Priceline Hotel: Need 4* Miami downtown 3/25-26

[levtas]

I was wondering how to get a room this time of a year. I have budget of $250/room. Hotel must be in the downtown, preferably Intercontinental if possible. what would be the bidding strategy? Is it even possible to get a room at this price for 4*?

Most hotels I checked they are booked. Intercontinental have availability for $460. :) Is it possible to get it @ $250 thru priceline?

[thereuare]

Odds favor you not receiving the Inter-Continental... do you still want to try bidding for it?

There's something happening downtown this nite as the Haytt is also sold-out (although do note that this hotel has been won on Priceline even when the hotel showed sold-out).

[levtas]

I prefer Intercontinental but any 4* downtown would do. what should be the strategy?

[thereuare]

You have four re-bid zones at the 4* level. 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 $100, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $125, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone2...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone3...

Bid $175, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone4...

Bid $200, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone1 and re-bid zone2...

Bid $210, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone1 and re-bid zone3...

Bid $220, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone1 and re-bid zone4...

Bid $230, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone3...

Bid $240, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone4...

Bid $250.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck!

[LoneStar]

I think it's a longshot getting a good value through priceline in this situation -- and I certainly would not bid above $150 without first calling the downtown hotels you'd be willing to stay in and "chat up" their reservation agents. Something like "I stay in your hotel often" but the rate I've seen on your website for that Saturday night is the most I've ever seen and way beyond my budget. Can you help me with this one?"

You'd figure they'd at least give you some sort of "corporate rate" -- which should be less than $250 on a Saturday night.

If nothing else, you'll learn what you're up against. :)

[levtas]

I'm only seeing a 3 zone. Hollywood does not show up in the "name your price" selection and has resort available in there so it does not count. How did you get 4 zones? Since there are only 3 zones available I will start at the higher price to make the difference in this case.

[levtas]

LoneStar, have you ever been succesful calling hotel directly? I've tried that before without a success but it wasn't Miami, it was for tampa hotel. As far as corporate rate goes, last year I met a friend in Sand Key FL Radisson and I payed $92 thru PL where he payed as a part of a conference negotiated deal of $214. it was my first PL experience and got hooked on :)

[thereuare]

List each Miami zone and the highest star rating offered in each zone. Use this technique from Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:

The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time.

[LoneStar]

LoneStar, have you ever been succesful calling hotel directly? I've tried that before without a success but it wasn't Miami, it was for tampa hotel. As far as corporate rate goes, last year I met a friend in Sand Key FL Radisson and I payed $92 thru PL where he payed as a part of a conference negotiated deal of $214. it was my first PL experience and got hooked on :)

Yes and no. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Kind of like every "rule" when it comes to travelling. :) But hotels are no different from other businesses. They generally try to help out the high-value customers. So if you reach a "motivated" employee, and it's possible for her to help you, she might. In general (again with exceptions), priceline isn't usually the best option in an area that has an extremely high occupancy level that night. Which makes sense, of course, because priceline is really a "distressed merchandise" outlet. Obviously, when it's not a sell out, priceline will generally whomp whatever negotiated rates (including corporate rates) that are out there (like the situation with your friend).

[levtas]

thereuare, I tried the re-bid strategy up $289 with no luck :) . As I was doing this, 4* hotel (Intercontinental) price jumped from $479 (at start of my bidding) to $579 (at the end) on Priceline. Can't explain what's going on. I must be generating my own "high market demand" by bidding that many times maybe :)

Next I maybe be trying LoneStar's strategy.

I wonder how Hotwire is for 4* Miami hotel. never used them before I guess I should try them now.

Update:::No hotel is showing in Miami downtown at Hotwire, none.