Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

[toonjie]

I guess I need some help. I finally put in my bid and I was rejected. So I thought I could just change my price and re-submit but it wants me to make changes as to either where I'd stay or the resort star. I dont want to change any of that, just the price.

 

Now what do I do?

 

You are in luck because Puerto Rico is a free bid zone as they call it. Priceline only has resorts in the San Juan area, so you just change the area and re-bid. Ie., add Ponce, etc. So just change the area and move up $10 or so. Good luck!

[waterbugohio]

Also, if you are in no hurry (as I am not) Then you can just let everything the same, including the price, but then you have to wait 24 hrs. I just bid once a day and am hoping to get lucky one of these times. HOwever, I have started to get antsy, even though I have 8 months and am starting to increase my bid.

[Lois R]

I guess I need some help. I finally put in my bid and I was rejected. So I thought I could just change my price and re-submit but it wants me to make changes as to either where I'd stay or the resort star. I dont want to change any of that, just the price.

 

Now what do I do?

 

Wait a couple of days and try again:)

[cruisintwinsmom]

What happens if you add "boutique" for San Juan? From what I can tell no other areas have boutique. I've bid 115-120 for May just using resorts and adding the other areas.

 

Thanks for the help.

[oceanv]

I've been bidding on and off for a while. resorts/boutiques/3 star for

SJ Nov 08. Was starting to get a little concerned about the effect of American Thanksgiving on the whole hotel scenario so went with a Bid of $90 for Nov23-27 was accepted at Hotel Normandie, I can live with that.

 

I had a backup res @ HOJO so its a step up i think for slightly less money. Still have to sort out my Nov 15/16 res. we don't get there til late on the 15th so not sure I care too much where we end up.

 

regards,

Joanne

[toonjie]

What happens if you add "boutique" for San Juan? From what I can tell no other areas have boutique. I've bid 115-120 for May just using resorts and adding the other areas.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

According to betterbidding.com, the only option for boutique is The Water Club, which is a very nice hotel, think South Beach chic. The waterfalls in the elevators are really cool, you have to see it to believe it! (It's in Carolina though, so a little farther from OSJ than Condado.)

 

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=240&

[waterbugohio]

Joanie,

 

Make sure to let us know if you have any luck for Nov. 15/16. I am bidding for nov. 14/15 and not having any luck. Have bid once a day for the last two weeks @$115 and cannot get accepted. May have to bump up to $125.

 

do you think Thanksgiving has an effect that early??

[oceanv]

not on 15/16th (for neg effect of thanksgiving) but i think it would have an effect on the nov 23-27 part of our trip, who knows, i've never travelled at that time before. i'll let you know if i ever get an accepted bid for nov 15/16.

regards,

JOanne

[toonjie]

not on 15/16th (for neg effect of thanksgiving) but i think it would have an effect on the nov 23-27 part of our trip, who knows, i've never travelled at that time before. i'll let you know if i ever get an accepted bid for nov 15/16.

regards,

JOanne

 

I would look for a major convention or annual meeting being the cause rather than Thanksgiving. Otherwise mid-November should be a quiet time of year. You can try googling such phrases as annual meeting San Juan or convention San Juan and your dates or just November 2008 or also you can try the same thing adding the various hotel names.

[Mark42]

Bid for 1/2/2009 for 1 night Pre-Cruise

3 rooms

Resort

$130.00 No Go!

$140.00 No Go!

$150.00 ACCEPTED!!!!

Intercontinental Resort

[Cruiser043065]

Maybe it has been mentioned...

 

http://www.betterbidding.com and http://www.biddingfortravel.com are excellent sites for getting closing bids, and available hotels.

 

I think biddingfortravel is better - though the moderator is a bit harsh...

[waterbugohio]

thanks cruiser,

 

i will check out those sites some more. I have been trying priceline. Never used hotwire. not exactly sure how that works. They give you the price and the amenities of the hotel and you have to guess which hotel it is?? is that correct?? wouldn't most of the resort have pretty well the same amenities??

[cruisintwinsmom]

According to betterbidding.com, the only option for boutique is The Water Club, which is a very nice hotel, think South Beach chic. The waterfalls in the elevators are really cool, you have to see it to believe it! (It's in Carolina though, so a little farther from OSJ than Condado.)

 

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=240&

 

Thanks. I had been to betterbidding, but I guess I just overlooked it! Do you think it is worth adding to the bid?

