nina2121 Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Hi,I'm new to BetterBidding and have read some wonderful information since joining just yesterday! The two of us are traveling to San Juan, PR from 1/1-1/7 and would very much like to stay at a Resort on the Beach. Hotwire is offering a resort for $283/night (I think it's the Intercontinental), so I figure we can get a lower price by bidding on Priceline. On BetterBidding's hotel list, I see that there is a 2.5* hotel called the San Juan Beach Resort. Is there a chance I could be assigned that hotel if I select the category "Resort"? I would be happy in anything equivalent to a 3.5* (or above) and on the beach. A pool is preferred. Any idea what a good starting bid might be for those dates? One last thing - has anyone ever heard of someone being assigned a hotel that is NOT in the shaded area on the priceline map? Thanks in advance!
thereuare Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Welcome to BetterBidding!The hotel you receive will be anywhere within the shaded region... if it's not you'd have a legitimate complaint (and recourse) with priceline.I wouldn't worry about receiving the 2.5* property if you stick to Resort bidding. Hotel ratings change all the time, but i doubt the hotel you're refering to would ever be considered a 'resort'.When bidding Resort you can't guarantee that you'll be on the beach... is this a risk you're willing to take?If you go with the above please use this HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.What is your maximum budget (per nite) for this stay? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nina2121 Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Posted September 20, 2007 My immediate thought regarding price is half the listed price, which makes my ideal price about $139. However, I'd be willing to go up to $159. Thoughts? Do you have a link to PRICELINE?
thereuare Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Is your minimum star quality 4* or Resort? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nina2121 Posted September 21, 2007 Author Report Posted September 21, 2007 I'd like to bid "resort." Even though a pool isn't guaranteed, after looking at the Priceline San Juan hotels, it seems a good majority of the "resorts" have them (Intercontinental's may still be under construction). I'm willing to risk not getting one if it's likely I can save some $. Thanks again!
thereuare Posted September 21, 2007 Report Posted September 21, 2007 I think you'll be 'fine' with the pool aspect... it's the beach you may not be assured of (imo).To try priceline up to your maximimum bid, 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 Resort...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $85, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select Resort and re-bid zone3...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $105, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select Resort and re-bid zone4...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select Resort and re-bid zone3 and re-bid zone4...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $135.I'd start with the above.... 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
nina2121 Posted October 25, 2007 Author Report Posted October 25, 2007 Hmmm... I've bid up to $159/night and still no luck. I wonder if my bid is more likely to get accepted as the time (Jan 2008) gets closer? Of course, I can book a room that I can cancel meanwhile. Thoughts?Starting via a link from savingsbarn.com, my bidding was as follows:Selected Resort...Bid $119, rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $125, rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $130, rejected closed browser and started again.Selected Resort and re-bid zone3...Bid $135, rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $140, rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $145, rejected closed browser and started again.Selected Resort and re-bid zone4...Bid $149, rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $155, rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $159, rejected.Thanks!
thereuare Posted October 25, 2007 Report Posted October 25, 2007 It appears that the first nite of your stay at many properties is more expensive than the remaining nites... is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?For a back-up are you looking for something at a similar star quality as to what you have already bid but at a higher price... or a similar price but lower star quality? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nina2121 Posted October 26, 2007 Author Report Posted October 26, 2007 Yes, I am open to splitting our stay into two bids. We actually decided just to stay in San Juan on Jan 1- Jan 5 (4 nights), and then stay Jan 5- Jan 7 (2 nights) in Vieques. So, the bids mentioned above were for Jan 1 - Jan 5 only. I will see what I can get for Jan 2- Jan 5 on priceline, and then make a separate reservation for Jan 1.... I suppose by bidding on priceline for that night, too (which of course leaves me open to winning a different hotel, which is fine). Our backup would be a similar price ($125-$160), so likely a lower star rating.Thanks for the tip, and I'll let you know how it goes!
thereuare Posted October 26, 2007 Report Posted October 26, 2007 Since you're not bidding for a different start date, which may (hopefully) improve availability, i would backtrack and start with the original bidding strategy for 1/2-1/5:Select Resort...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $85, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select Resort and re-bid zone3...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $105, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select Resort and re-bid zone4...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select Resort and re-bid zone3 and re-bid zone4...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone.2..Bid $135.If that is rejected we'll revise to try again in 24 hours.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
nina2121 Posted October 28, 2007 Author Report Posted October 28, 2007 My bidding this time was for 1/2-1/5 (3 nights) in San Juan... still no luck just yet.Selected Resort...Bid $69, rejected added re-bid zone1...Bid $75, rejected added re-bid zone2..Bid $85, rejected closed browser and started again.Selected Resort and re-bid zone3...Bid $90, rejected added re-bid zone1...Bid $100, rejected added re-bid zone2..Bid $110, rejected closed browser and started again.Selected Resort and re-bid zone4...Bid $115, rejected added re-bid zone1...Bid $120, rejected added re-bid zone2..Bid $125, rejected closed browser and started again.Selected Resort and re-bid zone3 and re-bid zone4...Bid $130, rejected added re-bid zone1...Bid $135, rejected added re-bid zone2..Bid $140, rejected How is that you know the night of 1/1 is more expensive than 1/2-1/5? Just by using the regular priceline search (non-bidding approach)?
thereuare Posted October 28, 2007 Report Posted October 28, 2007 When researching the stay above, I noticed at some hotels the price was higher for the ntie of the first. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
nina2121 Posted November 28, 2007 Author Report Posted November 28, 2007 Late last week I tried just Jan 1-4, 2008 for a San Juan Resort and won at $140 --> San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino. My previous bids of $130 and $135 were rejected. Once I was awarded the hotel at $140, it asked if I wanted to attempt to extend my stay. I requested to extend my stay to Jan 5, but the request was denied. I then went to Marriott's website to book the night of the 4th, but there were no rooms available (which probably explains why my bids for Jan 1-5 were never accepted). We decided to stay in Ponce, PR for the night of the 4th, so all is well.Should I start a new thread to post the bid info for Jan 1-4?
thereuare Posted November 28, 2007 Report Posted November 28, 2007 No need to re-post... we'll edit the topic title of this thread to reflect the details of your win.Glad to here you were ultimately successful and were able to make splitting your stay work for your needs.Have a great trip. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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