Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Miami Downtown 03/28/10

[ratnrol]

Hello,

I am looking to find a hotel for a one night stay in Miami. I have a family of four with two young teenagers. I understand the Priceline rules and guarantees double occupancy only.

My question is more around my bidding strategy. I would like to stay in a 3.5* or 4*. I am really trying to structure my bids to win at the 3.5* Marriott Biscayne Bay.

First Strategy:

- Start bidding with Downtown Miami at 82 USD (tried up to 81 USD the other day unsuccessfully). I will bump up my bid 2 USD for each zone I add.

- Zone order: Downtown Miami, South Beach Central, South Beach Collins, South Beach Ocean Drive, North Miami, Dadeland, Southwest Miami, Aventura, Miami West.

- This gives me nine bids in total

- I have purposely left off other zone that have 3.5* or greater that I do not want to stay in.

If unsuccessful, can I close the browser, use your link to access PL again and start bidding with the following?

- Start bidding with South Beach Central at 99 USD (the first strategy will take me to 98 USD). I will bump up my bid 2 USD for each zone I add

- Zone order: South Beach Central, Downtown Miami, South Beach Collins, South Beach Ocean, North Miami, Dadeland, Southwest Miami, Aventura, Miami West.

If the answer is yes, can I do the same for SoBe Collins and then SoBe Ocean Drive?

This could potentially provide me with 36 total bid options.

[thereuare]

First, i assume besides Downtown you're willing to accept a hotel in South Beach Central, South Beach Collins, and South Beach Ocean Drive?

The strategy you posted above will NOT work since when you close the browser and attempt to bid South Beach Central on its own, it will be rejected as a duplicate bid since it was included in your previous round of bidding. Each bid you place has to be a unique combination of zone(s) and not be a subset of any previous zone combination bid.

If you let us know exactly which zones you are willing to accept, and your maximum bid, we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[ratnrol]

I will accept Downtown, South Beach Central / Collins and/or Ocean Drive.

As previously mentioned, my goal is to try and provide the best chance of winning one nights stay at the Marriott Biscayne Bay.

[thereuare]

There is no way to target a specific hotel when bidding on PRICELINE.

What is your maximum bid for this stay? Since you prefer the Marriott, did you want to bid up to you limit in the Downtown zone first before adding the South Beach areas... or since you can't target or increase your chances for the Marriott, is your goal ultimately the least expensive 3.5* or better hotel in any of the above zones?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.