Priceline Hotel: napa/sonoma bidding help

[biddingnewbie2012]

I am new to this bidding process and hope you guys can help give me a starting point. I read the tips and strategy about rebidding posted on this forum.

I am planning to stay from Aug 2 to Aug 4 in near Sonoma or Napa for 2 people.

Zone: (the way i determined this is by chooseing the hotel area under browse all hotel. not sure if this is correct way of doing it?)

Sonoma - two 4 stars priced at 400/night, next up is 2.5star

Napa - one 4 star at 364/night, two 3.5 star hotels, three 3 star hotels from 200-400

American Canyon - one 4 star at 364 and two 3.5 star and three 3 star hotel (one of which is embassy suite) at 300

Glen Ellen - 0 hotels

Petaluma - one 3 star hotel

Yountville - 0 hotels

Santa Rosa - one 3.5 star hotel

Vallejo - bunch of 2 star hotel

Novato - one 3 star hotel

Santa Helena - not showing and star for some reason.

Does this mean i can use the area with 0 hotel as rebidding zone?

What price range do you think I can get? Is it possible to hit below 200 for say 3 or 3.5 star hotel? from doubletree's own website theres room available at 219 for american canyon but not showing up on priceline. also i notice that if i book 2 day thurs-sat i get avg rate of 209 whereas if i book the two day sepeately i get 120+209. which is 80 bucks difference. do you guys know why this happens? is there a catch?

What should my strategy be if i want to stay at either sonoma, napa, or american canyon?

thanks in advance

[thereuare]

Zone: (the way i determined this is by chooseing the hotel area under browse all hotel. not sure if this is correct way of doing it?)

This is NOT the correct way. See Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and if you're still confused post back and we'll break it down further for you.

Is it possible to hit below 200 for say 3 or 3.5 star hotel? from doubletree's own website... if i book 2 day thurs-sat i get avg rate of 209 whereas if i book the two day sepeately i get 120+209.

If you can work a $165/nite average rate per nite why would you bid up $200... or were you looking for $200 total for the two nites combined? Where did you see the $165 average rate at the Doubletree website?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or our Doubletree link if you go that route)

[biddingnewbie2012]

This is NOT the correct way. See Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and if you're still confused post back and we'll break it down further for you.

I did read the explanation. But when i used the link provided and did the search, i don't see an area where i can choose "zone".

If you can work a $165/nite average rate per nite why would you bid up $200... or were you looking for $200 total for the two nites combined? Where did you see the $115 average rate at the Doubletree website?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or our Doubletree link if you go that route)

basically if i book thurs and friday night seperately back to back on doubletree i can get 109 for first day and 209 for next day, so about 164 average. if i choose one consecutive stay, they quote both days as 209. so i am wondering what price range can priceline reasonably get to? 150/night?

[thereuare]

But when i used the link provided and did the search, i don't see an area where i can choose "zone".

It appears you're using the retail section of their site, and you want to be on a bidding page. If you use the search box on the top right corner of the board you'll be take directly to the correct page with the zones on them... let us know if you see the correct info and are able to identify your re-bid zones.

...about 164 average... so i am wondering what price range can priceline reasonably get to? 150/night?

The better question is 'knowing' that you can get what you believe to be the Doubletree for $165/nite... how high are you willing to bid on PRICELINE for any 3.5* hotel? Also, are you referring to the Doubletree in the (Rohnert Park - Petaluma)... if so, you didn't list this as a zone you're willing to accept, is this a zone you're looking to bid? It's also not clear... are you bidding 3.5* or 4*?

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

[biddingnewbie2012]

It appears you're using the retail section of their site, and you want to be on a bidding page. If you use the search box on the top right corner of the board you'll be take directly to the correct page with the zones on them... let us know if you see the correct info and are able to identify your re-bid zones.

when i use the bid button, then i only see different zones and stars, but not what hotels are in that zone. how can i find out about that?

The better question is 'knowing' that you can get what you believe to be the Doubletree for $165/nite... how high are you willing to bid on PRICELINE for any 3.5* hotel? Also, are you referring to the Doubletree in the (Rohnert Park - Petaluma)... if so, you didn't list this as a zone you're willing to accept, is this a zone you're looking to bid? It's also not clear... are you bidding 3.5* or 4*?

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

the doubletree i found is in american canyon using the hilton website. i am not sure what star it is in priceline. since i can get 165/night for sure. i am going to try to get lower than that if possible.

also, is it against hotel rules to book back to back reservations?

[Romelle]

When you are in the bidding area, you aren't supposed to see specific hotels. The idea of bidding is that you check one or more zones and a star level. When you put in a bid $$ amount, you are indicating you are willing to accept any hotel in the mapped zone area(s) at or above the zone(s) you checked.

However, if you look at the very first post in this "California - Priceline/Hotwire Hotel Lists ....." you will find a list of hotels other members here have reported as getting via bidding. Scroll down to Napa. It is always possible to receive a hotel not on the list (it has happened to me several times and I sort of like being able to report a new hotel to the list).

On the retail side, PRICELINE currently has that Canyon Doubletree as a 3*, so if it is offered by bidding it will be in the 3* group also.

I'm not sure what you mean by "back to back reservations". If you simply mean two different bookings, one for days 1-4, and another for days 5-7, there is no problem with that. I've done it personally, and read of others doing it. When you register the first time, you can mention it and ask if you might get to stay in the same room for both registrations. While anything is possible, I've never seen them not grant the request. Maybe if the first booking was for a suite, and the second for a budget room?

Romelle

[thereuare]

when i use the bid button, then i only see different zones and stars, but not what hotels are in that zone. how can i find out about that?

Try this:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'Napa, CA' and your dates, and click "GO".

2) List each zone that is offered in this region.

3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest star rating offered in the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

4) post your findings and we'll take it from there

If you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.

the doubletree i found is in american canyon using the hilton website. i am not sure what star it is in priceline. since i can get 165/night for sure. i am going to try to get lower than that if possible.

You only mention bidding Napa and Sonoma... are you also willing to bid PRICELINE's "Vallejo - American Canyon" zone? The Doubletree you're referring to is currently rated 3* on PRICELINE. Also, if you do ultimately book direct please note that our Support Page (on the lower row of the blue banner at the top of the board has a link directly to the Doubletree website, please use it if you decide to book direct.

also, is it against hotel rules to book back to back reservations?

No, nothing wrong with it... when you check-in tell the front desk that you have 'separate but continuous' reservations and if they can block the room for the second nite so that you won't have to change rooms (a very slight chance that you would need to do so, but i'd say less than 2-3%)

Let us know if you're able to following the information above regarding determining your re-bid zones and we'll take it from there.

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