Bambam Posted November 19, 2007 Report Posted November 19, 2007 Hello everyone, Just discovered this great forum yesterday. I have never tried to bid on priceline so any tips are greatly appreciated.Looking for a 4* hotel right in downtown Portland. Never been to Portland before so don't know what to expect. Since we will not have a car, parking is not an issue. Of course we would prefer a hotel that is accessible to public transport.Looking at Expedia and Travelocity, it seems like you can get a 4* hotel in priceline for the same price as a 2* from Expedia or Travelocity. Budget from $45-$90.If we go down to a 3.5* or 3*, what's the best way to get a hotel right downtown?Thanks to everyone in advance for your input and help!
slruud Posted November 20, 2007 Report Posted November 20, 2007 Most of the downtown hotels are quite accessible to public transportation...TriMet covers light rail, trolleys, and busses. We usually get our tickets over the internet just for convenience. Trying to figure out what to bid depends on what the rates are at some of the downtown 3 or 4 * hotels. For our April trip, we got the Westin for $75 when their web rate was $179, and for our September trip we got the Marriott City Center for $75 on Hotwire when their web rate was $139. If you provide your dates of travel and some of the hotel rates for the downtown area, someone will steer you in the right direction. Also, don't discount HOTWIRE. It's worth a look to see what their rates are, and bid accordingly. Good luck.
thereuare Posted November 20, 2007 Report Posted November 20, 2007 Welcome to BetterBidding!First thing to do is look at the boundary for the Downtown zone on priceline... are you willing to accept a hotel anywhere within the shaded region? If so, then check out the Priceline Hotel List to see what hotels have been reported to the board at each star level (as per the comments at the top of the hotel list, you could get a hotel not yet on the list or already on the list at a different star level, but this should give you a good 'feel').Next, let us know if you want to try bidding for a 3* or a 4* and your maximum bid... we'll then suggest a strategy for you to follow.If when checking the hotel list there is a specific property you're trying to target or avoid, then HOTWIRE may be a better option since it's a little easier to do so (but usually costs just a little bit more).Let us konw your thoughts and/or any questions regarding the above and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Bambam Posted November 20, 2007 Author Report Posted November 20, 2007 Thank you very much for the replies. We are planning to be in Portland from the 25th to 27th of November. Our budget is between $45-$90. Since we have never stayed at a 4* hotel, we are quite excited to try to get one at a good rate.Hotwire right now has a 4* hotel at $99 (down duvets = Westin??? )Priceline has 3 hotels, Hotel Vintage Plaza, Hotel Monaco, and Westin Portland. Looking at the map, these hotels are in the area we would like to stay at. We prefer to be right "downtown" rather than across the river.For 3* hotels, I guess I'll have to select "downtown Portland" and not "Convention Center". Hope I got this right.Once again, thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. :)
thereuare Posted November 21, 2007 Report Posted November 21, 2007 Priceline has 3 hotels...You can't make this conclusion... see the comments at the top of the Hotel Lists. Those are only hotels reported to the board and you could be the first to receive a new property. Are you willing to accept the chnance that you could receive a hotel other than the three listed and it could be anywhere within the shaded region of the boundaries as defined by priceline?If so we'll move forward with a 4* bidding strategy up to your limit (if this is the route you'd like to take?) or list the amenities associated with the HOTWIRE property you're being offered (which you guessed is the Westin) and we'll try to take an educated guess. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Bambam Posted November 21, 2007 Author Report Posted November 21, 2007 Hi Thereuare, Thanks for the reply. I think we would be happy with any 4* hotel within the downtown shaded boundaries. I don't think any of them would be a disappointment.
thereuare Posted November 21, 2007 Report Posted November 21, 2007 Just to clarify, there are many more 4* hotels in the Downtown zone than the three you referenced above. (see the Priceline Hotel List for reported properties.At the 4* level you have nine 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* Downtown...Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...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, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $88, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90.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
Bambam Posted November 23, 2007 Author Report Posted November 23, 2007 Hello everyone,Happy to report that we have successfully bid for $76.00 per night 25-27Nov thru Priceline. Hotel we got was the Paramount Hotel Portland, A coast Hotel. Thanks for everyone's input!
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