Priceline Hotel: 4* Portland (Downtown) Benson Hotel

[oriental_vanchick]

I'm looking for advice on how I should set up my first bid and subsequent bids. I read somewhere that it wasn't necessarily good to win on the first bid?!? (what zones should I select and does it matter what order i look in?) I am looking for a 4* or higher hotel in downtown Portland from April 10-13, 2009 (for 2 adults) concern. I would give more preference to hotels near Amtrak station. Budget is around $80/night.

Thanks for your time.

[yellowdog]

Please start with follow-up your Hotwire NY Airport thread so we get a closure on that.

You must be open to accept any hotel with your preferd star rating in the downtown zone. And that could mean not the closest hotel for the Amtrak station. Since you can't target hotels on PRICELINE is maybe HOTWIRE better for you if you need to be close to the station? The board can "many times" ID the hotel before you decide to buy it or not.

If you still want to go with PRICELINE so please read this link to start with: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained

Also post you maximum budget for a 4* vs 5* hotel. Or is $80 for both 4* and 5* hotels?

YellowDog.

[oriental_vanchick]

Thanks for the reply YellowDog. NYairport thread updated!

I am open to accept any downtown Portland hotel in the 4* or better rating. Budget max is $80 for 4*.

I will continue to do a bit more research and monitor the recent bids. Your suggestions are appreciated.

[thereuare]

It's not "bad" to win on the first bid, but sometimes users are then left wondering if they could have been successful at a lower amount.

At the 4* level in Portland you have 10 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.

Start with our link to PRICELINE...

Select 4* Downtown...

Bid $40, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $53, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $58, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $63, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $68, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70

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.

[oriental_vanchick]

Followed your re-bidding tips / PRICELINE links and watched other winning bids for a few days before being brave enough to make my first bid offer.

Started with $40 bid for 4* in Downtown Portland - declined

rebid $48 adding Lake Oswego - declined

rebid $53 adding Beaverton - accepted!

3 nights (Apr. 10-13/09) @ $53/night

Subtotal: $159.00

Taxes & Service Fees: $29.55

Total Charges: $188.55

I've read mixed reviews out there about the hotel but am pleased about the price and location. Thanks BB!

Now, I just need to figure out what to do, where to eat while I'm there! :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

I'm not sure which reviews you're reading but most of what i see is quite positive... it's an "old school" hotel but with a wine tasting and tempurpedic(??) mattresses, seems like a great deal for $53/nite!

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICLINE link to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.