LotzOStuff Posted January 8, 2006 Report Posted January 8, 2006 Need some help on bidding strategy... Will be in town for a hockey game at the Igloo!Found 4* customer fav -- dining/exercise/data/business $78/night(Presume it is the Hilton??? -- listed at $65 on the Hilton website...)Found 3.5* downtown -- dining/exercise/data/business $84/night(Presume it is the Omni William Penn???)Would consider the Westin, Marriot(s), Doubletree, Omni, Renaissance, and probably even Hilton...I guess what I really need help with is a bidding strategy for priceline to ge the lowest price. If I can beat hotwire by a lot, that's great. Otherwise, I'll probably just go with one of the Hotwire ones.Thanks in advance for you help.
LotzOStuff Posted January 8, 2006 Author Report Posted January 8, 2006 And yes, I'll use the savings barn link, somebody just help me out, PLEASE????? Pretty please???
LotzOStuff Posted January 11, 2006 Author Report Posted January 11, 2006 Anybody out there??? Getting ready to jump on something.Think I can get the hotel I am looking for at about 81 bucks. Will try my own bidding strategy on Priceline unless one of theknowledgable people here could provide one for me...Thanks.Brian
LotzOStuff Posted January 12, 2006 Author Report Posted January 12, 2006 Is this site still alive? What seemed like an almost instant reply in the past is now taking days... Have I been blackballed???Somebody please help. I said I was sorry, not sure what more I can do.My travels start soon. :)
dahammer Posted January 12, 2006 Report Posted January 12, 2006 I'm not sure where the Igloo is located, but if its the downtown zone that you're interested in, at the 4* level, you have plenty of rebid zones; a total of 7, I believe. I would start out at $45 and work my way up in increments of $3 or 5. At the 3* level, there are 3 rebid opportunities and it looks like the Marriott City Center has been reported as a 3* property and the rate on the Marriott website is $109. I might start out at $40 and work my way up in $5 increments. Hopefully you understand the rebidding process, if not, please ask. Good luck and let the board know of your results.
LotzOStuff Posted January 13, 2006 Author Report Posted January 13, 2006 I'm pretty sure I understand. Basically, there's no 4* hotels anywhere else in the Pittsburgh region except downtown? (which is where the igloo is...) So I can slowly add regions when it asks to try again, upping the price slightly, until I get a place, right??? No real risk of being stuck somewhere else since there are no other 4* hotels anywhere, right?Thanks for your response and help. I'll report back on how it pans out...
dahammer Posted January 13, 2006 Report Posted January 13, 2006 check out the following post: Priceline Rebidding Explained Keep in mind that star levels change and hotels are added and dropped, so before you start to bid on any zone, you should find out how many re-bid opportunities are available at the star level that you want. In the case of Pittsburgh, when I checked this morning, the only zone that had 4* properties was the Downtown area. The way to find this for yourself is to check the box for each zone individually and note the Highest star level in each zone. If you exhaust all zones in bidding for a 4* property, close your browser, and re-access Priceline and you can start bidding for a 3* property, you should have 3 rebid opportunities at this level. You should have a total of 12 bids to get either a 4* or 3* hotel.make sure you stop and have a Primante Bros. sandwich and a couple of Iron City brews while in the Steel City :)
LotzOStuff Posted January 13, 2006 Author Report Posted January 13, 2006 Thanks for all your help. I'll check out that link, and then will likely grab a place over the weekend. Is there any tips on when are the best days or times to obtain a better deal? I've never seen or read any here, but figured it was worth asking.I'll let you know what I end up with.I'll definitely pound a few IC Lights... We always hit Fat Head's (great wings and beer selection) and usually hit the strip district at least one night... Not to mention the hockey game and a great seafood restaurant in the lobby of the Sheraton (I think...)Thanks again for the tips.
dahammer Posted January 13, 2006 Report Posted January 13, 2006 Is there any tips on when are the best days or times to obtain a better deal?not really, in bidding for a room, you are trying to bid for the lowest amount that a hotel is willing to offer. Priceline is merely the middleman as they take your bid and match it up with current "offers" from hotels at specified star levels in each zone. Its hard to determine whether its better to bid closer or farther away from your date as room inventory, or "offers" changes daily. If a hotel is filling up on your dates, it may raise the minimum price that it will offer the inventory to Priceline. A good example is in the NYC area in the fall, room rates shot up to $250-300. Its now January and (should be) cold as a Witches nose (or some other extremity) and the same room might be had for $125-150. Just check conventional rates, in your case, the Marriott is available for $109 for your dates, but during the week, this room sells for $169. So, weekends have lower occupancy and the hotel is willing to drop its price to get the business, even if the Penguins are skating....the 'burgh is a great party town, the locals are great.Good luck!
LotzOStuff Posted January 14, 2006 Author Report Posted January 14, 2006 Not sure where to post thsi but you guys are on top of things, so I am sure you'll use the info as needed.On Hotwire, I have been getting offered a 3.5* (not listed as customer favorite) in downtown with restaurant, fitness, hispeed, business... Looks like the Omni, but that is a favorite, and what I have been getting offered lately.
LotzOStuff Posted January 14, 2006 Author Report Posted January 14, 2006 OK, no luck yet...Going for 4* downtown 1/20 - 1/22 (2 rooms)Started at $40/night, and went up in $3 increments (7 rebids) to $61 with no luck.Will probably try again in 72 hours and then give in to 3* or go with hotwire. Will keep everyone posted, thanks again for all the help.
dahammer Posted January 14, 2006 Report Posted January 14, 2006 you can start to bid at the 3* level right now, you don't have to wait 72 hours.what was the rate on Hotwire?
LotzOStuff Posted January 15, 2006 Author Report Posted January 15, 2006 I know I could go to 3*, but I'm going to try one more time for 4*, then give in and go down to 3*. Hotwire rates have been coming down. only $70 today for the Omni...Thanks again for all your help, will update again in 72 hours.
LotzOStuff Posted January 15, 2006 Author Report Posted January 15, 2006 Just wondering what I said that made you point that out? I'd be happy with the Marriott, but there's some other 3* that I am trying to avoid.I knew it was 3* though, but thanks for making sure with me.
dahammer Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 good point, I didn't think of that!it looks like the William Penn hotel has come up as a 3* as well as a Sheraton and Hilton too.
LotzOStuff Posted January 17, 2006 Author Report Posted January 17, 2006 Was worth the wait. Rebid tonight after my 72 hours passed and landed exactly what I was looking for. Will post seperately with all the details for everyone.Thanks again.Used the Savings barn link, so maybe thereuare will reacknowledge my existence... :)
LotzOStuff Posted January 17, 2006 Author Report Posted January 17, 2006 Bidding on two rooms through the SAVINGSBARN link... :) Bid $40 ---> 61 on 4* downtown, 3 days ago with no luck...Started again tonight at 45, but no dice...Followed with 50, 54, 58, 62, 66 and BINGO!!!!Scored the Westin, heavenly beds and all, right in the heart of the Steel City... My grad school friends and I love the Fish Market there (great sushi) and always make it to a Penguins game, which is right nearby the Westin.dahammer -- Thanks for all the help in saving me some money.I paid $66 for a room that's $99 on the Westin site, $119 on Priceline, and $168??? on Orbitz.
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