Priceline Hotel: Houston IAH help

[MissRabbit]

I've used this site in the past for bidding priceline hotels in seattle and miami and received excellent help. It's been a year and a half though so i'm rusty.

I need to book Houston (IAH airport) for March 11th for one night. I would like to bid a 3 1/2 star hotel. I noticed there are 2 other areas i could use for re-bidding. Houston (Northwest) which only goes up to a 2 1/2 star rating and Houston (Humble) which also only offers up to a 2 1/2 star rating. I don't want to be in either of those areas but they're relatively close to IAH. (there are actually 14 zones that only go up to 2 1/2 or 3 stars but only the 2 i listed are near my target zone.)

So, am i right in remembering that i can bid for the 3 1/2 star in my target area Houston (IAH), then if it's not accepted, add in the Northwest bidding zone, bid again, then add in the Humble zone and bid a 3rd time (obviously increasing my bid a little each time)? Even though i'm adding these zones, none offer anything higher than 2 1/2 stars so i won't actually get stuck with a hotel there if i'm looking for 3 1/2 star hotel, correct?

The other thing I would like help with, is what to realistically start bidding at. I saw one listing of a 3 1/2 star winning bid at IAH for $50 for february but otherwise, i'm coming up empty. Note, the week of March 10th-17th is spring break in texas, but i think that would only affect hotels down by the coast and not up at the airport. Thoughts??

Thanks

[thereuare]

Welcome back! :)

there are actually 14 zones that only go up to 2 1/2 or 3 stars but only the 2 i listed are near my target zone.

Since there are no hotels in these '14 zones' that meet your star rating criteria, why should it matter if they are near your desired location? I haven't confirmed that these 14 re-bid zones, but if you list the zones we'll confirm them for you; and if you include your maximum bid we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (please click this PRICELINE link before replying)

[MissRabbit]

The only reason it would matter is in the off chance, somehow, one of these other locations suddenly had a hotel added that was classified as 3 1/2 stars in the process of me bidding and i find myself stuck with a hotel an hour away from the airport lol. I know the chances of that are slim to none, but that was my reasoning for picking the 2 zones nearest to my target zone :)

Here are the zones that are 2 1/2 stars or less

Atascocita

Conroe

Cyfair

Energy Corridor South

Houston East

Houston Northwest

Humble

League City

Montgomery

Pearland

Tomball

These zones are 3 stars or less

Houston Hobby Airport (hou)

Katy

Kemah-Seabrook

Webster-clearlake

Willowbrook

My Target Zone: Houston International Airport (IAH)

Star level I will be bidding: 3 1/2 stars

My max price bid: $80. (at that point, i will just stay with my 2 1/2 star backup cancellable hotel, which i paid $80 + taxes for)

Date: march 11th, one night

thanks for your help

[thereuare]

So are you not comfortable using all your re-bid zones and we should only use TWO in any suggested strategy?

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

[MissRabbit]

So are you not comfortable using all your re-bid zones and we should only use TWO in any suggested strategy?

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

I'll be fine with the ones that only go up to 2 1/2 stars. I don't think i want (nor need) to use the ones that go up to 3 stars, which i have listed separately.

[MissRabbit]

I just checked Hotwire (never used it before, only Priceline bidding) and they have a 3 1/2 star IAH hotel listed for $56. Amenities include 3.5-star Hotel in Aldine - Bush Ictl Airport IAH

This Hotel features the following amenities:

Smoke Free Rooms

Airport Shuttle

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-Speed Internet Access

They only have one listing right now for 3 1/2 stars. I suppose i could do the priceline bidding up to that point then just get the Hotwire one? WHat do you recommend?

[thereuare]

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at your post above.

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

Thanks.

[MissRabbit]

did the obligatory click count clicks :)

[thereuare]

Best guess for the HOTWIRE property is the Crowne Plaza Greenspoint or the Sheraton North.

If you'd rather move forward with PRICELINE, do you want to use all your available re-bid zones OR just the two you've previously stated you're comfortable with?

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.