ebowers Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Hi everyone,I am looking for advice/suggestions on bidding for a 4* or higher hotel for Jun 7-10 for two people, and possibly a third. Ideally, we would like to have two beds because of the third person that may join us for a night.Does anyone have an idea of what a starting bid should be for early June? Does anyone local have any tips of where to stay and where to avoid, or if this is usually an expensive time of year for hotel stays?We'd like to stay downtown if possible for ease of walking,etc to shopping. I am a gov't worker and can get special rates to certain hotels, but I thought maybe bidding might get me a bit better of a deal. The Westin usually gives us rates of $170 per night, does anyone think I could get better by bidding?I was thinking of starting maybe at $100 a night since most of the downtown hotels at a 4* level I saw on other sites are at least $220 a night up to $350 for this timeframe. Does that seem reasonable, or should I start higher or lower from anyone's past experiences?any help would be great.Thanks! Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 First issue is that PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel... so thru PRICELINE you could get a room with one bed, which could ruin the plans for the 3rd person joining you.If you need a room with two beds HOTWIRE is a better opiton as you can search for triple occupancy which will ensure at least two beds in the room.Can you take the risk of only one bed in the room?Let us know how you'd like to proceed, and your maximum bid, and we'll advise accordingly.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 Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Yes I am aware of the double occupancy issue. I think we may be ok with one king bed, but I know a lot of the hotels have sofa beds as well in some rooms. Additionally, I am sure I can contact the hotel after bidding to request two beds if it is a hotel that offers rooms like that. I've done that before, and while I know it's subject to availability, I've usually been accomodated.Again I would like to stay downtown. I'd probably want to keep it lower than the $170 that I could get off the Westin site at my gov't rate. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated. I am aware of how to do the rebidding by zones, from past experiences with this board, so I thank you for teaching me that as well.I just wasn't sure what to start at, and if it's normally a pricey time of year. I think there is a jazz festival in June in Vancouver, but I believe that's later in the month. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 At the 4* level you have four re-bid zones available. 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 $75, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $85, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone2...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone3...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone4...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone3...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone4...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone3 and re-bid zone4...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.Select 4* Downtown and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone3 and re-bid zone4...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $160.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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Thanks a bunch. I'll get ahold of my friend and we'll try your strategy. I'll make sure to use the links you provided and if we win, I'll post it on here. If we don't, I'll also post that as well.Thanks again. :) Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 :) I tried bidding up to $160 to no avail. I'll try again in a few days and see what happens. I still have awhile to get a room and I can always book directly through the Westin for backup with the gov't rate.Any other suggestions/tips? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 I would just continue to try every 3-5 days, repeating the above, hoping for lower priced inventory to be added to the system.Doesn't make sense to bid any higher given your back-up at the Westin; after PRICELINE's fee you'r not looking at any savings. If the Westin rate is cancellable i would book that now in order to protect yourself from rates increasing or the hotel selling out.Please use our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding (and not the priceline emails reminding you to bid again).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
ebowers Posted May 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Thanks. I did reserve a backup at the Westin. They had the lower priced double bed rooms sold out, so I had to settle for a one bedroom corner suite, with a kitchenette and a queen sofa bed in the living room. It was $195 and is 100% refundable right up until that day. I'll keep trying PRICELINE to see if I can get a better deal. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 'Settle' for a 1BR corner suite... :)Keep us updated on the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE bidding. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 'Settle' for a 1BR corner suite... :)Keep us updated on the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE bidding.Actually I meant that it was more than I was hoping to pay. One bedroom suites aren't last on my list, that's for sure. I was just hoping to keep it under $175 a night. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 4, 2008 Report Share Posted May 4, 2008 I knew what you meant... just sounded funny to 'settle' for a 1BR corner suite, which is usually a desirable room for most (ex the price tag). Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Ok Hotwire has a 4* hotel for these dates on for $196. I would like to keep watching this price, but I'm having trouble identifying it. It doesn't seem to match anything on the list. Maybe someone else has a better idea? Here are the details.4* Downtown Entertainment District $196 for Jun 7-10, Regular retail $240Fitness, Restaurant and High Speed Internet6.4 miles from airportAny ideas? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 If the price drops to a "buy point" bump this thread and we'll have a look at it at that time... there's a very good chance this hotel won't drop in price and/or will be replaced by a different hotel which lowers its rates.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Alright, will do. Interestingly, I just went back to HOTWIRE to check and this hotel has dropped to $192 now. Not a significant drop, but interesting since I check earlier and it had dropped before to $196. Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 I'm not sure if anyone has posted this before, but I thought I would let you know since I just stumbled upon this. Apparently, if you sign up for Priceline Rewards (eg, Pricebreakers) or have made a past flight, hotel or car purchase, you have access to Priceline Rewards. This includes coupons, special deals, and a list of recent winning Name You Own Price bids!You can click on whatever country you want and it will list States, Cities, etc. Then click on those to see if there have been any recent bid wins. It says it will even tell you dates, areas, and star levels, etc. I thought that was pretty cool, another cheat we could use!Again, don't know if everyone already knew this or not, but I found it too cool not to pass on. Sadly, when I looked for my destination there hadn't been any winning bids, but I'll be checking frequently as they're posted daily. :) Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 The $196 to $192 price change is not likely a reflection of a change in demand, but rather a change in the mark-up HOTWIRE is using on the most recent search.In regards to the PRICELINE feature you reference above, see this thread: Priceline Accepted Bid Information Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Ok thanks, good to know. Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 HOTWIRE is now listing a 5* hotel that looks to be a match for the Pan Pacific for $193 a night. It was originally $315 when I first started looking.Do you think it would be a good move to take this hotel for $193 instead of the 4* Westin for $195 a night. We do have a suite at the Westin, but I don't know what kind of rooms they have at the Pan Pacific. It seems to get decent ratings. Would you recommend doing this, or waiting still? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 What are your own thoughts regarding the Pan Pacific vs. the Westin?What are the amenities HOTWIRE associates with the 5* hotel you're being offered?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 Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 The Pan Pacific looks really nice on the website, but I think it would just be for a regular room. I'm not sure that a $2 difference would be worth giving up a one bedroom suite for, even if it is 5* vs 4*. The thing I worry about it booking that and then having it come down even more. Like I said, it started at $315 and went down to $193 so who knows. I did call and ask about a gov't rate, but that's $210 for a regular room.The amenities listed on Hotwire are:5-star hotel in Downtown Vancouver West Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Business Centre, High Speed Internet, and Spa4 out of 5 rating on trip advisor Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 10, 2008 Report Share Posted May 10, 2008 I woudln't be "lured" by the 5* ratings they're subjective... PRICELINE only rates this property 4 stars. It really comes down to the reviews for each property and which represents the better value, which at the moment, doesn't seem as if it's worth switching from your back-up to this which would be non-refundable. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2008 Agreed, I'll be keeping the suite for now unless I see some super bargain Link to comment
ebowers Posted May 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 I'm bumping this after seeing the recent 4* Vancouver wins in and around my dates of travel. If anyone spots anything PLEASE let me know.Right now I have a one bedroom suite booked at the Delta. I had the Westin, but the Delta had a sale for $25 a night less.If you spot anything for 4* that's less than this, PLEASE let me know! THANKS! :) Link to comment
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