Priceline Hotel: 3*+ Downtown Austin

[fzveibil]

I am trying to book 9 rooms in Downtown Austin, 2/20-2/23.

Can you help me identify Hotwire's 3-star hotel in Downtown Austin and Town Lake Area for $83? And 3.5-star hotel in Downtown Austin and Town Lake Area for $116?

Also, can I get some guidance on how to start bidding in Priceline?

Thanks!

Fabio

[thereuare]

Few points to clarify first...

HOTWIRE only enables you to purchase up to 6 rooms at one time. If you make a purchase of six rooms (or any number for that matter) and then go back to purchase the other three, the same hotel that you previously purchased may not be available... would this be acceptable if all the rooms were not at the same hotel? For the HOTWIRE hotels you're asking about above, how many rooms and/or guests are you including on your search? What are the amenities associated with each.

For bidding on (where you can bid for 9 rooms) PRICELINE, are you willing to bid more for a 4* (or a 3.5*) vs. a 3* or are you looking for the least expenisve 3* or better hotel for this stay? Do you need more than double occupancy in any of the rooms? What is your maximum bid for this stay? (again, as per your Boston Thread, you'll need to do a little work to determine your maximum bid so we can suggest a strategy for you to follow:

I don't have a maximum bid

If you research rates thru conventional booking channels you can then determine a maximum bid based upon the amount of discount you'd need to make an opaque (not knowing the name of the hotel before your purchase) and non-refundable rate worthwhile.

Have you researched rates for your Boston stay at all? Please follow-up that thread so it's not just 'dangling' with no follow-up or closure.

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

[fzveibil]

Getting the rooms in different hotels is not desired, but we could do it for a good deal.

- 3*: Shuttle, Fitness, Restaurant, Laundry, Internet

- 3.5*: Fitness, Restaurant, Internet, Business Center, Pool

For Priceline, I'm not willing to bid more for a 4*, would prefer to pay less for a 3* or 3.5*. My maximum bid would be around $100 for the 3.5*, $75 for the 3*.

The room occupancies would be double in 3 rooms, and triple in 6 rooms. I was thinking of booking them all for 3 people, and calling the hotel after having the bid accepted, to adjust details.

Regarding my Boston thread, I'm doing some research on breaking the stay in 2 parts. I plan to get back to it next week.

Thanks for the support.

[thereuare]

The room occupancies would be double in 3 rooms, and triple in 6 rooms. I was thinking of booking them all for 3 people, and calling the hotel after having the bid accepted, to adjust details.

You can't guarantee triple occupancy in any of the rooms, and you could receive a hotel that is unable, or unwilling, to give you rooms which can accomodate triple occupancy; and if they are, there could be an additional charge... is this a risk you're willing to accept? Could your plans, and the guests, handle it should the hotel be unable or unwilling to 'adjust the details'?

- 3*: Shuttle, Fitness, Restaurant, Laundry, Internet

- 3.5*: Fitness, Restaurant, Internet, Business Center, Pool

How many rooms, adults, and children are you searching for in order to have HOTWIRE offer these properties? Since both of these are above the maximum bid you've indicated above is it your gameplan to try bidding on PRICELINE first?

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