spideysense Posted May 22, 2014 Report Posted May 22, 2014 First of all, great forum! Lots of valuable information on here, wish I had discovered it sooner. I want to bid on a 5-star in London in a nice, central location. I really don't want to get a run down hotel as I know 5-stars in Europe aren't usually that amazing. I prefer newer or renovated hotel rooms. What bidding strategy would you recommend for me? What amounts and areas? I will use the Priceline link you provide when I bid.
yellowdog Posted May 22, 2014 Report Posted May 22, 2014 Welcome to BetterBidding! You can't bid on or avoid a specific hotel when using PRICE.LINE You have to be able to accept any hotel in the zone at the star rating (or higher) you select. If you're trying to target a specific property then HOT.WIRE can often be a better option if you're successfully able to identify it based upon the star rating and amenities shown before your purchase... the trade-off is that HOT.WIRE usually costs a little more than PRICE.LINE, so you need to decide what is most important to you for a given stay, the lowest possible price OR the ability to take an educated guess as to the property you may receive. If you would like to get help with a bidding strategy so please post your budget/night before tax/fees and the zone(s) you're willing to stay in. Yellowdog. Please use the PRICELINE and hot.wire links on the board to begin your purchases and searches.
spideysense Posted May 22, 2014 Author Report Posted May 22, 2014 $200 - $250 / night. Zones, in order of preference: ChelseaMayfairMarble Arch However, I'd be willing to consider Kensington, Westminster, and Notting Hill as well. Really want a newer hotel or one that is at least refurbished.
yellowdog Posted May 22, 2014 Report Posted May 22, 2014 I'm sorry to say that I don't think a 5* is within your budget for your preferred zones. Rates are very high for your dates. How high are you willing to go for a 5*? It looks like a 4* in Chelsea, Marble Arch or Kensington would be your best bet for your budget. Let us know your thoughts and we'll go from there. Please use the PRICELINE and hot.wire links on the board to begin your purchases and searches. Yellowdog.
thereuare Posted May 22, 2014 Report Posted May 22, 2014 ... and if you haven't yet, please read your messages. Thank you. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
spideysense Posted May 22, 2014 Author Report Posted May 22, 2014 Well, I can go up to $300, but that's about it. I definitely do not want to go for a 4 star.
thereuare Posted May 22, 2014 Report Posted May 22, 2014 As you're stretching your budget i assume the goal is the least expensive 5* hotel in any of your acceptable zones (as opposed to bidding your maximum for your first choice in zone (when there could be something cheaper in one of the other two zones?)) Assuming the above is correct, you can proceed as follows: When bidding 5* in London you have FOUR re-bid zones. 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 before proceeding. Select 5* Chelsea... Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 5* Mayfair... Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 5* Marble Arch... Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 5* Chelsea and Mayfair... Bid $223, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $228, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $233, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 5* Chelsea and Marble Arch... Bid $223, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $228, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $233, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 5* Chelsea, Mayfair, Marble Arch... Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $238, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $240, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $243, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $245 If the above is rejected, PRICELINE EXPRESS has a 5* hotel in the Bloomsbury-Marble Arch zone for $248/nite (Pets Allowed, Free Internet) which you can take as that would be your best 5* deal Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Any questions feel free to ask... good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
spideysense Posted May 23, 2014 Author Report Posted May 23, 2014 Well, I am looking for the nicest hotel at the lowest price, which is what I'm sure everyone is looking for! However, I'm prepared to pay a little more if I can get a nicer hotel. For example! i'd rather pay $280 for a nicer hotel than $250 for one needing refurbishing or one that has tiny rooms.Knowing this, would your strategy change?The last time I used Priceline was a while ago, and I got the London Hilton Park Lane, but the room I was given was probably the worst room they had. Apparently, some hotels give Priceline customers the worst rooms. However, I once got the Marriott I believe in Canary Wharf, and I was given a really nice room.
yellowdog Posted May 23, 2014 Report Posted May 23, 2014 No, there's no different strategy to single out a specific hotel. You can't bid on or avoid a specific hotel when using PRICELINE You have to be able to accept any hotel in the zone at the star rating (or higher) you select. Starting your bids on a higher level will only end in that you overbid for your hotel. I hope this answer your question. Good luck! Please use the PRICELINE and hot.wire links on the board to begin your purchases and searches. Yellowdog.
thereuare Posted May 23, 2014 Report Posted May 23, 2014 Knowing this, would your strategy change?I wouldn't change the strategy for the reason suggested, but the $248/nite hotel in the Bloomsbury zone is no longer available, so for that reason the strategy will need to change. There is also currently (today only) a 10% OFF discount link and code in my signature which would also possibly change things a bit... The least expensive 5* hotel on PRICELINE EXPRESS is currently in the Westminter zone, priced at $266/nite, which comes down to $240/nite after the discount link. ... your next lowest price 5* would be in the Mayfair and Chelsea zones, which each have an offer at $344/nite, which even after the additional 10% off, brings this to $310/nite which tops your budget. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
spideysense Posted May 23, 2014 Author Report Posted May 23, 2014 I'd be willing to pay $310 (all in?) if the hotel was in Mayfair/Chelsea and it was quite nice. Any idea which hotel it could be? What are people getting nowadays for 5 stars in that zone?
thereuare Posted May 23, 2014 Report Posted May 23, 2014 The rate is $310/nite before taxes/fees ($344/nite - 10% using the discount link and code in my signature) The Chelsea property shows no amenities.. the Mayfair property only shows Free Internet.. so i don't have any additional insight into either (but will add that the Mayfair property has at least a 7.0/10 user review rating, the Chelsea property at least an 8.0/10.0, so the latter is probably overall a little 'nicer') Since this an extended stay you could see if either of these properties are offered for the first (or last) nite of your stay and then again for the balance. If so, you could purchase the solo nite in order to 'look behind the curtain'. If you're happy with the results purchase the remaining nites, if not, make alternate plans for the balance of your stay. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Let us know whatever you decide or if we can be of further further help. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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