Priceline Hotel: 3* Tampa (Airport TPA-Westshore) Radisson Bay Harbor Hotel

[kay-lo]

I'm new to Priceline and I have been researching for several days. I find this forum to be very helpful! My question is...when should I put in a bid for a hotel in downtown Tampa? I would love a 3*, what $ amount should I start out with? I also need a car..any advice on that would be great.

Thanks

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

We wouldn't want to suggest a strategy which went higher than you were willing to spend... what is your maximum bid for this stay?

Also, not sure of your needs for this trip, but do note that although this zone is 'downtown', many visiting this area choose the Airport-Westshore to stay, so if you're not too familiar with this area you may want to doublecheck to make sure that the Downtown zone is the one which will serve your needs the best.

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

[kay-lo]

Thank You

I am staying in the downtown Tampa area for a small educational conference I am attending. This trip I will spend some time in my room studying, it is not for pleasure. I was told by the person giving the seminar that I should stay in the downtown area to be close to her facility, so I really want something that is pretty decent. I did see a few 4* that went for decent rates...not sure if I need 4* but if I could get one for about $65-70 I would be happy. I may just try that type of bid first then move down to a 3*. I don't want to spend more than $65 a night regardless.

I did see that someone had a $9 win for a car rental...if I could be so lucky...

If you would happen to have any info on priceline concerning flights from Detriot to Tampa let me know...right now I can get a RT for about $180 (1 stop in Memphis on the way there). I am not to sure about using pricline for airfare.

[thereuare]

The highest star rating currently offered in Downtown Tampa on PRICELINE is 3 stars, so do you want to start seeking that with a maximum bid for $65?

For car rental help please start a NEW TOPIC in the Priceline Car Rental section of the board.

Regrading airfare, you have to be really flexible in your travel plans... since you can't choose the times of your arrival/departure or the lenght of your layover, it is not feasible for many. For instance, if you had 'classes' in the morning of 11/15 and therefore needed an afternoon/evening departure, you wouldn't be able to use PRICELINE's "name your own price" since there is no way to indicate a non-monring depature.

However, PRICELINE's "retail" airfare (where you know the airlines and price and choose the times) charges no booking fees, so that is an option for your airfare tickets.

Let us know regarding the hotel details above and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[kay-lo]

I am now considering staying in the Airport/Westshore area, there are many more 3* in that area so I will have a better chance getting something decent. There were only three 3* downtown and one of them had poor reviews on trip advisor. (I used your website and discovered what hotel PL uses...Thanks!)

I do not want to pay over $65 for a 3* in the Airport/Westshore area, any advice would help.

Thank You

[thereuare]

There are 4* hotels in the Westshore-TPA zone, although they usually go for more than $65/nite... did you want to try for a 4* hotel first (at $65 or under OR are you willing to raise your limit if for a 4* hotel) OR are you looking for the least expensive 3* or better hotel for this stay?

Let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[kay-lo]

A 3* will be fine, thanks for your time.

[thereuare]

At the 3* level you have one re-bid zones. 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 3* Westshore-TPA...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $55.

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.

[kay-lo]

I dont want to stay in another zone after researching them...should I then try a 4* and bid down from that? Also I am not clear on re-bidding. Can I submit the same bid after 72 hours?

[thereuare]

Have you placed any bids already? Which zone did you bid... the Westshore-TPA zone?

We need to back track as you need to understand re-bidding, which is adding a zone that you know you can't possibly win since it only contains star levels lower than the minimum star level you set. From Priceline Re-Bidding Explained are you able to determine the highest star rating avaialble in each zone?

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

[kay-lo]

I did not bid anything yet. I did go over the re-bidding on your site...I get a little confused. If I understand...there are no 4* in Downtown Tampa, so I would bid on a 4* in the airport/Westshore zone and if I was declined I would add the downtown zone because there are no 4* in this zone..is this correct, or is it the other way around? It really is my only option. There are 3* hotels in all the zones,which will suit me just fine in the airport area, but a 4* would be great. Let me know where I should start...thanks

Can I rebid the same offer and if so how long do I have to wait?

[thereuare]

Let me know where I should start...thanks

I'm not sure where you should start as i'm having a hard time following the zones and star rating(s) that you're willing to bid.

Are you now looking to first try for a 4* hotel in the Westshore-TPA zone? (earlier you stated that you wanted the least expenisve 3* or better) If trying for a 4* is $65 still your maximum bid (i would put your chances at very low)

You have to waith 24 hours between making the same identical bid.

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

[kay-lo]

I am looking for a 3* or 4*, there are about 5 "zones" to chose from but I only want airport/Westshore area. As far as a strategy (I need one) I thought that I would try for the 4* because.. if it does not go through I could rebid in another zone that does not have any 4* hotels. If I fail at that then I need to try for a 3*. I have plenty of time so I figured I would just see what happens. I did see some 4* hotels that went as low as $50...I know it is rare but I have to try.

I will try your strategy for a 3* when my 4*bids are rejected.

Thanks again for your help.

[kay-lo]

3* Tampa, at The Radisson Bay Harbor Nov 9th-15th, $50 first try!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

This is less than half price vs. booking a room directly on their website for these dates so it's a very nice deal... especially for an extended stay such as this one. Hope this works well for your needs and that you're happy with the results.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.