Neelee Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 I am soooo glad I found this board. The posters here seem more friendly and helpful than the other travel board. The information on strategy & PL profit had me reading for hours.I have used Priceline on 3 different occasions and usually fairly successful. Unfortunately, this time I do not have the flexibility to be too picky. I have a convention to attend at the Town & Country Resort on 500 Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley (San Diego). The group price they have offered is $109. I have research several hotels in the area and they are upwards of $100, even for a 2 *I have bid 2 times unsuccessfully for Mission Valley. First at $45 and just now at $50. I understand that summertime is a busy season. Last year I won my bid at $55 for 2.5* and they upgraded me to the DoubleTree at Hazard Center - a 3*! I was hoping for the same this time around. It's getting closer to the drop dead date. I will make alternate reservations "just in case", but if any one has any advise - I'd welcome it enthusiatically! I have already tried the free re-bids with stars - but really don't want to take the chance of not getting Mission Valley.Thank you in advance! Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 Welcome to BetterBidding!I found this SAN DIEGO BID for almost identical dates last year in which $50 was rejected but $57 was accepted.If you don't want to use re-bids i would bid $57, if you're willing to use re-bids (you have 2 of them at the 3* level... feel free to confirm the zones with us if you're unsure) i would bid $55, $57, $60.If you are not successful with Priceline, Hotwire has a few offerings in the $75-$95 range which will at least save you a few dollars from your convention rate and hopefully upgrade your hotel at the same time.First i'd try the suggested strategy above with Priceline and then we'll re-evaluate the other options.Let us know how it goes or if you have any questions. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Neelee Posted June 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 , if you're willing to use re-bids (you have 2 of them at the 3* level... feel free to confirm the zones with us if you're unsure) i would bid $55, $57, $60.I think I'll take you up on your offer. From what I can tell, my rebid zones would be Carlsbad and Miramar. This is because they only go up to 2.5* and I'm looking for 3* in Mission Valley.My 72 hours are up tonight. I hope to hear from someone soon.Thank you all for this board.I've recommended to several friends already!! Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Yup, you got the re-bids right! Double-check them again tonite right before you bid just to make sure no 3* properties have been added to either of these zones (it would be extremely rare that this would occur, but hotels have to be added sometime, and it doesn't hurt to look)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 Link to comment
Neelee Posted June 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 :) d r a t s!!Did not win today with above strategy. Will be waiting another 72 hours. In the meantime, I booked at some no-tell motel (jk) that's nearby for $55 night. I'm hoping I will not have to use it.Here's what I did - that did not win:1st try: 3* Mission Valley @ $55 >> rejected2nd try: 2.5* (max) Carlsbad @ $57 >> rejected3rd try: 2* (max) Miramar @ $60 >> rejectedDoubletree must be playing hardball because I checked their website and there are rooms available.Oh well..back to the drawing board. Thanks again for the assist. I'll try again in 72 hours. I'll start at $57. I'm willing to go up to $65 but if I can pinch those pennies - then I will. Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 I think you're close.I'd give $57, $62, $65 a try on my next bidding cycle.Good Luck and keep us updated. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
bbbb Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 If you want to up your bid a little,I think you can bid right away by using Mission Valley and one of your free rebids on the first try.I did this the other day and it let me bid again right away.thereuare have you tried this method of rebiding? Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 If bid the way it was posted:1st try: 3* Mission Valley @ $55 >> rejected2nd try: 2.5* (max) Carlsbad @ $57 >> rejected3rd try: 2* (max) Miramar @ $60 >> rejectedThen Mission Vallye and Carlsbad would get thrown out as a duplicate bid since it was the same zone combination as the second bid.Although the Mission Valley and Miramar combination was never used by itself, i think it would get thrown out as being a duplicate of the 3rd bid (since those two zones were bid in conjuntion with another zone... there's nothing 'new' in the bid).The 'advanced' strategy that would work (after 72 hours) is:Mission ValleyMission Valley and CarlsbadMission Valley and MiramarMission valley and Carlsbad and MiramarNow that i think about it i seem to recall the 'advanced' strategy needed to be done in that order... so i don't think what bbbb is suggesting would work... unless i'm miss interpretting something.See this New York City Hotel thread where the user bid:MTWMTW and MTEMTW and MTE and UM/CPSMTW and MTE and UM/CPS and MTSthey then tried to start over just bidding UM/CPS and it was kicked out as a duplicate bid. I think that's an example of the scenario you are suggesting, but correct me if i'm wrong. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
bbbb Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 I don"t know how,but I did get it to work that way on my bidding for Phx last Friday night.I used all my free rebids and then rebid right away using my first choice area and a free rebid on the first try in my second try for the same area Link to comment
bbbb Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 It does work,I just got it to let be bid the same area and star level for the same dates again on the same day as my first bid.Heres what I did,bid using the area and star level I wanted.I then added free rebid #1,it was rejected.Then I added free rebid area #2 and it also was rejected.Now I started a new bid using same area, dates and star level with the area I wanted from the first bid a long with adding the first rebid from the first bid and I was on my way to bidding all over again for the same area I wanted in the first place.I bet if I wanted to bid a 3rd time I could ,by just starting a new bid with my first area and my second free rebid area. Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 Could you explain this again, where ZoneA is the zone you want and ZoneB adn ZoneC are re-bid zones. Then list the bids in order such as:ZoneAZoneA and ZoneBZoneA and ZoneB and ZoneCetcetcI think it'll be easier to follow that way (and i don't really understand what you did above).Thanks! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
