Priceline Hotel: 4* New Orleans (Downtown) Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette Hotel

[Alt]

First time visit to New Orleans between May 20 to 26 and I am struggling with a bidding strategy. I have gone up to $82 for 3.5* in FQ without success. The prices seem to be very high for that week. I am willing to stay in neighbouring areas but am not familiar with this city and as we won't have a car if we are too far from FQ or away from public transport then we will struggle. Any help with various bidding strategies/areas to bid on would be appreciated. (I am willing to go down to 2.5* for a suitably located hotel)

[thereuare]

I would caution lowering your star rating too much as some of the lower rated hotels in New Orleans can get fairly sketchy, imo.

The Downtown zone should suit your needs just fine and is not far at all from the French Quarter... at the moment i think a 4* in the FQ could be had for ~$125 or so... a 4* Downtown at about $90... 3.5* hotels in either zone may not save you much. These are just ballpark numbers and we would of course start lower, but based upon these figures could you stretch your $82/nite budget a bit for a 4* property?

Whether you're able to increase your budget or not, do you want to include the Downtown zone in your bidding? Do you want to try for a 4* hotel up to your maximum bid before lowering your star rating to the 3.5* level?

Let us know the above and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[Alt]

Thank you for the quick reply. I am not familiar with New Orleans. Is FQ and other touristy areas easily accessible from Downtown using public transport and will it be easy and safe to return late at night? If so I am more than happy to stay in Downtown area. I will also be more than happy with a 3.5* hotel.

Thanks

[thereuare]

You could easily walk from Downtown hotels to the French Quarter. However, i'm a "city" person and some parts New Orleans can be a bit daunting at night, especially on streets which may not be as well traveled/have as many people on them... depending how far your hotel is from Canal St. you may want to consider a taxi home at nite if it's very late, even though it may be a walkable distance.

Did you want to start with the 3.5* level and bid both FQ and Downtown? What is your maximum bid when trying for a 3.5* in either zone?

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

[Alt]

I'm hoping to get a place for less than 80 but that might be wishful thinking. I might go down to 3* but not lower based on your advice. I have still plenty of time and will start to bid and use the free rebid zones.

Thanks for your info.

[thereuare]

What star rating(s) and zone(s) do you want to try for first?

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

[Alt]

I have tried FQ without success so I will now concentrate on Downtown and see if I can get a 3* and above at the lowest bid.

[thereuare]

To confirm, was your last bid for a 3* hotel in the FQ zone at $80/nite?

When bidding Downtown are you willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3.5* vs. a 3* OR is your goal the least expensive 3* or better for this trip?

Please let us know the above and we'll take it from there.

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

[Alt]

The aim now is to get the least expensive 3* or better for these dates in a zone with easy public transport access to FQ area (Downtown zone as identified by you)

[thereuare]

To confirm, was your last bid for a 3* hotel in the FQ zone at $80/nite?

Please confirm the above so that we can strategically include your 'known' rejected bids in the French Quarter zone into the current bidding strategy (in order to optimize the number of bids you can make)

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

Thanks.

[Alt]

I Have bid upto $76 for a 3* in FQ without success.

Thanks

[thereuare]

When bidding 3* in New Orleans you have TWO re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Select 3* Downtown...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $73, if rejected closer browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Downtown and French Quarter...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80

Any question 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.

[Alt]

Just won Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette Hotel (Downtown) for the 6 nights for $72.

This was my first bid so probably can be had for less. A little unexpected because all during March my bids upto $83 were rejected.

Thanks for the help :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

A very nice deal for this property which (imo) has the perfect location... close enough to the French Quarter that you don't think twice about heading there even if just for a short trip... yet far enough away that you can escape the drunkeness and noise in the middle of the nite.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.