sfk Posted February 7, 2006 Report Posted February 7, 2006 I want to find a 3* (or 4*) hotel in downtown or convention center. I would even take a 2* if I knew it was the caliber of Capitol Hill Inn (which was supposedly previously listed at $55 on hotwire). However, I'd rather not take the gamble on a 2*, mediocre hotel. Am I wasting my time by beginning to bid at $70? I am willing to top out at $90. What do you recommend?
thereuare Posted February 7, 2006 Report Posted February 7, 2006 Welcome to BetterBidding!Is price more important than star rating? (ie- would you prefer a 4* for more money or a 3* for less money)What happen to the Hotwire hotel, is it no longer offered for your dates?? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Posted February 7, 2006 The hotwire hotel is no longer available for my dates (at least that I can find). The cheapest hotel on hotwire for this area is listed at, I believe, $97. Star rating is probably more important than money given I want to stay in the downtown/convention area and am concerned about getting caught in an area that is not so nice. I guess there is an element of comfort knowing that I am staying in a hotel that is a bit nicer. Not knowing the area so well, perhaps my concerns are unfounded. I'm just being a bit cautious and would rather pay a more money for a hotel. Nevertheless, I would rather not bid above $90. Thanks.
thereuare Posted February 7, 2006 Report Posted February 7, 2006 I'm doubtful you'll be successful, but if you want to try for a 4* first i wold bid as follows.At the 4* level you have four re-bid zones available. 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 4* Downtown...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $64, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $68, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $71, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $74, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Convention Center...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $64, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $68, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $71, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $74, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* Downtown and Convention Center...Bid $77, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $83, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $86, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90.Let us know how it goes. If unsuccessful we'll post for a 3* property. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Posted February 7, 2006 Thank you very much for your advice. For better success, where would you start on the 3*?
thereuare Posted February 7, 2006 Report Posted February 7, 2006 You don't have anything to lose by trying for a 4* first. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Posted February 7, 2006 I bid up to $80 on a 4* with no luck. What do you recommend at this point? Thanks.
thereuare Posted February 7, 2006 Report Posted February 7, 2006 I am willing to top out at $90I bid up to $80 on a 4* with no luckWhat changed to make you stop at $80? Have you now changed your limit for lower star rated hotels? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Posted February 7, 2006 I suppose now I have really exposed myself as a newbie. I was able to bid numerous times given what I know about the rebidding system. However, I used up all of my bids by the time I hit $80. At this point, I am waiting for my 72 hour period to expire and start again. I can tell you that when I bid $75, it offered to allow me to increase my bid by $22. I was not interested in that. I bid at $80 with no luck and I was unable to bid anymore at the 4* level. Sounds like my inexperience hurt me. However, I believe I know where I erred. I will go at it again when my 72 hours is up. Any recommendations?
thereuare Posted February 7, 2006 Report Posted February 7, 2006 I don't understand... did you not follow the strategy we outlined above? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Posted February 7, 2006 Apparently not or else I wouldn't have run out of bids at $80. I made a mistake on the "rebid zone" when I began bidding and didn't realize it until I moved on with my third bid. What happened, happened. This was a first goaround for me. My magic wand to correct my mistake isn't working today. I will try again at 72 hours and see where that gets me.
thereuare Posted February 8, 2006 Report Posted February 8, 2006 We're just trying to make sure you know where any mistakes were made so that you are ready for the next round of bidding. :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 8, 2006 Author Report Posted February 8, 2006 Here is where I ran into part of the problem. When I bid on a 4* in the downtown area, I went ahead with all my rebids with no success. I then closed the browser and tried to begin bidding again with the Convention Center. I was only able to bid one time. This was because the website said it recognized me as having already bid on Downtown and the other areas. I had to add an area, which I did (Convention). After doing this, I had no more bids unless I wanted to begin bidding at the 3* level. Your instructions say that closing the browser will allow me to begin bidding again with the Convention center (4 bids). This did not happen because, as I said, the website recognized me as having already bid and would not let me start from scratch. Any suggestions or am I missing something?
thereuare Posted February 8, 2006 Report Posted February 8, 2006 So when you opened a new browser and entered Washington DC, the next screen already had Downtown and all the previous re-bid zones checked? (and wouldn't let you uncheck them) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 8, 2006 Author Report Posted February 8, 2006 Yes, that's right. I tried to uncheck them but no luck.
thereuare Posted February 8, 2006 Report Posted February 8, 2006 It seems like maybe your browser delivered the page from your cache rather than a 'fresh' page.If you use Internet Explorer at the top of the page: TOOLS>>INTERNET OPTIONSUnder the GENERAL TAB click SETTINGSIs "Check for Newer Pages" set to "every visit"? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Posted February 9, 2006 Things went well. I got a 4* hotel (Renaissance Hotel, Washington D.C.) for $84 a night for 4 nights. If anyone knows anything about this hotel, let me know. Thanks.
thereuare Posted February 9, 2006 Report Posted February 9, 2006 Glad it worked out for you.I assume this was the Renaissance Mayflower in the White House/Downtown zone?Can you provide your bidding history on this round of bidding. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
sfk Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Posted February 9, 2006 No, it is the Renaissance Washington DC (999 9th St. NW), which is directly across the street from the Convention Center and Mt. Vernon Square. I bid as follows:Round 1: Downtown - $77, $80, $84, $87 (No luck)Round 2: Convention Center - $77, $80, $84 (accepted).
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