Bree Posted February 6, 2012 Report Posted February 6, 2012 Can you help me with bidding advice on a hotel in San Juan for the above dates? We're looking for something centrally located with either a pool or a beach... Our budget is around $115/night and we are hoping for a 3.5 or 4 star. What price should we start at? I've read the FAQ, wins, and lists forums, just a little uncertain in setting the first bid!Thanks!
Romelle Posted February 6, 2012 Report Posted February 6, 2012 I'm a member, not a moderator, but thought I'd try to give you a little start.Hotwire has a 4* for your dates for $120 (the amenity list includes a pool). Individual dates were $119, $228, and $118 for 4*. They only had a 3 1/2* for your last night at $104. That high middle night could be problematic when bidding Priceline, since Priceline doesn't always average the longer stays.On the calendar of wins (under Tools above), for one of your nights somebody got a Priceline 3* for $116 and somebody else got a Hotwire 4* for $101.Bidding is free and you have quite a bit of time, so you can safely do a couple lowball bids just to get comfortably started.With Priceline, all you can do is pick the zone and the star level. While pool or beach is fairly likely in San Juan, you can't pick the amenities. If they are musts, you might prefer to go via Hotwire where you can see the amenities before you commit.If I were bidding, I suspect I'd have to prove to myself there wasn't anything on Priceline at the lower rates by first bidding $95 for the 4* and $90 for the 3 1/2*. The next night I'd move up to $100 and $95. And then I'd inch my way on up to the Hotwire level, which would be my ceiling. If you want to get into the free re-bidding topic for more bids in a session, the last item in the FAQs discusses it. There are lots of them in San Juan, and it would make your process easier and more effective. If you want to use this technique, usually it is a good idea to post back your understanding of the free re-bid zones and somebody will double check them for you.For Hotwire, if you post back the full list of amenities of something in which you are interested, the experts here can give you an educated guess as to which hotel it likely is. Romelle
thereuare Posted February 6, 2012 Report Posted February 6, 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.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Bree Posted February 7, 2012 Author Report Posted February 7, 2012 Thanks very much for the info and advice. I put in a bid for a 4star in San Juan for $95, like you say, just to test that there aren't any low prices available. My bid was rejected. To confirm the re-bidding strategy- it looks like I can add any other zone, with the exception of Rio Grande, as non of these other zones have anything above a 3.5 star. Is this correct?I did see the Hotwire 4 star, looks like the Sheraton, we are booked there earlier in our trip, but we are a bit concerned with the distance from the city centre (realizing of course that we could end up just as far with Priceline, but it's worth a shot for a lower price!).
Romelle Posted February 7, 2012 Report Posted February 7, 2012 BreeOther than the fact the bid didn't work, it really wasn't painful at all was it? Nice work to have that first one under your belt. Yes, you have the zones right on the re-bidding. Anything but Rio Grande. It has that Resort at the bottom of the list, and Resorts are rated between 4* and 5* (sort of a 4 1/2* for thinking purposes). Just add the other zones one at a time as you raise your bid. But do check each day before you start a bidding session. Things have been known to change.San Juan does have a bus system, although it isn't much publicized and is a bit irregular. $.75 last time I looked. There also is a cute little free tourist trolley that wanders about the area. And some ferries to interesting other areas. A ferry and a short taxi ride will get you to the Bacardi rum plant for a free tour if that interests you.Romelle
thereuare Posted February 7, 2012 Report Posted February 7, 2012 Given you're already rejected bid, and the SIX re-bid zones (always double check just before bidding to make sure nothing has changed), and the 4* offer on HOTWIRE for $115/nite, you could try as follows:Select 4* San Juan...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone... (already bid within the last 24 hours)Bid $98, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $103, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110Note that the Sheraton Convention Center is currently 3* rated on PRICELINE, so not really an apples-to-apples comparison, but if this hotel would be accpeable for your needs then it makes sense to use that reference point as your upper bidding limit.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
Romelle Posted February 7, 2012 Report Posted February 7, 2012 Bree,And of course if the 4* bids don't work, you can repeat the pattern thereuare gave you on the 3 1/2*s. There are some nice hotels in that group also. When you lower a star rating, you can also lower your bid back to where ever you want to start.Romelle
Bree Posted February 8, 2012 Author Report Posted February 8, 2012 Thanks again to both of you for the helpful advice! I've done the re-bidding scheme and have been rejected @ $115 for 4 Star/Resort using most of the zones to re-bid. I have one zone (other than Rio Grande) left to add and am considering going up a bit higher to see if we can get anything. The 4 star Hotwire is now listed at $121 for our stay. I might also attempt the 3.5 star with the same bidding idea, as you've suggested. If I lower my star rating to 3.5, do I lose the option of adding zones since they are already pre-selected? When I change the star rating to include 3.5 I can't de-select any of the areas. Advice?Thanks again
thereuare Posted February 8, 2012 Report Posted February 8, 2012 If/when you want to try for the 3.5* level, close the current browser, user a link on the board to re-access PRICELINE... this will 'clear the slate' of the previously selected zones and allow you to start over at 3.5* with just San Juan, then add each re-bid zone as you did previously.Any questions feel free to ask.Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.Good luck. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Bree Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Posted February 9, 2012 This offer has been moving around over the past week between $117 and $122 (or maybe it was a bit higher). Yesterday it was gone all together, but back up today so we booked as we depart tomorrow for our trip.
Bree Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Posted February 9, 2012 In the end my last offer for 4* or Resort in San Juan was $145 and rejected. We ended up going with the Sheraton on Hotwire, which I've posted in the Hotwire wins forum on this site. Got a bit nervous when that back up disappeared from the hotwire list yesterday, as we leave on our trip tomorrow and won't have internet access for a bit to keep searching. Thanks for all the help and advice.
AaronJB Posted February 9, 2012 Report Posted February 9, 2012 Congrats on your success. :)Excellent deal for this Sheraton property - hope you are pleased with the result and are looking forward to your stay.Can you confirm the amenities that were showing with this listing? This information is available under the trip information in your HOTWIRE account.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.
Bree Posted February 10, 2012 Author Report Posted February 10, 2012 Amenities Casino Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Golf Nearby Spa Services 90% Hotwire Customer Satisfaction
thereuare Posted February 10, 2012 Report Posted February 10, 2012 Thanks for the follow-up!I haven't been in many years, but "La Casita Blanca" (translation 'The Little White House') used to be a local institution with very good food and reasonable prices. At the time we were told that the neighborhood can get a little rough, so see how much a taxi would be coming/going and ask the restaurant to call one for you and pick-up up at the door, but it was worth the trip the few years ago that i had gone.Have a great trip. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Bree Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Posted February 11, 2012 Thanks for the follow-up!I haven't been in many years, but "La Casita Blanca" (translation 'The Little White House') used to be a local institution with very good food and reasonable prices. At the time we were told that the neighborhood can get a little rough, so see how much a taxi would be coming/going and ask the restaurant to call one for you and pick-up up at the door, but it was worth the trip the few years ago that i had gone.Have a great trip.Thanks for the tip!
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