Hotwire Hotel: 3* Charleston (Downtown-Historic District) Francis Marion

[kwoodell]

We will be going to Charleston on Mar. 14 and would like to stay in the historic district (downtown). I haven't been able to find any wins for that area. Could you please advise me what a reasonable bid would be. We would like a 3.5 or 4* hotel.

We've used your PRICELINE links for several trips in the past and have been quite pleased with the results. Thanks for your help!

[thereuare]

We've used your PRICELINE links for several trips in the past and have been quite pleased with the results.

Thank you for using our PRICELINE links for your previous purchases... it would also be appreciated if you shared your wins with the board as the information will help future users with their own stays.

In regards to your trip above, if you enter "Charleston Downtown" (without the quotes) in the QUICK SEARCH box at the top of the board in the blue banner you will see all the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE wins reported to the board in this area.

For help with a bidding strategy... are you willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3.5* or are you looking for the least expensive 3.5* or better hotel for trip? We also would not want to suggest a strategy that was more than you were willing to pay, what is your maximum bid for this stay?

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

Let us know the above and we'll advise accordingly.

[kwoodell]

We'd like to stay around $100 or less. I tried bidding up to $110 today for a 4* (using your free re-bidding technique) but had no luck. I also added the Mt. Pleasant/Isle of Palms area, hoping to get the Wild Dunes Resort.

Are there special events or conventions going on next weekend? I'm also wondering if the prices are higher since it's spring break for many colleges. Thanks.

[thereuare]

At the 3.5* level did you only want to include the Historic/Downtown zone or did you also want to include the Mt. Pleasant/Isle of Palms zone?

Is $100/$110 your maximum bid at the 3.5* level as well?

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

[kwoodell]

$100 is our limit for 3.5*. We saw some $80 winning bids for 3.5* downtown; is that still possible? We'd rather stay downtown since we're only there for one night. Thanks!

[thereuare]

At the 3.5* level you have 2 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.

(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)

With not much time before your stay i would begin as follows...

Select 3.5* Downtown...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Downtown and re-bid zone2...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $90

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.

[kwoodell]

I looked at HOTWIRE this morning since I haven't had any luck on PRICELINE for 3/14 in Charleston downtown.

They are offering a 3* with fitness center, restaurant and business center for $121. Which hotel is this?

Thanks!

[kwoodell]

I tried this last night:

$90 for 4* downtown Charleston - rejected

increased bid to $100 for 4* (added W. Charleston) - rejected

increased bid to $115 for 4* (added N. Charleston) - rejected

added 3.5* and bid $110 - rejected

added Isle of Palms and bid $90 for 3.5* - rejected

added 3* and bid $90 - rejected

increased bid to $100 for 3* and added W. Charleston - rejected

So now we're not sure what to do! Is it possible hotels are full for Saturday night (3/14)? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for this stay in this thread.

The HOTWIRE hotel above matches previous report for the Francis Marion, and while with so few amenities it can be tough to have too much confidence, that would be our best guess for that one.

What is the best deal you're able to get thru conventional means for this stay? Not sure it will help as rates look high in this general area for these dates, but could you add Ashley River to your bidding mix?

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

[kwoodell]

We decided to go with the HOTWIRE offer of $121 for a 3* downtown. (With tax recovery charges and fees of $19.61, the total price came to $140.61.) It's more than we originally wanted to pay, but with just a few days left we needed to book something.

It is the Francis Marion Hotel, just as you thought. Thanks for your help.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were hoping for. While more than you originally set out to pay, hopefully this works well for your needs and you're happy with the results.

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

Enjoy your stay.