Priceline Hotel: Las Vegas 5/22-5/23 help

[cctuzi]

Hi, this is my first post to the board, but I've been scouring through it for the last two days, reading tips for Priceline bidding.

I'm looking for a room preferably on the strip or near the strip, 3.5* - 5*, willing to pay a little more for the higher stars than the lower ones.

I'd like to avoid the Luxor; don't mind Trump. My maximum is $110 before taxes and fees for 5*, <$100 for 4*, <$90 for 3.5*. Below is what I've bid so far on Priceline today, 4/4; no success yet. Could prices drop if I waited until late April/early May to try again? What do people on the board think? Would adding $10 to my 5* bid get me anything? Really hitting the top of my budget there, but if it were a choice between around $90 for 3.5* and $120 for 5*, I'd be okay with paying a little more for 5*. If opinion is that prices will only go higher, then I might just break and consider the Luxor.... So far haven't added Vicinity South to my 4* bids because of Luxor.

Thanks for the help!

3.5* 5/22-5/23

Convention Center, Nellis $80 rejected

Convention Center, Nellis, Near Strip East $85 rejected

Vicinity South, Convention Center $89 rejected

4* 5/22-5/23

Convention Center and Strip North $75 rejected

Convention Center and Near Strip East $80 rejected, counteroffer $133

Vicinity North $85 rejected, counteroffer $150

Near Strip East and Strip North $85 rejected

Convention Center, Strip North, Vicinity North $85 rejected, counteroffer $150

Convention Center, Strip North, Vicinity North, Near Strip East $90 rejected, counteroffer $133

Vicinity North, Near Strip East $100 rejected, counteroffer $133

Vicinity North, Near Strip East, Strip North $105 rejected, counteroffer $133

5* 5/22-5/23

Vicinity South, Vicinity North $99 rejected, counteroffer $150

Strip North, Convention Center, Nellis $99 rejected

Strip North, Convention Center, Nellis, Vicinity North $105 rejected

Vicinity South, Boulder $105 rejected

Vicinity South, Vicinity North, Nellis $110 rejected, counter offer $150

[photomikey]

Speculation: I think that at the 5* level, you're looking at $130 before acceptance. I wish $120 would get you there, but I don't think it will.

Your 4* bidding strategy is all over the map. You could get accepted anywhere, at anytime, with no regards to what the best price was anywhere. In 4*, you have bid in a random fashion on Convention Center, Near Strip East, Strip North, and Strip Vicinity North. The acceptable level at 4* in Convention Center is about half of what it would be on the strip... you ought not be adding or removing it willy-nilly.

Trying to bid 3.5* on PL (especially in Vegas) is murder, I can't offer advice on it - I wouldn't know where to start.

Decide where you want to stay, and at what level. If a big name hotel is what you seek, North and South strip (NOT near-strip vicinity of any kind) is what you're looking for. FWIW, I think the $110 you're willing to pay for the 5* would get you a 4*. No way to know for sure but to bid it. ;-)

[yellowdog]

cctuzi

Welcome to BetterBidding!

photomikey have posted an excellet answer. I just want to add. Try the 5* in small steps untill you hit your max. It looks like your best chance.

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

Let us know how we can help you further.

Yellowdog.

[cctuzi]

...The acceptable level at 4* in Convention Center is about half of what it would be on the strip...

...If a big name hotel is what you seek, North and South strip (NOT near-strip vicinity of any kind) is what you're looking for. FWIW, I think the $110 you're willing to pay for the 5* would get you a 4*. No way to know for sure but to bid it. ;-)

photomikey, thanks so much for your helpful reply! Just wanting to respond to some of the things you mentioned...

1) I get the impression Hard Rock is in Near Strip East, is that right? I think I was mostly trying for that one when I included Near Strip East in my bids.

2) Your last point about $110 maybe working for a 4*... would that be a 4* on the strip or off? You had mentioned that 4* around Convention Center should be much lower than on the strip, so just wanting to clarify :)

3) You mentioned that my bidding on 4* was a bit all over the place; my goal really was to get a place that has an upscale environment, nice experience, clean rooms, near the strip but being on it isn't a priority since I'm bidding just for one night and will be moving to another hotel for following nights. But even including a bunch of zones in one bid, I couldn't get a hit on my offer so would that mean that regardless of on or off the strip, 4* for that date is going to be on the $100+ side?

Sorry if some of these seem like stupid questions... first time bidding on a stay in Vegas and prices just seem chaotically fluid across hotels, zones, and dates on the calendar. I suppose it's fitting for Vegas. :)

Thanks again!