Priceline Hotel: 4* Toronto (Downtown) Le Meridien King Edward

[schmitstrs]

Hello-

I'm new to this board and to Priceline/Hotwire. After several weeks of research on this board and TripAdvisor, I've determined that I'd like to stay at the Toronto (Downtown) Residence Inn during a vacation with my husband from 8/5 to 8/10.

I'm not yet seeing this property coming up on HOTWIRE (based on the attributes that the site and others have listed) for the dates I have in mind.

There was an $89 dollar a night Hotwire price for the Toronto Downtown Residence Inn secured by another poster on 7/25 for the nights of 7/25 and 7/26.

I'd love to try PRICELINE to see if I could secure the nights I am looking for at a rate below $100. There was a Priceline win for this hotel posted on the board for $50 a night (July 18-21).

I have one major concern- and I could use some expert advice regarding it:

There are two other hotels listed at this star level in the downtown Toronto area:

2.5* Best Western Primrose

2.5* Bond Place (previously 3*)

We do not want to end up at either of these hotels. As far as I can see on the boards, there have been no wins at these hotels, posted (at least as of late!). What are my chances of getting the 2.5* Residence Inn if I "enter the race" at this star level, in this Toronto location?

I've never bid on PRICELINE, before...and I'd feel better knowing that my chances were fairly solid before I began placing a bid. If they aren't solid, I'll move up on the star rankings and try for the Sheraton (Downtown) 4*, which seems to be winning at around the $60-$80 price level, and would be our second choice hotel.

Many thanks for any help you can offer! This site is amazing, and has provided me with many much needed tips and bit of information. (I'll be sure to use the included link when I place my bid!!)

-Jessica

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

We do not want to end up at either of these hotels.

Then you shouldn't use PRICELINE for this stay.

As well, there's nothing you can do to "make" HOTWIRE show you a particular property... although serching for 2adults/0children, 2adults/1child, 2adults/2children, 3adults/0chidlren, etc, etc, using various combinations of triple/quadruple occupancy can often display different hotels.

You have to remember that PRICELINE and HOTWIRE are for those who are flexible in their plans and the actual hotel they are willing to stay in... if there is only a particular hotel that you're interested in or many hotels that you're not willing to accept, then the opaque providers may not be right of this stay and you'd be better off booking direct (albeit at much higher prices).

If you choose to bid for a 4* hotel in the Downtown zone, are you willing to accept any 4* property in that zone... or are you only interested in the Sheraton?

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

[schmitstrs]

If we went with a 4* in downtown Toronto via Priceline, we'd be willing to go for any property they may give us (Sheraton or otherwise). We're just a bit more worried about the 2.5* possibilities.

Given this info, we'll probably try Priceline at the 4* level. Price is more important to us than choice (our preference of the 2.5* Residence Inn) at this point. We can be completely flexible within the 4* level- but are not willing to do so at the 2.5* level.

Thanks so very much for your help! This is exactly what I needed to hear to help us steer our choices. I'll be sure to use your link as I place a bid, and to report it on the board.

-Jessica

[thereuare]

If you'd like help with a bidding strategy let us know your maximum bid and we'll advise accordingly.

Thanks for using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.

[schmitstrs]

I'm looking at a Hotwire listing for a 4* Downtown Toronto East hotel ($89 a night). August 6-10.

Amenties are:

Boutique Hotel

Fitness Center

Restaurant(s)

High-speed Internet Access

Spa Services

The boutique listing threw me off. Any clue as to what property this might be?

Thanks so much!

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread (if you ultimately use HOTWIRE we'll move this entire thread to that section of the board)

The above is a match for the Pantages Suites Hotel and Spa so that would be our best guess.

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[schmitstrs]

My apologies! I'll be sure to keep the same stay posts in the same area- it's my mistake.

Thanks for your help.

[schmitstrs]

Changed our stay in Toronto to 8-6 to 8-10.

Bid $65...downtown Toronto...rejected

Added Scarborough-Pickering, bid $70...rejected

Added Oakville-burlington...bid $75...rejected

Added Mississauga...bid $80

Won Le Meridien King Edward. $80 a night for 8-6 to 8-10

(I hope I posted this correctly!)

I used your PRICELINE link.

Thanks for all of your help!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

Glad to see you able to adjust your dates in order to get a great deal for your stay.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and for using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.