Priceline Hotel: 3.5* DC (Convention Center-Capitol Hill) Embassy Suites

[TravelPhotographer]

Will rely on (Metrorail + Metrobus) 7 day passes for transportation.

Will fly in & out DCA -- specific dates yet to be determined.

Most activity will be downtown, Mall, tourist & government attractions, but OK to stay in other bidding zone.

Before bidding, any advice on any of the following appreciated:

What bidding zones, if any, have all or most 4*, 3.5*, 3* properties within (safe) day or night walking distance of a MetroStation?

Are any major DC events occuring in late Jan or early Feb that will fill most rooms & boost bidding prices?

[Doubleplay]

For Priceline name your own price, the areas closest to most of the tourist sites are (in preference order IMHO):

#5: Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill area

#13: White House - Downtown

#8: Dupont Circle - Woodley Park

#9: Georgetown - Foggy Bottom

Stay away from #7: DC Suburbs - Northeast Area

Most hotels in these zones (other than in Georgetown) should be within walking distance of a Metro station. If you're looking for lower price, check out Crystal City. Lots of hotels there and a Metro station.

The Auto Show is Jan 26-31, 2010.

[TravelPhotographer]

#5: Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill area

#13: White House - Downtown

#8: Dupont Circle - Woodley Park

Most hotels in these zones...should be within walking distance of a Metro station. If you're looking for lower price, check out Crystal City. Lots of hotels there and a Metro station.

Now have specific overnights for bidding: 2/17,18,19,20,21,22,23 depart 2/24

Have bidding experience but not for WashDC, so a few questions:

1. I will bid 4*,3.5*,3* for 4 zones mentioned in quotes above, but I noticed some other zones, e.g., East Falls Church, Springfield, seem small -- do any of these other outer zones have most/all properties within safe day/night walking distance of Metro?

2. I have plenty bidding time but wasted time = money too; is there any advantage to breaking up 7-night bidding into smaller groups? (IMO, last minute bidding gets lowest price if there is no major event)

3. what star levels in the above zones are more likely to include free continental breakfast & free Internet access from room?

4. any $$ advantage to putting (Metrorail$39 + Metrobus$11) 7-day passes on smart card <--costs $5 extra

Any related advice appreciated.

[thereuare]

For starters... what is your budget per nite for this stay? Are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel or is your goal the least expensive 3* or better in any of your acceptable zones? Are you willing to pay more to be "in the city" (ie- White House, Capitol Hill, Dupont, etc vs. staying in the outskirts of Crystal City and having a longer commute each day to the city)

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

[TravelPhotographer]

Budget & location flexible. Priorities: safe Metro walk, free breakfast, free room Internet.

For these:

Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill area, White House - Downtown, Dupont Circle - Woodley Park

am assuming bids of:

(#* x $10)+$10 has almost no chance

(#* x $10)+$15 has low but possible chance

(#* x $10)+$20 has chance

& for Crystal City & other safe zones within Metro walking distance:

(#* x $10)+$5 has almost no chance

(#* x $10)+$10 has low but possible chance

(#* x $10)+$15 has chance

(#* = number of stars)

[AaronJB]

In terms of trying to ensure free breakfast, unfortunately, the only HOTWIRE listing showing free breakfast during the above dates is a 2* in the Dupont Circle-Embassy Row area on HOTWIRE w/ Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business. This would appear to be a likely match for the Comfort Inn.

I'm also seeing a 4* in the Dupont Circle/Embassy Row area on HW w/Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business for $99. While the amenities would match the Dupont or Palomar, the 4/5 tripadvisor rating would match the Dupont. The only other 4* located in one of the main/downtown DC areas is $189 on HOTWIRE.

Additionally, while it doesn't show up initially in the grid for these dates, the 4* Hilton Washington (which is undergoing a massive, $140M renovation - which is supposed to be done in early '10, so hopefully it's in the later stages - and that may be the reason for the lowered rate) is $99 for these dates, which is quite a bit less than other, comparable properties in the area. Coupon code WELCOME10 takes 10% off the price = $89.10.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE or Orbitz.com links to start your purchase.

