Priceline Hotel: 4* London (Regents Park - Baker Street) Holiday Inn London-Camden Lock

[DemocraticSycamore]

I began bidding for the dates Dec. 27 - Dec. 31 at $114 in Westminster. Added City & London Bridge, Mayfair Soho, Notting Hill. With each new bid I added a buck or two. I was going to add Hammersmith next, but the price of the hotels dropped considerably when I added the neighborhood. So, I chose Regents Park instead and I was able to keep the value up where I wanted it. I offered $119 and won. The Camden Lock looks great and there are a lot of good reviews on Tripadvisor. My wife and I were trying to include New Years Eve, but then decided we should probably approach it separately. We have decided to use a Marriott MMF code for that booking.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you're pleased with the results and the deal you received.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.

[vanpoodle]

Just a hint for next time -- whenever you bid a new zone, you can close your browser and start a whole new bid for a new zone at a low price, and then use zones you've already bid on as free re-bids for those areas, along with the two usual free re-bid zones for London 4*. You can generally sort out where the basement of the prices is that way and be sure you're not overbidding. Generally Westminster and Mayfair are the most expensive zones while Notting Hill seems to get lower bids accepted (and I think it's a great place to stay) and the others fall in the middle. Of course it doesn't always go that way and all depends on occupancy and which hotels are being the most competitive to get some rooms booked.

When I bid (for 4*) in London, I might open up under $80 for each zone I like and use the free re-bids to gradually go higher. It means that I end up closing my browser and filling in all the information again a few times which is tedious, but that is how you can be sure you're not overbidding and getting the lowest possible price. Sometimes it might take a few days to get a bid accepted but I've found that Priceline really rewards those who are patient.

[vanpoodle]

Should also add: You'll be staying in a really neat area -- the Lock is beautiful (there are some great walks along the canals and you can go for hours and take the tube home from whereever it takes you). The hotel seems pretty new and welcoming from the outside (I've never been in, just walked past it) and if you're there on a Saturday the nearby markets are REALLY hopping. I thought punk and goth were long gone, but they most definitely come alive on Saturdays in Camden!