Priceline Hotel: 5* Huangpu Shanghai

[teskitoe]

I am traveling to Shanghai 23 - 26 December and would like to get a 5* in Huangpu. Could you please offer a bidding strategy?

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Please confirm your desired maximum budget per night for this stay so we don't suggest a strategy that goes higher than you're willing to pay.

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

[teskitoe]

About $90 - $110 per night. I have 2 kids (1.5 and 3.5 years old) if that matters.

Currently I have a booking with the Howard Johnson for $120 for twin beds including breakfast. Not fussed about breakfast though and Howard Johnson can go as low as $110 for superior twin.

[thereuare]

PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel, and you could receive a room with only one bed. While you can call the hotel you win and request a room with two beds, the hotel may not be able, or willing, to honor your request. Is this a risk you're willing to accept? If not, HOTWIRE may still be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensure sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search (although this usually means two beds, the second 'bed' could be a sofabed, rollaway, etc)

Also, with your back-up at a 2* hotel at $120/nite why not go up to at least this price fr a 5 star property?

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

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

[teskitoe]

Tried $115 for 5* and failed (chose travel insurance for an additional $5). Are there any strategies to allow me to rebid. I used your link but I remember reading a long time back here that there are tricks to allow a lot of rebids without losing your area.

Also I have the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel which is 4* and I have the superior twin room with breakfast. Still eager to try for a 5* in Huangpu at $125 if I can.

[thereuare]

When bidding 5* in the Shanghai region you have TWELVE re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and if you're new to the subject it's highly recommended that you ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Also, note that HOTWIRE has a 5* hotel offered for your dates at $94/nite with:

Free Parking

Free Internet

Wheelchair Accessible

Roll-in Shower

My best guess for this one would be the The Langham, Yangtze Boutique, Shanghai, but even if not, this hotel does have an impressive 4.5/5.0 TA rating so quality shouldn't be an issue.

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

Let us know how you'd like to proceed or how it goes.

[teskitoe]

Hmm, so I spent an hour or so trying to figure it out and the only page I found with the star ratings is this Priceline Hotel List which lists three districts. In any case, I think with $115 I am looking at a rebid of up to $125 which after taxes and $5 insurance will come out to more than my current 4* Howard Johnson (has twin beds + breakfast).

I am more excited about my Priceline Tokyo bid, haven't started that yet but hoping for a good strategy there. My other post.

[thereuare]

If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained...

Hmm, so I spent an hour or so trying to figure it out and the only page I found with the star ratings is this Priceline Hotel List which lists three districts.

No... you shouldn't use the hotel lists on the board to determine your re-bid zones (and it even says so at the top of the hotel lists ;) ). Whether it is Shanghai or Tokyo you will need to know how to determine and use your re-bid zones, so let's take care of this aspect first. Try this:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'Shanghai, China' 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 use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.