Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

[lknight27]

I tried LKnights method trying to get the Intercontinental for Sat. 1/16. I went all the way up to $112. I finally went to a 4 star and got La Concha for $105. I booked 3 rooms for 6 adults. I think we got a pretty good deal and LKnight, you gave terrific instructions, couldn't have done it without them. Thanks.

 

You're welcome! ;) Glad I can help.

[ktm62]

I was terrified to say the least because I was booking for our friends as well as ourselves and didnt want to be responsible for ruining there stay.OMG followed your bidding advice and got marriott stellaris for $115

for our pre-cruise stay feb 13 after several bids.Next I booked intercontinental for $90 post cruise on the 21st.:D:D:D

 

Now i have to pray we can each get rooms with two bed since we each have 2 kids.

 

thank you, thank you, thank you :)

[lknight27]

I was terrified to say the least because I was booking for our friends as well as ourselves and didnt want to be responsible for ruining there stay.OMG followed your bidding advice and got marriott stellaris for $115

for our pre-cruise stay feb 13 after several bids.Next I booked intercontinental for $90 post cruise on the 21st.:D:D:D

 

Now i have to pray we can each get rooms with two bed since we each have 2 kids.

 

thank you, thank you, thank you :)

 

You are very welcome too! Call the hotel now and put a request in for two double beds. While nothing is guaranteed, the earlier you do this the better chance you'll have in receiving it. Also, if you're a marriott rewards member and a priority club member, when you call to request your bedding type, give them your membership number. While you won't get points for the stay, you should receive points for anything you purchase during your stay, not to add you'll still get the priority check-in, free newspaper, etc or whatever benefits that your membership offer to all it members.

 

Hope this helps!:D

[rogeralan]

Three nights 10/8-10/11 for $94/night on Hotwire.

Booked in February.

[will work to cruise]

Getting in around 6:00 pre-cruise. Didn't want a resort for the one night. I bid 3* and here's what I got:

 

One night pre-cruise

Radisson Ambassador Plaza

2 Rooms

$51+tax per room

 

Now trying for a resort for 2 nights post-cruise

[cary1306]

won la conch hotel is 4 star for 1/16/ 2010 saturday night on priceline for $101

Edited July 30, 2009 by cary1306

[raz5]

Not quite!

 

In order to NOT get a resort in another zone, you need to re-bid in a zone that DOES NOT HAVE RESORTS. This is called a free re-bid. So before you start bidding, select every zone individually. The ones that do not have resorts write the zones down so that if your first bid isn't accepted, you can add these zones as free rebids right away. Otherwise you'd need to wait 24 hours before bidding again. This also allows you to not overbid since you can start low and work your way up. Be sure to NOT change the star level. Keep it at RESORT just add the zones.

 

Here's a sample bidding strategy:

Select - San Juan - Resorts- bid xxx

add Cabo and rebid xxx

add Dorado and rebid xxx

add Maya and rebid xxx

add Ponce and rebid xxx

 

If you notice, each zone that I added has no resorts which ensures that the bidding goes back to my initial zone which is San Juan. I was able to snag the Intercontinental for $91 in January, so priceline is a good option if you know how to bid and want to save some money.

 

Hope this helps. I'm a priceline junkie!!!!:D I can bid and write up strategies in my sleep. There's even a way to squeeze more free rebids than the above strategy, but that's for the more experienced users. If you have more questions though, feel free to ask.

 

Happy Bidding! ;)

 

 

What if I don't want a resort but a 3 1/2 or 4 star

[lknight27]

What if I don't want a resort but a 3 1/2 or 4 star

 

Then you'd need to click on each zone and whichever zone that does NOT have the star level or above that you're looking for you write down as a free re-bid zone. Otherwise you'll only be able to bid every 24 hours if your inital bid is not accepted. Also, keep in mind that you can be upgraded to a resort if you bid for anything below a 5 star. To review a list of the hotels or to learn how to bid with priceline please refer to biddingfortravel.com.

[raz5]

You rock. Got a pre-cruise at the Intercontinental for $90.00. Your advice was awesome

[lknight27]

You rock. Got a pre-cruise at the Intercontinental for $90.00. Your advice was awesome

 

See . . I knew you could do it!!!! ;)

[Hawk15]

Priceline accepted my bid, does the total they show include all fees including resort fees or can I expect to pay extra fees when I check into La Concha. Thanks

[63galaxie]

We just won two rooms, 1 night, for 10/17/09 at the Intercontinental for $105 for each room, plus taxes of $34. Total $244 for two rooms.

