Priceline Hotel: Bidding Help...no or later??

[umwhat]

Hi!

I'm brand new to the board but have seen a lot of people get great suggestions from here.

We are going to Orlando in January (21-25) and need two rooms.

Should I try on Priceline NOW or wait??

We're looking to get a totally basic room, looking to spend as little as we can basically.

Any suggestions on bidding would be greatly appreciated!!

Hope everyone is having a great day.

[dahammer]

you may want to read the following: Should I Bid Early or Close to Arrival Date

Please post your minimum star level, the zones that you would stay in, and your maximum budget.

[umwhat]

Thanks for that article hammer!

That was really helpful.

We're willing to stay in Universal Sea WOrld, Sand Lake Corporate Park, Disney WOrld Vicinity and West Disney (our vacation is going to be at Universal, so those look like they're closest on the map).

We're willing to stay in a 2* but probably not 1...and I guess our budget is as close to $30/night as we can get. Can we expect any lower?? If not, max would be 35 as I've seen hotels for that much already.

Sorry I didn't get the info right the first time! :)

Thanks for your patience!

[thereuare]

What hotels are you seeing for $35/nite?

Keep in mind that priceline (as well as HOTWIRE) will charge a booking for which comes to about $6/nite, which is a lot on a percentage basis for ultra-cheap bidding such as this. It's one thing if you're getting a 3* hotel in the mid-$30's when it typically goes for more than twice that much... but not sure what you're expecting at the 2* level and/or what properties you're comparing it to.

While there are certainly accepted bids at the lower star ratings, and often users are quite happy with them (sometimes they're not), the 'true sweet spot' in opaque hotels is at the 3* and higher ratings as the hotel direct rates at these star levels are typically higher, as are the margins, so there is much more room for the hotel to discount... you just can't discount a regularly priced $35/nite hotel room very much and continue to make money.

[runNgun]

personally, I'd stay away from West Disney, WDW and Sand lake zones and 2* level for now. I hope you realize with a 2* you could get an "extended stay" type hotel with one queen bed in the room. (Is that ok?)

on hotwire there is a 3* hotel in the Universal area for $45 that matches the Clarion Universal. (a match based on a hotel and car for the same dates).

priceline has this as a 2.5* in the US/SW zone. I would guess you could get this for less on priceline maybe the upper $30's to low $40's. You have to be acceptable to any 2.5* in the zone or maybe even an upgrade to a 3*. A vacation Package search on priceline reveals the Clarion Universal to be one of the least expensive 2.5 options.

if you'd like a specific strategy based on this let "us" know.

[umwhat]

Thank you so much for your help. This site is great!

I will use savingsbarn and post results this afternoon!

Thanks again!