Priceline Hotel: 4* Amsterdam (City Center) Movenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre

[mes0204]

I am new to bidding. I get an idea of how it works. I will need a room on the night of Oct.14 due to a layover. So, the idea is a room and some quick tourism.

 

I have seen the prices people are getting for 4 star hotels, but not seeing anything for fall. What might be a good starting price for that date?  I see people are getting the Movenpick.  That would be OK.

 

We do not have to walk too far from the train station.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you go to PRICELINE (either using the BiddingHelper.com at the top middle of this page or the PRICELINE search box to the right of it) and see the zones for this area, which ones, by PRICELINE name, are you willing to accept? What would be your maximum bid for this nite?

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

Let us know the above and we will advise accordingly.

[mes0204]

I am trying to rebid. I want a hotel in Amsterdam Central. I really can not tell if there are other 4 or 5 * hotels in other zones. I was going to try to add east, but don't know how to determine if there might be a 4 or 5* hotel in that zone. In short what zones could I add and feel safe that there are no 4 or 5 * hotels?

[thereuare]

I assumed that your most recent post was for the same trip as your previous topic and have merged your threads.

When bidding in Amsterdam you have FIVE re-bid zones at the 5* level... there are NO re-bid zones at the 4* level. See Priceline Re-Bidding Explained to read about how to determine your re-bid zones and feel free to confirm them with the board OR if you're confused ask questions and we'll break it down further for you.

Are you bidding the City Centre zone or the Central Canals zone? Are you bidding 5* or 4*? What is your maximum bid for this trip?

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

[mes0204]

I am bidding on the City Centre zone. I want to be close to the train station.

 

I want a four star hotel. I only mention 5 star as I assume a 5 star hotel could conceivably accept a bit if they wanted.

 

I am trying to figure out what zones have what types of hotels, but that has eluded me thus far.  So, I thought I would just ask the simple question. Thanks

[thereuare]

I am trying to figure out what zones have what types of hotels, but that has eluded me thus far.

Assuming you mean which star ratings are offered within each zone, you need to double check this information before starting every bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked, otherwise you could easily end up in a zone that you didn't intend.

If you have already read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and are still confused, try the following:

Start with the following...

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter Amsterdam, The Netherlands 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.

As noted above there are no re-bid zones at the 4* level and FIVE re-bid zones at the 5* level, so if you're bidding 4* the above may be a moot point for this trip, but you should still try to figure out the above so that you're prepared for the next time you bid a star rating/location where re-bid zones are available (or should you decide to switch to 5* bidding for this trip)

Have you made any bids so far... if so, what bid amount(s) have you tried which were rejected? What is your maximum bid for a 4* hotel in this zone for this nite?

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

[mes0204]

I have done a couple bids for the Central Area. As I am new to this I have been very conservative. I started at $60 for the first bid assuming not much would happen, but that I could get the experience. The next night I put a bid in for $65. Nothing. Then I put a bid in for $68. Nothing. Next time I will raise it a little more. As my trip is some months away, I think I have time to move little by little.

 

I will also need to book something in Japan in the near future. I would like to have this experience under my belt.

[Romelle]

Have you found the list of hotels reported by other members?

 

If not, at the very bottom of this page you will see "Priceline Hotel List Other Countries".  Click on that and you will taken to a list of cities.  Click on Amsterdam and you will see the various zones.  Then click on any of the zones in which you are interested.

 

Another way is to click on "Hotel Lists" up in the banner, and follow on through.  You have to click on "Other Countries" to get into the non-US cities.

 

And finally, you can click on "Need Help"?" up in the right hand corner.  

 

All three take you to the same place.  

 

If you are flying in and out of Amsterdam, you might also consider the airport zone.  

 

Romelle

[mes0204]

Yes, I see the hotels that people are getting. Good information.

 

I am trying to to the rebid and use the strategy of raising my bid and add a zone where there is no other hotel in the 4 star category. When I go to Priceline and enter Amsterdam in the booking tool the zones are not the same as they are in the "name your own price." In the ordinary booking tool there are about 4 zones, in name your own price there are 8 zones. So, it would seem to me that there is some overlap. I am probably missing something simple, but it is confusing me.

 

I can go on the way I am doing by going up a little each day, but rebidding might be quicker and I would like to get the hang of it.

 

I am also aware of the hotels around the airport. I think we have enough time to do a little tourism so that is why I am looking for the City Centre.

[Romelle]

 

I am trying to to the rebid and use the strategy of raising my bid and add a zone where there is no other hotel in the 4 star category. When I go to Priceline and enter Amsterdam in the booking tool the zones are not the same as they are in the "name your own price." In the ordinary booking tool there are about 4 zones, in name your own price there are 8 zones. So, it would seem to me that there is some overlap. I am probably missing something simple, but it is confusing me.

 

I can go on the way I am doing by going up a little each day, but rebidding might be quicker and I would like to get the hang of it.

 

 

 

You aren't missing anything simple.  It is confusing.  

