Priceline Hotel: Resort Maui (Wailea - Makena) Wailea Marriott

[s232271]

I want a resort (lahania area) Maui 6/2 - 6/6, and wondered when should I begin bidding?

I just wondered if it is way too early to start? Should I have a back up reservation in case?

Also, is my expectation of $160 - $200 too low? (I am basing on what others are reporting)

Here are the current online rates for my dates:

Hyatt Maui $325

Westin Maui $305

Sheraton Maui $400

any advice is appreciated TIA!!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

It's never too early to bid as long as you know your plans are firm and that yo don't overbid. Although it's never too early to bid, i don't think you'll be successful this early.

If you're plans are firm and you'd like to begin, let us know and we'll suggest a strategy for you to begin with.

[s232271]

I am ready to bid, and wish I could set up a program to bid for me once a week becuase who knows when to really start bidding without missing out?

so, when is the right time to start bidding w/o missing the good deal?

[thereuare]

You have two re-bid zones when bidding resort in this area. 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.

I would bid as follows:

Select Resort Ka'anapali-Lahaina...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160.

Always double-check your re-bid zones before bidding to make sure that no hotels have been added to an area which would make that zone no longer a re-bid zone.

I would only bid every 2 weeks or so at this early stage or your likely to drive yourself crazy and/or get frustrated.

Let us know if you have any questions and keep us updated as to your progress.

[s232271]

My husband wants to bid for

6/2/2006 - 6/06/2006 in the Kaanapali-Lahania area-- RESORT only.

He has been keeping track of the winning bid amounts and wants to go no higher than $160 at present date. He thinks it is too soon to try much higher amounts. We have a back up at the Maui Sheraton for

$283.

Is this unreasonable? I feel we are wasting our time trying right now.

[LoneStar]

Well, if your plans are super firm, you could try, but looking at those dates I don't think anything is available anywhere near $160 at Kaanapali. Buy you never know. You could bid up to $160 every week or two for awhile and see what happens. I certainly would not raise my bid above that level yet.

[s232271]

Must have bid too high since we got it on our first bid,

but come on $120 for 4 nights at the Wailea Marriott for June 2006,

even with construction, seems like a great deal!!

Noticed another board member getting $125 so we decided to change our location and try for the

Wailea area instead.

We have bid in the past few months as much as $150 and got nothing, but had great luck tonight.

thanks for all the help.

[s232271]

gotta end this as we switched to Wailea resort after seeing the win for The marriott.

even with construction, due to end july 2006, we thought at $120 it is a steal!!!

thanks for all your help!!!

[LoneStar]

Glad you decided to consider Wailea. You never would have gotten $120 for a resort in Kaanapali. Lately, Wailea priceline prices haven't been cheap enough to recommend instead of Kaanapali (unless Kaanapali was unavailable), but at $120 it's a very good alternative for a Maui vacation.

I'm sure other bidders will "test" your price, but my guess is that you could not have gotten it much cheaper than that.

[ukbidder]

Does priceline warn you that a hotel might have construction work? I was going to bid for wailea but I want a hotel not a building site! Is there any way I can bid for this area and avoid this trap?

[LoneStar]

They sure don't and, frankly, it seems like "remodeling" hotels are VERY prevalent on priceline. If you think about it, it makes sense -- but can of course be a little disappointing to priceline bidders. That said, I've yet to have a major problem with a renovating hotel. Usually, the work is done fairly discretely and quietly. It's worth the huge discount.