bbbb Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 I bid like this.Zone A rejectedadded Zone b rejectedadded zone c rejectedstarted new bid because I only had two free rebids.Zone A&b rejectedadded zone c rejectedI tested this again by low balling the bids and it let me bid again with the same area with just adding one free rebidsorry it took so long,I could not figer out how to post like you wanted it.Lucky for you the wife got home. Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 Lucky for you the wife got home. :) :) So you're saying that if you bid...ZoneAZoneA and ZoneBZoneA and ZoneB and ZoneCand all are rejected then you can immediately bid:ZoneA and ZoneBeven though it's the exact same combination as the 2nd bid above?Do i have it right?If so, i never knew that before! If it works great, and thanks for passing it along! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
bbbb Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 Yes it has worked for me 3 times now,each time was in the Phx zone ,but I bet it works every where. Link to comment
Neelee Posted June 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 I think I recall reading about this in the "other" bidding board. My 72 hours are up this morning in about 2 hours. I'll give it a try. I guess I never thought about doing it this way because I didn't want to risk the getting the lower star. But if I'm reading all the posts, suggestions and PL site right, they will give you the highest star - right? Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 I don't think the above involves anything with lowering your star rating... it's all about zones that don't offer your star quality or above.I think (and hope) that you don't have to try the above because i think your bidding is close enough to acceptance :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Neelee Posted June 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 :) Strike three! :) Tried plan B and was rejected. Started with Mission Valley 3* - decided to go for it and started bid with $59 (as opposed to $57 as suggested) >>> rejectedAdded Carlsbad (only 2.5*) - upped to $61 >>> rejectedAdded Miramar (only 2* ) - upped bid to $63 >>> rejectedThen turned around on a completely different workstation (never used PL on it). Tried Plan C.Started with Mission Valley and Carlsbad at $60 >>> immedately rejected with the Duplicate Request message. ("We were not able to process this request since our records indicate you have already made a request for this same trip. ")Drat city! 72 hours will be up on Sunday about this time (noon PST). Just FYI Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 From above i thought Plan B was:I think you're close.I'd give $57, $62, $65 a try on my next bidding cycle.Good Luck and keep us updated. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Neelee Posted June 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Your're right..., plan B was $57, $62, $65.I changed it to plan B1 :) - thinking I'd be clever to increase my chances. But it didn't. Now, in retrospect, I believe I recall reading about the "PL math" somewhere and going back to read it again. On Sunday I will go with 57, 62, 65.Instead of trusting my instincts, I think I'll stick with the member's experience. Link to comment
Neelee Posted June 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 :) SUCCESS!! Thank you soooo much, thereuare!! I have to tell'ya my hands were sweating!!I used your suggested strategy and, of course, it worked!! Here's what I did (I thought I saw a thread to post winning bids - so I'll do that also).Just to recap - I really needed to be in the Mission Valley area. Won the Doubletree Hazard Center last year and we really liked it. The least expensive rate (as of today) on their website is $135.15 for 2QUEEN BEDS.1) Bid $57 on Mission Valley 3* >> PL countered at $17 >> I rejected :o 2) Discovered my check out date was wrong!! :) so I changed the date from 8/27 to 8/24 and upped to $62 >>> rejected3) Selected Carlsbad (only 2.5*) left at 62 >>> rejected4) Selected Miramar (only 2*) >>> acceptedI about fell out of my chair!!Now...I don't suppose anyone has any suggestions for Florence, Italy in September??? Link to comment
Neelee Posted June 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 Well I didn't see a separate thread to post winning bids - so following the suggestions on the "ideal PL winning bid" area:Bid history aboveCongratulations, you got your price of $65 for a 3-star hotel room. Mission Valley ZoneHotel Name: Doubletree Hotel San Diego Mission Valley7450 Hazard Center Drive San Diego, California 92108 Check-In Date: Thursday, August 19, 2004 Check-Out Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 Your Offer Price: $65.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 5 Subtotal: $325.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $46.96 Total Charges: $371.96 Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 21, 2004 Report Share Posted June 21, 2004 Congratulations on your win!You did it correctly... just keep the post in the same thread and i'll take care of editing the subject title.Thanks for the follow-up and letting us know your results, i know this one took a while for you.For Florence just post a new thread whenever you're ready and we'll get you started.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Neelee Posted July 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 So you're saying that if you bid...ZoneAZoneA and ZoneBZoneA and ZoneB and ZoneCand all are rejected then you can immediately bid:ZoneA and ZoneBeven though it's the exact same combination as the 2nd bid above?Just tried this strategy presented previously by bbbb because a friend wanted to go to the tournament also. I was rejected in the first round of the "normal" bid. I immediately turned around to bid Zone A & Zone B (together as one) and it was rejected as a duplicate. So I tried A & C - it too was rejected.Maybe PHX is a special circumstance. Oh well, it was worth the try. Link to comment
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