Priceline Hotel: 4* DC (White House-Downtown) Renaissance Mayflower

Brand new to this and looking for some advice. Site was suggested as a great resource. I need to be in the DC area for listed dates but don't need to be in the middle of everything. Would like to be on the Metro line, though, and have a comfortable place to stay. Where to begin? Have very limited experience with Priceline and none with Hotwire. Would rather be a little north of the mall area than south.

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages.

Then, add a reply to this thread with your expected budget and desired star rating, we'll then have a look at your options for these dates.

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

Thanks.

Thanks for the welcome, Thereuare. Glad to be here.

My dates are set in stone. Daughter must be in DC these dates. Unfortunately, the MLK, Jr. Memorial dedicaiton was changed to the 15th, so that has me more uncertain about what to expect. About two weeks ago, I bid $80 (Priceline) for a 3.5 star for a room in the areas of DupontCir/Woodley, Geo'town/Foggy Bottom and Convention Center. Bid was not accepted. Would expand or change my areas now to Dupont/Woodly, Geo'town/Foggy Bottom, Geo'town North and Bethesda. My two real 'wants' are easy merto/rail access and reasonable price. Would like to stay as close to $80 as I can and would like at least 3.5 star. Am I out of line in my thinking?

Buc77

Your budget will likely fall short for something in 'the city' for these dates, but you may be able to get something in the outlying suburbs. However, the issue with the 'burbs (such as Bethesda) is that the zone is large and outside of "DC proper' the metro stations begin to get further and further apart. Given that 'close' to a metro station is one of your goals for this stay, did you mean close as in it's walkable or that it's a relatively short drive away?

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

If I go up to the $90 -$100 range and stick with the original areas, I am thinking I would be 'close' (as in walkable distance) to a metro station. And you are right - the Bethesda 'zone' is huge. I am basing this on accepted bids in those areas as posted by others. Granted, the dates are a little before or after, but surely there will be rooms available those dates. Also, should I look at Hotwire to get ideas of possible bids for Priceline?

If I go up to the $90 -$100 range and stick with the original areas...

Please clarify the original areas you're referring to... the zones you have already bid or the second group listed which (as per your second post) you are now considering bidding.

To avoid any confusion, please re-list the hotels you're referring to and we'll comment accordingly.

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

Thanks.

As stated in earlier post(s), my dates of 10/15/11 thru 10/19/11 are set in stone. MLK, Jr. Memorial dedication date changed due to hurricane to coincide with my dates. An earlier (Priceline) bid of $80 was not accepted.

Bid would now be in the $100 range for 3.5 star in DupontCir/Woodley, Geo'town/Foggy Bottom and Convention Center areas. I would probably add Geo'town North, too. They each seem confined enough geographically and will hopefully allow for walking distance to a metro stop.

BUC77

As stated in earlier post(s), my dates of 10/15/11 thru 10/19/11 are set in stone. MLK, Jr. Memorial dedication date changed due to hurricane to coincide with my dates. An earlier (Priceline) bid of $80 was not accepted.

Bid would now be in the $100 range for 3.5 star in DupontCir/Woodley, Geo'town/Foggy Bottom and Convention Center areas. I would probably add Geo'town North, too. They each seem confined enough geographically and will hopefully allow for walking distance to a metro stop. Please let me know if this sounds better. I want to get something this weekend and cross that off my list.

THANKS,

Buc77

There are currently no 3.5* properties offered in the Georgetown North zone so that's not an option if you intend to keep your minimum star rating at 3.5*. We therefore won't include this zone in a bidding strategy.

I don't think $100 will be enough for this stay, but to give it a try:

At the 3.5* level you have FOUR 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 3.5* Dupont Circle and Geogetown

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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 $88, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Dupont Circle and Convention Center

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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 $88, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Dupont Circle and Geogetown and Convention Center

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $93, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $98, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100

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.

Man, what a process! Unfortunately, no luck. Will wait the 24 hrs and try again starting at $100 and go from there. Very much appreciate the tip(s). Wonder where it is going to 'top out' and be accepted? Any idea?

Thanks,

Buc 77

At current rates I'd guess $140-$160 area is probably what you're looking at for a 3.5* in the zones you're bidding... but i'd continue to gradually increase your bids in $5 increments in hopes of something cheaper.

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

Good luck and let us know how the next round of bidding goes.

Before I continue with my bidding on 3.5*, should I consider the same pricing and moving down to a 3*? Given the lack of success to this point, and considering what I really need from a room, I am suddenly thinking that a 3* might be fine. I looked at a few of the reviews for 3*s in Dupont/Woodly, Geo'town/Foggy Bottom and Conven. Cntr. Have other members been satisfied with 3* rooms in those areas? I think accessability will ultimately trump amenities.

Buc77

Whether you lower your star rating to 3* really depend what you want/expect from this stay and your budget, and we'll be happy to suggest a strategy for whatever you decide you'd like to try next. However, my guess is that lowering to 3* isn't going to help you all that much in terms of price.

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

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll try to assist further.

Post from azgirl2011 today at 3:23 pm:

After bidding and bidding and bidding over the last week, using various combinations and maximizing **free** re-bids, I finally booked 2 rooms at the Courtyard Marriott- Dupont Circle (3 star rating) for $85/nt per room. Currently, this hotel is going for around $300/nt per room, so I feel like I got a really good deal.

I really wanted to get a 3 1/2 star or higher property, in either Dupont Circle, Downtown or Convention Center, but with a max bid of $97/nt, I couldn't seem to be successful.

