Priceline Hotel: 5* Hotel Vegas Strip

[quaching tiger]

Hi everyone, I am back again.

I'm looking for a 5* room on the las vegas strip from June 21st - June 23rd. However, I have a few questions.

1. Whats the recommended rate I should start at when bidding for that weekend and whats the recommended increments if I don't succeed initially?

2. I believe i have the gist of the bidding strategy (bid, if i fail, try again adding a rebidding zone). Just to clarify, in addition to adding a rebidding zone, I also increase the price, correct? Or do I keep my bid the same, and add another bid zone.

I also do not care if its in the north or south, just not the Trump Hotel.

Thank you in advance, everyone.

[yellowdog]

Welcome back :)

First of all, re-read your previous Priceline Las Vegas post, thereuare explained everything very good in that thread. But please note, always double-check your zones before each bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since previously checking.

1. Whats the recommended rate I should start at when bidding for that weekend and whats the recommended increments if I don't succeed initially?

Let us know your budget/night before tax/fees and we'll take a look at this.

2. I believe i have the gist of the bidding strategy (bid, if i fail, try again adding a rebidding zone). Just to clarify, in addition to adding a rebidding zone, I also increase the price, correct? Or do I keep my bid the same, and add another bid zone.

Yes, you increase the price with your rebidding zones. Staying at the same price don't help you since you got rejected

I also do not care if its in the north or south, just not the Trump Hotel.

Don't use Strip North Vicinity - Condo and you'll avoid the Trump Towers. And i say it again, double-check your zones before each bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since previously checking.

Let us know if you have any additional questions arround your bidding.

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

Yellowdog.

[quaching tiger]

First of all, re-read your previous Priceline Las Vegas post, thereuare explained everything very good in that thread. But please note, always double-check your zones before each bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since previously checking.

Yes of course, I'll use my old post as reference.

Let us know your budget/night before tax/fees and we'll take a look at this.

The cheaper the better! Before taxes and fee's...hopefully < $150.

Yes, you increase the price with your rebidding zones. Staying at the same price don't help you since you got rejected

Got it.

Don't use Strip North Vicinity - Condo and you'll avoid the Trump Towers. And i say it again, double-check your zones before each bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since previously checking.

Yes, i'll make sure to not include north vicinity.

[yellowdog]

Do you know if there's something going on for your dates? Prices are sky high for 5*. I'm sorry say that i'm pretty sure that your budget isn't enough for a 5*.

Looks like you need to settle for 4* Would you be OK with that?

Yellowdog.

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

[quaching tiger]

There's a 3-day concert going around that weekend.

What's the price of the average 5* hotel in that area? And what methods did you get that amount so I can try it next time for myself.

What's the strategy of a 4* hotel? I know it's a little harder because since there are more areas that do have a 4* hotel.

[AaronJB]

Keep in mind when bidding for a 4* that PRICELINE's star rating levels go: 4*, RESORT and then 5*. There have been a number of people who have bid in a particular zone (Summerlin) thinking that there are no 4*'s and then get upgraded to resort and stuck in a zone they don't want. Definitely check star ratings each time before starting to bid and let us know if you have any questions before bidding. Regular rate prices can be checked by using Expedia, HOTWIRE's regular rate side, hotels.com, etc. You can also use the Bidding Helper tool under the tools menu towards the top left corner of the Betterbidding page.

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

[quaching tiger]

I bid all the way up to $160 but no luck. I guess I should try again tomorrow.

[yellowdog]

Sorry to hear this.

Did you go for 5* or 4* ?

Yellowdog.

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

[quaching tiger]

I went for 5*.

How many rebid zones do I get if I want a 4* hotel on the Strip (north or south)?

[AaronJB]

Please search and list the re-bid zones that you are seeing - it is important to double check every time you start bidding.

Are you seeing any listings of interest on HOTWIRE?

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

[quaching tiger]

So I did my hw, if I wanted a 4* hotel on the LV Strip, my bid/rebid zones are:

Boulder Strip

Henderson

Speedyway

North Vicinity

South Strip

North Strip

Correct?

I have not looked at Hotwire, it looks a little more intimidating and complicated than Priceline.

What can you tell me about it?

