Priceline Hotel: 4* London (Kensington - Earls Court) Holiday Inn Kensington Forum

[eurotravel]

I have been here before but could still use some guidence.

I will be in London 3/19/13 till 3/25/13 - 6 nights. Room rates seem high for this period. Can you tell me what might be going on during this time? I have been bidding for the past month with not so much as a nibble (counter offer) but have only gone as high as $115.00. I have bid Islington (my first choice), Westminster and Bloomsbury. I am avoiding Kensington for fear of winning the Hilton Olympic. I have then used my two free re-bids to go higher. Is it too early to panic?

Because of the 6 nights, should I split my stay? Do you think that it is too early to do this?

I do have a backup reservation for this period at the Premier Inn, Angel - a 3* for $170.00 per night. My guess is that this is like a Holiday Inn Express without the breakfast.

And yes, I always use your PRICELINE link.

[thereuare]

Rates aren't that high for these dates (imo)... is $115 your maximum bid for a 4* hotel?

You could likely be successful within another $20 or so for your complete stay... or successful for at least part of your win at rates you have already bid if you're willing to SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID.

As a SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID example:

3/19 there is a 4* hotel in the Bloomsbury zone for $141/nite which may be an upgraded Holiday Inn Regents Park or Holiday Inn Bloomsbury

3/20-3/25 there is what appears to be the same hotel for $123/nite. If you purchase above and like the property you could purchase (what appears to be the same hotel) for $123... or if you don't like the hotel there is a 4* hotel in the Islington zone for these nites for $148/nite (whcih i haven't looked at the details yet but appears to be well reviewed with a 95% recommendation from previous guests and a 4.0/5.0 TA rating)

If you first purchase 3/19-3/21 and then decide if you like the hotel or not, then for 3/21-3/25 there is also a 4* in the Islingotn zone for $110/nite (also 95% recommended and a 4.0 on TA)

You could also mix this with PRICELINE bidding and use the above as your worst case scenario should your bidding for your second purchase fail.

Let us know your thoughts and 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.

[eurotravel]

Thanks for your response.

Are these hypothetical examples you are giving for hotels/rates? If not, where do I go to see these hotels.

I am not adverse to splitting my stay. I have done this before.

[thereuare]

3/19 there is a 4* hotel in the Bloomsbury zone for $141/nite which may be an upgraded Holiday Inn Regents Park or Holiday Inn Bloomsbury

3/20-3/25 there is what appears to be the same hotel for $123/nite. If you purchase above and like the property you could purchase (what appears to be the same hotel) for $123... or if you don't like the hotel there is a 4* hotel in the Islington zone for these nites for $148/nite (whcih i haven't looked at the details yet but appears to be well reviewed with a 95% recommendation from previous guests and a 4.0/5.0 TA rating)

If you first purchase 3/19-3/21 and then decide if you like the hotel or not, then for 3/21-3/25 there is also a 4* in the Islingotn zone for $110/nite (also 95% recommended and a 4.0 on TA)

They were all on HOTWIRE.

If you search for the dates indicates do you still see 4* hotels offered at approximately the rates indicated? (your price may differ by a few dollars)

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

[eurotravel]

I have avoided HOTWIRE because I have been concerned about their star ratings - maybe a 4* is not really a 4*.

[thereuare]

... - maybe a 4* is not really a 4*.

It's possible, but you also then shut yourself out of some deals where a 4* really is a 4* ;) ... or a hotel that for some other reason may be a good deal. I wouldn't exclude HOTWIRE as a service simply because sometimes they rate the same hotel a half star rating more than PRICELINE.

I'm sure what you "really" want is a decent deal at at a hotel that will work for your needs. So if there is a HOTWIRE hotel that has a high percent recommendation from previous guests, has high TA reviews (if shown), good ratings on all the criteria HOTWIRE asks previous guests to rate, and i have a decent chance at guessing the hotel correctly and knowing that it will work for my needs and is priced somewhat higher thru retail channels... then i wouldn't care so much if one service rates it 4* and another service 3.5* (or whatever star rating some other company may give it).

Not to contradict myself, but the opposite can also be true... i'd sooner take a poorly rate Conrad, Marriott, Hilton, etc. vs. a very good rated Days Inn, Motel 6, etc. as the difference in star rating is just too great, but the actual user experience (for me) between a 3.5* and a 4* hotel is often very small.

Bottom line is that star ratings are certainly useful, and they're the first line of defense in terms of quality, but they are also highly subjective, and there are many examples where a user may prefer a 'known' very good 3.5* hotel vs. a 'known' marginal 4* hotel, so you just can't take the star ratings at face value.

My .02 ;)

[eurotravel]

I decided to split my stay. I have done this in the past and it has worked out well.

I have stayed at this hotel a couple of times and like it. The location is great for getting around London. A savings of about $50.00/night makes this a good deal.

Of course I used your PRICELINE link to do my bidding.

[eurotravel]

It seems that I am technically challenged. Anyway, I decided to split my stay and have posted the results and two new threads.

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Great win for this Holiday Inn property! Glad you are looking forward to your stay.

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

Enjoy your stay.