[toonjie]

Thanks. I had been to betterbidding, but I guess I just overlooked it! Do you think it is worth adding to the bid?

 

Try going up to $130 tops. You can also add boutique if that is not accepted since the Water Club is nice as well. Mid-May should be slow, we got the Marriott for around $110, but I think we bid last summer, which is super-early, I guess you never know when you'll get a good deal since conventional wisdom says the good deals come at the last minute.

[cruisintwinsmom]

Try going up to $130 tops. You can also add boutique if that is not accepted since the Water Club is nice as well. Mid-May should be slow, we got the Marriott for around $110, but I think we bid last summer, which is super-early, I guess you never know when you'll get a good deal since conventional wisdom says the good deals come at the last minute.

 

Thanks!

[cruisingnewyorkers]

I am trying for a resort for Nov.7-8. I started at $100 and now I am at $130 and still no success. A few times I get the offer to increase my bid by $22 for a rebid. I usually wait a few days and try again, slowly increasing my offer.

I have the Comfort Suites as a back up.

[hawt1]

Any Intercontinental winners that can tell me what they paid extra for taxes, fees etc.

 

 

Thanks.

[floatinrocks]

I went to betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com but can't find any suggestions as to how long ahead is the best time to bid.

 

We aren't going until January 2009 and I'm thinking that's probably the busy season and I want to try bidding now but am afraid it might be just too early.

 

Anyone have any knowledge you can share on this?:o

[OhioJeff]

I went to betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com but can't find any suggestions as to how long ahead is the best time to bid.

 

We aren't going until January 2009 and I'm thinking that's probably the busy season and I want to try bidding now but am afraid it might be just too early.

 

Anyone have any knowledge you can share on this?:o

 

You can start bidding now. I would advise booking a room that you can cancel, then place a bid once or twice a week. Do some research and find out what the lowest accepted bid was for your time frame. You are looking for rooms during the MLK Jr weekend so the picking might be slim with Priceline. That is another reason I would recommend booking a backup room in case you dont find much success with Priceline. Im also looking for a room 1/18-1/19 in San Juan.

 

The problem some have about bidding so early is frustration, they get upset when they dont get a win and then start bidding to0 high and end up overbidding for a property.

 

I have gotten rooms 8-10+ months before arrival so, its not too early. Good Luck.

 

If I get a win, I will post on this thread.

 

How much are you willing to spend? Have you looked at Hotwire?

[whit53]

Hawt1, my winning bid was $150 with all taxes the total was $182. Still about $200 less than the website quoted.

[toonjie]

I went to betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com but can't find any suggestions as to how long ahead is the best time to bid.

 

We aren't going until January 2009 and I'm thinking that's probably the busy season and I want to try bidding now but am afraid it might be just too early.

 

Anyone have any knowledge you can share on this?:o

 

Definitely start bidding now! All that can happen is that it is not accepted. Sometimes you get great deals really early, sometimes at the last minute...you never know!

[OhioJeff]

Hey Private Eye

 

I just Won Intercontinental San Juan Resort Spa & Casino .......$150 1/18-1/19, 2009 post-cruise.

 

Staying two days Pre-cruise at Da House.

 

Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $150.00

Subtotal: $150.00

Taxes & Service Fees: $31.30

Total Charges*: $181.30

[waterbugohio]

Still can't get accepted for 11/14-11/15. Started at $100, up to $120 for about a week now. I am getting anxious, but I will just keep trying. I need to get a back up set up. Will probably do the Comfort Inn as my backup and just keep bidding.

[mattsmom11]

Date: 09/27/08

# of nights: 1 (pre cruise)

Hotel: Marriott San Juan Resort & Stellaris Casino

Rating: 4 stars

Area: San Juan, PR

Site: Price Line

Winning bid: $120

Taxes & fees: $26.38

Total Cost: $ 146.38 :)

 

I tried a few other times at 110.00 and 115.00 today was the first time in a couple of weeks and I figured I would try 120.00 and on the first shot it was accepted. I am happy that's taken care of, now I can focus on the excursions :D

 

Good Luck everyone, don't give up.

[piper]

I have 2 different hotels booked in San Juan (1 pre-cruise and 1 post-cruise). Has anyone ever had any problems with a Priceline booked room? My husband wanted to just pay the full price, but Priceline saved us >$100 total - that will buy a lot of fruity drinks on the cruise ship!!! Well, maybe several....

I'm just praying nothing goes wrong with the reservations to allow him to say "I told you"....