[thereuare]

For these:

Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill area, White House - Downtown, Dupont Circle - Woodley Park

am assuming bids of:

(#* x $10)+$10 has almost no chance

(#* x $10)+$15 has low but possible chance

(#* x $10)+$20 has chance

& for Crystal City & other safe zones within Metro walking distance:

(#* x $10)+$5 has almost no chance

(#* x $10)+$10 has low but possible chance

(#* x $10)+$15 has chance

(#* = number of stars)

I'm not sure i understand your bidding gameplan above, inputting the variables to your first line:

(4* x $10)+$10 has almost no chance

... how do you multiply 4 stars by $10 and then add $10?? If you're entering numbers to see when the "no chance / low chance" message from PRICELINE goes away, that information is not meaningful and shouldn't be used to influence your bidding strategy. We have seen bids accepted even when the "no chance" message was presented.

Given your priorities, i'd consider a closer look at HOTWIRE... if you guess the right hotel, you can have a very good idea of metro distance, if breakfast is complimentary, and how much internet will cost.

[TravelPhotographer]

> how do you multiply 4 stars by $10 and then add $10??

Sorry:

4* (4x$10)+$10 = $50

3.5* (3.5x$10)+$10 = $45, etc.

When bidding via your PRICELINE link, do 2+minute bid processing times or a "we will get back to you in 15 minutes or less" message indicate I am getting interest & near winning offer?

[thereuare]

Your formula basically suggests that all 4* bids should start at $50, all 3.5* bids should start at $45, etc... and this isn't valid, imo.

[TravelPhotographer]

In above examples, I would only figure so for Crystal City.

Last night I bid only Zones 5,8,13 combo at 4*$49, 3.5*$47, 3*$45.

All failed but when I bid 3* at $44 & $45 the bid processing time took ~3min. & then gave a "we will get back to you within 15 minutes" message. Is that an indication of being near acceptance?

Any advice appreciated.

[thereuare]

No, usually the "we'll let you know in 15 minutes" message is simply a result of a slowdown at PRICELINE... could be a backlog of bids placed at a given time, slow communication between server and where the hotel rates are stored, etc, etc.

Incidentally, when PRICELINE first started you always received the "15 minute message", then maybe 4-5 years ago it switched to almost instantly as we now know it, but sometimes where there is some sort of slowdown or communication issue, it reverts back to the old system.

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

[TravelPhotographer]

"Most hotels in these zones (other than in Georgetown) should be within walking distance of a Metro station."

Can anyone advise if it is customary for 3* & up hotels in Georgetown zone to include free shuttle to their nearby Metro station?

And would this be true for any other WashDC area zones?

Using your PRICELINE link to bid!

[TravelPhotographer]

"Most hotels in these zones (other than in Georgetown) should be within walking distance of a Metro station."

Can anyone advise if it is customary for 3* & up hotels in Georgetown zone to include free shuttle to their nearby Metro station?

Am narrowing focus to 4* only & only zones 5,8,13 & maybe 9 if 4* Georgetown = free shuttle to nearby Metro.

Recent 4* $55--$60 bids have won in these zones. Dates are 2/17 to 2/24, so there's time & plenty of rebid room nearer deadline.

How long to repeatedly bid low end of that range at your PRICELINE link before moving up? There are no major events during these dates...? Breaking 7 days into 3 & 4-day bids better? Change of property AOK. Any related advice appreciated.

[AaronJB]

I would guess that local shuttle at Georgetown hotels is not a customary feature - browsing a few hotels in the area did not reveal any with local shuttle service. There's no way to guarantee a hotel w/local shuttle using PRICELINE, and while some HOTWIRE listings may have an "Airport Shuttle" icon, there would be no guarantee regarding if/to what degree the shuttle would operate to nearby/local areas.

The weekend Fri/Sat/Sun dates in the middle of your stay appear more reasonably priced at many properties than the weekdays on either side. Rates do vary, and rates for different dates that were won recently may not reflect what is required for this set of dates.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links.

