ndkw Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 Hey there,First time user...I'm trying to locate a 4 star hotel, preferably the Sofitel ( and if not a something along or close to Times Square) for June 24- June 26, 2006. Is there any way of increasing my chances at the Sofitel?How much should i be bidding and more importantly expecting to pay?Any help would be great. Thanks.ndkw Link to comment
ndkw Posted March 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 I guess the area that i'm looking at is MTW as it has most of the hotels around times square.Any suggestions? Link to comment
thenewbie Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 Welcome! You may want to read these threads to get an idea about how Priceline works:I've never used priceline or hotwireDon't bid higher for a specific hotelSo, on Priceline you are bidding on a star level and cannot bid (or do anything) to win a specific hotel. With this being said, how much are you looking to spend? (Check hotwire & Orbitz to see prices) Link to comment
ndkw Posted March 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 Checking the previous bidding, it seems like i'll have to spend ~$200 for Sofitel. If it's the Sofitel I end up getting I won't mind paying $180-$200.I'd also be happy with Hilton Times Square, and if so...according to previous winning bids, I'd start a lot less?To sum it up, my budget is around $180-200 and my first choice is Sofitel.Thanks. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 Welcome to BetterBidding!Your choice is irrelevent as you can not choose your favorite property from those that are available. As the link above states, you're bidding on a minimum star rating within a given set of boundaries... it is this flexibility that enables us to receive the deeply discounted rates that you see reported on the board. If we could pick and choose the hotels we want and and get deeply discounted rates, who would book direct anymore?If you only want the Sofitel or the Hilton you should probably book them directly... if you're able to accept any hotel at your minimum star rating in the given zone then let us know and we can advise how to best proceed. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ndkw Posted March 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 I'll be happy to take a 4* in the MTW region. Thanks for your help. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 When bidding 4* in NYC you have you two 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* MTW...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125.You can start with the above, but i'll also add you'll likely do better if you could also accept other zones (such as MTE and UM/CPS) as you could then use more advanced bidding strategies by combining zones and gradually increase your bid. I'm not really sure what areas/hotels you're trying to avoid, as NYC is easy enough to get around and for most the MTE, MTW, and UM/CPS should all work out well for the typical visitor.As i've recently said in another post, many tourists believe that they need a hotel in the Times Square area, but i've yet to find anyone that spends most of their time in NYC there... once you see all the lights you've seen it all and there are better and more interesting places in NYC to see. (i'm not saying that Times Square isn't cool to see, but it's certainly not a place to spend an extended period of time to get a feel for NYC... unless your idea of "New York" is Red Lobster and TGI Fridays :) ) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ndkw Posted March 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 You're right. I'll first add the areas with no 4*, then if i have to, i'll add MTE...should I bid $130 when i start adding other areas with 4*?Thanks. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 No that's not the way to do it, but try the above first and we'll cross the next bridge when we get there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ndkw Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 Unfortunately no luck...any other suggestions???thanks. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 This is what you have already bid:Select 4* MTW...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125.Now proceed as follows:Select 4* MTE...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ndkw Posted March 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 No luck again. :) Any suggestions?Thanks. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 In 24 hours (assuming you don't want to add UM/CPS)...Select 4* MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145.Select 4* MTW and MTE...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160.Let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ndkw Posted March 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 No luck again... :) What should I do? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 If it were me i would do nothing for 2 weeks... it may just be too early and although it may take a higher bid today, inventory may open up in the next few weeks.You could also start to add the UM/CPS zone as you're starting to hit prices where that area becomes a legitimate possibilty, but if you don't want to stay in that area than i wouldn't add that zone.If you would rather 'get this done' we can suggest a strategy to go up another $20 or so, but if it were me i would book a cancellable reservation in the meantime and sit on the sidelines for 2 weeks.EDIT TO ADD: in looking a bit further i'm 100% certain that it is the Saturday nite that is preventing your success at this point. Saturday nite arrival is usually not a problem, but perhaps it is in this case (or there is something happening in the city that nite that is creating unusual demand). SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID could also be an option, but i'm doubtful you want to do that for a 2 nite stay (nor would i recommend doing so this early before your arrival date) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
BLee Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Will be posting as a new thread... Yes...I could have added additional zones, which I've done in previous areas. Will pass this info along in the thread. Link to comment
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