Priceline Hotel: 4* Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle

[Belli]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to take a cruise that will end up in Vancouver on 5/13 and would like to spend the night there and experience the city for a day. I'm unfamiliar with the city and would just like to stay somewhere that is near the action. How much should I expect to pay for a 3* and how much for a 4*. It seems like many people have gotten good deals. I'll be travelling on a Saturday night, so I assume it would be more expensive.

Thanks so much!

[thereuare]

I'd assume Downtown is where you'd want to be, but you should confirm that this is the zone based upon what you want to do or see.

Once you finalize the zone(s) let us know your budget and we'll suggest a strategy to move forward.

[Belli]

Yes, I think downtown would be the best. I'd like to spend no more than $65 a night. Do you think I could a 3* for that price? If the prices are low enough, I'd opt to stay for 2 nights.

Thanks for all your help!

[thereuare]

At the 3* level you have 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.

I would begin as follows:

Select 3* Downtown...

Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $45, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* Downtown...

Select 3* Downtown and re-bid zone2...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $55.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[Belli]

thanks for your help! I will be sure to use SavingsBarn. What would be a good bidding strategy for a 4* in Vancouver for the same dates? I probably will not bid until the end of the week, but just want to get an idea of how much the hotel will cost, so I can make flight reservations accordingly. Do you think it's safe to assume that I could get at least a 3 * for $65 or under?

Thanks again!!

[thereuare]

You won't necessarily be successful at $65 or less. As rates can change between now and the end of the week, it doesn't make sense to provide a strategy until you are ready to bid... as they may or may not ultimately apply by the time you actually make your bids.

[Belli]

okay, i will post again when i'm ready to bid. I didn't realize that the strategy would change in less than one week!! wow

[Jimmy]

Hi There,

Just an FYI,

I was trying for a 4* in Vancouver for the same night as you, and I bid up to $95 but got rejected.

I think I'm on the same cruise as you.. SF to Vancouver on Princess?

-Jimmy

[Belli]

Hi Jimmy,

Yes, sounds like we're on the same cruise! Thanks for the info on bidding. I'm going to try bidding tonight and I'll let you know if I have any luck!! Keep me updated if you find any good deals!!

Thereuare--- should I go with the same strategy you posted before? Also, what would you suggest for a 4* strategy? (My dates are May 13-15 in Vancouver)

Thanks!!

[thereuare]

What would be your maximum bid for a 4*?

[Belli]

I'd say $90 for a 4 * would be my max bid. btw, i heard a rumor that you can rebid in 24 hours now... is this true?

thanks

[thereuare]

Three re-bid zones available at the 4* level...

Select 4* Downtown...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $70, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.

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

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.

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

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $90.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck.

PS- "yes", as per the first post in Priceline Re-Bidding Explained, you can now re-bid in 24 hours

[Jimmy]

Hi Jimmy,

Yes, sounds like we're on the same cruise! Thanks for the info on bidding. I'm going to try bidding tonight and I'll let you know if I have any luck!! Keep me updated if you find any good deals!!

Thereuare--- should I go with the same strategy you posted before? Also, what would you suggest for a 4* strategy? (My dates are May 13-15 in Vancouver)

Thanks!!

So I tried to bid some more for just the night of 05/13. I ended up getting rejected for $104 on a 4*

I'll continue later today.. I'll probably go down to a 3* if this next attempt fails.

By the way, will you be flying back to SFO after your trip? or somewhere else?

Reason is that I'm flying back to SFO, and it turns out that flying from YVR to LAX, with a stop in SFO, is cheaper than flying directly from YVR to SFO.

[Belli]

I also noticed that flights out of Vancouver were pricey. We're actually going to take a bus (4hr.) from Vancouver to Seattle and then fly from there. This is a much cheaper option than flying from Vancouver.

I also tried to bid on 4* unsuccesfully. Only went up to $80 because I wasn't able to close browser and then restart priceline over again. No big deal since you only need to wait 24 hr. now for a re-bid.

[Jshappy]

:) Belli & Jimmy

I think I'm on the same cruise! Belli, you say you want to stay "where the action is" --which zone do you think that is because I need a hotel room too. Are you and Jimmi traveling together?

[Jimmy]

Hi there,

So I got a 4* in Vancouver for $101. It was on my first bid too so I probably could've started lower. In any case, if you want to be where the action is, you'll want to be in the downtown area. The zone name on Priceline would be Vancouver. This is where Stanly park is, Gastown, Robson street, and if I remember correctly, pretty close to the cruise terminal.

Belli and I are not traveling together, we just happen to be on the same cruise, as are you.

=)

[thereuare]

Jimmy,

Please post your win as a NEW TOPIC so that we can reflect the details of your win in the topic title. The topic title of this thread 'belongs' to Belli for if/when she wins a hotel, as it could be a different property and/or different amount than you had won for.

Please include the date(s) of you stay in the new post too.

Thanks.

[Belli]

Jimmy- I think $100 is still a very good deal for a 4* hotel. Congrats! Would you mind letting everyone know which property you were able to get?

JShappy, have you had any luck yet on a hotel?

I am going to book a cancellable backup just in case I'm not able to get anything via Priceline.

Thereuare-- since my hotel stay is in about 1 week, when do you think is the best time to bid? Do prices tend to fluctuate much at the last minute?

Thanks everyone!

[thereuare]

With only a week to go i'd be bidding everyday.

[Jimmy]

Jimmy- I think $100 is still a very good deal for a 4* hotel. Congrats! Would you mind letting everyone know which property you were able to get?

Hi,

I ended up with the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown.

[Belli]

Thereuare-

I'm confused on how to continue bidding by closing your browser and trying again. I always get the same message: Duplicate Request, and the bid is not processed. I just bid the three re-bid zones and then closed my broswer and tried again. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

p.s. used savingsbarn link for bid (failed up to $86)

[thereuare]

Re-read the above strategy.

It seems as if you bid like this:

Vancouver

Vancouver and re-bid zone1

Vancvouer and re-bid zone1 and re-bid zone2

Vancvouer and re-bid zone1 and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone3

The strategy above states:

Vancouer

Vancvouer and re-bid zone1

Vancouer and re-bid zone2

Vancvouer and re-bid zone1 and re-bid zone2

Vancouer and re-bid zone3

Vancvouer and re-bid zone1 and re-bid zone3

Am i correct that you bid as described at the top of this post and do you see the difference between that and the second strategy in this post?

[Belli]

Yes, you are right about what I was doing incorrectly. Just to clarify, I should close my browser and restart the priceline bid between each new bid?

[thereuare]

Yes, you need to close your browser in order to UNselect the previous re-bid zones (as it will be automatically checkmarked and also greyed-out).

[Belli]

Hi!!

Was finally able to get a hotel for this weekend!

Bid History

1) Bid 4* Vancouver, $82 Rejected

** Asked to increase bid by $22. Did not take the bait!

2) Increased bid to $86 + free rebid, was rejected

3) Increased bid to $90 and was accepted!

Will be staying at the Marriot Pinnacle Downtown Vancouver

Thanks for all your help! You guys have an awesome website!!