thumprbuni Posted June 10, 2007 Report Posted June 10, 2007 I'm new to forums/Priceline/Hotwire, so please forgive the ignorance if this is not the appropriate place for my questions. :) I'm attending a training at Huntington Beach Police Department (2000 Main St) and am looking for a nearby 3.5 - 4* hotel for July 20-27. I'll have a rental car, but still need something close as I'm from out of state and not real familiar with the area.I don't want to start bidding before I know where I should be trying to stay. Hotel Huntington Beach was recommended by the training sponsor, but I've seen the reviews at TripAdvisor, et al, and didn't like what I read. Any hotel recommendations, including "hidden" fees (parking, etc) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!
bbbb Posted June 10, 2007 Report Posted June 10, 2007 What is your max bid per night for this stay? A winning 4* bid for Huntington Beach zone witch includes Newport Beach and is where almost all winning bids get accepted now a days.
thumprbuni Posted June 10, 2007 Author Report Posted June 10, 2007 It's probably unrealistic for a 4*, but the max I want to spend a night is $85.
thereuare Posted June 11, 2007 Report Posted June 11, 2007 I don't think you'll be successful for a 4* at $85 or under, but if you want to try, you have 7 re-bid zones available. 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 4* Newport Beach-Huntington Beach...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $78, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $83, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85.Any questions feel free to ask.If the above is rejected do you want to:1) wait it out and try again2) lower your star rating3) SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID?4) consider other nearby zonesGood 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
Colfax Posted June 11, 2007 Report Posted June 11, 2007 Since you're not familiar with the area I'll mention that Priceline and Hotwire combine Huntington Beach and Newport Beach in one zone. You could win a hotel in Newport Beach, about 5-6 miles from your training. Would that still work for you?Also $85 is lower than most people get a 4* for, so you'll probably have to raise your limit or try for a 3* hotel. Or split your bid and try for a few nights 4* and the rest 3*. Since you've got more than a month there's time to try some lowball bids.
thumprbuni Posted June 12, 2007 Author Report Posted June 12, 2007 Thanks for the info. As long as I was fairly close to the police department (5 or 6 miles), that would be ok. My police department is on a budget and I've only been approved for $85 a night. I have no problem lowering my expectations and looking for a 3 - 3.5* if someone could recommend one that wasn't a run down flea bag. Any suggestions? :)
thereuare Posted June 12, 2007 Report Posted June 12, 2007 Did you try the 4* strategy suggested above? (if not, and you're going to, since you're new to priceline make sure you understand Priceline Re-Bidding Explained before bidding) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
thumprbuni Posted June 12, 2007 Author Report Posted June 12, 2007 Nope, I haven't actually tried bidding yet. I'm hoping someone will recommend some specific hotels so that I know which areas to choose from. As soon as I get some input on the hotels, I will work with the bidding zones. Sorry, does that make any sense?
thereuare Posted June 12, 2007 Report Posted June 12, 2007 does that make any sense?Not really... you can't bid on a specific hotel, only a minimum star rating and zone (as defined by priceline)Have you located the location of the police academy on the priceline regional map and then looked to see which zone it was in and which other zones (if any) are nearby? Once you determine the zones you can then use our Priceline Hotel List to see which properties have been reported in each zone and at each star level (although remember you could always be the first to report a new hotel to the list) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
thumprbuni Posted June 12, 2007 Author Report Posted June 12, 2007 Ok, that part I get but don't I need to know the names of some hotels so I can check what they are rated and then look for the desired ratings in the needed zones? Just think if I didn't have your help what kind of trouble I could get myself into! Maybe I'm just making this more complicated than necessary. :)
thereuare Posted June 12, 2007 Report Posted June 12, 2007 don't I need to know the names of some hotels so I can check what they are ratedAll hotels already 'known' (ie- reported to the board) are in the Priceline Hotel List Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Colfax Posted June 12, 2007 Report Posted June 12, 2007 $85 probably isn't realistic for a 4*. You should try $85 once so you'll see.HOTWIRE has a 2* in Huntington-Newport for $39, probably something like an Extended Stay America, and a 3* Best Value at $76. You have a $76 option then, within your budget, which includes free breakfast. I don't know what hotel it is.If it's $76 on HOTWIRE there's some chance you could win that hotel on Priceline for less than $76, either as a 3* or 2.5*.Let us know whether you're willing to bid the 3* and 2.5* levels on Priceline in order to beat that $76. (How much does the hotel that was suggested to you cost?)
thumprbuni Posted June 12, 2007 Author Report Posted June 12, 2007 Let us know whether you're willing to bid the 3* and 2.5* levels on Priceline in order to beat that $76. (How much does the hotel that was suggested to you cost?)Ok, I think I'm ready to try Priceline for the 3*...fingers crossed.
thereuare Posted June 12, 2007 Report Posted June 12, 2007 At the 3* level you have four re-bid zones available. 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* Newport-Huntington Beach...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75.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
Colfax Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 Did you try bidding, thumprbuni? How'd it go?
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