Priceline Hotel: Is timing important to winning a bid?

[BrocktonCrib]

I am trying to get a 4-star in Times Square or Midtown West in NYC for August 8-August 15. I started out with just the Times Square region and went up to $140 before adding Midtown West to the search. Today I bid $130 and was rejected. My question is that I have seen on the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins that people have wins for the same location and dates. It's mentioned on the FAQs page that it is a matter of supply and demand so since I'm being rejected at higher bids does that mean the demand is high right now? Does the time of day I bid have any effect on the outcome?

Also, this last bid for $130 had a message that I could rebid instantly for $22 more. Does that imply that $155 is the magic number for bidding right now?

[yellowdog]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

You got the supply and demand issue correct.

Does the time of day I bid have any effect on the outcome?

No, but you can hit with the same amount at a time today you didn't the day before (or several).

Also, this last bid for $130 had a message that I could rebid instantly for $22 more. Does that imply that $155 is the magic number for bidding right now?

No, I would bid in $3/$4 steps, you're close to a hit.

Do you know how to use your free zones? Look at this link: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained

Please post if you need any further help

Yellowdog.

[Romelle]

I can't speak from personal experience, but I've read where people feel NYC hotels only offer rooms to PL at lower rates a very few days ahead of time.

If true, it would suggest you reserve a cancelable back-up and then keep trying PL for a better deal up to the last minute.

Romelle

[AaronJB]

As I've noted in other threads - waiting until the last moment is essentially placing a bet on prices falling. That can certainly pay off if traffic is slow and prices do fall. However, there have been plenty of instances where people have decided to wait until the last moment and then become frantic when the dates get closer and prices suddenly jump because there's something going on in the area during that time period, etc. Long story short, prices falling at the last minute happens, but is by no means guaranteed.

[thereuare]

The $155 counter-offer essentially let's you know that $155 should be successful at this moment (as the current pricing could disappear at any time)... but the 'magic' number is probably a little less, somewhere between $131-$155.

Is there a reason you're not including the MTE, CPS and/or ESB zones in your bidding? Are there hotels in those zones you're trying to avoid or do those zones not work well for your plans (generally speaking all these zones are fine for the average visitor)

Another factor that could be effecting your acceptance is the length of your stay. Remember that hotels use the opaque providers to excess inventory, so if there is one day in your 7 day span with higher demand than the other nites, it can effect your ability to get accepted for the entire stay. This is where SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID would come into play and you'd have to think about whether changing hotels midstay is an acceptable option to save some money (some don't mind changing hotels and would change to save $5... others have no desire to move and wouldn't change to save $100+)

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

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[BrocktonCrib]

This trip is for my honeymoon so splitting up the hotel stay is not an option. We're choosing MTW and Times Square for the convenience of the sites, which I'm sure is making it more difficult. I tried your tip on adding on the other areas that don't have 4-star hotels and went up to $145 but still haven't had any luck. Keep going with this strategy tomorrow or try something different?

[thereuare]

We're choosing MTW and Times Square for the convenience of the sites...

At the 4* level you should be fine with MTE and CPS as well (and even ESB which is maybe slightly less convenient but wodln't stop me from bidding it)... NYC is so compact, and mass transit easily accessible, that most midtown locations work fine for the average user. At the 3.5* leve you begin to get some MTE properties that are little far east and not as convenient, but at the 4* leve you should be fine... although i'll note that the W New York is a 4* in the MTE zone for which has gotten mixed reviews although the most recent ones have been very good (NOTE: rooms at the W New York are VERY small, which can explain some of the negative reviews)

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