[TravelPhotographer]

When using your PRICELINE link to bid & assuming same accepted bid price,

if splitting up a 7-night bid into 3 & 4-night bids or 3, 3, & 1-night bids

will "taxes + fees" total be same as for a single 7-night bid?

(especially the PRICELINE fees?)

[AaronJB]

I would guess the taxes would be the same, but the fees would add up to be more.

[thereuare]

PRICELINE's fee goes down a little as you book multiple nites in the same stay... so the more longer stays you have the less the total fee will be, but it's negligible that i wouldn't let it deter you from SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID if that should work better for your plans.

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

[Doubleplay]

I don't think you can put all day Metrorail or Metrobus passes on the SmarTrip card. The card is really more for people who use the Metro for commuting or live in DC area. If you don't plan to use is again, doesn't make sense for you to buy the card.

[slygirl]

"Most hotels in these zones (other than in Georgetown) should be within walking distance of a Metro station."

Can anyone advise if it is customary for 3* & up hotels in Georgetown zone to include free shuttle to their nearby Metro station?

There are lots of buses that go up and down M Street that stop near the Foggy Bottom Metro. The Circulator is the cheapest one at $1 one-way. The Metrobus (31, 32, 36, 38B) also stop near there, and it will cost you $1.35 since you don't have a SmarTrip card. I worked in Georgetown for nearly 3 years and never had an issue walking. It takes about 15 minutes.

If you plan on taking the bus a lot, a SmarTrip card reduces bus fare to $1.25 and provides you with 3 hours of free transfer to bus (provided they are the same price). You also receive $0.50 off transferring from bus to rail and vice versa. This does not apply towards those double decker tour buses.

[TravelPhotographer]

Breaking up 2/17 to 2/24 7-day stay into 2, 3, & 4 day bids allows lots of rebidding in $1 rises.

Selecting zones 5,8,9,13 up through these amounts have been rejected thus far:

4* $60

3.5* $58 (asked to add $17 @ $57 bid)

3* $55

With lots of time left, not sure whether to continue creeping up or wait at these levels. Any advice appreciated.

I am able to bid higher but looking to get best deals in zones 5,8,9,13; multiple 3* & up hotels OK.

Do not know if I am bumping into any hotel-filling events.

[thereuare]

Please list the zones by PRICELINE name... it saves us the time of having to look them up, as well as makes the post more meaningful in the future if/when PRICELINE changes the zones and/or order (ie- and zone2 becomes zone3, etc)

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

[TravelPhotographer]

WashDC zones related to my previous post:

#5: Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill area

#8: Dupont Circle - Woodley Park

#9: Georgetown - Foggy Bottom

#13: White House - Downtown

[thereuare]

When you were given the counter-offer at the 3.5* level, was that for your entire stay or a subset of your dates?

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

[TravelPhotographer]

When you were given the counter-offer at the 3.5* level, was that for your entire stay or a subset of your dates?

Using your PRICELINE link, it was a 3-day bid either on front end Wed-Thu-Fri or weekend Fri-Sat-Sun.

It is to my professional advantage to stay in multiple hotels, (2) 2-nighters & (1) 3-nighter in any order, so I am shrinking away from 7-nighter or 4-nighter bids using your PRICELINE link. This assumes total of taxes & fees for former is near same as latter.

[TravelPhotographer]

Successful bid on middle segment of 7-day (2/17 to 2/24) DC visit:

Embassy Suites Hotel Washington Dc Convention Center

Convention Ctr - Capitol Hill Area

900 10th Street Nw

Washington, District Of Columbia 20001

Check-In Date:

Fri, Feb 19, 2010 / After 04:00 PM

Check-Out Date:

Mon, Feb 22, 2010 / 11:00 AM

Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $56.00

Subtotal: $168.00

Taxes & Fees: $32.13

Total Charges*: $200.13

This was my first 3.5* bid tonight. 3.5* bids previously failed at $59 & elicited "$17 higher" request.

So yes, prices can go down as bidding dates get closer.

That takes care of weekend. Now need to bid (2) sets of two week days.

Week days typically require higher bids in DC?