 

There are three different ways to get hotels via Priceline:

 

1-Name Your Own Price - or bidding

     8 zones (currently, although it changes from time to time)

 

2-Priceline Express - or Express Deals

    6 areas

 

3-List view - sometimes referred to here as the "retail side", and you referred to it as "the ordinary booking tool"

     4 areas

 

 

Yes, there is overlap.  

 

I worked with the maps a little, and "Central Amsterdam" in 3-List View, is an approximate combination of the bidding zones "City Centre" and "Central Canals Area" in 1-Name Your Own Price.

 

As thereuare mentioned in his Post #6, there is not any re-bidding available at the 4* level in Amsterdam, because all the zones in Name Your Own Price have 4* hotel bidding available.   He also stated that re-bidding is only available at the 5* level.  

 

Besides the City Centre zone in Amazon, you might consider also bidding the Central Canals Area and Museum Quarter-Rai Centre zones.  They both are also good areas for tourism, although the Museum Quarter-Rai Centre zone is a little further out from the city center.

 

You are wise to proceed carefully and cautiously.  It is complicated.

 

Romelle

[thereuare]

I am trying to to the rebid and use the strategy of raising my bid and add a zone where there is no other hotel in the 4 star category. When I go to Priceline and enter Amsterdam in the booking tool the zones are not the same as they are in the "name your own price." In the ordinary booking tool there are about 4 zones, in name your own price there are 8 zones. So, it would seem to me that there is some overlap. I am probably missing something simple, but it is confusing me.

You're using the 'retail' side of PRICELINE to try to determine your re-bid zones and this is not correct, you check your re-bid zones directly on the 'Name Your Own Price' side of their service. As per my previous post above:

If you have already read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and are still confused, try the following:

Start with the following...

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter Amsterdam, The Netherlands 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.

[mes0204]

I have been bidding on 4 star hotels in Amsterdam for a week or two. I have been raising my bid a couple dollars each day. But, I have not gotten an accepted offer. Obviously, I can just keep going up.

 

I am trying to modify my strategy a little.

 

First, I was wondering how many hotels looking at bids changes from day to day? You can keep the same bid day after day which would lead me to think that you might over time find someone to accept your price. So, one strategy might be to bid the same price for several days and then raise it a bit and bid that price several days, etc.

 

Another option might be to start and a low price and then bid up little by little a I did. My thought was to reach a plateau and then start over and the next time go a little higher, and then start over again and higher, etc.

 

I guess I am trying to come up with a sensible and successful strategy for bidding. I am not traveling until October so I have a far amount of time to play with bids.

[thereuare]

Your strategy assumes that rates will get cheaper over time, which is not always the case...

What if today hotels have low occupancy for your October dates and are therefore willing to offer deep discounts, but over the next few weeks they receive more booking than expected (either because people took advantage of the opaque rates or they have many new reservations thru regular bookings)... they would then likely raise rates and a price that may have been accepted today is no longer enough in the weeks ahead.

Using out sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com, what is the best rate you're able to find at an acceptable 4* or better hotel for your dates in the zone(s) that you are bidding?

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

[mes0204]

Well, it could work either way. They could realize over the next couple weeks that the bookings will be low.  That part is the gamble.  I tend to think they (hotels) are more optimistic further out and more likely to accept a lower price as they get closer to the date. It would be nice to see some data in that regard.

[AaronJB]

Last minute declines in prices have been seen less and less in the last few years as demand has ramped up.

 

It's a gamble and if prices rise, they could do so suddenly.

 

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

[thereuare]

Hotels have a very good idea of hotel demand for any given date for a few years into the future, and certainly a few months into the future. As computers have become more and more sophisticated so has their pricing models, yet it is still trying to predict the future future which is always difficult.

However, if you use our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com and search for your dates, you'll see most 4* hotels in this zone for your dates start at $200+ and many going into the $300's. So even using the least expensive hotel at $205/nite, your current bids are still less than a third of prevailing rates, which gives you a very low probability of success... you would need to see a very sharp decline in rates between now and your stay in order to be successful in the $60's.

So while nobody can say if rates will come down, or move higher, between now and your stay, it does pay to be realistic in your bidding. If you were to win something at half price now (let's say $120/nite), i think that would be a very good deal based upon current rates, and the odds favor that even if hotel rates drop in the coming weeks, $120 would still be a good deal and represent substantial savings. If you want to view it as a gamble, i would recommend also evaluating the odds. ;)

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

[mes0204]

Won today with a bid of $93. Got the Movenpick Hotel in the city center for Oct. 14 . Bid the same amount yesterday and got nothing. Things do change from day to day. My strategy was to make a the same bid I left off with the day before. When it was rejected I would add 3 star (I don't think there are any) and add $1. Obviously, did not need to do that extra step today.

 

I had been bidding/trolling for over a month. Just started bidding over $90 in the past week or so.

 

My thought after this might be to start a little below $90 and bid up to $100. If you get nothing start over and work your way up again.

 

I might add that when I made a rebid and entered a price (even at $92) a little box popped up and said that I had virtually no chance of winning at that price. Maybe so, but one dollar more was a winner.

[yellowdog]

Thank you for sharing your result with the board.

Enjoy your stay.

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

Yellowdog.