pmenon Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 Hey everyone,Will be in Washington D.C. from May 2-5, 2010, inclusive, and am looking for a place to say. I have never been to D.C. before, but from a quick analysis of the maps, as well as public transport, it appears that the city is quite well covered.I'd like to spend around $100 per night, preferably at a 4* hotel. I'm willing to stay more or less anywhere, as long as a metro is close by. Having said that, Im not sure if some areas are better than others, so recommendations and advice are welcome.I will also be flying into and out from Reagan National airport, so that's something else to keep in mind.Thanks in advance ! Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Sorry, I also should add that, after looking at the Priceline zone maps, that I'd prefer to be in the DuPont, Arlington, White House or Capitol Hill areas, in that order. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Have you checked hotel direct rates for these dates... at the moment i don't think $100 is realistic for a 4* hotel for these dates in the zones you've mentioned above.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Thanks for the heads up. I hadn't checked, but will do so. Do they seem unusually high for the dates (maybe there's an event going on) ? What price would you recommend I start my bidding at ? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 DC is always 'hit or miss'... there is always always some type of event, rally, or political meeting taking place. The question only becomes how big of an event it is and if it will effect hotel rates.Check your best deal available thru conventional booking channels, then determine your maximum bid... from there we will determine a starting point and suggest a bidding strategy.Also, with your zone preferences above, you mention "in this order"... are you willing to pay more to be in your first zone than your second zone, and more to be in your second zone vs. your third zone, etc, etc... OR is your goal the least expensive 4* in any of the acceptable zones?Lastly, since you also included Arlington as one of your acceptable zones, are you sure that a hotel anywhere within this zone will get you close enough to a metro stop? (i don't know the answer to this, but usually as you move out of the 'city limits' the chances of being close to a metro stop generally decreases)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 I think the maximum I would like to go to, in terms of bid amount, is $130. I would definitely be willing to pay this amount for the DuPont area, and less so for Arlington. With respect to Arlington, if I go by the Hotel list on this site, there are three 4* hotels. I would definitely prefer the Palomar, but I think I would be OK with the other two as well.Having said all that, in each of those areas, I would try and get the least expensive 4* .... and will even be willing to consider 3.5*, since they look quite decent. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 At the 4* level you have FIVE re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Select 4* Dupont and Arlington and White House...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Capitol Hill...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Dupont and Arlington and White House and Capitol Hill...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130Any questions feel free to ask.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board 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 Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Hmm, I think I might have messed up my bids :)I used the PRICELINE link from the site, and proceeded to start the Name Your Price process. I started off by selecting the Dupont and Arlington zones, and started off with $90, as suggested. The bid was rejected. Here's where I get confused: what should I select now ? I interpreted a rebid zone as another Priceline zone, so I upped my bid to $95, and included the Capitol Hill zone in. Was that the right thing to do ? Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Actually I think I figured it out: my re-bid zones would be Silver Spring, Alexandria West, DC Suburbs, Bethesda and Mount Vernon, right ? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Yes, you have your re-bid zones correct now! :)We could revise the above to bid again immediately, but as you have plenty of time, just wait 24 hours since your last bid and start the strategy above from the beginning.Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your bidding.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 Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Great, thank you !!How would the strategy change if I wanted to change my zone priorities to DuPont, then White House, then Capitol Hill, and finally Arlington ? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Are you willing to pay more to stay in "Washington DC proper" vs. Arlington OR is price still the most important aspect of this stay and looking for the least expensive 4* or better in any of these four zones.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Tough question. Upon doing some further research, out of the potential three 4*'s that I could end up with in Arlington, I wouldn't mind staying at 2 of them .. its the third one Im not sure about. That's why I sort of shifted my zone priorities around.I would be willing to pay a little more to stay in D.C. proper, though. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 29, 2010 Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 I'm uncertain as to your thoughts about Arlington at the moment, so not 100% sure how to advise, but the follwoing was my first thought when you had posted earlier... it bids "DC proper" first up to $110, then tries Arlington for up to that amount... then tries for the least expensive out of any of the zones.Select 4* Dupont and Capitol Hill and White House...