Priceline Hotel: HELP NAPA Priceline Placed

[monica111]

Hello,

I am looking for 2 rooms in the Napa area truly Napa not St. Helena or elsewhere. We will be staying 7/14/2012-7/17/2012 (Sat-Tues). There is a half marathon this weekend that we are running and rooms are getting full but I really don't want to pay the rates they are requesting. So I thought PRICELINE would be a great option although I am getting frustrated as I continue to bid and continue to get DENIED. So here is my bidding history:

4 Star bidded $75-$100 Rejected

3.5 Star $75-$121 Rejected

3.0 Star $70-$101 Rejected

I want to know any other tips that you may have in me determining what range I need to be in to get accepted. Am I getting close or do you think I am just extremely under their magic number? I am now raising in $10 increments and bidding 3.5 stars and then 3.0 star, so 2 bids per day. Any suggestions to help secure a hotel in Napa would be great. We are open to also staying in Sonoma proper if you will. We are looking to walk around in the evening area and enjoy the local restaurants and vino, of course.

[thereuare]

Please click 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 requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin all your future bidding, searches and travel purchases.

Thanks.

[monica111]

I clicked each of the links and have used the the better bidding links for my bids.

Thanks

[thereuare]

Summer is high season for this area and the half marathon is only contributing to the high demand. As you point out, most hotels are getting filled, so there is little reason for hotels to offer deep discounts to the opaque suppliers when they may be able to sell all/most of their rooms at full price on their own.

Most higher rated properties i'm seeing start at $250+ and quite a few are in the $300's... using our BiddingHelper.com or any other sources, what is the best rate you're able to find at an acceptable property for this trip?

Also, you mention that you're only making two bids per day, but you can get more than this by using re-bid zones. Are you familiar with and using your re-bid zones? If not, see Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board (highly recommended if you're new to the concept) before bidding. (NOTE: at the 3* level you have THREE re-bid zones)

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

[monica111]

Hello I used the BiddingHelper.com link and found that hotels are still pretty pricey this weekend with the half marathon. I decided to book a Best Western that is rated 3 Star via AAA but not a hotel listed within Priceline. I did rebid on PRICELINE today for a 3.5 and 3.0 star hotel at $175 per night and was rejected. I think that I am going to go up to 185 tomorrow which will be the same rate as we have the Vines Best Western with a AAA discount. After that than I am going to stop bidding as we are getting just to high a night. Thank you for all you help, I will let you know if I win and will use your PRICELINE links.

Thank!

[thereuare]

Glad you found something that works for your needs as a back-up.

July is still a long ways away, so even if your bidding tomorrow fails, i'd still try once a week or so in hopes of rates dropping over the months ahead.

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

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

[monica111]

Thank you for that idea of rebidding on a weekly basis and see if anything pops up. For clairification can I rebid the same amount lets just $175 per week and see if there is any new acceptance or do I need to increase by $1 each bid. I would love to get a 3+ star for under $200 a night in napa but that is a long shot but we do have a back up that we can cancel if I can find a dream deal!

[thereuare]

I wouldn't bid in $1 increments but would also try below $175/nite too just to see if any lower priced inventory as has been added.

For example at the 3.5* level you have FIVE re-bid zones... even more than this at the 4* level, so you could try:

Select 4* Napa...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $175

If the above is rejected you can close the browser, use a board link to re-access PRICELINE, and re-try at the 3.5* level. This strikes a good balance between taking advantage of any rates that may be released less than $175 but also doesn't waste time or bids by only increasing by $1 at a time.

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