wjcassidy Posted March 28, 2010 Report Posted March 28, 2010 My husband and I are going to New Orleans to celebrate our 25th Anniversary from 5/23-5/27/2010. I would appreciate advice on a strategy for bidding on a 3.5 or a 4 star in the FQ for these dates. When should I start my bidding and how much should I expect to spend? I hope to get something for around 75-80, but I am not sure if this is realistic.I generally use Priceline, but have recently used Hotwire and am open to either.
thereuare Posted March 28, 2010 Report Posted March 28, 2010 What is most important to you for this stay... the lowest price or being able to take an educated guess as to the property you're likely to receive before your purchase?Are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel OR is your goal the least expensive 3.5* or better for this stay?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know the above and we'll advise accordingly... and happy anniversary :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
wjcassidy Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Posted March 28, 2010 We don't need to predict the hotel, assuming that a 3.5 or a 4 star will be a nice hotel. Price is a priority, I am a sucker for a great deal. It would be preferred I think to be in the FQ,although I have seen the Pavillon on HOTWIRE for 75$, even though that Hotel in considered in the "Downtown" area, it is a great location and an incredible hotel. So, First priority is a great HOTEL. It is, after all , a big deal to have a 25th anniversary!Second Priority is to get a good deal.As long as we can walk to the FQ we can be flexible.I hope that I have not confused you.
thereuare Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 I have seen the Pavillon on HOTWIRE for 75$..I assume not for your particular dates, correct?I just looked at rates for your dates above and they are quite high, as there is an American Psychiatric Association convention taking place from 5/23-5/25 with 17,000 attendees... fairly large for New Orleans. We can suggest a strategy for you to follow, but i'm not very optimistic as to your success at $75-$80 for a 3.5*-4* hotel.If you go to PRICELINE and look at their zone boundaries, do you consider the "Downtown" zone to be close enough to walk to the French Quarter? If so, do you wan to bid for the FQ first up to your limit and then try for the Downtown zone OR is the least expensive out of either zone your ultimate goal? Do you want to keep your maximum bid at $80 or are you willing/able to increase it?If you try and are rejected do you have an alternate plan? Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?Let us know the above and we'll take it from there.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
wjcassidy Posted March 29, 2010 Author Report Posted March 29, 2010 :) Aargh. Psychiatric convention! I was aware of the Jazz Festival, but not this. Yes, considering the circumstances I will be flexible, I can include the downtown area, and I can increase my price a bit. If I go up to 100$ a night would that help?Am I in the game for a 3.5/4* if I up my price to 100$ and add the Downtown area?It was hard to find wins for the week I am going to be there, so you are correct; the Pavillon prices were not for my dates. :) Also, when do you think is the best time for me to start my bidding?
AaronJB Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 The best time to start bidding would be when dates are confirmed, and given how busy these dates are/how much is going on, I would definitely continue trying until you are able to lock something in. Given the HOTWIRE rates I'm seeing for these dates, $100 may be enough for a 3.5* (although I would start lower than $100 for a 3.5*), but $100 may be tough for a 4*.Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
wjcassidy Posted March 29, 2010 Author Report Posted March 29, 2010 I already have my flights for the trip, arriving in New Orleans on the 23rd and leaving on the 27th.Can you suggest a bidding strategy for a 3.5 or 4* ?First choice the FQ, second choice the Downtown area. Trying to stay around 100$ Per night.Also, is trip cancellation insurance on the Priceline site worth getting?
thereuare Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 Use the ADD REPLY button, an inch or so below the "reply button you're using, as it will avoid the issue you're having with quoting the previous post in its entirety.At the 4* level you have FIVE re-bid zones... at the 3.5* level you have FOUR. 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.If you want to try for a 4* hotel first you can do so as follows:Select 4* French Quarter and Downtown...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* French Quarter...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* Downtown...Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* French Quarter and Downtown...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...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 (you can stop above but i figure if you made it this far you may want to try the extra $5)Any questions feel free to ask.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
wjcassidy Posted March 29, 2010 Author Report Posted March 29, 2010 THANKS! This strategy looks great, I never would have figured this out by myself.From what I can tell I think that my Re-Bid zones for a 4* are GARDENAIRPORTMETARIENEW ORLEANS EAST WEST BANKFor the 3.5* It looks like the Re-Bid zones areGARDENNEW ORLEANS EASTAIRPORT WEST BANKIs this correct?I will use the link on this site to access PRICELINE and let you know how I do. Thanks so much for this adviceI understand the re-bidding process, even though I know it should work; it does make me a little nervous about the thought of getting a hotel in an area I really dont want to be in. So let me know if I have the zones correct... thanks
thereuare Posted March 29, 2010 Report Posted March 29, 2010 Yes, you have your re-bid zones correct, just make sure to double check them just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed, and i also suggesting writing out on a piece of paper a list of your re-bid zones and a list of your non-rebid zones... then double and triple check the 'review your bid' page just before bidding to make sure you have the correct zones select and the correct star rating. The more you do it.. the more comfortable you'll become with the process.Thanks for using the PRICELINE link on the board to begin your bidding.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
wjcassidy Posted March 31, 2010 Author Report Posted March 31, 2010 Can you help ID these Hotwire Hotels?Downtown 3* 69$Complementary BreakfastFitnessPoolLaundryInternet90% recommendand3* French Quarter 99$fitnessPoolRestaurantLaundryInternet70% Recommend
wjcassidy Posted March 31, 2010 Author Report Posted March 31, 2010 I am getting ready to start my bidding on a room for New Orleans for 4 nights in May. I am deciding whether I should take the 5$ per night trip cancellation insurance, since I am bidding about 2 months in advance of my trip.Is there any advice on whether it is advisable to take the trip cancellation? it would only ad 20$ to my bill.
wjcassidy Posted March 31, 2010 Author Report Posted March 31, 2010 I got the BOURBON ORLEANS!Here's what I did4* FQ75$ FQ- REJECTED-add Garden80 - Rejected- added EAST NEW ORLEANS- REJECTED85- Rejected- added West90- rejected- added airport100 rejected- added METARIE110- rejected! CLOSED BROWSER, RE-ENTERED PRICELINE link here3.5* FQStarted at 75$ got it on my first bid. Hotel looks lovely. Price is right.THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP
thereuare Posted March 31, 2010 Report Posted March 31, 2010 Congratulations on your success!Glad to see you received a nice deal for this busy time in New Orleans... and in the French Quarter!As far as insurance, it depends upon your needs/condition and the likelihood you think you'll be chasing in on it. In this situation, $5/nite is about 15% of your bid price... do you think there is a 15% chance that you'll need to cancel for one of the allowable conditions? For me, the answer is generally no, so i don't take the insurance... but for some it might make sense if they believe they have a situation which would cause them to need cancel for an event covered by the insurance (which is usually sickness related)Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.Have a great stay and a fun anniversary in New Orleans! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
wjcassidy Posted March 31, 2010 Author Report Posted March 31, 2010 I usually don't take it for stays of a night of two, but I think it's worth the 5$ a night for a trip like this with 4 night. A few years ago I had a trip planned for ITALY and wound up with an emergency appendectomy! I was glad I had it then.You never know what might happen. I am looking forward to my stay at the Bourbon Orleans. It looks like a fun place to stay.
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