Priceline Hotel: Bidding Strategy for Downtown Seattle

[Seattle]

Trying to hone in on the Crowne Plaza or Red Lion and avoid the Holiday Inn Downtown which is too far north of where we're having meetings.

Dates are Nov 1 - 4 and looking for 2 rooms.

Published rates are all in the $180+ range so I thought I'd start at $90 and maybe avoid the Holiday Inn which seems to take on anything in the $65 or $80 range.

Does this make sense?

Thx.

[bbbb]

Bidding more to avoid the Holiday Inn could very well cause you to over bid and still get the HI. What are your dates and Maxim bidding limit?

[WillTravel]

I agree with bbbb. I'd do one of the following:

a) use Hotwire, and stick to the Pike Place zone (and be reasonably sure of the hotel identity before buying it)

B ) bid for 4* only on Priceline in the downtown Seattle zone

c) book a suite directly (if that would work for your parties). I like Summerfield Suites and the Springhill Suites (although neither is as conveniently located as the Crowne Plaza or Red Lion).