Priceline Hotel: London 7/17/-7/20

[jason8612]

One thing I did see, for instance 7/17-20 London, London Bridge says there are no 4* hotels, but when I select that area on the PL bid, it does let me check the 4* option (BTW 5* is blanked out) why?

[thereuare]

Do you mean that when you search priceline's "retail product" (where they show the name of the hotels and the prices) there are no offerings, but that you can try to bid on a 4* hotel in the "Name Your Own Price" product?

Also, have you decided anything regarding your Priceline Syndey stay? If so, please follow-up that thread so that it has a conclusion.

Thanks.

[jason8612]

For instance, I start a new PL hotel search. London Bridge is only showing for those dates 2* and 3*; no 4 or 5*. But when I go to the name your own price, and just pick the London bridge, it allows me to select the 4* option (5* is grayed out). does that mean there are 4* available for the name your own price, but no retail wise?

[thereuare]

1) not all hotels that particiate in the "name your own price" product also participate in the "retail" product... and vice-versa

2) when you select the London Bridge zone price then allows you to select any star level for which they have a contract with a hotel in that zone... no check is made to see if there is availability for your particular dates... that is only done after you submit your bid

3) the 5* is greyed out as priceline has no contracts with 5* hotels in this zone (as per #2 above)

[jason8612]

I was trying the option for the free rebid, but as of now, looks like I have to wait.

[jason8612]

Also for hotel wise, what it seems I see is Kensington is Cohthrone, or the Holiday Inn.

For Soho seems, the holiday inn or sheraton

What would you recommend? I have stayed many times at either Westminster area (Rubens, Thistle) or Kensington area with Radisson or millennium. Liked the area as it was convenient access for the tube, yet quiet.

Should I try Soho? Any other areas of recommendations? Bridge? etc?

[thereuare]

Why do you suspect these hotels... on account of what is showing in the retail product?

[jason8612]

No, but browsing previous bids, these lately seem to be the ones showing up with the priceline maps, and scanning the topics.

[thereuare]

Rates are supply and deman driven... you can't expect that you will get the same hotel, or the same price, as others whose trips are for different date(s) than your own.

[jason8612]

Of course I can't but with certain hotels coming up more frequently than others, there is a chance that might be the one I would get.

but back to the previous question. Area wise? Soho? Marble Arch? Westminster?

[thereuare]

Area-wise it depends upon what you want to see and do, the type of neighborhood you like to stay in, and your budget... so i can't really comment on which zone would be better than the others. Although WillTravel knows London better than i do and has recently given some zone advice in this Priceline London thread.

Once you decide upon your zone(s) and maximum star level we'll be able to assist with a bidding strategy.

[jason8612]

4*

max 150/night

siteseeing, unknown yet, but really anywhere within zone 1/2 for the tube.

I was rejected 110/night 4*/5* Soho and Kensington zones last night.

[thereuare]

siteseeing, unknown yet, but really anywhere within zone 1/2 for the tube.

So when comparing the priceine zone maps to London's underground tube system, which zone(s) are you able to accept a hotel anywhere within the shaded region?

[jason8612]

What I would prefer (I think)

Bloomsbury - Marylebone - Soho

Westminster

Kensington - Knightsbridge - Chelsea

Paddington - Bayswater - Notting Hill

also

London Bridge - Southwark - Vauxhall

Regents Park - Maida Vale

[thereuare]

So do you want to bid on the first group only (up to $150) and then resort to the second group if rejected (or at a later point?)

... or are you still contemplating the zone(s)?

[jason8612]

Still contemplating on the zones.

I got about 2.5hrs before my 24hr rebid, and when we figure out what zones would be good to stay in, then we can get some sort of bidding strategy worked on.