Priceline Hotel: 3.5* DC (Dupont Circle - Woodley Park) Washington Marriott Wardman Park

[jetaway]

Hi all,

I'm a new member to this site and I'm excited to get a deal with Priceline. I'm looking to find a hotel in Washington DC for May 19th - 22nd [saturday to Tuesday, or 3 nights stay]. I would be perfectly happy with the Hyatt Arlington in VA, considering that many people usually get that hotel when they choose Arlington, but I've been unsuccessful with my bids. Here's what I've tried so far:

5Feb2012: (Arlington, VA) 4-star, 47$ -> rejected

6Feb2012: (Arlington, VA) 4-star, 48$ -> rejected

6Feb2012: (Alrington, VA; Convention Ctr -Capital Hill Area) 4-star, 50$ -> rejected

6Feb2012: (Arlington, VA; Convention Ctr -Capitol Hill Area; White House-Downtown) 4-star, 57$ -> rejected

Do you think it's too early to bid to get a good price? Is that time popular, and perhaps that's the reason I haven't been successful?

Any advice/tips would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[Romelle]

You are pretty low on your bids for a 4*. I looked at Hotwire for your dates. Using Arlington and any other area closer to downtown, and noting that a Hotwire 4* can sort of be a Priceline 3 1/2*, the lowest offering was still $115. Even if I include 3 1/2* and 3*, and all the Washington, DC areas, the low rate is still $71 (Dulles airport hotel).

I'd guess you also are running into some events, although with Washington, DC it is pretty much continual events.

One never knows if there will be a drop in rates. I'd suggest making cancelable back-up reservations at the best rate you can find conventionally, and then seeking a better deal up to the very last. Bidding is lots easier on the nerves when there is a Plan B in place.

Romelle

PS - I'm a member, not a moderator, but have bid Washington, DC for personal visits. Challenging town.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages and clicking 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.

[jetaway]

Romelle: I'd normally agree with you, but i've seen several people get the Hyatt Arlington for around 45-55$/night. I guess I'll just keep trying different combinations. And the idea of a cancellable back-up plan is solid too. I'll have to look for that option.

Thereuare: Thanks for the welcome! i read the message. i'm not sure why you want me to click on links to priceline and hotwire, since i've already been before [that's how i've made bids].

-jetaway

[thereuare]

We're asking specifically that you use the links on the board to access PRICELINE and HOTWIRE... not just that you arrived at their site (by typing the URL in your browser or some other means)

Rates are date specific, and using MAPS and HOTELS.com current rates at the Hyatt Arlington start at $214/nite for your dates... so you're looking for ~75% off which is not a high probability bet. Rates at this property are usually much less than this when we see bids in the $40's-$50's accepted... higher than usual hotel direct rates usually translates to a higher than usual bid prices needed to be successful.

What is your maximum bid for this stay? What is the best rate you're able to find at at an acceptable hotel for this trip?

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

[jetaway]

oh i see what you're saying. my apologies. i guess i'm willing to bid about 100-125$/night. i prefer a 4 star, but i suppose a 3.5 would be acceptable too, if the amount was lower... say $75/night. what do you think i need to bid to have a chance of landing a deal?

Thanks again.

[Romelle]

Are you willing to consider other zones, or do you specifically need Arlington? The Hotwire Arlington 3* for your dates is $163 right now. There aren't any 3.5*s. Interestingly enough, the Arlington 4* is lower than the 3* at $154.

Priceline bids can come in a little lower than Hotwire, but not necessarily.

Crystal City and the airport zones are a little lower.

Romelle

[thereuare]

At current rates i'd guess you're likely looking at $110-$135 needed to be successful in the Arlington zone. However, assuming you're looking at this zone in order to save money vs. staying directly downtown, i'd sooner try for something within the city... you might be able to get something in Dupont Circle or one of the other downtown zones for a similar price.

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

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

[jetaway]

I'm not specifically looking for Arlington, I just figured it's close enough yet cheaper than staying directly downtown or in Washington DC. When i looked up hotels on random sites like hotels.com, tripadvisor.com, Expedia.com, hotwire.com, it does seem that the average price for those dates is pretty high. Also, it would seem part of the problem might be the monday night, since rates are typically lower sat-sun, but jump for the monday.

I guess we want to be either downtown or close enough to the metro, which is why i was hoping for the arlington hyatt. four star is preferable, but considering the quality of 3.5 stars via priceline, i wouldn't object to that especially if the price is lower. i'd be okay with spending around 110-135$ for the 4 star or, if downtown or near a metro, less for a 3.5 star.

Do you think it's way too early to bid? Could that be part of the issue?

Thanks again for your input.

[Romelle]

The 5th question in the FAQs (link straight above here) has a good discussion on when to bid. You've only got 2 months. I've seen people have successful bids out 7 months.

I'm guessing you wouldn't want to do it with only 3 nights, but splitting your bid into the weekend and the Monday could let you find a less expensive hotel for the weekend, and then bite the bullet on the higher Monday rates. It most likely would entail a move though.

Any chance you have a very early airport departure Tuesday morning? Spending Monday night in an airport hotel could save a bit of money since they tend to be less expensive. And it would make for a more comfortable departure.

There are quite a few free re-bid zones at the 4* level, and even more at the 3 1/2* level. Another topic in the FAQs further down the list. It would give you lots more bidding options if you checked it out.

Maybe you could make a list of zones you would like at the 4* level, and then another at the 3 1/2* level? A bidding pattern could be developed that takes your preferences into account, and uses the free re-bids. If you do this, what would your max bid be on the 3 1/2*?

Romelle

[thereuare]

Do you think it's way too early to bid? Could that be part of the issue?/quote]

It could be... but it also could be that some event (rally, demonstration, protest, government meetings, etc) is taking place in the city and rates will only get worse. Rates do see to be up 'across the board' for the most part, so it's not as if there is one solo hotel in the area holding out for anyone to come along and pay the higher rates their asking... it seems as if rates for most hotels are fairly elevated, usually indicative of demand in the area.

If you're willing to bid up to $135 i would try that for something in the city as you may be able to win a 4* in Dupont Circle or one of the other zones. If budget is more of a concern HOTWIRE has what i'm guessing to be the Westin Alexandria for $119/nite and from mapping it, appears to be about a 10 minute walk to the nearest metro station.

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

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

[jetaway]

Just an update, since it's been a while...

after waiting closer to my travel dates, and a few unsuccesful bids, a bid was finally accepted!

Here's what I got [please update/change my topic accordingly, etc]:

19May2012 - 22May2012 (3 nights)

Washington Marriott Wardman Park (Dupon Circle - Woodley Park)

$93/night

Thanks again for everyone's assistance.

Happy travels

-jetaway

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Superb deal for this Marriott property, and hope you are looking forward to your stay.

Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.