Priceline Hotel: Bidding Help - Oahu 5*

[lieb0088]

Hi all, new here.

Looking at name your own price on Oahu and looking at the 5star option.

Can anyone tell me what hotels fall into that catergory in the Waikiki Beach Area? Can find lots of info about 4* and 4.5*(resorts) in that area.

Dates 5/28-5/30

First time to Hawaii coming up!

Thanks,

Matt

[lieb0088]

Figured out 5star is most likely The Royal Hawaiian.

Tried multiple bids up to $228 and no.

Might look at resorts in Waikiki beach area.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

You can see all hotels reported to the board in the area in the Priceline Hotel List.

If you let us know which zone(s) are acceptable and your maximum bid, as well as confirm that you want to try for a Resort class property, we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[lieb0088]

Thanks!

Looking at either 5* or Resort at Waikiki beach area for May28-May30.

Was hoping to get a sweet deal on 5* since it was offered in Waikiki beach area but no luck yet. Will use better bidding PRICELINE link!

If I can't do a 5star will go 4.5*/resort. Not interested in HOTWIRE as their 4* hotel listed not for me.

Thanks!

Matt

[thereuare]

I assume you have not yet tried any 4* bidding? So we don't suggest a strategy that goes higher than you're willing to pay, what is your maximum bid at the 4* level?

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[Pinehurst]

In my experience they are the Halekulani, Royal Hawaiian and the Alii Tower in the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The Halekulani is wonderful including the restaurants.

[lieb0088]

Ok, so I tried priceline again for a 5star Waikiki and went up to $271 for May28-May30. That is probably above what I want to spend and I did see Trump Hotel was $309 a night.

I am actually in Hawaii May28-June1. My wife and I were going to bit the bullet and pay $425 a night to stay at the new Disney Resort but she got stressed about paying that much for lodging.

My thought was to priceline a room for Waikiki Beach May28-May30 and Priceline a room for Ko Olina area and most likely get JW Marriot??? Is that a good idea, 2nights in town and 2 nights out a ways/quiet. Also looking at Turtle Bay Resort... rooms about $230. The problem with Waikiki is it seems the cost is high for 4.5star places that are not that nice.

Look to spend about $800-$1000 on lodging total.

Thanks for all the insight!

Matt

[thereuare]

Ok, so I tried priceline again...

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll continue the discussion for your trip above.

Thanks.

[lieb0088]

You got it! I love this site!

My wife thinks I am a little over-the-top with my addiction to PRICELINE / HOTWIRE

[thereuare]

Are you looking to change hotels because you can't get anything within your budget for your complete stay or because you want to experience different hotels/zones?

Have you considered the Marina zone where you can probably get something like the Hawaii Prince for $100-$120 area... would this be an acceptable hotel/location? It's somewhat close to Waikiki Beach (the hotel provides scheduled shuttle service OR a long walk) yet is still outside the main part of the city to escape the very busy hustle/bustle (if that is what you're looking to do) of the core area around Waikiki Beach.

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

[lieb0088]

I thought it would be fun to stay a few nights in the busy Waikiki area and a few nights someplace more quiet. Right now I have rooms booked as backup at Marriott Waikiki Beach for $199 and Marriott KO Olina for $209 per night. Looking to beat those prices with PRICELINE.

Let me know if you think that plan sounds good. I have not considered Marina as wife wants to be on the beach, or very very close. Hoping maybe I can pop a 5 star the first 2 nights in Waikiki if I keep bidding up to the last days before. Also, if I go resort class I am thinking I can be $130-$160 and end up at either Marriott Waikiki, Sheraton or Hilton Village.

For the last 2 days I will bid in zone 4 and maybe get KO Olina or the JW for hopefully around $150 per night.

Let me know what you think and is it true the hotel will give you a very bad room if you use priceline to snag a good rate? I don't want to be stuck under a staircase or something.

Thanks for all the insight!

[thereuare]

I haven't checked rates to see if your winning bid assumptions are correct, but your overall gameplan seems feasible, but we see 5* wins very rarely so i wouldn't hang all your hopes on winning a hotel at that class.

As far as PRICELINE / HOTWIRE customers receiving the worst rooms, it does happen (more frequently at some hotels than others), but fortunately is the exception more than the rule. Regardless of how you book, sometimes you'll get a 'poor' room, and it's just too easy to place the blame on the deeply discount rate you received... perhaps you would have received the same room if you had booked direct and/or paid much more. There are so many factors involved with hotel room assignments that it's difficult to place the cause on the discounted room... although it's an easy scapegoat. With the previous comments noted, there are a few hotels which do discriminate against 'opaque guests' (and even those who have booked 'retail' thru a third party website).

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

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.