Priceline Hotel: Need a bidding Strategy for 4* Alexandria 6/19-6/22

[aldatx]

Hi there!

I am new, but a long time lurker and need help. We are attending a wedding held at the Hotel Monaco in Alexandria on 6/21 and want to arrive in Alexandria on 6/19. The 4 star hotels in the zone are the Westin, the Hotel Monaco and the Morrison House which are all near where I want to be. I have bid for the last two days unsuccessfully, started at $80, added Springfield for a free rebid and then Crystal City for another free rebid, made it up to $92 with no success. I don't want to bid too much over $100. $110 would be the absolute max. The block rate we are being offered is $189 for the Hotel Monaco, $139 for Sheraton Suites and $119 for Crowne Plaza. Back up plan would be Crowne Plaza but it gets very mixed reviews.

I can't go down a star level on priceline because some of the hotels are not within walking distance which would make all of the events (rehearsal, etc.) difficult so we would like to be within walking distance. We will have our 7 year old with us, so we want to keep it easy.

I have considered HOTWIRE, but the 3.5 star is not the Sheraton Suites, but the Hilton Mark, which is over 3 miles away.

Thanks for any strategies and I will be sure to bid through this site once I get my strategy worked out!

[aldatx]

I wanted to add, we may consider staying elsewhere Thursday night and just stay in Alexandria Friday and Saturday nights. Expedia is offering a rate of $119 for the Westin for Fri and Sat nights which is great. I wonder why priceline is saying the Westin is $486 a night??!!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Since the Westin works well for needs, i don't think i would be bidding much (any?) higher and would just take the $119/nite rate. After PRICELINE's fee you're looking at about $10 more per nite, which imo, is not worth the 'unknown' factor of the hotel you will receive when you need to be in a particular location. I'd also book thru the Westin website to avoid the Expedia fee (unless you think you may need to cancel, as Expedia's cancellation terms for this stay come with a slightly lower penalty (but both are still steep)... but we're an affiliate of both so please use our links which ever route you decide.

Note that the rate is slightly higher if booking less than two nites, so i'd make sure you're committed to splitting the stay before booking 2 out of the 3 nites (since booking all 3 nites would be cheaper since you get the discount for the complete stay)

If you still want to bid for this stay let us know and we'll be happy to help, but it's not clear currently if you'd be looking to bid for just the last two nite or all three together (or if you're looking to bid for just the first nite)

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

Let us know whatever you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[aldatx]

I asked Westin to Pricematch the $119 rate. They will either beat it by 10% or give 2000 starpoints. If they can do that, I will go with that. (Friday and Saturday nights.) I am still unsure what to do Thursday night, the Westin wants $209 and that is way out of our pricerange. We are driving down from Mass. so maybe we'll stop in DC or MD.

If this doesn't work out I'll need a priceline stategy.

:)

[thereuare]

When i searched earlier today the Westin showed a $119.20 rate for the weekend nites which was the same as Expedia. (and i'm still seeing it currently on the Westin website)

[aldatx]

Yes, you are right! I was only looking at Thurs, Fri, Sat, and it was showing $148 a night but I realize now that was just the three nights averaged together. Thanks so much, I think we will go with that. Now, where to stay Thursday is my new plan, I may be back. Thanks for all of your help!

[aldatx]

Ok, I thought I would have time to think this through a little, but it looks like we have to make a decision for the Westin by tonight. The 20% off expires tonight.

What is the likelihood of getting an old town Alexandria hotel for under $100 a night? I see many have gotten Hotwire or priceline bids for well under $100 for these hotels. Is it wise to wait? My friends say their hotel block will end on May 21 (1 month prior to the wedding.) Will there be cheaper rooms released then? (Particularly at Sheraton Suites, which many are getting rooms for $72 on hotwire)

I am just reluctant to spend $120 a night plus tax and parking to stay at the Westin if a better option may come along. We are school teachers and this trip is costing a fortune!

Thank you!

[thereuare]

When you bid above and were rejected was that for this complete stay or just for the two weekend nite?

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

[aldatx]

I tried both, changing the dates for a free rebid and still got rejected. :)

[thereuare]

I would probably take a little gamble... book the wedding rate at the Crowne Plaza or Sheraton Suites as a back-up (these are almost always cancellable up until a few days before the wedding/check-in date) and then continue to try PRICELINE and/or HOTWIRE.

[aldatx]

That's what I will probably do- love the Westin and the heavenly bed though!! Sooo hard. I will keep you guys updated! I still have over a month to decide! :)