Priceline Hotel: Advice for Bidding 4* LV Strip for April weekend

[rihallix]

We are considering staying Apr 7 - 9th in a 4* in the LV Strip. We actually may need 2 rooms. What bidding strategy would folks suggest we follow? It would be great to get something in the $80 - $100 range per night, below $80 for a known 4* strip hotel would be fantastic.

Should we bid nearer the time - does it make a big difference if you bid further out?

Should / can we bid for 2 rooms at once?

Finally which LV Strip hotels have the best swimming pools for kids?

Advice greatly appreciated.

[thereuare]

Let us know when your plans are firm and we'll then take a look at your specific dates, but generally speaking under $100 for a 4* on the strip for weekend dates is not usually available.

[rihallix]

OK just booked non-refundable flights to LV (from the UK) so we're fully committed to April 7-10th (Fri/Sat & Sunday - 3 nights). Need 2 rooms. Prefer not to split.

Did more research on this board and recognize that 4* at the weekend is going to be around $145. Looks like people have ended up with the Luxor and Aladdin recently. What price should I start with?

I've read and fully understand the rebid strategy and see there are 4 rebid zones (zones around LV without 4* hotels) that I can use before waiting 72 hours.

Also are there any dud hotels to be aware of on the strip in the 4* range?

We have a 5 year old and had we the choice would choose want a hotel with good pools. The Mandalay Bay would be perfect as we have a 5 year old who would love the river pool there, but notice it's not a Priceline regular. Any pointers to cheap Mandalay Bay rooms gratefully appreciated. I'm sure our 5 year old would also be blown away by Ceasars Palace.

[thereuare]

You only have two re-bid zones at the 4* level... i'm assuming your confusion is that the star level you choose is the minimum you are willing to accept, as priceline will always try to upgrade you to a higher star level if possible. So you're not just looking for zones without 4* hotels, but where there is no star rating higher than 4* (and Resort class properties are higher rated than 4*). With the above clarification, let us know if you agree that there are only two re-bid zones avaialable at the 4* level or if it you have further questions regarding re-bidding.

[rihallix]

Excellent point (now I'm glad I posted). I'd assumed just selecting 4*, but you're right - I should be choosing 4 and 5*. Double checking I see 4 zones without 4 or 5* hotels:

- Henderson

- Las Vegas Airport

- Nellis Las Vegas Freeway

- Summerlin (this has "resorts" - will these count as 4* or 5* - what are they?)

[thereuare]

See my previous post:

So you're not just looking for zones without 4* hotels, but where there is no star rating higher than 4* (and Resort class properties are higher rated than 4*).

[GOHawks]

I'm also currently bidding for this weekend and looking for a 4-Star on the strip! It's a tough weekend, all around.

I've already had bid up to $115 for 4-STAR with no luck and I've used my 2 re-bids.

Are you considering any options besides Priceline? Have you considered Hotwire? How about booking through the hotels directly?

[rihallix]

Best I can find is using my Starwood Gold $525 for 3 nights at the Aladdin ~$175/night booking directly through the Starwood website. (The Gold may not make a difference).

Otherwise the same 3 nights cost the following direct through the hotels:

Mirage Total $687 $229 per night

MGM Grand $719

Bellagio $1197

New York $569

Treasure Island

[thereuare]

As i've added a link to you post above, this board is an affiliate of the Starwood properties and using our links, as well as the others found in our SUPPORT PAGE help keep this place online and running.

rihallix, did you figure out your two re-bid zones?

[rihallix]

I still make it 3 rebids, even excluding resorts:

- Henderson

- Las Vegas Airport

- Nellis Las Vegas Freeway

Please do correct me if I'm wrong.

[rihallix]

Does anyone know if the Priceline/Las Vegas hotel pricing tends to drop or rise as the date approaches. I'm bidding approximately 3 months out, is it better to get a safety net, then bid nearer the time.

My suspicion is the pricing algorithm will expect rooms to fill up at a certain rate depending on how many days out it is from the actual date. If there is a deviation from this expected occupancy then pricing is adapted to get occupancy back onto the trajectory that ends up at 100% by the actual date. Pure speculation, but such a pricing model would maximize hotel revenues.

(Anyone who wrote the pricing algorithm for priceline or the hotels jump right in).

