Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Portland (Airport PDX) Sheraton Hotel

[rikatine]

Planning to bid for PDX hotel for one night. Want to be at the airport for early am flight the next day. Since I am new at this, and want to only be in the Airport zone how would I proceed with free rebids. Say if I add a star rating category, do I still have to increase my price. Or is the strategy to bid high enough initially? Any help before I start would be appreciated.

[Romelle]

You will want to read the FAQs, particularly the ones on free rebids. Also, it can be a good idea to read some of the Hotel Reviews.

Second, you will want to do a bit of research on the general results for Portland bidding to get an idea of what might work at the different star levels. Rates can be very date-specific though. Try the top search box, entering Portland to see a bunch of reported bids. Also, try the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins (center of page) for your date.

Portland airport (you can just use PDX for the city name when going into PRICELINE), has PL availability up to 3 1/2*. Several other Portland areas only have availability up to 3* so can safely be used as free rebids IF you are bidding at the 3 1/2* level. There are NO free rebid areas at the 3* and below levels so you would only get the one bid every 24-hours.

If you have done a bid at the 3* level and it is not successful, you can add the next star level down without increasing your bid. In fact, you can even decrease it.

Romelle

PS - I'm just a member, but have done quite a bit of bidding so thought I'd get you started. If you want a specific bidding strategy from the pros here, you will want to post your max budget and the star level at which you'd like to bid.

[rikatine]

Thank you so much, that really helps to know you can add lower star levels and decrease your price. Even though I have read about rebidding it is a lot to take in. I am currently working on bids for two different dates and that is a big help. And thank you for the p.s. it will help me in making my post more clear.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Let's start with your first stay... what is the actual nite of your stay? What star rating are you seeking and what is your maximum bid?

Before proceeding, i'd make sure you have a good understanding of re-bidding. See this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask any questions you may have. After reading this previous link feel free to ask any questions you may have (NOTE: if bidding 3.5* you have SEVEN re-bid zones)

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

[rikatine]

After looking at all the hotels I bid for 4/22 PDX Airport 3.5* for $40 which was rejected but offered for $12 higher, I declined and resumed bidding adding a zone and increasing to $42, rejected. Bid again for $44 adding another free zone and was accepted. Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. Total cost $57.

Thank you all for your help we are very pleased with our results. Being new at bidding we found it very interesting when Priceline offered us a rate. To us it was at least a good indication that there was availability. Is this what experienced people have found? Thank you again.

[Romelle]

After looking at all the hotels I bid for 4/22 PDX Airport 3.5* for $40 which was rejected but offered for $12 higher, I declined and resumed bidding adding a zone and increasing to $42, rejected. Bid again for $44 adding another free zone and was accepted. Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. Total cost $57.

Thank you all for your help we are very pleased with our results. Being new at bidding we found it very interesting when Priceline offered us a rate. To us it was at least a good indication that there was availability. Is this what experienced people have found? Thank you again.

Nicely done.

Yes, my working assumption when PRICELINE makes an offer is that there is some availability out there somewhere between my bid and the offer.

I have found however that sometimes one is bidding merrily along and all of a sudden is successful with no offer having occurred. There is a lot of randomness to it, undoubtedly by design.

Romelle