Priceline shocker

[Lafe]

I formerly used PL all the time. Six years ago you could get the Renaissance (Singel, near CS) for $100 USD. They no longer participate.

Yes there are a couple of 'out of the way' candidates, but I think if you bid 4 stars it works out better re: location.

Try this site, I use it all the time:

http://www.betterbidding.com

There is a single PL strategy that is well documented:

Choose a re-bid zone which does not have the star level of hotel you wish to book.

I just looked at the PL map of hotel zones for Amsterdam, and they have (thankfully) broken down the old "Museum Quarter / City Center" zone into three zones.

It's about time.

Say your first bid gets rejected. Now you have to raise the price and add a new zone. The only rebid zone which _might_ work is Adam North. But you have to see if there are four stars there, otherwise your bid could get accepted.

So, let's say you do want bid on a 5 star. It goes like this:
Bid
Get rejected
Counter bid with a slightly higher price, and add Adam North. The presumption is there are no 5 starts in the North area.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to wait a day and try again.

In some US cities, there are 7 rebid zones, with only two of them having 4-5 star hotels. It makes the rebid very easy. In one major midwestern city, I can usually get a 4-star for $50-60 without trying very hard.

I'm excited there are now three zones. Might not stay in the Museum Quarter, unless I were doing the Pijp area quite a bit, but the other two zones are great.

Check it out, save some money, get a hotel with a lift..... :-)

[treetop]

nice post and explanation of re bidding.

I use that better bidding site too although I wish they had an Amsterdam forum. Hate doing searches!

In Amsterdam you can rebid on 5 stars a bunch of times (like 5 I think).

On 4 stars a lot less so as there is only one area without a 4 star to add.

[spidergawd]

So how much do you think I should bid a night for a 5 star, central canals area, for next week ( 24th - 27th) guys. I'm a bit nervous of this, but I think I can do it.

[matty223]

So how much do you think I should bid a night for a 5 star, central canals area, for next week ( 24th - 27th) guys. I'm a bit nervous of this, but I think I can do it.

start at around 90 usd
have you taken a look at hotwire ?

[spidergawd]

That sounds a good price matty, but when I get to the website I get the US version with a bid button but I cant find that facility on the UK site, the "co.uk" takes me to Booking.com.

I'm . Help.

[treetop]

That sounds a good price matty, but when I get to the website I get the US version with a bid button but I cant find that facility on the UK site, the "co.uk" takes me to Booking.com.

I'm . Help.

You can go into the name your own price section of priceline through Booking.com in England. Not much difference besides you bid in GBP instead of USD.

Use the betterbidding/tripadvisor forums to gauge what is winning, where and for how much then use a currency conversion tool to convert to GBP

For 5 star I'd generally start around £65-70 depending on how much time you have to complete your booking. You can rebid a bunch of times in the 5 star section of AMS so starting a bit lower might be worthwhile.

4 star bidding start a lot lower. Around £40-45 and go up from there.

Prices for 4 and 5 star hotels really fluctuate though so it mostly needs playing by ear.

[matty223]

just remember the is a 5 star in the South the hotel Okura is a 5 sta so be careful

[spidergawd]

Ha ha! so after turning in knots over those websites I went to a regular one (booking.com) via the ACD link and there are a few bargains going upfront so you can make the choice. So thats what I've done. I've decided on a very modern 4* Casa 400 a bit off the centre near the Amstel metro station. It will suit me as I will have my bike and it looks a promising part of the city to explore. Recycled ex industrial land but now mostly residential by the looks of it. I checked the Krapnolsky etc. but would feel like a spare part there without the Mrs.
I'm paying £151 for 3 nights.

I'll drop in Voyagers and say hello .

[treetop]

Ha ha! so after turning in knots over those websites I went to a regular one (booking.com) via the ACD link and there are a few bargains going upfront so you can make the choice. So thats what I've done. I've decided on a very modern 4* Casa 400 a bit off the centre near the Amstel metro station. It will suit me as I will have my bike and it looks a promising part of the city to explore. Recycled ex industrial land but now mostly residential by the looks of it. I checked the Krapnolsky etc. but would feel like a spare part there without the Mrs.
I'm paying £151 for 3 nights.

I'll drop in Voyagers and say hello .

Let us know how it goes over there at Casa 400. Almost stayed there a couple of times due to the good price but the location put me off.