Priceline Hotel: hawaii accommodation

[darioc]

Just started to plan my next vacation.

Got my airfares last week.

Was planning to do a cruise but prices dont look like they are going to drop since pride of hawaii is going to europe.

Thinking of staying 1 week on the mainland and 1 week in maui.

Im looking to spend around $120 US including taxes. What can i expect for this price for this time of the year?

Would it be worthwhile looking into rentals too.

Il would ideally like 4* but since hotels in the states are of a higher standard to europe then 2.5 - 3.5* would be sufficent

I would also like to stay as close to the beach as possible but not a must.

Where is best to book flights from island to island?

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your Priceline Rome and Priceline Nice threads with whatever you ended up doing for each stay... then bump this thread and we'll comment on the above.

[darioc]

Please follow-up your Priceline Rome and Priceline Nice threads with whatever you ended up doing for each stay... then bump this thread and we'll comment on the above.

[thereuare]

Which 7 days of the above 14 do you intend to be in Maui?

Which zones are you willing to accept?

It would be worth looking into rentals if you prefer condo syle accomodations to hotel/resort accomodations.

[darioc]

Thankyou for your reply

The 1st week will be spent in Maui.

I would like to be in waikiki for Hawaii

And for Maui i would like to be in kaanapali but would accept any zone.

What are some recommended sites to rent condos.

[darioc]

Now that i know that the crusie i wanted has sold out should i start bidding now or closer to the date for hotels/resorts??

Im quite flexible on my dates so should i book inter-island flights before or after purchasing accommodation?

[thereuare]

Now that i know that the crusie i wanted has sold out should i start bidding now or closer to the date for hotels/resorts??

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

Im quite flexible on my dates so should i book inter-island flights before or after purchasing accommodation?

I would book accomodations before inter-island flights.

[darioc]

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

I would book accomodations before inter-island flights.

Ok i think im ready to start bidding.

What are some recommended bidding strategies?

Are these dates expensive for hotels/resorts? A previous poster mentioned that this is super peak and my research indicates its not.

[thereuare]

Which stay do you want to work on first?

What are the dates of that stay?

Since you've already begun to research this, what are the rates you're finding (and for what properties) thru conventional methods?

[darioc]

Not sure what dates to do first. My guess Maui checking in on 18th Feb for 7 nights. Checking out on the 25th.

Havent done research on specific hotels through conventional methods but prices vary. Havent spotted a price i want to pay yet.

Called some hotels direct using the Entertainment Book promotions. Prices were ok.(some where rentals) Was told that peak season will have just ended. Some websites also stated that end of febuary was not to expensive.

Did you have a web site affiliated with savingsbarn.com for rental accommodation.

[thereuare]

If you're considering rentals you're not ready to bid on priceline... let us know when you're ready to bid.

[darioc]

If you're considering rentals you're not ready to bid on priceline... let us know when you're ready to bid.

Will look into rentals if i cant get a good price on priceline.

[darioc]

Will look into rentals if i cant get a good price on priceline.

Tried my luck with a few low bids of $125 - $135 (using the savings barn link) for Maui resorts using all 3 areas and changing my dates around with no success.

I changed my dates because the westin (my target resort trying to duplicate other posters)was not available for my dates and i decided i can split my stay in waikiki

Tried 2/22-2/29 $125 (1 zone)

2/20-2/28

2/23-3/1

2/28-3/1

2/22-2/29 $130 (2 zone)

2/20-2/28

2/23-3/1

2/28-3/1

2/22-2/29 $135 (3 zone)

2/20-2/28

2/23-3/1

2/28-3/1

Advice needed please?? Im not that fussed which area and what property i end up with as long its nice and a good price.

[thereuare]

What was the minimum star rating that you've selected for each of the above?

It appears that you have already bid over your previously stated minimum... what will you do if you're unsuccessful at $135/nite or less for these dates?

[darioc]

I only bidded for resorts.

Not sure what il do. Bid for a lower star level or increase my minimum.

or maybe keep on bidding at these prices hoping i get lucky like a previous poster. what do you think of this stategy?

[thereuare]

There's only one hotel i've seen accept bids this low... so you're basically putting all of your hopes on that one hotel offering deeply discounted inventory for the date(s) you're bidding.

I'd be sure to have a back-up plan.

[darioc]

how much do you recommend i up by bids by and for what star levels.

[thereuare]

I can't tell you if you should lower your star level or not as we each have different 'wants' from our stays... but at the Resort level i'm currently seeing rates in the $500 area thru conventional means, putting your bids at only 25% of conventionally booked rates; not a high probability bid.

We often don't even see accepted bids with rates this high (if the hotel can sell rooms on their own at $400-$500 why offer deeply discounted rates to third party vendors?)... at the Resort level i think you need to be look at least in the $150-$200 range, and perhaps north of that.

[darioc]

What about at the 3* level?

Since im flexible with star levels and dates(a little) would it be wise to wait hoping price go down.

[thereuare]

You haven't yet bid at the 3* level, correct?

Would you use the same maximum bid at the 3* level?

[darioc]

i did an $80 bid for kaanapali

Was hoping to get a 3* for around $100

[thereuare]

For which set of dates did you bid for the 3*?

Is that the only zone you're willing to accept a 3 star hotel?

[darioc]

22/2 - 29/2

I would prefer the Kaanapali area but would accept any zone

[thereuare]

Do you want to bid up to $100 for a 3* in the Kaanapali zone first or would you prefer a less expensive hotel in one of the other zones?

PS- please use the button, which is located slightly below the button which you are using... this way you don't unintentionally repeat the entire previous post in a quote. Thanks.

[darioc]

I guess i would try bid for a cheaper hotel in other zones if the saving is substantial ie 20%

Would it be worthwhile to wait hoping prices go down in the next month or two and use my flexible dates and star ratings as a back up plan with priceline.

What would you do?? Considering i want to bid for 7 days in waikiki as well. (dates to be determined by maui accommodation)

or should i start a new thread for waikiki and start bidding