Priceline Hotel: bidding assistance -- Hilton Alexandria Mark Center -- Alexandria -Old

[jfkong]

hi, I am looking for four nights stay at Hilton Alexandria Mark Center during the end of Oct for the conference held there (Oct 27 - Oct 31, 2008).

Is there any way I can probably get to that hotel?

I understand that there are several 3 stars hotel in that area and probably my chance would be slim.

(BTW: is Hilton Alexandria Mark Center 3 stars or 3 and 1/2 stars?).

Thanks very much

[slick_gd]

With the introduction of PRICELINE's new 3.5* category, it may be the case that the Hilton Alexandria Mark is in the 3.5*. It would be a very big gamble betting on PRICELINE to get the Mark.

HOTWIRE may be a better route as it lists the amenities of the hotel, which can then be used to narrow it down. The Mark has been reported in the past so it could show up again.

Right now HOTWIRE is listing a 3.5* in Alexandria and Old Town for $119 with the following amenities:

smoke-free

shuttle

fitness

pool

restaurant

business

laundry

internet

tennis nearby

This one seems to match the Sheraton Suites. What you could do seeing as you have a little time is to re-check HOTWIRE every now and then and see if the amenities change to something else, which may indicate the Mark.

Past experiences on the board show that the Mark had the following amenities listed on HOTWIRE:

Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Tennis

If this combination shows up, it may indicate that it is the Mark.

Use these HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start your purchase and let the board know the result.

[DaveP]

The last two times I bid for a 3 star in Alexandria (in July and August) I got the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center which was unusual. I go to the Old Town area about one a month and until the last two trips I always got a heltel in the real Old Town area which The Mark Center is most definitely not. This experience tells me that either the other hotels are filling up or the Hilton has become more aggressive is accepting bids. Translation, you may have a pretty decent shot at getting the Mark Center Hilton (provided the conventions is not so large as to severely restrict the market.

It's still a crap shot, but I think your odds are better that before.

[slick_gd]

Just to follow up a little on DaveP's comment. Sometime in September PRICELINE created a new 3.5* class of hotels, and subsequently some hotels that were rated 3* were upgraded to 3.5* and some hotels that were rated 4* were down graded to 3.5*.

DaveP can you log in to PRICELINE and check your wins in July and August and see if PRICELINE has changed the star rating of the Mark to 3.5*?

[SaintTaris]

Just posted my PRICELINE WIN at this hotel for the nite of 10/31/08.