Troy D Posted April 22, 2007 Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 Based on my review, the Airport, Crystal City, Springfield and possibly Alexandria areas do not have 4-star hotels and therefore can be used as re-bid zones. Can anyone advise on this. Link to comment
blindman Posted April 22, 2007 Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 Based on my review, the Airport, Crystal City, Springfield and possibly Alexandria areas do not have 4-star hotels and therefore can be used as re-bid zones. Can anyone advise on this.There is no Airport zone, did you mean Arlington?If you bid 4* there are 4 free rebid zones. Link to comment
Troy D Posted April 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 Yes, Arlington not Airport. I believe it has a Ritz Carlton as its 4-star, but I'd guess one would land a 4-star in the Dupont/Downtown areas before the Ritz would be won. So, are those the 4 rebid zones...Alexandria, Arlington, Crystal City and Springfield? Link to comment
blindman Posted April 23, 2007 Report Share Posted April 23, 2007 So, are those the 4 rebid zones...Alexandria, Arlington, Crystal City and SpringfieldYes. Link to comment
Troy D Posted April 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 In previous posts there's been reference to hotel blocks for conventions that upon release increase inventories to Priceline. I'd like to know if there's a rule of thumb as to when convention blocks get released so as to better time my pricing strategy.I've been using a bidding strategy for at least a week now with no luck for a 4* in Dupont Circle up to $125. Any and all help is appreciated. Link to comment
blindman Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 What dates are you looking to travel?Difficult question :) really depends on the %age of unsold rooms at each hotel I would think.I usually go to the hotels that are part of the convention and look at the cut off date for registering etc. Link to comment
Troy D Posted April 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Looking for 5/15-18. I'm just assuming that there are conventions, but don't necessarily know if there are. Link to comment
Troy D Posted April 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Update: Been trying daily and still losing with 4* Dupont Circle up to $155/night. Link to comment
blindman Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Have you had a look at HOTWIRE for those dates to see what they are offering?May give you an insight as to what the prices and availability are like. Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 For your $155 bids, are you only including the Dupont Circle zone or any of the other DC zones you've mentioned above?If you do look at HOTWIRE rates as blindman suggested you'll see rates in the $250 range for a 4* hotel... which is not typically when you'll see priceline acceptances in the $150 area. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Troy D Posted April 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Hi Therearue and welcome back from vacation. Blindman was a fine fill-in. I'll check Hotwire now. I didn't realize that it was a good technique to use to get a sense of going prices. Thanks for the advice. Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 I wouldn't necessarily say it's a good indication, but if HOTWIRE rates are $100+ more than your maximum bid, that's probably a good indication that you're not in the right ballpark. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Troy D Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Getting desparate and conceding to changing strategy. 4* Dupont Cir up to $260 hasn't worked for last 2 weeks. I'm interested in being close to nightlife and tourist attractions for no more than $200/night. I would appreciate a strategy to accomplish this. I'm guessing it'll involve 3* in the White House and Convention center zones. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 So to confirm, you're looking at a 3* minimum in the:White HouseConvention CenterDupont Circle (you didn't mention this zone, but i'm assuming this is still an acceptable zone at the 3* level?)with a $200 maximum?Do i have it right? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 You have one re-bid zone avaialble when bidding 3* in Washington DC. 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.Select 3* Dupont...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* White House...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* Convention Center...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* Dupont and White House...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* Dupont and Convention Center...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* White House and Convention Center...Bid $155, if rejected add Dupont...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170.I'd start with the above, if rejected (which i'd say better than 50/50 chance) we'll then revise to try again in 24 hours which would then take you up to your limit.Any questions feel free to ask.Good Luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Troy D Posted May 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Thanks. I worked that strategy but started and ended $20 higher out of desperation. So, unsuccessful up to $190 and 5 days to arrival. Yikes! I think I'm going to have to give up on my $200/night cap. I'm also wondering if I might improve my odds by trying a 2-day stay and either relying on them to offer their "add another night" or risking having to get the last night at another hotel. Is this advisable? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 If i recall correctly when researching your stay yesterday, rates were high for the first two nites and then dropped a little for the last nite (although availability was still somewhat slim for the last nite).Given your previous rejections for the complete stay, i wouldn't count on the extend a stay option to be successful (even if offered, i'm guessing you'd likely be rejected for the same amount... plus, if the above is correct (that the last nite is the least expensive) and you use the add-a-nite to add the last nite, you'll probably be paying more than you need to.To summarize the above: i'm not sure if SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID will gain you success, and even if it does, i'm even more doubtful that the add-a-nite feature (if offered) would be successful. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Troy D Posted May 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 No luck up to $255/night for 3 nights. Link to comment
Colfax Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 What about 2.5*? What about adding Georgetown to your acceptable zones? Georgetown is a good area for tourists.There are 2.5* Courtyards in Downtown, CC/CH, and Dupont. Worth a try. Of course other 2.5* besides Courtyard could come up.Hotwire rates for your dates have gone up. White House and Dupont Circle zones have nothing. 3* South of the Mall zone $343. 3* Kennedy Center $314. Even Bethesda MD 3* is over $300. Link to comment
Troy D Posted May 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Tuesday (tomorrow) turns out to be the killer for some reason. I understand there's a huge event to honor peace officers that's even shut down Capitol Hill for the day. I ended up grabbing an Expedia special that popped up for the Palomar Hotel, a 4* in Dupont Circle area, for $303/night (normally $379/night) for Weds & Thurs. While Hotwire had a Dupont 3* and 3 1/2* for $258 and $278, respectively, I figured the little bit extra justified the certainty of the Palomar, which gets very good reviews. Now I'm searching for a very modest place to flop tomorrow night to bring down the avg cost. Flying into DIA, we're thinking a 2* close to the airport might be our best shot. Thanks all for the assistance. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Hopefully using our Expedia link :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
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