kluson Posted July 26, 2009 Report Posted July 26, 2009 Hello, I'm new to the forum, but I'm very happy to have found it! I have a few questions. We are looking for a 4* Los Angeles hotel for August 12-19. We've narrowed it down to the Hollywood area, and to using PRICELINE over HOTWIRE, since it seems from the list that the only two possibles there on PRICELINE are the Roosevelt and the Renaissance, either of which we'd be happy with. We're hoping to get the Renaissance over the Roosevelt though, so are there any guidelines as to bidding for one over the other? Has anyone had any success getting either recently?Is it better to wait until it's nearer the day we arrive to bid? Do prices tend to go down or up as the deadline approaches?Also (sort of related), is there a reason the prices for car rentals are so high in August? We can't seem to find cheaper than $50 a day, and last time we were there we got $15 a day!! So if anyone could give us any tips on where to look for a deal as to car rentals for the week, it would be much appreciated!Of course, we will use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links from here to book, and share any success we might have! Thanks again!Kluson
AaronJB Posted July 26, 2009 Report Posted July 26, 2009 Welcome to the site.The trade-off for PRICELINE's discounted rates is that one has to be flexible on which hotel they may end up at - there's no "work around" to get a particular property. For example, bidding higher in an attempt to get a different hotel is definitely NOT recommended, as that will most likely lead to overpaying for the same hotel you could have gotten for less. Additionally, there's also no way to know if a hotel has PRICELINE inventory for your dates or not.Waiting to the last minute to see if prices fall is making a bet - you may get a better deal, but there's also the possibility that rates will go higher (suddenly/unexpectedly) if traffic picks up. There's no way to know whether or not prices for your particular dates will go up or not, and rates are "date-specific".You can use the board's search function to see if a particular hotel has been won recently, but keep in mind that rates are date-specific - what they may have gotten a hotel for does not reflect what the PRICELINE rate may be for your dates.What would be your budget per night?Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links when you are ready to book.
thereuare Posted July 27, 2009 Report Posted July 27, 2009 ...since it seems from the list that the only two possibles there on PRICELINE are the Roosevelt and the Renaissance, either of which we'd be happy with.To add to AaronJB's comments above, note that these are not the only two possibilities. As per the comments at the top of the Priceline Hotel List, the lists are only a compilation of hotels reported to the board... there could always be others and you could be the first to report a new 4* hotel to the board.Once you're ready to move forward, let us know your maximum bid and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.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
kluson Posted July 27, 2009 Author Report Posted July 27, 2009 Thank you for the quick responses. I realize there is no sure thing when it comes to getting hotels in this manner, but anything I can do to hedge my bets helps! The maximum we would go is $140, but we're really hoping for around $100. Thanks again!Kluson
AaronJB Posted July 27, 2009 Report Posted July 27, 2009 I do see what appears to be the Roosevelt for $149 on HOTWIRE - while not the hotel you were looking for and more than you wanted to spend, just noting the rate for that possibility.Are you set on the Hollywood area or is there any interest in the Beverly Hills-West Hollywood area?
thereuare Posted July 28, 2009 Report Posted July 28, 2009 At the 4* level you have THREE re-bid zones. Priceline Re-Bidding Explained(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 time on your side you can start with the following:Select 4* Hollywood...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Hollywood and re-bid zone2...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Hollywood and re-bid zone3...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Hollywood and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone 3...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $125Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
kluson Posted July 28, 2009 Author Report Posted July 28, 2009 We did narrow down the Roosevelt on HOTWIRE using the board's California Hotwire Hotel List, but we'd rather go through PRICELINE since we would prefer the Renaissance over that, and the Renaissance doesn't seem to be offered through HOTWIRE at the moment. Howver, we just saw some success for the Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood, and frankly that would now be our top choice based on reviews! It seems that there have been some recent posts where people have gotten in for $100 on Priceline... it would seem to be between Andaz or the Hyatt Century Plaza. Any advice or gut feelings for West Hollywood then? Places to try and avoid? Etc? Again thanks for all the help and bidding advice!Kluson
thereuare Posted July 28, 2009 Report Posted July 28, 2009 While everything may very well work out great, i think you're potentially setting yourself up for disappointment.If your intention is to use PRICELINE, you should be focussing on the zones and all the hotels which have been reported in that zone (not filtering the hotels reported in that zone determining which one you would prefer) as there is no way to target, or avoid, a specific hotel when using PRICELINE)If you're more property focussed and want to target a specific hotel or location within the zone, then use HOTWIRE where you at least can take an educated guess as to what you will likely receive beforehand. It will cost you a little more, but you'll stand a greater chance of getting what you want.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
kluson Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Posted July 29, 2009 Success! We used a link from here to get to PRICELINE.Chose 4* West HollywoodAugust 12 - 19th1st bid: $90 Rejected.Chose Lawndale as second region (nothing above 2 stars)2nd bid: $100Accepted for The Andaz West Hollywood! Our first choice!I was willing to gamble on west hollywood based on the recent posts here all of which had got either the andaz or the hyatt century for $100, and we were able to re-bid based on the helpful info in the replies to our original post... it worked out for the best. It would have been nerve wracking without this place!Thank you for all the tips and help, it couldn't have worked out better for us.Kluson
AaronJB Posted July 29, 2009 Report Posted July 29, 2009 Congratulations on your success!Glad you're pleased with the results and that this hotel works well for your plans. Looks like a superb deal (lowest rate on the hotel website is $196) for these dates, and happy to hear that the board was helpful with the purchase.Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.Enjoy your stay.
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