Priceline Hotel: London 6/9-6/14 4-3* Please Help!

[tampa]

I tried all combinations of these areas below, but I couldn't get any, so far...

For 4*, started from $70 to 105. At bidding $98, I got an offer ($167/night), but I rejected.

-Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

-Finsbury and Islington

-Kensington - Earls Court - Knightsbridge

-Mayfair - Soho

-The City and London Bridge

-Westminster

-Notting Hill - Bayswater

For 3*, started from $70 to 80. At bidding $76, I got an offer ($161/night), but I rejected.

-Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

-Mayfair - Soho

-Westminster

I saw many people got 4* Novotel St Pancras or Hilton Islington under $100. Why can't we get any hotels? We need only one double/twin room but would like to stay in one hotel for 5 nights (don't want to move).

Please give me your advice!

Thanks.

[WillTravel]

Judging from the counteroffers, availability exists, but this is a high-priced period (for whatever reason). I know it's frustrating when other people get lower bids accepted for different times, but the hotels have no motive to offer low-priced rooms if they can get a higher price. If you don't want to change hotels, you will likely be forced to bid higher. Your dates include a full set of weekdays, which are often more expensive due to London business-travel patterns.

Do you have a backup hotel booked?

[tampa]

Thank you for your comment. Yes, it is really frustrating.

We don't have a backup hotel yet. We are considering to get a budget hotel in Bayswater or Earls Court area through a discount site if we can't get a reasonable hotel by bidding.

Can we bid tomorrow again? Making a little interval will be better?

[WillTravel]

I would suggest that if your alternative is a budget hotel in Earls Court or Paddington, that you bid for a 3* in Kensington. The reason is that those budget hotels generally have quite terrible reviews, and I think a 3* would be better than those, unless you have found an exception. I have seen reasonable reviews of this place, however: www.hydeparkrooms.com/

You can bid every 24 hours, so no problem there.

[thereuare]

I saw many people got 4* Novotel St Pancras or Hilton Islington under $100. Why can't we get any hotels? We need only one double/twin room but would like to stay in one hotel for 5 nights (don't want to move).

Rates are date specific... and occupancy (and therefore rates) are likely higher for the dates of your stay compared to others who have one at amounts you have already bid. It's possile that high priced inventory for just one nite of your stay can cause an otherwise acceptable bid to be rejected, which is why SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID becomes an option for some.

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

[tampa]

Thank you for your replies.

I kept bidding till $111 for 4* (total $667 for 5 nights) and *82 (total $500 for 5 nights) and gave up because I found Barkston Garden Hotel (priceline 3* hotel in Kensington-Earls Court area) and Holiday Villa London for around $650 including tax,fee, and breakfast in a discount site. We think our bidding has reached maximum price considering the risk to get a worse hotel. (these hotels don't have so good reviews like the hotel "WillTravel" mentioned though)

It was good to know that the hotel price in London can be higher in weekdays than weekends. We should have known before getting air tickets.

Anyway, thank you for your helps!

[thereuare]

Glad you found something which works for your needs.

Thanks for the follow-up.