Priceline Hotel: 3* Long Island-Nassau (Huntington-Plainview) Marriott

[lables]

I just started this bidding on PRICELINE (used link from better bidding site).

Tried 2.5* Glen Cove/Oyster Bay at $70 - failed

Tried 2* huntington/plainview at $70 -failed

My dates are 3/13 to 3/18.

I would like to stay in the huntington/plainview area but I was hoping I might get the Mansion in Glen Cove. I haven't seen any posts for it in a long time (or for these areas)...any idea what bids I might be sucessful with?

I'm going to wait 24 hours and try again tomorrow.

p.s. I just found your priceline calendar...great feature!

[thereuare]

Since you've bid more than one zone above, i assume either is acceptable?

You do have one re-bid zone available (Priceline Re-Bidding Explained), is there a reason you're not using it?

What is your maximum bid for this stay?

[lables]

Huntington/Plainview is really where I would like to stay. I'd like to spend around $70....$75 would probably be my maximum. I might add bethpage if I am unsucessful (is that the additional zone you were refering to) but that's a little far from where I need to be....not sure if the extra cost of gas would be worth it.

[lables]

I tried bidding again today....

2.5 * Glen Cove/Oyster Bay $73 failed

2.5 * Glen Cove/Oyster Bay + Rockville Center $75 failed

2* huntington/plainview $72 failed

not having much luck....could really use some help. I'll try again tomorrow.

[thereuare]

I think it would benefit you to stop bidding for a moment and answer some of the questions we have previously asked... you can certainly be bidding much beter than you have been.

We have asked if you're willing to accept both the Glen Cove and Huntington zone, and you reply that you really prefer the Huntington zone... but you continue to bid the Huntington zone first??

I might add bethpage if I am unsucessful (is that the additional zone you were refering to...

No, that is not the zone i'm refering to, and you're not maximizing your bids by using combinations and your one re-bid zone. Please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and confirm your re-bid zone with the board, or if you're confused and dont' understand the information in the previous link let us know and we'll break it down further for you.

Do you have a back-up plan? If so, where and how much?

[lables]

Sorry for the confusion Thereuare...I thought I answered your previous questions. Here's more detail...

In answer to 'Since you've bid more than one zone above, i assume either is acceptable?':

I would only want to stay at the mansion (or similar 2.5*+ property) in the glen cove/oyster bay zone. I would not want to use that zone for any rating less than 2.5*.

I began with glen cove/oyster bay as my first bid because the mansion was my first choice.

For a 2* or higher rating the Huntington zone would be be acceptable. That is why, once the 2.5* bid on glen cove/oyster bay failed I tried Huntington.

In response to 'You do have one re-bid zone available (Priceline Re-Bidding Explained), is there a reason you're not using it?' and 'No, that is not the zone i'm refering to, and you're not maximizing your bids by using combinations and your one re-bid zone. Please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and confirm your re-bid zone with the board, or if you're confused and dont' understand the information in the previous link let us know and we'll break it down further for you':

I have read the information. I thought I understood it when I added the Rockville center zone to rebid glen cove/oyster bay 2.5* at a higher price (Rockville Center only contains 1* hotels so adding it as a zone but bidding on 2.5* hotels allowed me to rebid glen cove/oyster bay). If this is not correct, I would appreciate any guidance you can give me on where I went wrong or what I misunderstood.

The only zone I saw without a 2* or higher rating was Rockville Center. I am still unaware of which re-bid zone I did not use...again any advice as to strategy would be greatly appreciated.

As to 'Do you have a back-up plan? If so, where and how much?':

I currently do not have a back up plan since I would really like to secure a room through priceline. If I can't win a bid I will have to figure out something else but I will cross that road when I come to it. I am not traveling until Thursday so I still have a few days.

Let me know if you need anymore information. Thanks! :)

[thereuare]

Rockville is indeed your re-bid zone, but above you posted Bethapge as your additional zone.

You're only $3 away from your stated maximum bid for a hotel in Huntington, so i would just bid that next.

I would also encourage you to determine your best deal outside of PRICELINE, as that is what you should be using to determine your maximum bid amount. Rates for your dates could be higher than usual, and simply picking a number that you'd like to pay, without researching rates for your actual stay, can result in wasted bidding opportunities (use our BetterChecker to help in your research.

One issue is that there just aren't a lot of hotels in the area, so hotels don't need to discount very much... even thru the opaque suppliers. As well, this is a 5 nite stay, is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

[lables]

Thanks for the advice. I went onto Better Checker and saw the hotel I've been targeting in the huntington zone for $114/night if I split my bid - splitting my bid is not a problem.

Thought I'd get daring and try 2* huntington at $65 for 3/13 - 3/17 (the rate went up on 3/17 according to price checker)....bid failed. According to price checker the rate at the mansion goes down on 3/17 which would be perfect if I can get huntington for 3/13-3/17. I'm going to try again tomorrow using higher rates. I picked these rates because I saw postings on your site of people who have been sucessful with them (and even lower rates) in the past. Thanks for your help...I'll let you know how it goes.

[thereuare]

Keep us updated.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know if we can be of further help.

[lables]

A bit disappointed...ended up having to go up to $95 for a 3* Huntington Marriott (2* on Hotwire was $90...not much difference for a better hotel). Dates were 3/13 to 3/17. Previous wins were way off from prices available now!

[thereuare]

Thanks for the report...

I assume this was purchased thru PRICELINE? Is it the Marriott Melville that you received?

Enjoy your stay.

[lables]

Yes, purchased through the link on your site to PRICELINE. Thanks.

[thereuare]

Thank you :)

[dahammer]

this Marriott is a little worn around the edges, but I think you got a good deal @ $95, its at least a 50% savings. Although there have been no reported 2* wins in this area, some of these lower rated properties are pretty aweful such as the Huntington Country Inn, which is neither in the Country, nor an Inn.