mwalker Posted April 8, 2008 Report Posted April 8, 2008 I'd like a bidding strategy for NYC 3* hotels on Priceline between 6/18/08 - 6/20/08 (2 nights). I'm interested in staying in MTE, but open to MTW, UM-CPS and TS as well. If it's useful to add MTS I'd be willing to do so -- please advise.Is $150 a reasonable max price? I'm willing to pay up to $175, though I'd like to try bidding for a 4* if I go higher than $150. Thanks for your help. Let me know if you need more information.
thereuare Posted April 10, 2008 Report Posted April 10, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!It's always useful to use as many zones as you're willing to accept, as it increases the number of possible hotels which can accept your bid and also gives you more bidding opportunites... but it comes down to whether zone or price is most important to you.Do you want to include all five midtown zones you've indicated above, or do you first want to target a particular zone(s)?Let us know and we'll advise accordingly. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mwalker Posted April 10, 2008 Author Report Posted April 10, 2008 Do you want to include all five midtown zones you've indicated above, or do you first want to target a particular zone(s)?I want to stay in MTE, but price is more important to me and I am willing to add the other 4 zones, so yes, I want to include all five zones.
thereuare Posted April 10, 2008 Report Posted April 10, 2008 I'd be surprised if your budget is enough for these dates, but you can give it a try.At the 3* level you have three re-bid zones... four re-bid zones at the 4* level. 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 3* MTE...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.Select 3* MTW...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.Select 3* UM-CPS...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.Select 3* Times Square...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.Select 3* MTS...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.Select 3* MTE and MTW...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.Select 3* UM-CPS and Times Square...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.Select 3* MTS and MTE...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access thru our link to PRICELINE.(note the switch to 4* bidding)Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM-CPS and Times Square and MTS...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175Any questions feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.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
mwalker Posted April 17, 2008 Author Report Posted April 17, 2008 I followed the instructions and was sure to close my browser each time, but I started getting denied new searches (due to "duplicate requests") about half-way through the 3* routine. Has Priceline changed?I waited 24 hours, then picked up the routine, got denied after about 6-8 requests, and didn't get anything. So, I'll wait again, but I wonder if I'm doing something wrong here, or if this is as expected.
thereuare Posted April 17, 2008 Report Posted April 17, 2008 What were you using for your "re-bid zones" each time? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mwalker Posted April 19, 2008 Author Report Posted April 19, 2008 What were you using for your "re-bid zones" each time?MTW, UM-CPS,TS, and MTS were my rebid zones. Am I misinterpreting "if rejected add rebid zone"? Each time I bid again, I add another zone. So, the first bid is MTE@$100, second is (MTE+MTW)@$110, third bid is (MTE+MTW+UM-CPS)@$120, etc. Is this correct?
thereuare Posted April 19, 2008 Report Posted April 19, 2008 Those aren't your re-bid zones.Start here: Priceline Re-Bidding ExplainedIf you're confused and/or don't understand then list each PRICELINE zone in the NYC area and the highest star rating avaialble. using this technique from Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time. (NOTE: for most users Priceline has updated their interface making the above process easier... simply check a zone and note the highest star rating available within each zone, UNcheck that zone and checkmark the next zone, repeating the process)We'll then break it down further for you. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mwalker Posted April 19, 2008 Author Report Posted April 19, 2008 Thanks I think I understand now. Brooklyn has no 5* hotels (currently -- always check), so that's a re-bid zone for 5*, gotcha, thanks!
thereuare Posted April 20, 2008 Report Posted April 20, 2008 There are no 5* zones offered in NYC.At the 3* level you have three re-bid zones available. Plaease confirm your zone(s) with the board before bidding and/or ask for help if you're not sure which three to use.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mwalker Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Posted May 1, 2008 An update. I gave up after multiple attempts through the full cycle on a number of different days. I bid a max of $205 for 4* and also tried bidding up to $205 for 3* in MTE, MTW, UM-CPS and TS.I ended up booking a room at a hotel frequently offered through Priceline as a 3* for $215/night, which seems like it meets or beats Priceline's price.Thanks for the help and I'll continue to check back here when I book.
thereuare Posted May 2, 2008 Report Posted May 2, 2008 I ended up booking a room at a hotel frequently offered through Priceline as a 3* for $215/night, which seems like it meets or beats Priceline's price.Can you share the name of the hotel? :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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