Siim Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Found a hotel in NY, looking for one in San Juan and the last place I need a place to stay, is Washington DC. 4 people, 2 rooms March 08-11. Location - city center would be nice - only 3 days in the city and no time to waste :)Price range - something under $60 would be nice, but is it possible? Anyway - the lower, the better. Star rating - I think 3* would be quite OK for us. Probably 2,5 also...I was thinking PRICELINE, 2,5*, $40 and then adding areas and rising the bid $5 every time... Would it be an OK plan? :) All suggestions are welcome.
thereuare Posted January 24, 2009 Report Posted January 24, 2009 Location - city center would be niceThere is no "City Center" PRICELINE zon in Washington DC.If you go to PRICELINE and see their zones, do you know which one(s) you're willing to accept?Let us know and we'll take it from there.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
Siim Posted January 24, 2009 Author Report Posted January 24, 2009 If you go to PRICELINE and see their zones, do you know which one(s) you're willing to accept?Looking at the Washington map, I think these would be ok:Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill areaWhite House - DowntownGeorgetown - Foggy BottomDupont Circle - Woodley Parkand maybe alsoArlington
thereuare Posted January 24, 2009 Report Posted January 24, 2009 and maybe alsoArlingtonDo you want to include Arlington or not? My initial thought is "no" and to try the other zones first since they would be more convenient, but your $60 budget may be an issue and you might not have a chance for anything "inside" the city at that limit, but if you want to try we'll suggest a strategy for however you'd like to proceed.Did you want to try for a 3* first up to your limit, and then if rejected try for a 2.5*, or are you looking for the least expensive 2.5* or better for this stay (although i'll add that there are some seedy areas of Washington DC and i would be trying for at least 3* properties first).Also, you could try for a 3* first up to your limit excluding the Arlington zone, then either:1) try again for a 3* including the Arlington zone and then move onto a 2.5* excluding Arlington and then adding it again OR2) try for a 2.5* excluding the Alrington zone, then if rejected go back and try for a 3* including Arlington and then add 2.5* and include ArlingtonLet us know your thoughts 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
Siim Posted January 24, 2009 Author Report Posted January 24, 2009 So... First - I'm willing to raise the $60 bar a bit for a better place. So let's leave Arlington and 2,5* out for now. So now I'm thinking 3* and a $50 bid and then a $5 raise and a new area. Eventually that takes me to $65 and 4 zones. Sounds like a plan? :)
thereuare Posted January 25, 2009 Report Posted January 25, 2009 I'm thinking 3* and a $50 bid and then a $5 raise and a new area. Eventually that takes me to $65 and 4 zones. Sounds like a plan?You can do better than the above by using re-bid zones (see Priceline Re-Bidding Explained). If you follow your plan above, you could end up overbidding for the last zone you add.Is you maximum bid $60 or $65 (or some other amount)... let us know and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.Also, in the meantime, begin to read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask any questions you have. You have TWO re-bid zones when bidding 3 star in the Washington DC area.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
Siim Posted January 25, 2009 Author Report Posted January 25, 2009 Right right - forgot about the re-bidding already...If I set the maximum to $65, how should the bidding go?(DC Suburbs - Northeast Area and Mount Vernon should be my re-bid zones, as I see it...)
thereuare Posted January 25, 2009 Report Posted January 25, 2009 Yes, the above are currently your re-bid zones (but always doublecheck immediately before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed)... you can also use Re-Bidding.com to quickly doublecheck your re-bid zones.So with your two re-bid zones i would try as follows:Select 3* (Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill) and (White House - Downtown) and (Dupont Circle - Woodley Park)...Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $50, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Georgetown - Foggy BottomBid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $50, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* (Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill) and (White House - Downtown) and (Dupont Circle - Woodley Park) and (Georgetown - Foggy Bottom)...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65Any 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
Siim Posted January 25, 2009 Author Report Posted January 25, 2009 Did all that and got rejected every time. So I guess I'll have to raise the $65 limit... although I don't want to do it too much (let's say $80 is my last limit). Or are there maybe some good offers, if I change the 2 rooms requirement to one big room with 2-beds?
thereuare Posted January 26, 2009 Report Posted January 26, 2009 You can't guarantee two beds when using PRICELINE... HOTWIRE may be an option if you search for quad occupancy as that will ensure enough sleeping accomodations for everyone in your grup (although note that the 'second bed' could be a pullout sofabed or a rollaway brought into the room), but a quick search on HOTWIRE for your dates i don't see anything within your budget (even searching for twice your previously stated budget since would only need one room)If you want to try again with an $80 limit, 24 hours from your last rejected bid, re-try as follows:Select 3* (Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill) and (White House - Downtown) and (Dupont Circle - Woodley Park)...Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* Georgetown - Foggy BottomBid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* (Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill) and (White House - Downtown) and (Dupont Circle - Woodley Park) and (Georgetown - Foggy Bottom)...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80Any questions feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. (NOTE: please be sure to return here and click our link, NOT use a link in any email sends you reminding that you're eligible to bid again)Thanks, and good luck. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Siim Posted January 26, 2009 Author Report Posted January 26, 2009 Did all that (using your PRICELINE links of course) and my last bid $80 got accepted to this hotel:Club Quarters Washington Dc839 17th Street NwWashington, District Of Columbia 20006There are quite controversial reviews for this hotel in tripadvisor, but considering the location, I'm pretty happy with the outcome. It's still only a place to sleep and keep our luggage :)Thanks for the help! =)
Siim Posted January 27, 2009 Author Report Posted January 27, 2009 I was trying to check the prices from the hotels own booking system, but for my dates it shows "The dates are not available. Please request another date." I hope this isn't a thing to worry about?
thereuare Posted January 27, 2009 Report Posted January 27, 2009 Congratulations on your win!I woudldn't worry too much about it with this hotel since not all their rooms are publicly avaialble (they used to not allow reservations to the general public and only did reservations for "members" and some of the 3rd party booking agencies).As well, if you search Expedia it appears tha that the "trouble" date (if it is indeed booked) is the last nite of your stay, so you'l already be there and checked-in... the hotel would sooner allow you too check-in knowing that they're oversold for the last nite of your stay, hoping for cancellations that nite or 'walking' somebody who comes in on Tuesday for a one nite stay.Thanks for sharing your results with the board and using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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