We bid on Priceline using Resort in San Juan area.

Bids rejected: 75, 80, 85

Accepted: $105

[sunseeker09]

won la conch hotel is 4 star for 1/16/ 2010 saturday night on priceline for $101

 

We are also looking for a hotel for Jan. 16 (for our last night :(

We are new to priceline. I got up to $110 for resorts and used the advice listed here to add zones. No luck. Now I think I'd like to try 4 star. There are only 2 listed in the SJU zone - La Conch and Conrad. Can they sneak in any others? If changing star ratings can I go back down again or am I now stuck at $110, or higher? Advice please. Thanks so much.

[sunseeker09]

won la conch hotel is 4 star for 1/16/ 2010 saturday night on priceline for $101

 

I decided to try the same thing and also got La Concha for $101. woo hoo! We were going to pay about $200 CAD for the Hampton which only comes in as a 2 star, but now we have a 4 star for about $60 less. Yeah! Thank you thank you :)

[Bwanna]

We just won two rooms, 1 night, for 10/17/09 at the Intercontinental for $105 for each room, plus taxes of $34. Total $244 for two rooms.

We bid on Priceline using Resort in San Juan area.

Bids rejected: 75, 80, 85

Accepted: $105

 

Hmmm. I just got on Priceline and there is now a resort and a 4 star in Rio, which is too far away if my bid was accepted. So if I understand all the comments on using Priceline, I can now only bid on a 5 star because no other zones have them; which is the Ritz carlton - a little too much for my budget. Am i doing something wrong?

[Bwanna]

You're welcome! ;) Glad I can help.

 

I posted this to another response but you appear to be the guru for Priceline so wanted your opinion. I just got on Priceline and there are resorts in Rio and a 4* which is an area that is too far away (i think) for booking for a one night. So I think my only option is a 5 star since that is not available in any other area. But i don't think the Ritz is going to accept a $100 bid whihc is my budget. Am I doing something wrong or missing the logic in how to bid?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

[lknight27]

I posted this to another response but you appear to be the guru for Priceline so wanted your opinion. I just got on Priceline and there are resorts in Rio and a 4* which is an area that is too far away (i think) for booking for a one night. So I think my only option is a 5 star since that is not available in any other area. But i don't think the Ritz is going to accept a $100 bid whihc is my budget. Am I doing something wrong or missing the logic in how to bid?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Actually there isn't a 5 star zone in San Juan let alone Puerto Rico, so bidding for a 5 star is not an option at all anyhow. And you are correct, looks like they just added a resort to the Rio zone area, so very good catch!:D This is a very important lesson for all to always check the zones before bidding. They can change at any given time, which can limit your options for re-bids, or worst give you a win in an area you don't want.

 

At any rate though, you can still bid for a resort in San Juan, just DO NOT use Rio Grande as a re-bidd zone. All the other zones are fine to use as free rebid zones.

 

So select San Juan - Resorts - and bid

add Cabo and re-bid

add Dorado and re-bid

add Mayaguez and re-bid

add Ponce and re-bid

 

The above strategy will ensure that you get a resort in San Juan based on the current zone and star level options.

 

PS. If you want a 4 star in San Juan then just click on every zone. Whichever zone that does not have a resort or 4 star write down and you can use that zone as your free re-bid zone. This free re-bidding method works for every location (domestic & international). Whenever you want to find your free re-bids, click on every zone, and whichever zone that does not have your star level or above should be written down to be used as an immediate free re-bid.

 

Hope this helps

Edited August 10, 2009 by lknight27

[toonjie]

Hmmm. I just got on Priceline and there is now a resort and a 4 star in Rio, which is too far away if my bid was accepted. So if I understand all the comments on using Priceline, I can now only bid on a 5 star because no other zones have them; which is the Ritz carlton - a little too much for my budget. Am i doing something wrong?

 

This has been the case for a long, long time. Priceline has 2 resorts, The Wyndham Rio Mar and the El Conquistador and a 4*, the Gran Melia in the Rio- Grande-Humacao zone. So you can add all the other zones, except Rio-Grande-Humacao. There are no 5* since the Ritz is not a Priceline resort.

[vttraveler]

Hi,

I've lurked for a while and now have something to add....

