Priceline Bidding Advice

unknown786

thanks! My problem is that I know which hotel I want (4* Pillman Bercy) but there is another 4* in the same area which I don't want!

blindman

unknown786 wrote: »

thanks! My problem is that I know which hotel I want (4* Pillman Bercy) but there is another 4* in the same area which I don't want!

There lies the problem with Priceline I'm afraid. :cool:

There is no way to guarantee a particular hotel-You can stack the odds in your favour at times but it is still a gamble.

You have a better chance with Hotwire in being able to identify hotels (still a risk though)

However at present no-one has reported the Pulman Bercy for the Hotwire area
You would have to do the work yourself fo Hotwire.

Sorry i couldn't help more

debsjc

Two questions please, i'm using the UK site ....
I'm bidding on a remote area in New Hampshire, so there are no reports of what offers are likely to be accepted on any of the 'help' sites.

1 - I tried bidding today on a 3 star, once in my name and on my card, and then in the name/email address/card of the 2nd person travelling.

Both bids were rejected. Then I added in 2.5 star and bid again on one account, again not high enough ..... when I tried to bid on the 2nd account it rejected it saying I had already bid.
Priceline must have recognised the same surname or IP address, which surprised me.

2- If I now add the 2 star in (as well as 3 star and 2.5 star) will the system let me lower my bid from last time, as I am lowering the star rating?

blindman

debsjc wrote: »

Two questions please, i'm using the UK site ....
I'm bidding on a remote area in New Hampshire, so there are no reports of what offers are likely to be accepted on any of the 'help' sites.

Is the area cover by Hotwire? Some clues can be gained by looking at their offerings

1 - I tried bidding today on a 3 star, once in my name and on my card, and then in the name/email address/card of the 2nd person travelling.

Both bids were rejected. Then I added in 2.5 star and bid again on one account, again not high enough ..... when I tried to bid on the 2nd account it rejected it saying I had already bid.
Priceline must have recognised the same surname or IP address, which surprised me.

What's the question :cool: You have to log out completelty then log back in as the "second" person

2- If I now add the 2 star in (as well as 3 star and 2.5 star) will the system let me lower my bid from last time, as I am lowering the star rating?

Yes you can lower the star rating and bid at a lower price.

What are the rates for the hotels in the area?

debsjc

Hi Blindman, thanks very much for your reply.

Hotwire do not cover the ares unfortunately.

1- You are right I didn't word that very well! I just wondered if other people were having a problem bidding with 2 accounts. I did sign out totally then into the 2nd account, but it would not accept it. Maybe Priceline have tightened up on that.

2 -Thank you, I will up my bid on the 2.5 star once more, and if no luck then add in the 2 star, at a lower bid.

I think I know the exact hotels I am bidding on. This small town has a group of 4 hotels/inns under the same ownership, that use each others facilities. They have the only swimming pool in town, and as Priceline are quoting a pool, it must be this group (plus everything else adds up)

Priceline offer a 3 star, 2.5 star and 2 star ...i'm assuming the 2 star is the cheapest property offered by this group, and then working up from there.

The rates on the hotel groups own website vary from $111 (for the cheapest room in the one I think is the 2 star) to $239 (cheapest room in the 3 star)
My last bid was the £ equivalent of $90 ....but I only offered it for the 2.5 and 3 star.

blindman

debsjc wrote: »

Hi Blindman, thanks very much for your reply.


My last bid was the £ equivalent of $90 ....but I only offered it for the 2.5 and 3 star.

What hotels do PL offer on their "normal" page?

No guarantee but can give a guide a times as to what hotels there may be on the bidding side.

Do you have plenty of time for these bids?

Where exactly are you bidding?

debsjc

I really need to get it booked asap, as I a provisional hold on an apartment near by, as a back-up plan. (but not travelling until october)

The town is Meredith, NH, USA. On PL normal site they just have a 3star B&B for $159 (no swimming pool)
They do not have the group I am bidding on showing up for my dates.... but that group does have rooms available at all of the 4 properties on their own website.

blindman

debsjc wrote: »

I really need to get it booked asap, as I a provisional hold on an apartment near by, as a back-up plan. (but not travelling until october)

The town is Meredith, NH, USA. On PL normal site they just have a 3star B&B for $159 (no swimming pool)
They do not have the group I am bidding on showing up for my dates.... but that group does have rooms available at all of the 4 properties on their own website.

Have you looked at BiddingTraveller?

Again not much info but do have some older unscucessful bids

debsjc

Yes sorry I have forgotten I looked at that, but for me those bids were sooooo low they didn't really help at all. I would have fallen on the sofa in shock if any of those bids had been accepted for these properties!
Good point though, thanks.

blindman

debsjc wrote: »

Yes sorry I have forgotten I looked at that, but for me those bids were sooooo low they didn't really help at all. I would have fallen on the sofa in shock if any of those bids had been accepted for these properties!
Good point though, thanks.

Looks like you have covered all the bases for this very small town.

You could ask for help at Betterbidding but I think you've done the relvant research.

Just one point regarding star ratings.
PL bidding side star ratings may not even match their "normal" booking side and their bidding star rating is usually higher than anyone elses, so their 2* may be an Econolodge:eek:

If you do get lucky then report the win to Betterbidding.

Good luck