Priceline Hotel: 4* Philadelphia (Convention Center - Mid Center City) Marriott Philadelphia Downtown

[n2ny]

Yes, it's graduation weekend and hotels are running upwards of $300. Got no bites at $150/night in multiple zones (University City, Convention Center, Rittenhouse) at 3.5*. I'd go up to $200/night, but it's killing me. Any advice?

[AaronJB]

HOTWIRE has a 4* for $216 in CC East - I think unfortunately you're likely looking at - depending on zone/star rating - likely the $170-190 range. Are you seeing anything in your price range under the PRICELINE Express Deals section?

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

[n2ny]

Yes, I checked Express Deals. I'm going to give it another few tries over the next week - 10 days. Otherwise, I'll just use points.

C R A Z Y prices.

If they're this high now -- even for 3* -- is there any chance they'll go down?

[AaronJB]

There's no way to know, unfortunately. With Spring, rates are going to trend higher, but if graduations are going on - there's no way to know - but I think you're going to have a situation where hotels are going to anticipate walk-ins and not going to discount aggressively. I hope that's not the case though and that some inventory comes online within the next two weeks.

Please keep us updated on what you decide, and I would watch HOTWIRE and PRICELINE Express rate trends as an indicator.

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

[n2ny]

Here's an interesting discovery: I was looking to book two nights -- Saturday and Sunday. But when I just look for Sunday night, the prices go down. I wonder if I just book Sunday if they'll offer me the book another night option?

And yes, I ALWAYS use your links !

[yellowdog]

n2ny

Thanx for using boards PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links :)

I wonder if I just book Sunday if they'll offer me the book another night option?

I doubt that they will offer you Saturday night for a lower price. Have in mind that the hotel got plenty of bookings if the price is that high.

In most cases you'll need to "break" the most expensive night to get the rest of the stay.

What is the price Saturday VS Sunday?

Keep us updated and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.

Yellowdog.

[n2ny]

On Priceline Express, Saturday night is $300+ for a 3.5* in Rittenhouse - $235 for a 4* at Penns Landing. On Name Your Own Price, Convention Center average is $1225 and Rittenhouse average for a 3.5* is $419 !

Sunday night drops to $172 (Rittenhouse) and $133 for a 4* (Convention Center). Name Your own Price Rittenhouse average is $229.

Sunday (one night) is very doable, as the first graduation ceremony is Sunday evening @ 6pm, and the main ceremony is Monday morning.

What do is mean to "break" the more expensive day?

[yellowdog]

What do is mean to "break" the more expensive day?

Hotels load a minimum price they will take in PRICELINE's database. And since Saturday is the most expensive day for your stay is the is the minimum price for your stay based on the hotels inventory on Saturday and not the cheaper Sunday rates. This is why i don't think you'll be able to extend your stay to the more expensive Saturday.

I hope this helps.

Yellowdog.

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

[n2ny]

Thanks! Will update once I have something to report.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated and please let us know if you have additional questions. While splitting your stay (likely between two different hotels) isn't optimal, given the situation it may be something to consider.

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

[Romelle]

Have you considered the adjacent Priceline areas? They show on the Priceline map as sort of brown/tan. When you scroll over them, you get a note you can click on "go there now". If you click through, you will be able to bid on those areas.

They also are listed right below the map. The first adjacent area listed is Philadelphia, PA Suburbs.

Maybe the higher rates haven't spread out into those areas?

Romelle

[n2ny]

Thanks Romelle. Great idea !

[n2ny]

success ! decided to go just for Sunday and got the Marriot Downtown for $105/night. And they gave me the option to extend the stay (which I haven't yet decided to do). will post separately as a win. Thanks for all the help. And used your link, of course.

[n2ny]

$105.00

Taxes & Fees: $23.27

Total: $128.27

Happy to have finally landed a room in a great hotel for college graduation weekend. What an ordeal, but I swear that Tuesday is the best day to bid. Love the Marriot (though I'm used to paying much less for it).

Used your link, as always.

[yellowdog]

Congratulations on your success!

Thanks for using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding :)

Good to see that you're happy with the outcome.

Enjoy your stay.

Yellowdog.

[Romelle]

success ! decided to go just for Sunday and got the Marriot Downtown for $105/night. And they gave me the option to extend the stay (which I haven't yet decided to do). will post separately as a win. Thanks for all the help. And used your link, of course.

I'm glad this first night worked for you.

Romelle

FYI - For the option to extend, you can't assume it will be at the same rate I've experienced situations where the extended rate was a whole lot higher than what I'd paid on the initial bid. You only get one shot at the extension. It can be either before or after your bid date(s), but not on both sides. And it can only be for the number of nights of the original bid.

[n2ny]

Thanks again for the advice Romelle !