Priceline Hotel: Newcomer seeks help

[rains]

Hi this is my first post hence be kind . Am looking for 3 rooms for 17 th - 20 sept in vancouver post cruise. What sort of bid shd I look for 3 -4 Star . When is the best time to bid. Wld bidding nerer to the time produce better results. wld greatly appreciate any help as i have never used priceline before.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

When is the best time to bid. Wld bidding nerer to the time produce better results.

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

What sort of bid shd I look for 3 -4 Star.

Once you're ready to bid, let us know if you're willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3* OR if your goal is the least expensive 3* or better for your stay. Also, let us know your maximum bid (at each star level if you're willing to pay more for a 4* than a 3*) and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

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

Any additional questions feel free to ask.

[rains]

Thanks for agreeing to help me out. Am ready to bid now. looking for 3* or more - least expensive. Max bid wld be about 50 dolars fpr 3 star and 90 dolars for 4 *

[thereuare]

Your statement above is a little conflicting... you say that you want the least expensive 3* or better hotel, so i would assume we start with a $50 maximum for a 3 star property.

If that is rejected would you then want to switch to a 4* with a maximum of $90 (as opposed to a 3* at $55, $60, $65, etc, etc)

Please clarify and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[rains]

Thata right. we'll start with a 3 * property if no joy then go for a 4*

[thereuare]

I'm doubtfl you're budget of $50 will be enough for a 3*, but you can try as follows:

When bidding 3* in Vancouver you have two re-bid zones. 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* Vancouver...

Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50.

Any questions feel free to ask.

If/when rejected post back and we'll take the next step.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[rains]

Im still unclear about zones. Wld Vanvouver downtown and airport considered two different zones. Unsure about rebidding even after readind. CONCERNED MIGHT GET IN AN UNDESIRABLE AREA.

[WillTravel]

Don't include the airport zone - you don't want to get a 3* hotel there if you want to be downtown.

Do you understand how to figure out your safe rebid zones?

Note also that "Vancouver Downtown" includes an area outside downtown. Most notably, the Plaza 500 hotel which is currently in the middle of a construction zone and which is not downtown often comes up for 3* bids here. (I personally think the area has a lot of positives, but some people complain it has ruined their trip, so buyer beware.)

[rains]

SORRY I dont know which are safe rebid zones for vancouver. Kindly help.

[thereuare]

List each zone in the Vancouver area and the highest star rating available in each zone, using the following 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)

If you're unable to figure out the above post back and we'll break it down further.

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

[rains]

cld u clarify safe rebids zones for vancouver. It all sounds very complicated to a novice like me.

[thereuare]

It's important to know how to check these yourself, as they need to be doublechecked before each round of bidding to make sure nothing has changed (otherwise you could end up in an area that you didn't intend)

Since you have time before your stay, why don't we take a few minutes to break it down further for you.. you'll then be set for all your future bids (in other cities) too.

I'm assuming that you can get to PRICELINE and are able to enter vancouver and see the list of available zones within the city, which should be as follows:

Coquitlam - Burnaby

Delta

Langley

North Vancouver

Surrey - Pitt Meadows

Vancouver

Vancouver Int'l Airport

Now, if you place a checkmark next to (Coquitlam - Burnaby), then look below where the star ratings are listed, what is the highest star rating which is selectable (ie- not greyed out) in this zone?

(we'll make sure you can get thru the above before moving on, so repy to this thread with the information above, we'll make sure we're on the same page (if not we'll back-up) and we'll then take the next step)

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

[rains]

BUrnaby has a max of 3star rating. Good of you to take me through each step.

[thereuare]

Correct...

Now go back to PRICELINE, UNCHECK Burnaby, and place a checkmark next to the next zone in the list which is selectable (if a zone is greyed out then just skip it).

Once you've recorded the highest star rating in the list for the next zone, UNCHECK it, and proceed to place a checkmark in the box for the next zone in the list, and so on, and so on.

Do this for each zone in the list (making sure that only one zone is selected each time you record the highest star rating available in the list.

Report your finding for each zone in this thread and we'll continue to move forward.

[rains]

Burnaby 3*

Langley 2*

North Vancouver2*

Surrey3*

Vancouver4*

Vancouver airport4*

[thereuare]

Great, you have all the above correct.

So now, let's assume you bid for 3* in the Vancouver (downtown) zone and are rejected. Do you see how you can add the Langely zone or the North Vancouver zone (both of which dont' contain 3* or higher hotels) in order to bid again... and still only end up in the Downtown zone, since neither of these two other zones meet your minimum star rating requirement?

Does it make sense now and is clearer?

If so, as a 'test', you would have four re-bid zones when bidding 4 stars, but only two re-bid zones when bidding 3 stars. Is this the same number of re-bid zones you come up with?

Feel free to ask any additional questions you have and/or let us know if you know have an understanding of how to determine your re-bid zones... we'll then move forward with bidding advice for your upcoming stay.

[rains]

Yes its all clear now. Thanks. What do u think an average starting bid wld be For 3* & 4* property in Vancouver. I think I wld like to bid for a 4* first.

Wld 80 dollar bid to start off, be allright.

[thereuare]

What is your maximum bid for a 4*... we'll then suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Also, now that we got the re-bidding out of the way, if you use the (bottom right corner of the board) you won't have the issue of the previous message getting quoted :)

[rains]

Max for 4* PROPERTY WILL be about 100 dollars .

[thereuare]

At the 4* level you have four re-bid zones. 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 $60, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.

Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone4...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $100.

Any 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.

[rains]

Why is it important to close the bowser and then reaccess the link to PRICELINE.

[thereuare]

Why is it important to close the bowser and then reaccess the link to PRICELINE.

It gives you the ability to 'uncheck' a zone and therefore increase the number of bidding opportunities.

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

[rains]

hi

I wld like to bid for 4star in vancouver for 18th n0v for 3 rooms. Kindly help.

[thereuare]

Did you ever bid for or receive a room for September as was the original request for this thread? :)

Is that stay still 'on' or did you have a change in plans?

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

[rains]

DID not go ahead with the bid at that time as the iternary was subject to change coz of the alaska cruise