Priceline Hotel: Suggestions for hotels near Legoland, Winter Haven, FL

[healthysaver]

Hello everyone,

I'm very new to this site and still trying to learn how the site works.

I made a bid to Priceline and used Hotwire to find a decent hotel near Legoland but so far no luck. We need 2 nights this week (Wed-Fri) and trying to figure out how to get one. Looks like hotels near Orlando has more options and varieties but it seems far to drive. We need to be at Legoland by 9am at least so we would like to stay within 20 miles or less. Thank you so much for your advice.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Which zone(s) did you include in your bidding and what star level(s) did you bid? How high did you bid? What is your maximum bid for this trip?

Let us know the above and we'll take a closer look at your trip. (Feb 1-3, correct?)

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

[healthysaver]

Hi,

I selected Winter Haven area and I want to get under $55 a night. It only had 2.5 and 2 starts and I selected both I think. (It was last week when I bid). Check in 2/1- check out 2/3. We might consider Auburndale area since it had 2.5 star hotel also.

When I select areas, it shows minimum going prices and they shows $103 average. We might also consider Lake Wales area if the price and rating is good. Thank you.

[healthysaver]

In this situation, when I re-bid after 2nd zone (xyz) do I need to raise the bid price a little higher than the first bid? If I bid ABC zone for $50 and got rejected, add XYZ zone but only 4 star ratings, don't I still need to bid higher than $50 to get different result?? New to all of this.

Since some like to see a picture instead of words, here's a visual of RE-Bidding:

Imagine two zones: ABC and XYZ

Zone ABC has 4*, 3*, 2*, 1* hotels

Zone XYZ has 3*, 2*, 1* hotels

So Zone ABC can be visualized as follows:

and Zone XYZ can be visualized as follows:

You bid 4* in Zone ABC and are rejected, so you add Zone XYZ (which only has hotels lower than 4*) and once again request a 4* hotel. The universe that Priceline will search looks like this:

Hopefully it is now easy to see that this is essentially like bidding again on Zone ABC, since the only possibility for getting a 4* hotel in this universe is in Zone ABC.

As always, feel free to ask any questions.

[thereuare]

We might consider Auburndale area since it had 2.5 star hotel also... We might also consider Lake Wales area

Once you decide which zone(s) are acceptable let us know and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. The more zones you include the more hotels have the ability to accept your bid price, and the 'fancier' you can get with the bidding strategy to increase the number of times you're able to bid within 24 hours. However, with your trip starting tomorrow, you don't have much time to play around... when you post the zones also let us know your maximum bid for this stay.

In this situation, when I re-bid after 2nd zone (xyz) do I need to raise the bid price a little higher than the first bid? If I bid ABC zone for $50 and got rejected, add XYZ zone but only 4 star ratings, don't I still need to bid higher than $50 to get different result??

Yes, you have it correct... if you don't increase your bid, it's as if you are making an identical bid to the one that was just rejected.

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

[healthysaver]

Ok, I need to bid tonight and see what I get.

I don't know how far Auburndale's hotels are from Legoland so I don't know if I should include that area or even Lake Wales in the category.

If I just bid for Winter Haven for 2.5 stars, what should I do if my bid get rejected? It says their minimum/avg rate is $103. What is this mean? Do I need to bid close to $100 ???

Or is there a chance I can get something for $50ish?

What do you you mean "and the 'fancier' you can get with the bidding strategy to increase the number of times you're able to bid within 24 hours"?

Please help and thank you so much!

p.s. What is bonus money?

[thereuare]

I don't know how far Auburndale's hotels are from Legoland so I don't know if I should include that area or even Lake Wales in the category.

Look at both of these locations at MAPS and HOTELS.com, compare to PRICELINE's zones, and where they are with respect to Legoland (to me, it appears each of the other zones is ~10-15 miles away depending upon from what point in each zone you're looking at)

If I just bid for Winter Haven for 2.5 stars, what should I do if my bid get rejected?

You need to first determine if there are other zones that you're willing to accept.

It says their minimum/avg rate is $103. What is this mean? Do I need to bid close to $100 ???

Or is there a chance I can get something for $50ish?

$103 is the average RETAIL rate for a hotel of the star rating in this zone... you should be able to do better than this amount. However, you don't have time to lowball since your check-in is today!

What do you you mean "and the 'fancier' you can get with the bidding strategy to increase the number of times you're able to bid within 24 hours"?

You can get more bidding opportunities.

Please help and thank you so much!

At times PRICELINE will email previous users bonus money which essentially adds $xx to the amount you bid.

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

Let us know regarding the zones and your maximum bid and we'll try to assist further.