Priceline guide discussion area

blindman

josie wrote: »

It might be better for you in October, but from what I can tell by looking at successful bids on BetterBidding, the success stories seem to be about 1 or 2 nights and rarely for 3 and don't even think I've seen 4 nights, certainly not more. (well not for NYC, which is where I was looking), so unless you want to split your bids and probably end up in two hotels, (which sounds a bit of a nightmare to me - I'd rather pay a little more and be in one place) then dare I suggest you may well not get anything on Priceline.

It's quite a tiring place anyway and the thought of packing up halfway through and having to get all your luggage over to another hotel, probably by taxi might outweigh the bargain you think you've got.

I do think there should be some kind of warning on the MSE guide about the number of nights. I know you say Research, Research, Research, blindman, but I just didn't register this bit about the number of nights, I was purely looking at previous wins, so got my fingers burnt on this one!

From my guide

Changing dates or splitting a bid.
To accept your bid, Priceline needs to have availability on all dates of your bid, and your bid has to be high enough to be accepted on all dates.

If there are one or two dates within your stay when rates are significantly higher or availability more limited than other days you may want to consider splitting your bid and doing one bid for the high rate days and another for the less expensive ones.
If you split your bid you have a good chance of winning two completely different hotels, so think carefully!

So it does stand to reason that bidding for longer stays may be more difficult than shorter ones.

However mrswack has not provide details as to her research into availabilty and cost of the nights she wants.

I think that maybe either Priceline does not have inventory yet or that rates are high because of a convention etc in town.

It would be interesting to see if Hotwire has availability for those nights and at what price.

Splitting your bid is really a last resort because of the chances of getting two diffferent hotels and as you say the extra cost and hassle of moving.

If mrswack comes back with the details of her research or at least registers on Betterbidding then she may get a hotel.

so got my fingers burnt on this one

Did you split a bid and get 2 hotels?

blindman

josie wrote: »

It might be better for you in October, but from what I can tell by looking at successful bids on BetterBidding, the success stories seem to be about 1 or 2 nights and rarely for 3 and don't even think I've seen 4 nights, certainly not more. (well not for NYC, which is where I was looking), so unless you want to split your bids and probably end up in two hotels, (which sounds a bit of a nightmare to me - I'd rather pay a little more and be in one place) then dare I suggest you may well not get anything on Priceline.

It's quite a tiring place anyway and the thought of packing up halfway through and having to get all your luggage over to another hotel, probably by taxi might outweigh the bargain you think you've got.

I do think there should be some kind of warning on the MSE guide about the number of nights. I know you say Research, Research, Research, blindman, but I just didn't register this bit about the number of nights, I was purely looking at previous wins, so got my fingers burnt on this one!

8 night stay at $170 through Priceline.

There are more but this was just a quick look.

josie

Did you split a bid and get 2 hotels?[/quote]

No, I just feel that I've lost about 2 weeks of my life! I ended up booking a 2* hotel on Expedia for £418 in the end, but thought I'd get a bargain on PL and didn't, so may as well have saved myself loads of hassle searching for flights and hotels and just booked the package in the first place on Expedia.

I do like the idea of PL and your guide is great :A , just feel it might be better saying something along the lines of the more nights you want the less likely you are to be successful or decreasing odds or something?

Also, that the price posted on BB is pre-taxes, charges etc., of about 17.5% (I know you see that when you bid, but just for clarity, as even the OP that your link immediately above refers to, asks about the taxes etc.)

I may be playing devil's advocate here, but it's not intentional, just hoping to highlight that it's not as easy as it might first appear!

blindman

josie wrote: »

...worth checking out Expedia et al first, as may be cheaper to book a package. Don't necessarily get sucked in to thinking this will be the cheapest option.

This is of course quite true.

Research is the key and comparing what you could get with Expedia etc should be included in that research.

If you can make a cancellable back up of a hotel (that is at an acceptable price\location and star level) then book the flights etc.

Once that is done then look at Priceline to see if you can make savings.

You don't have to waste hours doing this BTW just register with Betterbidding and ask for a strategy.

blindman

blindman wrote: »

No, I just feel that I've lost about 2 weeks of my life! I ended up booking a 2* hotel on Expedia for £418 in the end, but thought I'd get a bargain on PL and didn't, so may as well have saved myself loads of hassle searching for flights and hotels and just booked the package in the first place on Expedia.

I do like the idea of PL and your guide is great :A , just feel it might be better saying something along the lines of the more nights you want the less likely you are to be successful?

I'll add that caveat.

Done

4) You are staying in a major city (new York Chicago etc) for LESS than 3-4 nights.
It is not impossible to win one hotel on Priceline for more than 3-4 nights, BUT it can become increasingly more difficult in major cities etc.
Other areas like Florida or Miami etc are not so prone to problems with longer stay wins

blindman

josie wrote: »

Also, that the price posted on BB is pre-taxes, charges etc., of about 17.5% (I know you see that when you bid, but just for clarity, as even the OP that your link immediately above refers to, asks about the taxes etc.)

Done. I have amended the guide.

How much should I bid?
REMEMBER
Winning bids on both BiddingforTravel and Betterbidding do NOT include the extra TAXES and FEES.
The TOTAL cost of your win will be higher than the bid price.

josie

blindman wrote: »

This is of course quite true.

Research is the key and comparing what you could get with Expedia etc should be included in that research.

If you can make a cancellable back up of a hotel (that is at an acceptable price\location and star level) then book the flights etc.

Once that is done then look at Priceline to see if you can make savings.

You don't have to waste hours doing this BTW just register with Betterbidding and ask for a strategy.

I did this, but the general opinion was that there wasn't much available for that week, hence having to do my own research.

blindman

josie wrote: »

I did this, but the general opinion was that there wasn't much available for that week, hence having to do my own research.

Well TBH if thereuare can't find you a bargain using his bidding strategy then no-one can.

You have raised a good point.

When I book holidays I tend to avoid the peak periods and therefore Priceline usually works for me.

(No kids, tend not to go to major events).

At peak times then there is a fine line between convenience and price.

If Expedia et al can give a good package price then saving a few $$$ with Pl may not be worth the effort.

Each to his own.

crombiestone

Hi

Whilst I admit that my win may have been a fluke .I did get 6 nights in NYC for £55 a night so it is possible . I would advise regularly checking biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com . These anomalys sometimes show on these sites first and are usually quickly shut down once a mistake has been realised . Once a bid is accepted they have to honour it !

If you are flexible with your travel dates and you see someone has won at a bargain rate ,go for it as quick as you can . I saw a few people winning the Sheraton Manhattan at £55 per night in oct 2007 being posted on biddingfortravel ,made a punt bid at the dates I wanted in June 2008 and got them at the same rate.Usually the best rates are much closer to the actual arrival time.

When using Priceline flexibility is the key .If you want to stay in a particular hotel ,Priceline isn't for you.

All I can say is I have stayed in many lovely 4* hotels at around 50% less than the advertised price .

mrswack

Sorry for delay

1) Was that winning bid for your dates and for which hotel?

It was for the Barclay and it was 2-3 days out from my exact dates but the only one near to my actual dates.

2) Betterbidding is a really friendly site. Do not be afraid to register and ask for help.
Think £145 was top bid for me considering I could end up anywhere and then adding taxes on too....seems Priceline hasn't worked for me this time

3) What is the Hotwire rate for those dates?

4* in my area's start at $314.

Have decided against any further bidding after getting up to £145 a night and will just go through Expedia I think!