amb11 Posted February 8, 2012 Report Posted February 8, 2012 Hi,I'm hoping for a 4* Washington DC hotel (family trip to see landmarks/museums)from Priceline but we've never been there and would like to be able to use the metro or walk and not be in a bad area. So I'd appreciate if some kind soul could help with the area I should be looking at. Would these areas be suitable? White House-Downtown, Convention Center and Georgetown-Foggy Bottom? Are there others? Are some better than others for my purpose?Also, I'm interested in a fairly long stay of 9 nights. Is it usually better to bid early or closer to the time? Will the length of the stay likely mean that we'll have to pay more? If it meant considerable savings we'd consider packing and changing hotels midway.One final question. I understand the Priceline bidding strategy but is $60 a reasonable place to start bidding for what I'm looking for?Thank you so much for any help you can offer us.
thereuare Posted February 8, 2012 Report Posted February 8, 2012 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
thereuare Posted February 8, 2012 Report Posted February 8, 2012 ...family trip... from Priceline...To begin:PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel, and you could receive a room with only one bed. While you can call the hotel you win and request a room with two beds, the hotel may not be able, or willing, to honor your request. Is this a risk you're willing to accept? If not, HOTWIRE may still be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensure sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search (although this usually means two beds, the second 'bed' could be a sofabed, rollaway, etc)Let us know your thoughts on the above and we'll take it from there.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
amb11 Posted February 8, 2012 Author Report Posted February 8, 2012 It's a risk we're willing to take.
thereuare Posted February 8, 2012 Report Posted February 8, 2012 March 10-18 is an eight nite stay... is your check-out date actually 3/19?I haven't begun to look at the stay in pieces, but for your complete stay you're starting price is not in the right ballpark as you're likely looking at the low/mid-$100's to be successful for this entire trip (and rates are fairly high throughout most of the stay)If you look at the Georgetown-Foggy Bottom zone (on the PRICELINE map) you'll see that if you end up on the western side of the zone the nearest metro could be about a mile away, not sure if this would be considered close enough for you or not. The most frequently bid zones in this area are: Convention Center-Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle-Woodley Park, and White House-Downtown.Please confirm the zone(s) you're willing to accept, as well as your maximum bid for this trip, and we'll advise accordingly.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
amb11 Posted February 8, 2012 Author Report Posted February 8, 2012 I really appreciate your help. Sorry for the mix-up on number of days. Our dates are a bit flexible, but 8 days would be the maximum (and our preference) since we would be driving in from near Detroit. I was hoping to get something under $100 but we can do it if it is below $130 or if we drop star levels to 3.5* or 3*. Because I don't know the area, I used star levels as an approximation for ideal location (close to landmarks and metro), which has worked out for us in the past. We can walk the distance to the metro, so that's not a problem. If we need to drop the star level, do you know the approximate bid level for a 3.5* and 3* in these areas? Any of the three areas you mention are fine, but my preference would be in the order of ease of travel either by walking or metro to big 10 landmarks/museums since the trip is to let our daughter see D.C. (She's hoping to make it to D.C. on her own by willing the regional Scripps spelling bee, but I thought it would be a good idea to make a trip out there so she's not so disappointed if she loses.)Again, thank you for your help and patience with my questions.
thereuare Posted February 8, 2012 Report Posted February 8, 2012 I'm still not certain of your zones, but if you're interested in the zones i listed above (and possibly GT-FB too) here are my ballpark guesses price-wise:4* $140-$1603.5* $135-$1553* $110-$130Based upon the ranges above, let us know what you'd like to try for first, the zone(s) you're comfortable with, and maximum bid amounts and we'll advise accordingly.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
amb11 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Posted February 9, 2012 I'm sorry for the confusion. I hope this is what you need.Maximum Bids: $140 (4*), $135 (3.5*), $110 (3*)Areas in Descending Order of Preference: WH-D, CC-CH, DC-WPTime Period: March 10-March 18Star Level Preference: The highest attainable within my budget in any of the areasWilling to Split Hotel Stay in 2 parts to get a better deal?: yes
thereuare Posted February 9, 2012 Report Posted February 9, 2012 Few additions points of clarification...Is zone or budget more important? In other words, are you willing to pay more for to stay in the White House-Downtown vs. the Convention Center-Capitol Hill zone, and more to stay in the Convention Center-Capitol Hill zone vs. the Dupont Circle-Woodley... or is your goal the least expensive hotel (at the star level you designate) in any of these zones? (and you would prefer a 4* hotel in the Dupont Circle-Woodley Park zone if it cost less than a 4* in the White House-Downtown zone)Also, i assume star rating is more important than zone, so that you wanted to try up to your limit for a 4* hotel in all three zones, then if that is rejected try for a 3.5* hotel in any of the acceptable zones up to your budget, then if that is rejected try for a 3* hotel up to your limit in any of the three zones.Lastly, at what point do you want to consider SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID? If you fail at 4* bidding, do you then want to try splitting the bid at the 4* level, OR try the complete stay at all zones and all star levels, and if turned down at the 3* level then try splitting the bid for a 4*, then 3.5*, then 3*.Please confirm and we'll outline a strategy for you to follow.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
amb11 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Posted February 9, 2012 1. Budget is more important than zone2. Star rating is more important than zone3. Splitting after the 3* levelAgain, thank you for taking so much time to help me.Thanks.
thereuare Posted February 9, 2012 Report Posted February 9, 2012 See below for the number of re-bid zones you have at each star level:4* = 7 re-bid zones3.5* = 5 re-bid zones3* = 1 re-bid zoneSelect 4* WH-D and CC-CH...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* WH-D and DC-WP...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* WH-D, CC-CH, DC-WP...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $138, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140If the above is rejected, close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* WH-D...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $103, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CC-CH...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $103, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* DC-WP...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $103, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* WH-D and CC-CH...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* WH-D and DC-WP...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* WH-D, CC-CH, DC-WP...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135If the above is rejected, close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* WH-D...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* CC-CH...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* DC-WP...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* WH-D and CC-CH...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* WH-D and DC-WP...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* WH-D, CC-CH, DC-WP...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100I realize this last 3* bidding does go up to your maximum, but we'll start with the above and if rejected give it one more day to re-try tomorrow for the complete stay (increasing the 3* bidding to your maximum $110 price)... if that is rejected then we'll look into various date combinations.Any questions feel free to ask.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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