Shusha Posted February 9, 2009 Report Posted February 9, 2009 Hi!I'm new to priceline and am looking for a bidding strategy. I think I understand the rebidding process.. I've gone onto the first page of bidding and selected areas, and when a certain level of hotel isn't available it goes grey so it cannot be selected, does this mean it is a zone I can use for rebidding?I'm looking for Feb 19 - 22, 2009. I would like to book a 3.5* or 4* hotel, but don't know what price I should start bidding at. What is reasonable? Since I have over a week, should I be starting low (around 90?). It seems that this is a low period so the prices are lower than avg. I was also wondering, is there generally a large price difference with a 3.5* and 4*? If we are talking about a difference of $10-15 a night, then I would rather go with the 4*, how would I know this? What are the typical starting prices for both? I could always go low with a 3.5* and then change my bid to a 4* when I reach $100, right? This would also give me more rebidding zones, I think.My max budget is 120 as I've seen other deals online that are around 130, so if I have to go over 120 I figure I'd might as well book a hotel that I can see before selecting..My preferred area is Times Square, but Midtown West works as well. Is Midtown East also reasonable? On the zones map it looks a bit far but I can't tell and don't remember from my previous trips.Any tips on how I should go about this would be great! I am obviously a newbie and very confused...Thanks! This forum looks unbelievable helpful!
Shusha Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Posted February 9, 2009 Just to update, I found a deal for the Beekman Hotel (apparently a 3/3.5*) for $86 a night.. I am guessing it's unlikely that I would find a better deal by bidding, right?
Shusha Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Posted February 9, 2009 Sorry for this huge spam of messages... The Beekman hotel really isn't what I'm looking for, so I would like to make bids on 4* hotels instead of booking this, a bidding strategy would be helpful!Thanks
thereuare Posted February 9, 2009 Report Posted February 9, 2009 Welcome to BetterBidding!If you start by searching HOTWIRE for your date there is a 4* in the MTE zone for $119/nite (Restaurant, Fitness, Internet, Business) with a tripadvisor rating of 4.0/5.0 and 240+ reviews... this is a match for the Omni Berkshire so that would be our best guess.This just under your maximum budget of $119/nite, so you can take a look to see if this works well for your needs OR if you'd like to try to beat this price using PRICELINE. There's usually not that much fo a difference between 3.5* rates and 4* rates, but as yo know you can get a 4* for under your budget, not sure if you want to try for the 3.5* first or not.Let us know how you'd like to proceed 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
Shusha Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Posted February 9, 2009 I think I'd like to try bidding first, since the winning bids that I've seen for these dates have been a bit lower.The 3.5* hotels listed on the priceline list look pretty decent as well, is it worth trying for one of those first for under $100, and if that's unsuccessful, trying for a higher amount for a 4*?Thanks!
Shusha Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Posted February 9, 2009 Hi again,So I've done some more research based on the hotels on the priceline hotels list, and I have decided I would like to try for a 4* with a budget of 120 (and abandon the 3.5*). I would love to stay in times square, but am good with midtown west and east as well. The dates are from Feb 19 - 22nd, 2009.The budget is flexible but I thought 120 seems reasonable based on other wins.And I am done flip-flopping, hopefully this is enough info to help me create a bidding strategy :)Thanks again!
thereuare Posted February 9, 2009 Report Posted February 9, 2009 At the 4* level you have FIVE re-bid zones available. 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 4* MTE and MTW and TS...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115.If rejected go to HOTWIRE and purchase the 4* MTE property for $119.Any questions freel 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
Shusha Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Posted February 9, 2009 There's a 4* hotel in MTE with a business centre, fitness centre, restaurant and internet access for $116 a night. It's also listed as a customer favourite. Can anyone ID this?Also, I've been told there's a $119 listing on Hotwire for the Omni but can't seem to find the link to it (unless the $116 is the same one?). Any help would be appreciated!On a side note, does anyone know if the currency can be changed from USD to CAD when I'm viewing hotels?Thanks!
Shusha Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Posted February 10, 2009 Was accepted for the Crown Plaza for $105!!!Thank you for your help, will definitely use your links for future bookings!
thereuare Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.Have you tried bidding for this stay yet?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
Shusha Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Posted February 10, 2009 Oh sorry, I meant to put that last post in the Hotwire forum. I bid on the stay from Feb 19 - 22 in NYC and got the Crowne Plaza in TS for $105, didn't bid on the hotwire deal.
thereuare Posted February 11, 2009 Report Posted February 11, 2009 Congratulations on your success!Looks like an excellent deal for a 4* hotel in the center of Manhattan!Thank you 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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