Priceline Hotel: 5* Budapest (Pest) Budapest Marriott Hotel

[Avonyoung]

Hi I hope someone on this forum can provide some insight.

So I've been trying to bid for a 5* in Pest area these days and my bid went from $75 to $95 (with $5 increment each time). But they all failed. I would like to keep my budget per night under $100 (excluding taxes), am I being unrealistic? Am I bidding too early for Budapest, given that summer is coming and that maybe I should wait to bid two weeks before my arrival?

Also, I don't know if anyone has updated a 5* in Buda area, since there is (are) 5* there now. There are two 5* in Buda on Priceline: the Hilton Castle and the Acquicum Hotel. Because I'm not sure which 5* is used by Priceline in Buda, I only selected Pest in previous bids. Can anyone shed light on if I will end up getting that Hilton property instead of that Acquicum?

Thank you for any input!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

 

If Summer is busy, waiting until the last minute could lead to similar or even higher rates. This is about a month or so away, that's really not that far away as hotel bookings go.

 

In terms of knowing which 5* will accept, unfortunately there's no way to know which 5* participates on the bidding side of the service.

 

Based on the rate/s I'm seeing I don't think you're probably that far off: I'm seeing 5*'s for these date/s in Budapest for around $125. Would you be interested in pushing your budget a bit higher for 5* or would you rather try for a 4*?

 

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

[Avonyoung]

Thank you for your input!

I think I will go up a little above $100 for a 5* in Pest. I'm seeing some great deals in Prague in July. Can't believe these 5* are releasing their inventory to Priceline this early.

Thanks again!

[yellowdog]

I think I will go up a little above $100 for a 5* in Pest.

We need to know your max budget/night before tax/fee's to provide you with a bidding strategy.

 

My guess is that you're looking at $110-120 for a 5*

 

Please use the PRICELINE and hot.wire links on the board to begin your purchases and searches.

 

Yellowdog.

[neta.berda]

hi,

 

do you have any suggestion which hotel is currently bidding in Budapest - Pest - 5*?

I will be happy if you will publish your winning bid & hotel.

 

thanks,

[Avonyoung]

Hi Yellowdog- I bid today $105 for Pest 5* and still failed. My max budgets for those two nights are $115, as I haven't seen any 5* bids in Pest above that (Express Deal offers 5* at $125). Previous bids show 80-90 reasonable for 5* Pest area, but is it because of summer that I failed at $105? Am I bidding two early?

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

I definitely don't think you're bidding too early for about a month away. If you are seeing 5* Express Deals at $125, you're likely very close (but not quite there yet) on the bidding side, if $105 wasn't accepted. You're probably looking at $110-120.

 

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

 

 

[Avonyoung]

Bid $110 today when Priceline countered at $136. Will try again in the next few days with small increments.

Hope I'm close.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated - I think at current prices you are likely very close.

 

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

[Avonyoung]

Price.line still countered at $136 when I rose my bid to $115. Even their PRICELINE EXPRESS deal is $127 for a 5* in Pest area. $115 is absolutely my maximum... Felt like a mind game of Price.line- Should I continue with $115 tomorrow?

[thereuare]

It's worth trying again as it's always possible that you're only off by $1-$2 which, if currencies move in your favor, would result in a successful bid $115 in the future (but of course currencies can move the other way and hurt you, making a bid that is $1-$2 away now more expensive later)

What you do now, is that at least at this point in time, the 'right' price is $115-$127. Using our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com what is the best deal for a 5* hotel in this zone thru 'retail' rates?

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

[Avonyoung]

Hi. So I looked up on the site you provided and looks that the retail price is around $170-200. Priceline also gives me a medium of $153 when I started my bid. I will try $116 tomorrow....

[thereuare]

What's great about the MAPS and HOTELS.com interface is that it makes it very easy to get an overview of the area and just how much (or how little) prices are at a give star level in any give area. So even a win at ~$125 or so might still make a decent discount for a 5* hotel.

Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if/how we can be of further help.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[Avonyoung]

Hi I'm reporting a bidding win after almost two weeks' bidding (from $75 to $115 and today at $117). Looks like May and June are hot seasons for hotel sales in Budapest. Was more expecting the Sofitel, but am happy with the Marriott property also. Thank you for all the inputs in this post.

One last question- I'm seeing that regular hotel rates for 5* in Prague and Budapest in July and August ALL have at least 40% reductions; I also saw some great deals on Hot.wire for these two cities in July and August. My question is- should I seize that opportunity and start bidding NOW? Will the hotels deals and overall rate reductions I am seeing now disappear if I start bidding in, say, June and July?

I know it's recommended to start bidding whenever schedules are confirmed. That's the thing- I know I WILL be traveling to Prague (and Budapest) at one of those weekends in June and July; I just haven't set specific dates yet. My company also hasn't released funds to me, and so if I start bidding again, I will need to supplement with my own money.

Any thought about the valid duration of hotel deals in these two cities is greatly appreciated!

And again thanks for helping me win the Marriott Hotel.

[yellowdog]

Thank you for sharing your result with the board.

 

My question is- should I seize that opportunity and start bidding NOW? Will the hotels deals and overall rate reductions I am seeing now disappear if I start bidding in, say, June and July?

I'm sorry to say that we have no general answer to this. We can't tell if the rates will move up or down between now and your stay. But it sounds like you know a good rate when you see it. So my advice would be to start bidding now if you're satisfied with the rates you see.

Enjoy your stay.

Please use the board's PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your purchases and searches

Yellowdog.