Priceline Hotel: Residence Inn Dupont Circle for extended stay- tips on bidding

[familytravel]

Hi everyone,

I am doing an extended stay from Sept 15- Oct 13. Would really like the Residence Inn Dupont Circle as we need a kitchen. It looks like most recent bids in the 3* Dupont Circle area end up with the Residence Inn. I am wondering how much of a risk we are taking that we'll end up with something OTHER than the Residence Inn if we bid around $80, limited to this area?

Should we bid in 1 week increments to improve our chances? (and soften the blow if we lose out?). Have looked into other options including corporate apartments etc, but if we could get the Residence Inn for $80 it seems by far that it would be the best deal.

Thanks so much for any bidding tips.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you haven't yet, please start by reading your messages.

You can't bid on or target a specific hotel when bidding on PRICELINE, you have to be able to accept any hotel in the zone at the star level (or higher) that you choose. With HOTWIRE you can often take an educated guess as to what is being offered based upon the amenities associated with the property, but it's still a 'best guess' and no guarantees you will receive the hotel you're hoping for, although you can look specifically for a hotel that shows a Kitchen or Kitchenette amenity.

If you do decide to accept the risk of landing a different property (or a hotel that doesn't have kitchen facilities), i would bid in one week increments, and if you are successful for any of the nite(s) try the extend your stay feature which if successful would ensure the same property.

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

Let us know your thoughts on the above and how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[familytravel]

Thanks so much for your reply. I wasn't aware of the extend your stay feature, so that is very helpful. I am still torn on what to do...I may wait a while and see if the other 3* bids for this area keep getting the Residence Inn. I will definitely use your link for booking.

[AaronJB]

There are definitely times when a hotel can come up frequently, then a user suddenly gets something else - when using PRICELINE, one has to always be willing to accept any of the possibilities within the zone at the star rating selected (and bids can be upgraded to the next star rating.) HOTWIRE (looking for a hotel with a kitchenette amenity) would be a better way to try to guarantee that amenity.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[familytravel]

thank you for your previous replies.

I have tried bidding $70-75-80-82-83 for a 3 *, dates 09/16-09/21, in dupont circle area, with no luck. I do not want to go much above $83. I thought I might hit with success given that there are currently 4*'s going for less than this, but no hits. Do you think closer to the date I might have more luck (as more rooms are added to inventory), or is this time of year just more expensive and I should look at alternatives?

I should also note that after multiple hotwire searches, no luck at all finding anything on hotwire for this period with a kitchenette.

Thanks all!

[thereuare]

I thought I might hit with success given that there are currently 4*'s going for less than this, but no hits.

The star rating you choose on PRICELINE is the minimum that you're willing to accept, so if there were 4* hotels available for these dates, your 3* bid would be upgraded to a higher rated 4* hotel.

Do you think closer to the date I might have more luck (as more rooms are added to inventory), or is this time of year just more expensive and I should look at alternatives?

DC is a very event driven market. There is usually something going on in town (government meetings, conventions, rallies, protests, etc) and if any of these are large enough (or combining a few different smaller events makes it large enough) it can quickly have an impact on hotel rates. So in DC it's more specific events over a given stay rather than a 'seasonally expensive time of year' (other than Cherry Blossom Season), but for these dates rates are currently more expensive then you're bidding and i think you'll need at least $100+ to win for these dates at the moment (likely closer to $120)

I'd also suggest including more zones in your bidding if possible... the more zones you include the more hotels you give the opportunity to accept your bid, which increases your chances of winning and getting a great deal.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

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