Priceline Hotel: HELP: Paris 12/28/06 - 1/3/07

[calazn]

Please help with:

Paris 12/28/06 - 1/3/07 (6 nights - FIRM)

I'd like to stay in either [Champs Elysees - OQW] or [OQE - Les Halles].

For a 4*+ in Champs Elysees - OQW, my max is $120 (if this is unreasonable, I'd be happy with the option below)

For a 4* in [Champs Elysees - OQW] or [OQE - Les Halles], my max is $100.

I've come across this strategy. Is it also applicable to my situation?

Thanks for your help!

[WillTravel]

I'm sure you've noticed New Year's Eve is right in the middle there :). That could be a problem. Check hotel rates for your dates, and see if they are higher or lower than average.

Have you checked Hotwire? The reason I'm suggesting here and for Rome is that Hotwire often has smaller zones, which means it is easier to get a good location, and you can sometimes tell which hotel you are probably going to get.

[calazn]

My plan is to spend Xmas in Rome and New Year in Paris. All my flights are booked. So the dates are firm.

I've checked HotWire and ...

a 3.5* in Opera - Grand Boulevard = $157

a 4* in Champs Elysees - Trocadero = $253

a 4* in Eifel Tower - Musee d'Orsay - Invalides = $161.

For 12/28/06 - 1/3/07, these rates are not too much higher than average, are they?

Same thing here, $110 max for a 4* if $120 for a 5* is ridiculous :)

Any bidding tip helps. Thanks!

[WillTravel]

Those Hotwire prices are definitely more expensive than many reported winning bids here.

But it's still worth a try lowballing with Priceline.

I don't think 4* Superior Plus (that is what Priceline calls the top tier of French hotels) can be had for $120 on Priceline.

So in your case, I would probably bid something like this:

Try $100 for Opera Quarter West 4*.

Close the browser. Access Priceline again. Try $100 for Opera Quarter East 4*.

If you get a counteroffer, post back with details.

[calazn]

Bid 4* OQW for $100, rejected, then rebid 4* OQW + free rebid zone (Batignolles - Montmartre - Republique) for $105, rejected.

Bid 4* OQE for $100, rejected, then rebid 4* OQE + free rebid zone (Batignolles - Montmartre - Republique) for $105, rejected.

Also, bid 4* OQW and OQE for $110, rejected.

And, bid 4* OQW and OQE and Batignolles for $115, rejected.

no counteroffer was offered :)

[calazn]

I also tried these permutations (I'm now willing to stay at either Eiffel, or OQE, or OQW)...but nothing worked :) all for 4*

New bid: Eiffel $80

Re bid: Eiffel OQE $85

Re bid: Eiffel OQE BAT $90

New bid: Eiffel OQW $95

Re bid: Eiffel OQW BAT $100

New bid: Eiffel OQE OQW $105

Re bid: Eiffel OQE OQW BAT $110

Should I hold off for a while since it's 6 months away? Or I'm pretty much out of options?

[calazn]

Any help?

Should I just keep bidding using the strategy above? Or wait for a little while?