 

We are traveling on the CB 02/21/10 - 3/7/10 and were looking for a good deal on a pre-cruise hotel in SJU. Using the tips here and on betterbidding we were successful with a priceline bid of $117/night for 2/18/10-2/21/10 at the Marriott Stellaris Resort and Casino (I started at $93 and used 2 free bids before I was sucessful). While we were hoping for the Intercontinental as we have stayed there before and like the Isla Verde area, we are thrilled with the price as they are advertising for $295/night.

 

Does anyone know if there is a grocery store nearby to pick up drinks before the cruise?

 

Also, we have friends staying in Isla Verde - is there a bus that runs directly from the Marriott to Isla Verde (down towards the Hampton Inn)?

[toonjie]

Hi,

I've lurked for a while and now have something to add....

 

We are traveling on the CB 02/21/10 - 3/7/10 and were looking for a good deal on a pre-cruise hotel in SJU. Using the tips here and on betterbidding we were successful with a priceline bid of $117/night for 2/18/10-2/21/10 at the Marriott Stellaris Resort and Casino (I started at $93 and used 2 free bids before I was sucessful). While we were hoping for the Intercontinental as we have stayed there before and like the Isla Verde area, we are thrilled with the price as they are advertising for $295/night.

 

Does anyone know if there is a grocery store nearby to pick up drinks before the cruise?

 

Also, we have friends staying in Isla Verde - is there a bus that runs directly from the Marriott to Isla Verde (down towards the Hampton Inn)?

 

Congrats! That's a great price and you'll like the Marriott, the rooms are much nicer than the Intercontinental. There is a Walgreens across the street and if you go out of the hotel and turn left there is both a liquor store and a small grocery store not very far down the street. Buses are notoriously spotty, I would take a cab to the Isla Verde area.

[Lois R]

Congrats! That's a great price and you'll like the Marriott, the rooms are much nicer than the Intercontinental. There is a Walgreens across the street and if you go out of the hotel and turn left there is both a liquor store and a small grocery store not very far down the street. Buses are notoriously spotty, I would take a cab to the Isla Verde area.

 

Hi Toonjie, good to see you again:)

Well, I hope the rooms at the Intercontinental are somewhat nice:rolleyes:

When you say the Marriott's are "much nicer"....

I got the Intercontinental on Priceline for January and have heard

it is very nice there.....I hope so.

[love2vacation]

Hi,

I've lurked for a while and now have something to add....

 

We are traveling on the CB 02/21/10 - 3/7/10 and were looking for a good deal on a pre-cruise hotel in SJU. Using the tips here and on betterbidding we were successful with a priceline bid of $117/night for 2/18/10-2/21/10 at the Marriott Stellaris Resort and Casino (I started at $93 and used 2 free bids before I was sucessful). While we were hoping for the Intercontinental as we have stayed there before and like the Isla Verde area, we are thrilled with the price as they are advertising for $295/night.

 

Does anyone know if there is a grocery store nearby to pick up drinks before the cruise?

 

Also, we have friends staying in Isla Verde - is there a bus that runs directly from the Marriott to Isla Verde (down towards the Hampton Inn)?

 

We stayed there in 2006 (bidding through priceline) and I don't think you will be dissappointed - it is a beautiful hotel. Many restaurants on that street and the Walgreen close for pre-cruise items.

 

Not sure about the bus as we walked the area or used cabs. If you don't get an answer on the threads ask the concierge at the hotel.

[toonjie]

Hi Toonjie, good to see you again:)

Well, I hope the rooms at the Intercontinental are somewhat nice:rolleyes:

When you say the Marriott's are "much nicer"....

I got the Intercontinental on Priceline for January and have heard

it is very nice there.....I hope so.

 

Don't worry, they are nice, I'd just say Marriott's are nicer. The pool area at the Intercontinental is probably nicer and Isla Verde Beach is nicer than the beach that the Marriott is on. So there are great things about both. :)

[Lois R]

Thanks Toonjie:)....I am sure it will be just fine:D

[lknight27]

Hi Toonjie, good to see you again:)

Well, I hope the rooms at the Intercontinental are somewhat nice:rolleyes:

When you say the Marriott's are "much nicer"....

I got the Intercontinental on Priceline for January and have heard

it is very nice there.....I hope so.

 

Yes the rooms at the Intercontinental are very nice as well! Tripadvisor reviews this hotel very well and the photos taken by the guest are pretty accurate with the website so I am sure we will not be disappointed. Both are very nice resorts! :D