Priceline Hotel: 5* Las Vegas (Strip North) 10/5-10/8

[hottieandginger]

I'm going for a 5* on the North Strip from 10/5 through 10/8.

I started the bidding at $70 -- admittedly lowball -- I figure that I can exercise patience for a couple weeks and creep up the starting bid.

I went from $70 to $92 in $2 increments. No luck today. I'll try again in 24 hours!

As always, I used the PRICELINE link to commence bidding.

Finally, a quick question. It appears that the 5* hotels on the South Strip consistently go at lower prices than the 5* hotels on the North Strip. Is there some reason for the discrepancy? Is the North Strip better from a "location location location" perspective? Or are the 5* hotels on the South Strip lower-quality hotels? Thanks for any views!

[pika40607]

I actually was thinking the same thing. I booked a hotwire hotel in las vegas for the same weekend trying to get the south side and save money. However, looking at Hotwire for those same dates, North was around $100 (I got Trump, that seems to be most likely for your dates as well), while South was around $160 (looks like Vdara).

If you get impatient, the HOTWIRE deal is available $105 for 5* North, just fyi. Best of luck to you either way.

[thereuare]

It appears that the 5* hotels on the South Strip consistently go at lower prices than the 5* hotels on the North Strip. Is there some reason for the discrepancy? Is the North Strip better from a "location location location" perspective? Or are the 5* hotels on the South Strip lower-quality hotels?

I think each set of hotels (Wynn/Encore/Venetian/Palazzo vs. Aria/Vdara/Cosmopolitan) each have their fans, and some prefer the South zone and some the North. Personally i don't think you can go wrong with any of these... especially at the PRICELINE / HOTWIRE prices.

I started the bidding at $70 -- admittedly lowball -- I figure that I can exercise patience for a couple weeks and creep up the starting bid.

This approach assumes that rates wil remain constant... what if the 'right price' today is $135 but while you're creeping up in $2 increments the 'right price' chances to $185?

With Wynn/Encore at $400+ for your dates, and the Venetian/Palazzo at $225+, what is your maximum bid for this trip?

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

[hottieandginger]

Agreed ... I'm taking some risk that prices could increase.

After browsing the forum (5* options, North and South), my gut is that I should be able to land something 5* on the North Strip or South Strip in the $150 range. I'm okay with that at the top end. But I'm looking to do better and I'm starting out focused on the North Strip.

Thanks

[hottieandginger]

My second day of bidding. I started at $75 and increased in $2 increments through $97. No luck, will try again tomorrow.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the update and for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board for your bidding.

Let us know if we can be of any help along the way.

[hottieandginger]

Third day of bidding. Started at $80 and increased in $2 increments until $102. Still no luck. Fourth day tomorrow.

[hottieandginger]

Fourth day of bidding. Started at $85 and increased in $3 increments until $118. Still no luck. Fifth day tomorrow. I'll be adding the Strip Vicinity South and see how that goes.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated - I think you're likely looking at $140-160 in the 5* Strip North area. The Trump (which has been reported previously in the Strip North Vicinity zone) would likely be quite a bit cheaper than that.

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

[Romelle]

Have you actually checked the hotel rates on their sites? Occasionally they have coupons and promotions. You can find quite a few of the hotels in the Los Vegas Checker under Tools. Others are on the Support page. And checked Hotwire? Always when bidding, it is good to know what your next best alternative is.

Many years ago I bid slowly upward and got a Las Vegas hotel, only to find there was a better price on their web site. I figured I paid for a bit of education.

When you add a new area, you want to make sure you explore the lower rates for it first. If you jump right in at your $118, you might land a hotel in the new area that could have been obtained at a lesser bid.

Romelle

[hottieandginger]

Thanks Romelle,

Yes, I've been checking hotel websites and HOTWIRE. I agree with the previous poster; it seems like the Trump is around $100 on HOTWIRE. But I'm nervous about the Trump based on some of the consistent negative review points (for example, the loud train).

[hottieandginger]

Fifth day of bidding on the North Strip. Started at $90 and increased in $4 increments until $134. Still no luck. Sixth day tomorrow. (I decided to work up to $140 tomorrow, then I'll drop back down and bid on the South Strip.)

