WMU Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 I'm new to Priceline and this site. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I had a failed $72 bid for 2 rooms in a 3* downtown Seattle hotel for 5/09/07---5/13/07. Am I bidding too low for this time of year? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 Welcome to BetterBidding!Rates at 3* hotels are a bit higher than usual for your dates above, so your bids are probably too low.Let us know your maximum bid and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
WMU Posted March 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Thanks for the quick response. My maximum is $80. If you think that is too low, I'll probably bid on a 2.5*.I noticed on this site that someone got a 3* for about 2 weeks earlier for $65. Is there anything going on in Seattle during my time period that would cause the rates to be higher? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Something is happening in town which is causing rates to be higher than usual... it doesn't really matter what it is, but given that something is cuasing prices to be higher than usual, you have to adjust your bidding/expecations accordingly.At the 3* level you have 5 re-bid zones avaiable. 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'd try bidding as follows:Select 3* Downtown...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $74, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $76, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80.Any questions feel free to ask. If rejected post back and we'll suggest a strategy for the 2.5* level if you want to lower your star rating. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
WMU Posted March 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 I followed your advice and the $80 bid was rejected. I will probably try bidding for a 2.5* tomorrow. Thanks for all your help. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 14, 2007 Report Share Posted March 14, 2007 If you lower your star rating you can bid again right away (or were you going to try for a 3* again tomorrow before lower to 2.5 stars?)Do you need a bidding strategy for the 2.5* level? If so, what is your maximum bid for 2.5 stars? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
WMU Posted March 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Thanks for the help so far. I used the SavingsBarn link and free rebids to bid up to $70 for a 2.5* and was rejected even though I found an internet only rate of only $104 for a 2.5*. I'm a bit confused as to what to do now. Should I increase my limit or wait until later to bid? Does anyone have an idea of what price might be acceptable for a 3* and how much lower a 2.5* might be. Is a 2.5* generally a certain percentage off of a 3*? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Rates for a 2.5* is not a certain percentage of 3*... in fact, sometimes 2.5* are more expensive than 3*, and users can get upgraded to a 3* hotel on their 2.5* bid.What is the 2.5* hotel that you saw for $104? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
WMU Posted March 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 It was the Best Western Executive Inn. Thereuare, at this point would you recommend that I bid higher now or book a hotel that I can cancel later and try my same bids again later. Thanks again! Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Is that direct from the Best Western website? (please use our link if you do end up booking this)I see the $104/nite rate, but did you actually click thru the "continue" button? I did and don't see any $104/nite rate offered... rates are more in the $140's. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
WMU Posted March 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 I did not click through the continue button. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 Time to make a new gameplan? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
WMU Posted March 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Yes, but I'm not sure what. Any suggestions? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I would think this is the thought process:1) Raise your maximum bid - since your previous maximum bid was based upon an alternate booking available at $104 (which in reality is closer to $140)... can you raise your maximum bid?2) Lower star rating - if your budget is firm, then would you consider lowering your minimum star rating3) Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option? I think there is a rate change during your stay (if i recall correctly from researching a few days ago)... would you consider changing hotels mid-stay to save money Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
WMU Posted March 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 Due to an unusually busy schedule, I put this on the back burner for a while. I decided to split my bid and got a 4* (the Sheraton) for $95 for May 11-13. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do for May 9-11. I'm thinking of booking a room that I can cancel and trying a lower bid in a week or so.I've learned a lot (free rebids, split-bidding, etc) from this site. Thanks! Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Congratulations no your <partial> win and thank you for sharing it with the board.If you'd like help with the balance of your stay please start a NEW TOPIC.Thanks! Enjoy this leg of your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Register now, we have a huge community of travel enthusiasts to answer any questions you might have.
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountAlready have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now