Priceline Hotel: 2* Northern Virginia (Dulles IAD) Fairfield Inn

[tvstay]

I am looking for 2 rooms in the DC area (DC, VA, or MD) for October 26-29. I started at $48 for 3* with some of the MD areas that had been listed here, but I think I added too many areas as I rebid the next few times. I ended my bid at $60 but still no hotels accepted. Any guidance would be much appreciated. I can't find anything on Hotwire for a 3* under $110 and nothing for a 2.5* under $96.

I have seen that there have been bids won in this range posted here, but maybe I need to bump my bids up more?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Do you recall which zones you had bid for? That information will help us develop the best strategy, utilizing the information of your already failed bids.

[tvstay]

Thanks,

I started out with Greenbelt and Bethesda and added Arlington Pentagon, Arlington Mt. Vernon on the next bid, and then on the next bid, I added all locations. I think that is where I should have been more patient and added more locations more slowly.

I sure appreciate the forums! I have been using HW and PL for years and I have learned a bunch at your site that will definately help my future bookings.

[thereuare]

Do you need to be in the Suburbs, or can you stay closer to DC, such as Crystal City, White House/Downtown, Georgetown, etc, etc?

[tvstay]

I would rather be within DC. I just chose the suburbs because I thought I would have a better chance at getting a cheaper rate.

[thereuare]

I would try this (if any of the zones below are not acceptable please don't bid yet and first let us know which one(s) you would rather not bid):

Select 3* Capitol Hill and....

Bid $44, if rejected add Georgetown and...

Bid $48, if rejected add Crystal City and...

Bid $51, if rejected add White House/Downtown and...

Bid $55, if rejected add Arlington and...

Bid $58, if rejected add Convention Center and...

Bid $60.

I stopped at $60 since that was your top bid in your prior post and i didn't know if you wanted to bid higher than that, but this is a good start.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[TravelGuy]

Rates look high for your dates. Hyatt Capital Hill is $319! The Wyndham in the Georgetown/Foggy Bottom zone is sold out.

If it were me, I would bid 2.5* and not 3*, as all the 2.5*'s that have come up in these zones are good, and that way you'd cover more ground. You'd be shooting for both 2.5* and 3* this way. Either that, or start a new 2.5* bid after 3* fails. Also, with the Wyndham being sold out, I would substitute Dupont/Woodley Park for Georgetown.

[tvstay]

Thanks so much for your time and your response. That was very kind.

I went to the Savingbarn site, and I went through the DC areas as suggested at the prices suggested for a 3*. I then repeated it for a 2.5*, even going up to $65 at the end.

I then tried the Maryland suburbs in the same process. No luck.

I then tried the Northern Virginia suburbs and no luck at both 3* and 2.5*. After looking at the hotels with a 2* rating in No. VA, I decided they appear acceptable, so I bid $58 for a 2* and was finally accepted.

Here are the details.

Check-In Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Check-Out Date: Friday, October 29, 2004

Hotel Name: Fairfield Dulles Airport Sterling

23000 Indian Creek Boulevard

Sterling, Virginia 20166

703-435-5300

Summary of Charges

Your Offer Price: $58.00

Number of Rooms: 2

Number of Nights: 3

Subtotal: $348.00

Taxes and Service Fees: $49.10

Total Charges: $397.10

Thanks again for your assistance!

[thereuare]

Our pleasure to help.

Glad to hear you had success and are happy with the results.

Enjoy your stay and thank you for posting your results!

And of course... thank you for the support!