[AaronJB]

Sorry to hear that your bids weren't accepted - hopefully the next round will be successful.

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

[cksgile]

I have been bidding religiously for a 5 star for the past month. Both in Strip North and Strip South. My bids started at $70 and now I am at $155. My stay is October 12th through the 14th. No luck what so ever :( I've stayed away from Las Vegas Strip North Vicinity because I didn't prefer to get the Trump. I have searched high and low on the web to find a reasonable offer for a five star. Maybe Hotwire may be the best option for landing a 5 star. Please keep us updated on your hunt.

[hottieandginger]

Sixth day of bidding on the North Strip. Started at $95 and increased in $5 increments until $150. Still no luck. Seventh day tomorrow.

Tomorrow might be the day that I drop back down and bid on the South Strip. Hotwire is showing a hotel on the South Strip for $153/night. I'm pretty sure that it's the Vdara -- it lines up with the same amenities discussed on the Hotwire forum.

I've noticed that prices on other travel engines have started inching down.

[hottieandginger]

Have you checked HOTWIRE? It appears that the Vdara is running around $160 for your weekend. I'm surprised that you aren't getting it cheaper through PRICELINE name-your-own-price. But rates seem to be going down, not up, for October.

[thereuare]

cksgile,

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages and clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then start a NEW TOPIC for your own trip and we will be happy to assist you there.

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

Thanks.

hottieandginger,

How much more is a Strip North property worth to you vs. a Strip South?

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

[hottieandginger]

hottieandginger,

How much more is a Strip North property worth to you vs. a Strip South?

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

I'd say $40 or so. If push comes to shove, I'll consider $160 for the North Strip. I wouldn't want to go over $120 for the South Strip.

[hottieandginger]

Seventh day of bidding on the North Strip. Today I added the South Strip. Dropped back down to $70, and worked up to $106 in $3 increments.

I wasn't expecting to hit on the North Strip. I've seen the MGM Signature listed as a "mystery hotel" on another website in the $120 range. So I don't want to bid over $120 for the South Strip.

[Romelle]

Priceline has the MGM Signature at 4* on their retail side. While bidding 5*s, you are safe from getting it. In the extremely remote chance you did get it, the retail side 4* rating would be good reason for getting them to cancel the bid.

Romelle

PS - for your dates the hotel is listed at $182, so that "mystery hotel" deal is a good one.

[thereuare]

As current rates I think you're going to need to be in the $120-$145 range to be successful for a 5* hotel in the Strip South zone.

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

Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if we can be of further help.

[hottieandginger]

Eighth day of bidding on the North Strip. Also second day of bidding on the South Strip. Started at $80, and worked up to $116 in $3 increments.

I got an offer from the Venetian for $630 including taxes, which translates into roughly $540 before taxes for the long weekend (the tax rate seems to be around 15%). So $180 seems to be the current "discount" rate for the Venetian.

Thanks all for the various tips and insights.

[hottieandginger]

Ninth day of bidding on the North Strip. (I didn't bid on the South Strip today.) Started at $100, and worked up to $140 in $8 increments, then up to $149 in $3 increments, then up to $155 in $2 increments. Still no luck!

I still have the offer at the Venetian for $630 including taxes ($180/night before taxes). The Vdara is running a comparable deal, $700 including taxes ($600 net of the $35 daily resort credit).

HOTWIRE has the Vdara for $153/night ($532 including taxes) (presumably the Vdara based on the amenities). HOTWIRE also has the Trump for $107/night.

[thereuare]

If you look right now there are two 5* hotels showing on HOTWIRE in the Strip North zone... one of them is priced at $118/nite and has the following amenities:

Resort

Casino

Fitness

Pool

Restaurant

Business

Hi-Speed Internet

Golf

Tennis

Spa

Blind Accessible

Deaf Accessible

Free Parking

Travel Accessible

Room Accessible

Bathroom Accessible

Handicapped Parking

Roll-in Shower

My best guess for this one would be the Venetian of the Palazzo and would be a very nice deal compared to your previously rejected bids and current rates.

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[hottieandginger]

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I'm looking now and I'm only seeing the [Trump] at $107 and the [Vdara] at $157.

Did you run a 10/5 check-in, 10/8 check out? Maybe I just missed the window. Thanks again