Priceline Bidding Advice

jicms

Sorry if I'm asking the obvious but I want to bid for a Saturday and Sunday night. The advertised Sunday prices are mostly double the Saturday rate. How does that work when deciding a nightly bid rate?

blindman

It probably will mean that the winning bid for Sunday is higher than Saturday.
In this case you have a choice:

Bid the higher price that you think will win Sunday for both nights BUT realise that you will have overbid for Saturday.

Split your bid and Bid for Saturday only (hopefully win) then bid for Sunday (or vice versa depending on which is your 'must do' night). BUT be aware you could win another hotel. May not be worth the risk if the expected PL win on Sunday is only £10-20 more ?


If you use the USA PL site then you have the option should you win of "adding another night". This could be usd to get to stay in the same hotel.

HOWEVER it is not guaranteed you'll be offered this if you win AND the rate for the other night (Pl sets this if you take the offer) could be substantially higher (if you win Saturday then add another night for Sunday)

BUT (hope you're keeping up ) you do NOT have to take this add another night offer (if it appears) straight away. You could wait a while to see if the Sunday rates come down.


1) Can you check Hotwire to see if you can gauge the price for the second night?

2) Any other wins that may give a clue?

3) How far in advance is this?

4) Is there an event on the Sunday so prices are high?

5) Which hotel, what dates? what rates?

jicms

jicms wrote: »

Sorry if I'm asking the obvious but I want to bid for a Saturday and Sunday night. The advertised Sunday prices are mostly double the Saturday rate. How does that work when deciding a nightly bid rate?

Whoops, I actually meant the Saturday night prices are double the Sunday night which actually puts a different light on things as I wouldn't be able to request an additional night prior to the "won" night. As you say I could bid separately but it would be a pain to change hotel in the event of winning different hotels.

It is the US site I’m using, looking at Las Vegas hotels, Sat 20th & Sun 21st Feb. Not sure if being fairly last minute is a good or a bad thing. I’ve read that Vegas hotels are always priced higher at weekends which seems to mean Fridays and Saturdays. I’d quite like to try for a 5* resort hotel.

Do you think the PL process makes allowance for higher Saturday night prices, i.e. if you bid for a whole week would it be possible to win the Saturday night with a lower bid if they’re getting a booking for a longer stay, if that makes sense?

blindman

jicms wrote: »

Whoops, I actually meant the Saturday night prices are double the Sunday night which actually puts a different light on things as I wouldn't be able to request an additional night prior to the "won" night. As you say I could bid separately but it would be a pain to change hotel in the event of winning different hotels.

Yes you can. You can add a night to either after or before the winning date
Some hotels especially in Vegas will block single night bids for Saturdays too.


It is the US site I’m using, looking at Las Vegas hotels, Sat 20th & Sun 21st Feb. Not sure if being fairly last minute is a good or a bad thing. I

It is with PL and Vegas. Rooms that are not sold are usually only given to Hotwire\Pl about 2 weeks before. The real PL bargains are with the 5* hotels literaly last minute.
However Vegas is a place that Priceline doesn't always come up trumps.


’ve read that Vegas hotels are always priced higher at weekends

So true!


which seems to mean Fridays and Saturdays. I’d quite like to try for a 5* resort hotel.

Do you think the PL process makes allowance for higher Saturday night prices, i.e. if you bid for a whole week would it be possible to win the Saturday night with a lower bid if they’re getting a booking for a longer stay, if that makes sense?

Difficult to say with priceline, as you are bidding blind. The general rule of thumb is that your winning bid must be as high as the highest for the period.

You can see this better with Hotwire as it tells you the price for one night\two nights and so on.

Have you seen any other winning bids for this period on either BB or BFT?

jicms

Because of the difficulty securing a good rate for the Saturday night, 21 Feb I'm hoping to secure the Red Rock Casino through Hotwire (posted my query on BB to check it's the 4.5* advertised). I want to try for the 5* Wynn for the next two nights 22nd and 23rd. There are wins for $100 ish.

blindman

jicms wrote: »

Because of the difficulty securing a good rate for the Saturday night, 21 Feb I'm hoping to secure the Red Rock Casino through Hotwire (posted my query on BB to check it's the 4.5* advertised). I want to try for the 5* Wynn for the next two nights 22nd and 23rd. There are wins for $100 ish.

I see you won the Red Rock at $66 from your own research :T

Well done

Hope the bid for the 5* on the strip goes well.

jicms

Ah thank you. I'm a bit more anxious about this one as I haven't got a strategy yet. The calendar of wins is only showing The Wynn which seems hopeful. Do all the wins get added to the calendar? Do you think I would be any less happy with the other 5*s. I'm not so sure about the Trump being a condo hotel and sounds as if they add lots of charges to your bill.

blindman

jicms wrote: »

Ah thank you. I'm a bit more anxious about this one as I haven't got a strategy yet. The calendar of wins is only showing The Wynn which seems hopeful. Do all the wins get added to the calendar?

Yes it's done automatically

Do you think I would be any less happy with the other 5*s.
No

I'm not so sure about the Trump being a condo hotel and sounds as if they add lots of charges to your bill.

I would imagine most 5* hotels add lots to the bill:eek:

Have you looked at BFT to see if there are any 5* wins for your dates?

jicms

I have now looked at BFT, wasn't sure whether I should be posting on the two sites!

I've read about the Trump adding resort charges for extras not used etc. which I don't mind paying for at the Red Rock as I consider that a proper resort and we plan to use the spa etc. A BFT administrator quoted "I think you are the first person posting who has been pleased to get the Trump." I've realised though that it doesn't have a casino which I suppose lots of people want (we don't).

Am I right in saying The Wynn and Trump are not on the hotel maps?

Can't see any 5* wins for the 22nd and 23rd Feb on BFT either. As long as I don't bid much over $100 I'll have to take a chance after checking the zones. The Wynn is in North Zone but on the wins calendar is also shown as a win on the 17th for Central Zone - is this down to the error of the poster.

I don't see how to overlay the zones onto the PL map!

blindman

jicms wrote: »

I have now looked at BFT, wasn't sure whether I should be posting on the two sites!
You can post where you want, but be aware that BFT is very strict if you mention UK or do not bid through her link Sheryll will ban you.

Am I right in saying The Wynn and Trump are not on the hotel maps?

Yes. Thereuare isn't keeping the maps up to date

Can't see any 5* wins for the 22nd and 23rd Feb on BFT either. As long as I don't bid much over $100 I'll have to take a chance after checking the zones. The Wynn is in North Zone but on the wins calendar is also shown as a win on the 17th for Central Zone - is this down to the error of the poster.

Sort of. That win was on HOTWIRE which has different zones. The post is in the wrong place.

I don't see how to overlay the zones onto the PL map!

You can't overlap zones...

Good luck with the bid