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Arlington...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Dupont and Arlington and White House and Capitol Hill...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130Not sure how this fits with your current thinking, but you can follow the above or provide us with more info and we'll revise accordingly.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 Thanks ! I followed the above, and even upped my max bid to $145, without having any luck at all for my dates. Quite strange; I was really hoping that I would be able to wind up with a good hotel at that rate, given the prices that Ive seen some bids win at. It might be time to downgrade to a 3.5* ... Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 29, 2010 Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 Have you checked hotel direct rates for these dates... at the moment i don't think $100 is realistic for a 4* hotel for these dates in the zones you've mentioned above.Check your best deal available thru conventional booking channels, then determine your maximum bid... from there we will determine a starting point and suggest a bidding strategy.What was the best deal you were able to find thru conventional booking channels?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 I assume convential refers to methods via normal Priceline/Travelocity/Expedia booking, as well as through the hotel website ? If so, this is what I've found, arranged by star rating:4*The Liason at $329/night via PricelineThe Hyatt Arlington at $211/night via PricelineThe Westin Grand at $420/night via PricelineThe Dupont DC at $315/night via Priceline (I would LOVE to get this hotel)The Westin Arlington Gateway at $313/night via PricelineThe Willard Intercontinental at $450/night via PricelineThe Sofitel at $363/night via PricelineJ.W. Marriot at $469/night via PricelineHotel Palomar at Arlington at $338/night via PricelineI haven't started looking into the 3.5* star hotels as of yet, still holding out ! :) Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 29, 2010 Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 So other than the Hyatt Arlington, your bids are well under half of prevailing rates. As well, when rates show very strong demand for a given set of dates, it can often become harder to get such a large percentage discount. Although there is more margin for the hotels to discount, they are less likely to do so given the strong demand for rooms... they would prefer to hang on to inventory in hopes of selling it themselves at full price. So when rates are very strong (which the rates above suggest) they may offer very little discount, or no inventory at all, to the opaque suppliers.I'm not suggesting that there are no hotels in the PRICELINE or HOTWIRE system, but i think your budget isn't realistic given the prices above (except perhaps for Arlington, given the lower rates there and it being outside of "dc proper") I assume you did include Arlington in your bidding when you increased your bid to $145?You do have a bit of time so you can wait it out and try again in a few days to see if rates have improved, but i'd also try to find a refundable back-up plan in case rates continue to move even higher. Any thoughts on SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID or lowering your star rating?Based upon the above, what are your current thoughts?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 Yeah, it is looking highly unlikely at this time that Im going to get anything, even around the $150 mark, if I insist on a 4*. I'm definitely willing to consider a 3.5* now, in the same zones as indicated earlier. Would rather try this first before trying to split up the stay. How should I frame my bidding now ? Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 I should add that I would also be willing to up my bid to $175 for a 4*. Im not sure how much that'll help though :) Link to comment
pmenon Posted March 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 Bonus: I just found out that I'll be able to crash at a friend's place for the first 3 nights (May 1, 2 and 3) !! That works out perfectly, as it now means that I only have to budget for a hotel for 2 nights, instead of the original 5.Translation: I'm able to go up on my bids for 4* ! Would a maximum of $200 make sense ? Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 These are still very difficult dates but you can try the following revised strategy given your new $200 bidding limit:Select 4* Dupont and Capitol Hill...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Arlington and White House...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Dupont and White House...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Arlington and Capitol Hill...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Dupont and White House and Capitol Hill...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Dupont and White House and Arlington...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Dupont and Arlington and White House and Capitol Hill...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200Any questions feel free to ask.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board 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 Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Register now, we have a huge community of travel enthusiasts to answer any questions you might have.
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountAlready have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now