[thereuare]

There are two re-bid zones available at the 4* level... what is the highest star rating offered in each of the three zones you listed above?

You're correct on the way the algorithm works... so if bookings come in behind schedule as your date approaches, rates will likely drop. Of course the opposite is also true: if bookings come in ahead of schedule rates will increase (and at times there could be no discounted inventory given to the opaque suppliers at all).

[rihallix]

The rebids as I see them are:

1) Henderson - max 2 1/2 star (but includes a resort)

2) Las Vegas Airport - max 3 star (no resorts)

3) Nellis Las Vegas Freeway - max 2 star (no resorts)

So maybe Henderson with the resort can't safely be used as a rebid?

[thereuare]

From above

See my previous post:

[dahammer]

(Anyone who wrote the pricing algorithm for priceline or the hotels jump right in).

I believe it is the hotel that releases inventory to Priceline who then matches bids (customers) with offers (hotels)

[rihallix]

Did some more research. Bidding on a 4* strip a place you might have a high likelihood of ending up with is the Aladdin as it's become a construction zone as part of a major refit after being bought by Planet Hollywood - customer reviews from this month (mid Jan '06) are not good:

Aladdin reviews on Tripadvisor

This makes bidding on a 4* strip hotel risky, unless it's possible to find out that the Aladdin refit will be complete by the end of March before our stay.

As mentioned pools are a big consideration for us - our 5 year old loves swimming in our modest local pool. Other research turned up that the places with the best pools are the Mandalay Bay (hasn't appeared on Priceline & is expensive) the Green Valley Ranch, the Mirage and the Pink Flamingo. The Aladdin pool looks mediocre, the Venetian doesn't seem proud enough to show pictures of it's pool on its website.

At this point considering one of the following approaches:

- bidding $145 ish on a 5* with a slim chance of getting the Venetian (great rooms, lousy pool)

- somehow stretching for the Mandalay Bay or Caesars Palace (or finding a deal under $200/night weekends)

- booking direct (or via discounters) the Mirage, Pink Flamingo, Circus Circus or Excalibur

Finally with bids on 4*'s for this weekend not succeeding at $115 (thanks GoHawks) suspect that hotels may be holding back on inventory as they're currently looking good on getting full occupancy that weekend. Predict a bid in the $140's will get a room at the Aladdin. Suspect that waiting a few weeks might work, but now really dubious that the Aladdin will use Priceline to dump unfilled rooms as customers propagate awareness of construction.

Has anyone done any analysis to see if you get better prices nearer to the time you stay?

Tips on best places to get deals on Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Pink Flamingo, Circus Circus or Excalibur appreciated.

[dahammer]

Since your plans are firm, you first order of business is to book a cancellable reservation. Use any of the Travel Links to Help Support BetterBidding or the EasyClickTravel Search, ECT reservations may be cancelled up to 72 hours before check in (Disney hotels require a 5 day cancellation)

Check out the following post as well:

Should I Bid Early or Close to Arrival Date

also double check your rebid zones, which is the one that you missed? :)

Finally, the Monte Carlo is a middle of the road property with a decent pool area and a "Lazy River" and a wave pool that might just thrill a 5 year old :)

[thereuare]

The Monte Carlo is a great idea and the hotel that first came to my mind too.

However, thru EasyClickTravel, they have not released room rates for April yet (i'm trying to get a status on it and will update if/when i hear back).

You can continue to check this link to the Monte Carlo to see when rates have been released for your dates in April.

[rihallix]

The lazy river pool doesn't open until May :) Thanks for the tip though.

Found a new trick - try searching for conferences at your chosen destination, conferences often negotiate lower room rates for attendees.

Google like this:

"<hotel name> <month> <year> conference"

E.g.

"Ceasars Palace July 2006 conference"

Also came across a discussion about Aladdin on where it was suggested the construction disturbance at the hotel (mentioned in a tripadvisor.com post) could have been the work of a disgruntled employee since the Planet Hollywood takeover might have caused redundancies as well as the overhaul.

[dahammer]

...and sometimes the rates are not so great as well, room revenue may offset some of the meeting room charges. I saw the MC Lazy River and wave pool in February, it looked pretty sweet! There is also a list of conventions in LV by date.

So, did you figure out the 3 rebid zones yet??

[thereuare]

Even easier still: Las Vegas Conventions