[yellowdog]

quaching tiger

If you're trying to target a specific property then HOTWIRE can often be a better option if you're successfully able to identify it based upon the star rating and amenities shown before your purchase... the trade-off is that HOTWIRE usually costs a little more than PRICELINE, so you need to decide what is most important to you for a given stay, the lowest possible price OR the ability to take an educated guess as to the property you may receive.

PRICELINE has changed the bidding categories today so we need to look into this.

Yellowdog.

[yellowdog]

So I did my hw, if I wanted a 4* hotel on the LV Strip, my bid/rebid zones are:

Boulder Strip

Henderson

Speedyway

North Vicinity

South Strip

North Strip

Correct?

I have not looked at Hotwire, it looks a little more intimidating and complicated than Priceline.

What can you tell me about it?

No, this isn't the correct zones. It's very important that you know how to determ your zones or you can end up in a zone you don't want to stay in.

Yellowdog.

[quaching tiger]

I've looked at it again, but my answer still stays the same. Could you please help a brother out, Yellowdog?

[yellowdog]

Max rating should be 3.5* for the zone you use as a free zone to bid in.

Have you changed your mind about staying at Trump Towers?

Yellowdog.

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

[quaching tiger]

If I wanted to stay at a 4* hotel on the strip, these are my only zones to bid in. The zones that are not here contain a 4* hotel. I don't get what I'm getting incorrect.

[AaronJB]

You are looking for zones that do *not* have 4* or above. Additionally, you should use the zone selection screen during the bidding process to determine re-bid zones, not the list on this website. Please confirm zone/s that do not have 4* or above when you use that screen.

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

[yellowdog]

quaching tiger

The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is as follows:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter Las Vegas 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 in 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 take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

THINGS TO NOTE WHEN USING THIS STRATEGY:

-Don't use our database of previous hotels to determine what zones contain what star ratings, as our list is NOT complete and new hotels are added all the time and star levels can change at any time.

-when checking star levels in a given zone, only ONE zone/sub-zone should be selected at a time.

-the zone you add (that you really don't want) must NOT have the star level you are bidding OR HIGHER. If you are bidding 3* and add a zone that does not have 3* but does have 4*, Priceline can upgrade you to the 4*! When you selelct a star level, it is the MINIMUM star level that you are willing to accept.

Have you changed your mind about staying at Trump Towers?

Yellowdog.

[quaching tiger]

Honestly, I really thought I understood this whole bidding process until the 4* question came up. Could you please list me the bid zones if i wanted to stay at a 4* hotel on the LV strip. (I know you guys would rather have me figure it out on my own so I can understand the process, but i BEST learn buy an example)

Fellas, I really appreciate the help here and I'm probably frustrating you guys with all of my questions.

And I'm still not sure about Trump Towers.

[yellowdog]

quaching tiger

Could you please list me the bid zones if i wanted to stay at a 4* hotel on the LV strip.

We have never done this for reasons allready explained.

This is how we going to do since i can't break it down further for you or explain in a diffrent way how to do this.

Admin (thereuare) is back on the board mid next week. Please bump your thread Wednesday night and he will take over from here.

I wish you good luck with your hotel and stay :)

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

Yellowdog.

[quaching tiger]

bump.

[thereuare]

Try the following...

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'Las Vegas, NV' 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.

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links before replying, thanks.

[quaching tiger]

1. Boulder 3*

2. Fremont 4*

3. Henderson 3*

4. Lake 4*

5. Airport 4*

6. Convention 4*

7. North Strip 5*

8. Vicinity North 5*

9. Vicinity South 5*

10. NW 3*

11. Strip East 4*

12. Strip West 4*

13. Speedway 3*

14. Summerlin 4

[thereuare]

OK, all the info above is correct... so do you see how if you were to bid for a 5* hotel and included in the bidding the Strip South and Airport zones, that it would have to be in the Strip South zone (since all hotels in the Airport zone are below the minimum star rating threshold you have set for your bidding)

Does that make sense?

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

[quaching tiger]

Yes, because the airport zone has a max of a 4* hotel.

My confusion is regarding a 4* hotel on the strip.

So I did my hw, if I wanted a 4* hotel on the LV Strip, my bid/rebid zones are:

Boulder Strip

Henderson

Speedyway

NW

North Vicinity

South Strip

North Strip

Right?