Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Buffalo - Niagara Falls (Downtown) Comfort Suites Downtown Buffalo

[TheBuffaloMeeting]

Hi. As the title suggests, I am looking for a hotel for 16th Feb to 21st Feb in downtown Buffalo for me and my partner. I have never used Priceline or Hotwire before and need your help. Our first choice is Comfort Suites. Our other choices are Hyatt, Adam's Mark, and Holiday Inn, probably in that particular order. I have been doing some research and I think Comfort Suites is the 2.5* hotel in that area.

Priceline express has a 2.5* hotel in that area for $59 with free breakfast, free internet, and airport shuttle. I suspect this to be Comfort Suites as I think they are the only ones in that area that provides free breakfast. I could be wrong though.

Hotwire has a 3* hotel in that area for $65 with free breakfast, free internet, and airport shuttle too. I would guess this is Comfort Suites too because of the free breakfast but I am not sure because it also says free parking.

Based on this information, what should my bidding strategy be for Priceline with the name your price option? What's my best way forward in order to get the hotels of my choice at the lowest possible rate?

Thanks

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

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 PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and your searches too!

Thanks.

[TheBuffaloMeeting]

I clicked those links and I will use them when making my purchase.

[thereuare]

Few comments...

When you use PRICELINE's 'Name Your Own Price' service there is no way to target, or avoid, any hotel in the zone... you must be able to accept any hotel in the zone at the star rating (or higher) that you select.

With PRICELINE EXPRESS and HOTWIRE you can take an educated guess as to the property you're about to purchase based upon the amenities and any other information that is provided.

Since you've listed your hotel preferences, what is more important to you for this stay... winning a hotel near the top of your preference list OR the lowest price for any hotel in the zone(s) that you're willing to accept?

If you're willing to pay more to have a 'guess' as to the property you may receive we will take a closer look at the HOTWIRE and/or PRICELINE EXPRESS properties to see which ones they may be... if lowest price is your ultimately goal let us know if you want to try for a 2.5* hotel (the star rating of your first choice Comfort Inn, although you could receive a different 2.5* hotel in the zone) OR try for a 3* hotel (a safer bet in terms of quality but excludes your first choice Comfort Inn from the possible outcomes). If you prefer to try bidding, also let us know your maximum bid for this trip so we can suggest a strategy that stays within your budget.

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

[TheBuffaloMeeting]

Thanks. I am aware that I could land up in any hotel when bidding. Getting the lowest price is more important to me. I was only looking at Hotwire and Priceline Express to get a better idea about the hotels and the prices.

The only reason that I prefer Comfort Suites (not Comfort inn) over the others such as Hyatt, Adam's Mark, and Holiday Inn is that it has better user reviews on all the sites that I researched. Also, it offers free breakfast and free internet.

I don't see many other hotels in that zone (Buffalo downtown), so I am not really afraid of ending up in a dump (unless you know any hotels in that zone that are terrible?)

My maximum bid price is $70 (based on the prices that I see on Hotwire and Priceline Express).

Please let me know how I should proceed. Thanks.

[thereuare]

Still not clear... are you looking to bid for a 3* hotel for a 2.5* property?

Let us know and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[TheBuffaloMeeting]

I want to bid for whatever star the Comfort Suites Downtown is according to you. If it's 2.5* according to you, then I want to bid for 2.5* hotels. Yes, I am aware that I could end up in any 2.5* hotels if I do this.

P.S: On a side note, do you know what other 2.5* hotels are there in this zone?

[thereuare]

Other 2.5* hotels in this zone could include:

Hampton Inn

Best Wesetern Inn

Doubletree Club

Best Western Plus

... and the Comfort Suites

There would be others as well but this was just a quick search of the area.

I'm re-reading your thread and i don't understand why you would bid up to $70 if there is a pricelline.express deal offered at $59/nite? Why bid higher on PRICELINE then the Express deal? (especially when you think this is the hotel you're hoping for)

Please confirm your maximum bid and we'll take it from there.

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

[TheBuffaloMeeting]

I guess I was giving you the maximum amount I am willing to spend per night for a hotel. But you're right. Since I am getting a deal for $59, let's just keep that as my max bid.

[thereuare]

When bidding 2.5* in Buffalo you have ONE re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

With time on your side i would bid as follows:

Select 2.5* Downtown...

Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $43

If the above is rejected wait 24 hours from your last failed bid and re-try, once again using this PRICELINE link to begin your bidding...

Select 2.5* Downtown...

Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $48

If the above is rejected wait 24 hours from your last failed bid and re-try, once again using this PRICELINE link to begin your bidding...

Select 2.5* Downtown...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $53

If the above is rejected wait 24 hours from your last failed bid and re-try, once again using this PRICELINE link to begin your bidding...

Select 2.5* Downtown...

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $58

If you make it to this last bid and it is rejected, then take the PRICELINE EXPRESS deal.

Also, there is a coupon code 'PLAYOFFS' available for some PRICELINE EXPRESS deals which gives you 10% off (expires 2/4). You should also see if it's valid for the 2.5* PRICELINE EXPRESS deal you're seeing, for if so, you could stop you'r bidding ~$53 since the 10% would not make it worthwhile to bid the last round of bidding.

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.

[TheBuffaloMeeting]

Started with $40 and bid upto $51 over three days. All rejected. Ended up booking the 2.5* at PRICELINE EXPRESS with the 10% off coupon code. Turned out to be Comfort Suites as expected. Happy that I got my preferred hotel. With the coupon code it comes to about $53 a night. Thank you.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were hoping for and are pleased with the results.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board. If you recall, can you please add a reply to this thread with the amenities that were showing to be associated with this hotel before your purchase?

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

Enjoy your stay.