Priceline Hotel: Sydney Aug 1-3 & 6-8

[vanpoodle]

I posted previously about possibly going to DC for Easter, that has been scrapped because now I've just booked a trip to Australia using my husband's points in August. (the surprise is how, despite using points the fees and the like they charge seems pretty close to what regular airfare would be anyway, thus can't do all the trips this year that I want!)

Anyhow, right now we land on the 1st and depart the 8th, and thoughts right now are to book the first two and last two nights in Sydney and explore somewhere else the other days. Still have to figure out where for the middle of the trip. We also have SPG points that we will use this trip for 2 nights, so might see how bidding goes and whichever set of nights seems more expensive will be the one that we will use points for.

It seems that there are no re-bids in Sydney and I see most postings are for 5*, never having been to Australia I've no idea why or what a 4* in Sydney in PL would be like. In looking at the known properties list on PL it appears that there is a 4* Mercure which sounds like an undesirable hotel that is too far out and gets poor reviews. It may be worth avoiding 4* hotel bidding since that seems like a possible hotel?

If someone could let me know what to expect from the possible 4* and where to start bidding for 4* and 5* that would be great. I see that I'm only going to be able to bid once a day. Prior 5* bids have gone up to $180 and if that's what I have to pay I'm okay with that, though lower would be better! Thanks!

[Romelle]

You might take the list of 5* and 4* hotels people have reported here, and check them out on www.tripadvisor.com. Reading "between the lines" on the reviews could give you a better idea of what to expect for the two star levels. As to where to start bidding, there are various ways to get a handle on that. Since bidding is free, other than using your time, there is no issue with starting too low.

Hotwire rates less maybe 15 - 25% (at the moment 5* $214, 4* $178)

Hotel rack rates less about 50 to 60%

Other sites such as the retail side of Priceline, Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak - maybe 50% off

None of these are likely to be successful right away, but you will be sure you haven't bid too high. Then you can gradually increase your bids. With only two days, you can use larger increments for your increases.

The big international chains are at least reasonably predictable from country to country.

Romelle

[vanpoodle]

Thanks -- I bid on 5*, $75 for the first set of nights and $76 for the second set of nights with nothing. Based solely on reported bids starting at about that price over the past few years. I'll slowly nudge up over the next while. All the hotels in 5* look great, 4* just has that one bad one, the Mercure, which I don't want to chance at this point. We also need to figure out where to go and what to see for the other 3 nights!