Her dates are about the same as mine, and she was trying the same zones, ratings and bids as I. She was ultimately successful going with a 3*, which is what I was thinking I might have to do. The reply to her post seemed to indicate that the Courtyard Marriott-Dupont Circle at $85 was a pretty good deal. Given that success, I think I am going to try a 3* and work my way up from there. I'll post the results when/if successful.

Buc77

If you'd like help with a bidding strategy at the 3* level let us know which zone(s) you're willing to accept and your maximum bid at this star level, we'll then advise accordingly... or if you're already bidding let us know how it goes.

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

Using much the same process as mentioned in the earlier post from Thereuare, no luck (yet) working up to $95, 10/15 - 10/20 in Dupont, Geo/Fog, Conven Cntr or White House area. Will try again tomorrow and start at around $85. We'll see what happens.

Buc77

Keep us updated on your progress.

I haven't broken the dates down at all to see if it would help, but have you considered SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID?

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

One major question which comes to mind in 'splitting my bid' is whether I would have to stick with one area or zone. Since there is no guarantee of getting the same hotel, I guess I could have two nights in the Convention Center area and then three in, say, Dupont Circle. Correct?

I think I am going to continue with bidding for the whole 10/15/11 - 10/20/11 dates in a 3*. My zones will be Convention Center, Geo'town/Foggy and Dupont Circle in that order. I have 'resigned' myself to bidding up to $120 but will start around $85. Any tips would be appreciated.

Buc77

At the 3* level you have ONE re-bid zone. 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 3* Convention Center...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Georgetown-Foggy Bottom...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Dupont Circle...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Convention Center and Georgetown-Foggy Bottom...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Convention Center and Dupont Circle...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Convention Center and Georgetown-Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110

If/when the above is rejected, wait 24 hours, use the board's PRICELINE link to re-access PRICELINE, and repeat, increasing each bid by $10, which will bring you to your $120 maximum bid.

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

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

No luck yet...but I'm getting pretty good at this now.

Toward the end of the process, I got a 'One-Time Special Offer' of a room rate in my zone(s). It was a sure thing if I was willing to up my bid by $48. Is that something that happens often? For 5 nights, that meant adding $240. I had not planned on going that high. I may ultimately have to go as high as that, but I want to see what might give before I do, though. Also, I'm afraid you were correct in an earlier post...$140 to $160 to get a room.

Buc77

This is what we refer to as a counter-offer and the can usually be undercut by using additional re-bid zones (when still available). You can read more about counter-offers in this Priceline Suggests Price to Pay thread, but essentially you know that, at least at this moment, the 'right' price is somewhere between $1 more than your failed bid when you got the counter-offer and the amount of your failed bid plus the counter-offer. So, if for example you received the counter-offer when you made a $110 bid, the right price is somewhere between $111 and $158.

Do you recall at what bid amount you received the counter-offer and which zone(s) were selected? Are you willing to increase your maximum bid at this point in time?

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

Do you recall at what bid amount you received the counter-offer and which zone(s) were selected? Are you willing to increase your maximum bid at this point in time?

Don't remember exactly, but think it was Conv. Cntr/G'town-Fog/Mt. Vernon(re-bid zone) and the price they gave was $160ish. I was at $115ish. I think the length of my stay (10/15 - 10/20) is the issue/problem. I saw where there was a winning bid for $90 in the Conv. Cntr for 10/14-10/16, and I have seen similar winning bids for partial dates I need at around the same price. Maybe I'm not holding my mouth right when I put in my bid! Oh, well. I'll keep at it.

Buc77

Several years ago I visited Washington, DC with my son and granddaughter. The budget was of course tight. We've always way more travel ideas than $$. We bid and ended up in Crystal City.

A short walk to the metro. My granddaughter (12 at the time) was fascinated by figuring out how to route on it so we ended up letting her do all that brain work.

An interesting neighborhood with various intriguing ethnic restaurants. Quiet and nice.

FYI.

Romelle

You can look in the hotel list and hotel reviews to get an idea of what you might get in the Crystal City zone.

I think the length of my stay (10/15 - 10/20) is the issue/problem. I saw where there was a winning bid for $90 in the Conv. Cntr for 10/14-10/16, and I have seen similar winning bids for partial dates I need at around the same price. Maybe I'm not holding my mouth right when I put in my bid!

It's not necessarily the length of your stay, but the dates within the range of your stay. Rates are date specific, and at a few random properties i searched for in the zones you're bidding, rates are much cheaper for 10/15 and 1/16 then they are for 10/17 and 10/18 (some hotels are actually sold-out on these last two nites)

For example, if you were to SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID, i think you could get a 4* hotel in the Dupont Circle zone for 10/15-10/17 at bid amounts you have already made... but for 10/17-10/19 i think even a 3* for $110 will be difficult. (NOTE: just noticed your now bidding 10/15-10/20, and i was using the original dates in the topic title of 10/15-10/19, but same thoughts apply, although 10/19 does not look like an expensive nite... it's just 10/17-10/19 which is causing the problem)

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

Luck with two nights so far!! Mayflower Reinaissance, 4*, 10/15-10/17, $105/night. I tried to add more nights on their 'add more nights now' offer, but they were full...at that price. Could have added nights at around $400/night. Think I'll try another round of bidding in same areas for 10/17-10/19 starting around that price unless there is another alternative. Those are the dates I still need to be there while my daughter is at her conference. I would like to stay as close to the same area as possible. I don't mind changing hotels, but I don't necessarily want to have to move as far as across the river or up to Bethesda. Suggestions?

Thanks!

Buc77 :)