Priceline Hotel: 4* Toronto (Downtown South) Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel

[nadmak]

Hi,

I have used Priceline bidding before so I know who the re-bidding works. My question is do you think I would be getting better deals by breaking down my stay into smaller period? I don't mind changing hotels if it saves me money. For example, instead of bidding 4 nights for a Downtown TO South hotel, I would bid 2 separate bids of 2 nights for a Downtown TO South hotel.

Any idea if that could give me better rates? I assume that availability for longer periods may be reduced and hence cost more or that a hotel would not like to book off multiple nights at such a low price?

Thanks for your help. I am looking for Downtown TO 4* hotel for Aug 21-25.

[AaronJB]

Rates are really a case-by-case basis. A longer period definitely does not necessarily mean less of a discount - a period can be consistently inexpensive or expensive, making it so that breaking up date/s does not offer an advantage. Breaking up a stay is really only optimal if part of the stay is much more expensive/busy than the other.

What would be your desired budget per night for this stay?

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

[thereuare]

... and please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links before replying.

Thanks.

[vanpoodle]

It might work because different hotels might have different inventory levels. On the other hand, PL tends to average out the nightly cost on longer stays and it could end up having the same price at the end of the day. That strategy works if you don't mind moving hotels, and works best in cities where you switch up the zones. In London, there are lots of zones with 4*, some of which are used more by business people during the week so they have cheaper prices on weekends. Then other zones might have more tourists on weekends so better prices during the week.

The only caution is that PL builds in a service charge into the "taxes and fees" section and it's a bit of a mystery as to how much that fee is.

[nadmak]

I am thinking between 85 to 100 for 4* and now considering 70 to 85 for 3.5* in Toronto Downtown North only. I tried the rebid from 70 to 77 going up $1 each rebid for 3.5* but nothing.

[thereuare]

It's not clear from your post... how high have you bid for a 4* hotel? How high for a 3.5*? Were both of these for the complete date range or did you try either for a subset of the dates? When was the last time you bid for each?

Please clarify the above and we'll comment accordingly.

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

[nadmak]

I decided to start bidding for a 3.5* in TO Downtown North yesterday. I started at $$70 and rebid 7 times until $77 and I gave up at that point. It was for the whole stay (3 days Aug 20-24) Will try again tomorrow.

[nadmak]

Today I tied again for 3.5* Downtown TO North and not successful. Started at $73 and ended at $85 with 7 rebid. Don't want to go higher than this for a 3.5*.

[thereuare]

Do you want to bid higher or a 4* property, try SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID at the 3.5* level, or consider bidding Downtown South?

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

[nadmak]

I don`t like the 3.5* hotels Priceline offers in Downtown TO South. But I don't mind any of the 4* in TO downtown North or South. I will keep trying and report on my successful bids. Thanks for your help.

[thereuare]

Have you bid for a 4* in the Downtown South zone?

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

[nadmak]

Have you bid for a 4* in the Downtown South zone?

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

No I have not tried any 4* yet but I doubt I can get them for under $85. I would like to keep my costs down as much as possible so I am still hoping the 3.5* under $85 will work out for me if I keep trying.

[Romelle]

Have you included the 5% Priceline bidding discount in your bidding? It could help a little.

It is shown in red in thereuare's signature. All you have to do is click on that, and then enter the code (it was "summer" the last time I looked).

While I also like to have things all set way ahead of time, I know sometimes one just has to keep trying with the bidding. Lots of time left for some hotel to add some rooms to PL's inventory.

Romelle

[nadmak]

Thanks Romelle, no I didn't know about this deal. Yes, I too think more inventory will be added as time goes by.

[thereuare]

The 5% off sale using the links in my signature expires on Wednesday, so you have to consider whether to raise your bid a little bit more now in order to take advantage of the 5% off sale... or i you think opaque rates will drop by at least 5% in the next 3-4 weeks.

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

[nadmak]

Yes, with the promo code I went up to $89 and even tried splitting my stay in a one day and a 2 day stay but nothing yet. :( It should be feasible to get a 3.5* for $85 no? I have seen it many times before. Am I being unreasonable?

[nadmak]

First bid: $88 for Downtown South

2nd bid: $91 added Downtown North *winning bid*

Also used the 5% off promo coupon.

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Solid win for this property and hope the hotel will work well for your travel plans.

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

Enjoy your stay.

[Romelle]

I checked the hotel web site - no rooms available for your dates. On Priceline retail the rate is $193 per night. You scored.

Romelle

[nadmak]

I checked just before my bid at the PRICELINE EXPRESS deals and there was a 4* in TO Downtown South offered for $93. Right after I won my bid, that was gone! Guess I took the last one.