Priceline Hotel: Niagara Falls, NY

[palioye]

Hello,

Complete newbie to hotel bidding read the forums to get some help and went to PRICELINE via your posted link and I selected Niagara Falls, NY 3 star placed a bid for $45 and was rejected. The site tells me I have wait 24 hours to bid again and increase my bid value. Am I under bidding significantly or should I keep trying? Dates are Mar 30 to Apr 1.

Cheers,

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

We don't typically see a lot of bidding in this zone as those who would stay here are usually more likely to stay on the Canadian side, and for those who need to be on the NY side they usually opt to bid the Buffalo-Amherst or Airport BUF zones.

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

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

[Verbat]

Hi palioye,

I would suggest you to try and bid on the Canadian side of the falls (if possible) because they have more and better hotels.

I won a bid there in December 30-31 for the Marriott for $80 and it's 4*.

Please read this Priceline Re-Bidding Explained topic here in the forum, it will explain to you how to bid again before the 24 hours limit.

When you bid in Niagara Falls Canada there are 5 zones there and only 1 has 4 starts. I would suggest to use this zone because it is the best location with the best hotels.

You didnt tell us what is the maximum amount you are willing to spend on the the hotel. Right now a normal reservation in the area for 4* hotel would cost you anywhere between $130 and $200. So i suggest start bidding at around $65 and go up.

[palioye]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Reason we want to stay on the US side is because we are planning to do shopping and then come back to Canada. The two hotels on the US side I was shooting for is the Four Points Sheraton and it's around $140/per night. Or the Holiday Inn Express 2.5 stars at $95/per night, I might be a little too cheap but hoping to get them for around $50/per night is that realistic?

Cheers,

P

[Verbat]

Well, getting the $140 hotel for $50 will be hard i think but you can always try, the only problem with the US side of Niagara is that all zones there start from 3* so you will have a problem using the rebidding strategy i showed you before. Besides never know what hotel you will actually get when you bid with priceline.

[palioye]

Thanks I up'd my bid today to $53 and still no go. As I get closer to my departure date will it be easier to get a price less than $60? What do you think I did look at the rebidding strategy and your right. Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

[Verbat]

In general i believe that closer to the date when/if the people in the hotel see that it's not full they may lower the prices because it's better to book a room in a lower price than not to book it at all, with that said this is not a 100% accurate strategy and you cant count on it for sure.

I can tell you that it did work for me few times in NY, waiting closer to the dates got me better prices.

I would suggest to go up to $60 anyway. The difference between $53 and $60 is not that big really.

[thereuare]

Thanks I up'd my bid today to $53 and still no go.

At what star level did you bid $53?

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

[palioye]

It was a 3 star

[thereuare]

...I was shooting for is the Four Points Sheraton and it's around $140/per night.

Thanks I up'd my bid today to $53 and still no go.

Your bids are only about 1/3 of prevailing rates, which while not unheard of, does not have a high probability of success.

What is your maximum bid? Would the Airport or Downtown Buffalo zone(s) work for your needs?

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