Priceline Hotel: Bidding help for Golden Nugget 10/18/07 to 10/21/07

[Neelee]

I haven't had much luck with Priceline lately (San Diego), but willing to give it a try for Vegas after researching other travel sites. Class reunion is at the Main Street Hotel which is all booked up (coordinator forgot to reserve a bank of rooms :) ). From Google map, the Plaza & Golden Nugget seem to be the closest. Just booked my air last night so now needing a hotel.

This is what I've found so far (Th, Fri, Sat)

• EasyClickTravel - no rooms available
  
• LastMinuteTravel - $87, $146, $146
  
• Travel Worm - $89, $149, $149
  
• Golden Nugget - $89, then says $129 avg per night (Fri & Sat probably $149)
  
• Travelaxe (Lodging.com) - $120, $120, $120
  

I guess I should book one of the above as a backup strategy.

We won't have a car. Its been about 20 years since I've been to Vegas. I'd like to catch the Love show and maybe one or two others before/after the reunion festivities.

From reading previous posts for around this date the winning bids ranged from $50 to $75. I'm willing to go as high as $75.

I just checked Priceline's star ratings - Fremont Street Vicinity is 4*. So it looks like my free rebid zones are:

• LAS Airport 3*
  
• Nellis 2.5*
  
• Summerlain 3*
  

I was thinking of starting off at $50, then upping $5 with each rebid. Or is there a better way?

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you!

[thereuare]

You don't have your re-bid zones right... what is the highest star rating available in Summerlin?

EasyClickTravel does have rooms avaialble: Golden Nugget

[Neelee]

Just checked Summerlin again direct via Priceline.com - 3* is the higest start rating

As for EasyClickTravel.com - I don't know what to say about that. Sure enough, I just checked before creating this reply and there is availability. Average per night says:

Check In: 10/18/2007

Check Out: 10/21/2007

Avg per night: $140.16

Rooms cost: $378.82

Taxes/Fees: $41.66

Total: $420.48

Still more than I care to pay for storing my bags and sleeping. OK, yes, I'm a major cheap-o.

[thereuare]

Just checked Summerlin again direct via Priceline.com - 3* is the higest start rating

Could i get a Resort hotel in Summerlin if i wanted one? :)

[Neelee]

Could i get a Resort hotel in Summerlin if i wanted one? :)

Sorry, you're right - Summerlin is resort. I should have scrolled down further (limited view with my laptop).

So, I only have two free rebids.

LAS a/p and Nellis.

[Neelee]

Found a post from 6/27/07 with the following bidding strategy:

Select 4* Downtown...

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $65.

If rejected, in 24 hours re-try...

Select 4* Downtown...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80.

Would anyone suggest trying this? Also, I noticed "...in 24 hours re-try", so its not 72 hours anymore? I guess it has been a while since I've used Priceline.

[thereuare]

You can start with that only because you have some time before your stay, but i think the first round of bidding will likely be too low ($75 may ultimately prove to be too low as well)

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[Neelee]

Thereuare - your experience is invaluable!

I just tried the 2nd strategy from above.

You're right - rejected

After the initial bid of $70 they counter-offered a 4* at $102, I rejected and bid up to $80, to no avail.

Waiting 24 hours and trying again

[Neelee]

Tried again tonight. 75, 80, 85

All rejected.

Noticed that Golden Nugget web site jacked the price up from $129 on Fri & Sat to $149 and $159.

Only other choice would be the Plaza but Trip Advisor shows so many bad reviews.

Will keep trying.

[ufauxreal]

If you want to stay downtown, consider either the Four Queens hotel or Fitzgerald's. I've stayed at the Four Queens several times and it's a fine hotel, particularly if you aren't planning on spending much time at the hotel. It is right next to (or maybe across the street from) the Golden Nugget. The last time I was in Vegas I had friends staying at Fitzgerald's, which is right across the side street from the Four Queens. I thought their room was fine also. Both these hotels open onto Freemont Street. From our hotel room we were able to see the nightly 'Freemont Experience', a cool light show that goes on every half hour after dusk.

I've not seen either of these hotels on Priceline or HOTWIRE, but I think they are a good value.

JB

[thereuare]

it's a fine hotel, particularly if you aren't planning on spending much time at the hotel.

:)

[Neelee]

:)

Thereuare - not sure if you're laughing at me or the suggestion of staying of Four Queens or Fitzgerald hotels.

Anyway, just tried again on PL tonight. Started at 85, added LAS at 87 then finished with Nellis at 91 - all REJECTED. I had to reset my max to fit reality. The ultimate max would be $100 - maybe. Anything over that then I'll just take the backup reservations I made instead.

I also noticed since my last attempt on 7/30/07 PL added a new zone - Strip South @ 4*. On 7/30 the zones were:

Convention 4*

Fremont 4*

Henderson 4*

LAS 3*

Strip 5*

Nellis 2.5*

Summerlin Resort*

West Strip 4*

So Strip now has a North (5*) and South (4*). Just FYI

I booked backup reservations directly with Golden Nugget. Avg per night $129. Just checked tonight, its up $10.

[thereuare]

I was laughing at this quote, which i thought was funny:

it's a fine hotel, particularly if you aren't planning on spending much time at the hotel.

I understood the intended meaning, but it seemed funny to say "it's a good hotel if you won't be spending time there" (sort of "it's a good restaurant except for the food")... i don't know, maybe i'm just too tired :)