Priceline Hotel: 4* Charleston (Downtown) Renaissance

[smartcookie]

Tried bidding today for a 3.5*+ hotel in Downtown to attempt to win the Holiday Inn Mills House that others seem to be winning. Attempted bids of $60, $65, and $70 with no luck.

Then, dropped down the selection to 3* and tried a $65 bid, which also got declined.

This is a random Monday night, but it's right after the Memorial Day weekend, which may be a problem.

Will try again tomorrow. How high should I go?

[thereuare]

What is the best rate you're able to get at a 3* hotel in this zone thru conventional booking channels?

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

[smartcookie]

Holiday Inn Charleston Riverview $104

Courtyard by Marriott $149

Residence Inn Riverview $159

DoubleTree $161

Francis Marion $169

The Holiday Inn Mills House $184

[thereuare]

Are the first three hotels in the Downtown zone which you're bidding? If not, are other zone(s) besides Downtown acceptable?

Given the rates at the last 3 hotels above, which are in the Downtown zone, your bids are still under half of conventional rates, which while not unheard of, is not a high probability of success. (although you do have plenty of time so you can continue to lowball if you choose)

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

[smartcookie]

The first three hotels are supposedly in the Historic District, but it looks like "Riverview" is actually considered Ashley River area on Priceline based on your Hotel List.

I just tried bids of $75, $80, and $85 for 3.5*+ hotel and all got rejected.

I'll drop it down to 3 star tomorrow and try again.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Yes, you need to go by the zone boundaries on PRICELINE, not the names of the zones or the name of the hotel.

Based upon the PRICELINE map and boundaries, is Ashley River acceptable?

[81shark]

:)

[smartcookie]

We would really prefer to stay in the Historic District and don't want to end up across the bridge if we win in the Ashley River area. It covers both sides of the bridge. That's why I wasn't willing to bid in that area. But we'll see if I can win what I want at a decent price. If not, we'll try Ashley River as a last resort.

[smartcookie]

No-go on 3* up to $85 bid.

[smartcookie]

I tried bidding again tonight. When I bid for 3*+ at $85, I was given the option to add $22 to automatically win. So I knew I was close to the winning bid. I tried $90, which was rejected and then won at $92.

We are happy with the result.

We won the Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel, which is a 4* hotel (according to the winning page) and the cheapest rate on the Marriott site for this night is $249.

[yellowdog]

smartcookie

Thank you for sharing your result with the board!

Enjoy your stay.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases.

Yellowdog.