Priceline Hotel: Bidding help

[Mari1988]

Need bidding help for our stay in NYC from May 5th - May 8th. Our highest bid would be 125 dollars per night and wouldn't like to go lower than 3***.

We'd prefer the following areas:

CPS

ESB

HK

MSG

MTE

MTW

TS

Have read different topics on this forum, but still don't understand the re-bidding strategy.

All suggestions and help is more than welcome!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Your budget is likely going to fall short for these dates which is during 'high season' for NYC, but let's first get you up-to-speed with re-bidding and we'll take it from there.

If you've already read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained then try this:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'New York City, NY' 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.

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

[Mari1988]

As I understand the system, I have 3 options:

1) If I want to bid for a 3* and up hotel, I have the following areas in option:

CPS; ESB; HK; MSG; MTE; MTW; TS and CJ.

2) If I want to bit for a 2* and up hotel, I have the following areas in option:

CPS; ESB; HK; MSG; MTE; MTW; TS.

3) If I start bidding from 3,5* and up I can add the fallowing areas: LJC; MSH and QB

These areas include the ones I prefer and those which are in a lower star star level.

Is it logical? :) And a nother question is that is it reasonable to bid for a 2* hotel for the same price as a 3* and up hotel?

Thank you in advance.

[thereuare]

No, i don't think you have a firm understanding, please provide the following information:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'New York City, NY' 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

Also, what zones are CJ and LJC?

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

[Mari1988]

I hereby write the hihgest star in every zone:

1) Brooklyn 4*

2) CPS 4*

3) Chelsea Area 4*

4) Coney Island 2*

5) Downtown - Financial District 4*

6) ESB 4*

7) HK 4*

8) Long Island City 3*

9) LES 4*

10) MSG 4*

11) MTE 4*

12) MTW 4*

13) Morningside Heights - Harlem 3.5*

14)Queensborough Bridge 3*

15)SoHo - Tribeca 4*

16) TS 5*

17) UES 5*

18) UWS 4*

Hope this makes more sense :)

[Mari1988]

And could you explain me what is a re-bid zone?

Thank you in advance! :)

[thereuare]

And could you explain me what is a re-bid zone?

It will be come clear in the next 2-3 post exchange. ;)

Please Double check Morningside Height and Downtown/Financial (the former is wrong, the latter doesn't have any star rating listed)

You can just type the above two and i'll edit your previous post accordingly with the new information.

[Mari1988]

Sorry for that!

Downtown - Financial District 4*

Morningside Heights - Harlem 3,5*

Looking forward to your next post! :)

[thereuare]

Great, you've not got the information correct on the highest star rating available in each zone.

I've re-posted just two of the zones below so that you don't have to scroll up to read/compare for the next point...

3) Chelsea Area 4*

4) Coney Island 2*

Let's assume that you bid for a 4* hotel and selected both the Chelsea zone and the Coney Island zone... do you see how if this bid was successful the hotel would have to be in the Chelsea zone? (since the highest star rating offered in Coney Island is 2* and this is below the minimum threshold (4*) that you had selected as your star rating for that bid)

Does that make sense?

[Mari1988]

Yes, that makes perfectly sense :)

[thereuare]

So, to bring it all home...

Adding these zones that you can't win, because the zone only has hotels rated lower then the minimum star rating you have designated, is what we refer to as a 're-bid zone'.

Using the zone/star information you had posted above, are you able to determine your FOUR re-bid zones at the 4* level, THREE re-bid zones at the 3.5* level, and ONE re-bid zone at the 3* level. Feel free to confirm them with the board and we'll take it from there (or ask any additional questions you have).

Also, please confirm if you're still looking at the 3* level and the zones in your first post... are you willing to increase your maximum bid beyond $125 since, as noted, that will likely be too for these dates, which would be during the Spring 'high-season' in NYC.

thanskforusing

[Mari1988]

Re-bid zones for 4*:

1. Coney Island 2*

2. Long Island City 3*

3. Morningside Heights - Harlem 3.5*

4. Queensborough Bridge 3*

Re-bid zones for 3,5*:

1. Coney Island 2*

2. Long Island City 3*

3. Queensborough Bridge 3*

Re-bid zone for 3*:

1. Coney Island 2*

And if I'm willing to go the lowest 2,5*, I have also one re-bid zone: Coney Island (2*).

Answer to your question: The lowest star rate 2,5*, highest price 130 dollars per night (without taxes) and the preferred areas stay the same: CPS, ESB, HK, MSG, MTE, MTW, TS.

[thereuare]

Yes, you have your re-bid zones correct, but always double check just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked.

To start with the bidding, did you want to try for the least expensive 2.5* or better, the least expensive 3* or better... or did you want to first try for the highest star rating up to your limit, if that is rejected try the next highest star rating up to your limit, etc, etc?

Also, rates have come down a little since you first started this thread, so you might have a shot at around the $125 mark, still a bit of a reach, but possible.

Let us know the above regarding which star rating you'd like to try for first and we'll advise accordingly.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and please click each of these links before replying.

Thanks.

[Mari1988]

I guess it's worth trying for the highest star rating up to my limit and then try with the lower star levels (the lowest 2,5*). Although it seems quite unlikely to win a 4* hotel for 125 or 130 dollars or what do you think?

Thank you in advance! :)

[thereuare]

Currently a 4* seems unlikely unless you're willing to stay Downtown... but a 3.5* or 3* might be possible within your budget. What is your maximum bid? (i've seen both $125 and $130 mentioned... which of these, or some other amount, should we be using?)

[Mari1988]

My maximum bid is $130 and lets start then with the 3,5* :)

[thereuare]

Assuming all of these zones (CPS, ESB, HK, MSG, MTE, MTW, TS) are still acceptable you can bid as follows using your THREE re-bid zones at the 3.5* level and ONE re-bid zone at the 3* level.

Select 3.5* MSG, MTE, MTW, TS...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* CPS, ESB, HK...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* CPS, MTE, MTW, TS...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, ESB, HK...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, ESB, MTW, TS...

Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* CPS, MTE, HK...

Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, MTE, HK, TS...

Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* CPS, ESB, MTW...

Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, MTE, HK, TS, CPS, ESB...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, MTE, HK, TS, CPS, MTW...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MTW, ESB, MSG, MTE, TS, CPS...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MTW, ESB, MSG, MTE, TS, HK...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MTW, ESB, MSG, MTE, TS, CPS, HK...

Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130

I didn't use all of your re-bid zones at the 3.5* so that if the above is rejected you can simply close the browser, use this link to re-access PRICELINE, and re-try at the 3* level if you'd like (and then at the 2.5* if/when you'd like to try that)

Any questions feel free to ask.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.