Priceline Hotel: Bidding Hep for Niagara Falls

[ncgirl]

Hi

I have been trying unsuccessfully to bid on a 4* in Niagara Falls (bidding on 3 rooms) for a week. I bid every 24 hours, usually start my bids at $95 and go up in $10 increments for the 2 free re-bids. I have gone as high as $120.

The current rates (hotels own websites) for the 4*'s are as follows:

Hilton $165 (HiltonSaver rate)

Doubletree $158

Marriott Fallsview $201

Resaissance $195

Check-in date: Tues, 8/15

Check-out date: Fri, 8/18

I don't want to use priceline for a 3* because I have not heard good things about Brock Plaza. Don't want to take the risk. Hotwire hasn't had any 4* for these dates, and it's hard for me to figure out the 3*'s on Hotwire, there are so many with similiar amenities.

Any bidding assistance would be helpful. Thanks

[thereuare]

What is your maximum bid before your would just take the Hilton or Doubletree?

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

If you do book direct please be sure to use our Hilton or Doubletree links (or any of the other hotel-direct links in our support page).

If you list the amenities on a HOTWIRE hotel you are considering we can probably help identify it for you.

[ncgirl]

I was thinking of bidding up to $135-$140. I'm new to using PL, so I'm not sure how high you should bid vs. booking direct.

In regards to splitting the bid, do you mean that bidding for a shorter stay (2 nts vs 3?) increases your odds?

The 3* on hotwire amenities are:

Fitness, Rest., Pool, Laundry

Thank you for your help.

[thereuare]

In certain circumstances splittling the bid can increase your chances.

For example the following 'opaque rates' available for 3 nites:

HotelA: $100-$100-soldout

HotelB: soldout-$100-$100

Using the above example you'd never be successful for a $100 bid, but if you split the dates, you could be successful at one hotel for the first nite (or two) and then successful at the other hotel for the remaining nite (or two)

Do you want to try splitting the bid or would you like a strategy for your maximum bid?

[ncgirl]

I don't really want to split, so any max bid strategy you could help with would be appreciated.

[thereuare]

The 3* on HOTWIRE is a match for the Imperial House and Suites so that would be our best guess.

Here's something interesting...

If you search for 8/16/-8/18 on HOTWIRE, a 4* hotel shows up with the amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business. Search for the lone nite of 8/15/06 and a hotel with the same exact amenities appear (so suspected that it's the same hotel). However, search for 8/15-8/18 and no 4* hotels show up at all :)

Would making two separate hotwire purchases such as the above be too much risk for you to take in getting two different hotels? If not, we could use the combined purchase price of the HOTWIRE example above to set your maximum bid price (it's lower than you already stated maximum bid price).

If you happen to move forward on the above before replying, be make sure to start each purchase using this HOTWIRE link (ie- use this link to make the first purchase, then return here and use the same link to begin your second purchase)

Let us know your thoughts on the above.

[ncgirl]

Ok, I tried your Hotwire scenario, and when I tried 8/16/-8/18 for 3 rooms the 4* wasn't shown. Is it the number of rooms that is doing me in? Also, do you think this is the Hilton?

Let me know what your strategy would be PL. If it doesn't work, then I might do the Hotwire for myself, and let the rest of the group fend for themselves.

[thereuare]

Since the 4* hotel shows for one room but not for three the number of rooms could be the problem.

I think the hotel is the Hilton with a new Hi-Speed amenity icon associated with it, but it's never been reported as such so can't be too certain, although that would be my best guess.

For a priceline bidding strategy, would you be bidding on one, two, or three rooms? Given the above limited availability i might use different amounts depending upon the number of rooms you're trying for.

[ncgirl]

Ideally, I'd like to get all three rooms through priceline, but I'd try for 1 or 2 if you think that would increase my odd, and then just book the 3rd room direct with the corresponding hotel.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks for all of your help.