Priceline Hotel: 5* Bangkok (Sukhumvit) Westin Grande

[worldtraveler]

I'm getting ready to bid for 2 nights in early April in Bangkok.

When I go to Priceline, I'm seeing something I've never seen before (granted I don't have a ton of bidding experience either.

I selected "Riverside" and 5* first and it pops up with a message that says the Median price for Bangkok $326!Ok...so I put $70 in the box and it pops up another message that says "based on recent data, your price has little chance of being accepted". If I increase it to $75, the message disappears.

Repeat with "Siam Square" and the median price for Bangkok is now $119. Same message with $70 that goes away at $75.

Repeat with "Sukhumvit" and the Median price changes to $160 but the message about the chance of the bid being accepted does not disappear until I hit $90.

So, what does this mean? Do I have a better chance at a lower rate in the first two areas than the last? Also, I find it odd that the Median price changes, even though the message implies it for all of Bangkok and not for just that neighborhood.

So, any recommendations on getting a 5* for under $100/night including tax? Is this even possible any more?

Thanks for any advice.

[Chris26WI]

I know this kind of message only from Priceline HK/SG, never got it for Bangkok but for other non-common places in Asia (Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu); I always assumed it meant that they (PL) don't have any inventory currently for that place (+class?) at that time.. but not sure.

[worldtraveler]

Well, any advice for bidding on Bangkok?

I've been scanning the message boards for the last 2 months and there have been very few successful 5* bids posted lately.

Is it just that hotels are no longer participating?

[Chris26WI]

Hard to say.. we've seen succesful 5star bidding for Bkk usually only for Sukhumvit area lately. The Shangri La in Riverside has apparently not shown up anymore for quite some time.

Did you check the rates for the common Suk-5-star hotels (JW, Westin, SGS) for your period? Do they have availability for the dates you want? Is there a rate change within the period? What dates are you currently looking for?

[worldtraveler]

Yes, the Sheraton and the Westin seem to have rooms for my dates (April 7-9). Least expensive is the Westin at $145++.

[Chris26WI]

Hmm.. the JW too for 132US$... so I wonder why you got that Priceline-message.. maybe the hotels just haven't released room yet for PL.. I would try maybe up to 85$ and if still rejected, make a back-up reservation somewhere and try again later.

[worldtraveler]

All three areas failed at $85. :)

[worldtraveler]

Just won the Westin Grande-$90 for 4/7/06-4/9/06. Tax and fees bring it to $110 per night.

It's a little more than I expected to have to spend, but I don't feel too bad about this since no lower winning bids have been posted lately. Plus it's for a Friday and Sat night at the beginning of a Holiday week.

I'm actually happy I got this hotel as I'm a SPG member and hope to get an upgaded to a club room.

Tried 3 days ago and all 3 areas rejected up to $85.

Started this bidding at $80 and added and area and $5 until I won at $90.

Westin's website lowest rates for these days is currently $145++ which does not include breakfast either. With 17% Thai tax that rate is $170 per night.

[Chris26WI]

Well, not too bad anyway, but quite pricey, indeed. As SPG Plat they will give you a Club Room for sure or even a suite. As Gold, I wouldn't expect much more than a Std Room on SPG Floor. Have a nice stay.

[worldtraveler]

Chris-

Yes, it does seem "pricy" given bids won in the past, but it just doesn't seem like anything lower has come up lately. I'm not going to quibble over $5 for a friday/sat night stay. Plus, I'm stuck with it now, so I might as well hope for the best!