Priceline Hotel: Flagstaff/Williams/Grand Canyon area 5/26-5/27

[pesachphilip]

any ideas where to start/end?

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your previous Priceline Disney thread with whatever you ended up doing for that stay... then bump this thread and we'll have a look at the above.

[pesachphilip]

bump - would like to end up with a 2.5 or 3 star either in Williams or Flagstaff - although these seem to be in diff. priceline zones so not too many free re-bids. thanks.

PS i'd rather not end up in Sedona, we have a 2 year old and would rather be as close to GRand Canyon for the morning trip as possible.

[thereuare]

Are you willing to pay more for a 3* vs. a 2.5* or are you looking for the least expensive 2.5* hotel?

What is your maximum budget? (based upon your best deal thru conventional methods)

[pesachphilip]

I'd certainly be willing to pay more for a 3* if it means not staying at Howard Johnson (which is considered a 2* in Williams) - hotels all around there seem to be pretty $$ for the night. But I guess the budget would be in the $100-$150 range for the evening (although I'd probably rather be on the lower end of that). We're also staying one night the previous Monday night in Phoenix and looking into hotels for that as well, although need to be in a more specific area so may end up booking using some Thankyounetwork/Expedia Points that we have for that one. Thanks for the advice in advance!!

[thereuare]

I've checked two 3* hotels in the area and they're both sold-out, so this may be a tough win for these dates!

In Flagstaff you can bid for 2.5* and 3* hotels, bu tin Williams the highest star rating offered is 2.5*. In each situation you have one re-bid zone at each star level. This is probably lowballing so dont' get discouraged if/when not successful, but i would try the following for your first round of bidding:

Select 3* Flagstaff...

Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 2.5* Flagstaff...

Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 2.5* Williams...

Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50.

Give the above a try for starters and we'll then take it from there.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[pesachphilip]

tried at 60 and 70 for 3 star rejected, then went for 2.5 star at 70 and 80, both rejected; i then also realized i could add a 3rd 2.5 star with sedona (since no 2.5 stars in sedona or the 3rd city listed with flagstaff) and rebid that at 90 and also rejected. after taxes and fees the next bid (say at 100) would come out to almost $120 and I currently have the Ramada West Grand Canyon (Flagstaff) on hold with the hotel for around $130 after taxes with their AAA rate - so do you think I should just try to wait at this point to rebid the week before in case anything opens then in the 3 star range - I have not tried Williams yet as Flagstaff at this point is the best location for us (williams may be a bit further then we want to travel on Sat. night from Phoenix) but we'll see about Williams. But let me know please if you advise anything further for Flagstaff or does it look too sold out at this point you think?

[thereuare]

i then also realized i could add a 3rd 2.5 star with sedona (since no 2.5 stars in sedona or the 3rd city listed with flagstaff)

CAREFUL!!!

The star rating you select is the minimum star rating you are willing to accept... when bidding for 2.5* you can be upgraded to a higher star rated hotel. Therefore, you can't safely add Sedona as a re-bid zone since it contains star ratings higher than the star level you have selected.

[pesachphilip]

woops, thanks for the heads up. any further tips on potential bids or should i wait it out now until the week of the trip.....?

[rosewalker]

Hello. Chiming in here since it was not too long ago that my family stayed in Williams, AZ. We took the train to the Canyon that goes from the town of Williams. However, the place we stayed was like a small lodge outside of town. It is kind of basis at first glance and we didn't think much of it as it was the first week it was open in spring.

However, they had horse back riding plus a great atmosphere near the mountains and great breakfasts. I could look up the name of it if intersted.

[thereuare]

I'd continue bidding... if you want and hotels continue to fill-up you could be shut out at levels where you might have otherwise been accepted just a few weeks earlier.

[pesachphilip]

I would take the name of your place please. I guess I can also bid on Williams, will maybe try that later.

[pesachphilip]

Williams at $65, then $80...rejected....

When you say keep trying, you'd go for same amounts in 24 hours or go higher?

[thereuare]

I'd continue to increase up towards your maximum bid.

[pesachphilip]

did you remember that name of the WIlliams hotel/lodge you stayed at? Thanks.