Priceline Hotel: 4 or 5 star Central Rome: 1/31/08-2/3/08

[baxter_10]

Hi,

I just stumbled across this site and I love it!! I'm hoping I could get some help.

Here's what I'm trying to do:

Rome

1/31/08-2/3/08

4 or 5 star hotel

Central Rome

Here's what I've done so far:

$160 for 5 star hotel. Priceline countered with $227 the first time, after trying for several more days, they've countered with $236

$150 for 4 star hotel. No counters.

Any suggestions? I am I being too optimistic in my bidding? I could go up to $160, for 4 star, but would really rather not. I would appreciate any bidding advice or maybe what prices people have had success with.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you enter "Rome" (without the quotes) in the QUICK SEARCH box in the blue banner at the top of the page you'll see all posts which have 'rome' n the title (and all winning bids will have that in the topic title)

Is $160 your maximum bid for this stay? Do you have a back-up plan if you're not successful up to that amount? (if so, where and how much)

[baxter_10]

Hi,

Thanks for the tip on search Rome. I tried that and the most relevant post seemed to be the one just before mine, where the guy got a 4 star hotel for $132/night. That got my hopes up, but I'm not sure if I'll be that lucky. Should I keep trying?

$160/night really is the most I'd like to pay. My backup plan is to use my Amex points along with Starwood points to pay $150/night to stay at the Westin in Rome. It sounds like a good rate, right? The problem is, with the Westin stay, I pay $150 + points. If possible, I'd like to hold onto the points. My reasoning, is, if I can pay the same amount of $$$, get the same quality hotel and keep my points, I would rather do that. I hope that makes sense.

Any other thoughts? I know Priceline's 24 hour- 1 bid rule. Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

if I can pay the same amount of $$$, get the same quality hotel and keep my points, I would rather do that. I hope that makes sense.

Yes, this makes sense, but apparently at the moment, this isn't possible.

I would also figure out the value that you place on points.

For example, Sheraton Amex Points have some value to them... probably a value somewhere between 1.5cents and 3.5cents (this amount will differ from person to person since each user places a different value on points... but points can be purchased (last i checked) for 3.5cents so the value is likely less than that upper amount). So to determine the 'true cost' of the points and cash purchase, you need to calculate your value per point, multiply by the number of points per nite, and then add that to $150.

So to use an example where you value points at 2cents each and your Rome hotel would cost $150 + 5000 points. Your true cost of this room would be:

$150 (cash) + $100 (value of points: 5000 x .02) = $250

Therefore your maximum bid amount would be closer to $250 than the $150 you are currently using. Your current calculation assumes that points have no value to them, since you are not including the points in your total room cost if using cash and points.