Priceline Hotel: 4* Key West failed attempt discussion

[Mr Big]

I've been trying to bid 4* and 3.5* Key West for 12/13/2012, one night.

I read through the forum for previous success on different dates, and the best seems to be:

4* Marriott, $115

Resort Hyatt, $130

4* Westin, $185

There is even one bid up to $249 for 4* Westin. Obviously different dates make a huge difference.

For my date, best rates available on Orbitz are:

Sheraton Suites Key West (3.5* on Priceline): $169

The Westin Key West Resort & Marina: $249

Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel: $209

Hyatt Sunset Harbor Resort: $215

With different starting points, I've bid as high as $165 for Resort and 4*, and $115 for 3.5*, but all attempts failed.

I'm reluctant to go higher because, for the same date, I can get corporate rates of:

Sheraton Suites Key West: $161

The Westin Key West Resort & Marina: $229

Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel: $177

I'm SPG Platinum and Marriott Rewards Gold. First of all, if I bid and win Marriott, I didn't gain much if anything at all. For SPG properties, currently SPG has a promotion to double the points for 1-2 night stay.

Using a conservative calculation, SPG points are worth 2.2 cents per point. So by booking directly with SPG, the points gain would be valued at about $40 (1877 x 0.022) and $50 (2353 x 0.022).

Considering the additional fees Priceline adds, there seems to be no point for me to bid higher. Not to mention with SPG Platinum status, I can get free upgrade (most of the time I got it), free breakfast or additional 500 points.

Any comments are welcome.

[thereuare]

Key West is a notoriously tough area to win deeply discounted PRICELINE hotel rooms.

It would be appreciated if you used the requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your future bidding, searches and travel purchases.

[Mr Big]

Update...

Price on the same day for 4* Marriott dropped to $179 on Orbitz. I was able to book a corporate rate for $152.

Will try to bid through PRICELINE next month to see if I can get a better deal.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated. :)

Enjoy your stay.

[Mr Big]

Update again...

Price on the same day for 4* Marriott dropped to $159 on Orbitz. I was able to book a corporate rate for $135.

Interesting...

[bookhound]

The Doubletree Grand Key is 114.00 at www.lastminutetravel.com (as an unidentified 3.5* --- when you click on an unidentified hotel and add an activity, you see the name of the hotel); it's 172.00 when identified.