSIC ROOM ONE KING BEDNevertheless, I think I would have waited until closer in before bidding $130 given those $189 rates.The Mayflower is a really nice hotel though.
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