suze1

I've been reading comments and rates at a lot of hotels on this post. It seems difficult to get a hotel at a decent price. We will be in DC October 1 for 5 nights, if I bid on Price Line when should I start the bidding. Is it better to bid closer to my date or is it better to bid way in advance.

Also, there's quite a few comments on stays at Marriotts with good location that people say they've stayed there for $99. I see no such rates at any Marriotts in DC. Am I looking too far in advance to find these decent rates?

GoTravel

It all depends upon your dates and what is going on in Boston while you are there. I would imagine October would be a peak time to visit considering it is a huge convention and conference time.

Plus the fall weather makes it great for visitors.

Spend a couple of hours reading www.BiddingForTravel.com and www.BetterBidding.com before attempting a bid. It can save you hundreds of dollars.

One caveat, don't excpect to get a $99 rate when 4 star hotels are showing $400 rates.

No, you are not looking too far in advance. There is no good or bad time to bid on priceline.

If anything I would book a cancelable backup.

lennyba

Hi - I got a nice enough Doubletree in Pentagon City late last March for $69 (3 star bid, IIRC). Not THE most convenient location, but it was an easy enough ten minute walk to the Metro, then just a couple of stops to the sights. I don't think it's too early to bid...just make sure you know what you're doing and where you're willing to stay.

suze1

When you say make sure I know what I'm doing, don't I just put down if I want a 3 star or 4 star place, I'm not going lower than 3 star and then pick the neighborhoods they offer. If I put down Dupont Circle, Convention Center, Crystal City, is there a way of not getting something decent.

rkkwan

You start bidding when you won't feel bad or regret if there's change in your plans and losing all the money you paid to Priceline. That's because your credit card is charged immediately and there's no refund.

You are the only one that can determine when that day is. Say it's a wedding or something really important that you know you will be there if you're breathing, then absolutely book now. But you're talking about 7 months from now, and you're talking about 5 nights, which can be $400-500, which is not an insignificant sum to most.

GoTravel

""When you say make sure I know what I'm doing, don't I just put down if I want a 3 star or 4 star place, I'm not going lower than 3 star and then pick the neighborhoods they offer. If I put down Dupont Circle, Convention Center, Crystal City, is there a way of not getting something decent.""

suze, please don't take this the wrong way but by asking these questions it is obvious you don't know what you are doing.

There are no shortcuts.

Please head our advice and take a couple of hours to read the above listed websites.

chip

I think we got a good deal for priceline ober spring break...

we won a priceline bid for $99 a night over spring break at the washington court hotel...tried a couple of times at lower price...wanted downtown...when added capital area we got this price...listed as 4*

we got it about a month ago

kayd

It may be difficult to get a Priceline bargain if you are seeking 5 nights. The usual great Priceline rates are for 2 or 3 nights. October is prime convention season (second only to Cherry Blossoms).

LN

If Priceline prefers two or three days they also allow you after winning a bid to stay for a longer period at the same price or at least that's always been my case). DC is high dollar on hotels - try a couple nights for the downtown areas that you want and you might want to start bidding at $99 a night (minimum).

Marriotts show up often on winning bids so good luck and come back and question us as you need.

bethke14

I like to check Hotwire before I bid on priceline. It gives me a sense of how low I can bid (you can generally go lower on priceline than what is listed on hotwire) as well as what hotels are being offered on a discount during a specific time period. It's not a fool proof plan, but it gives an idea of the general cost.

I heartily agree with GoTravel about reading the sites recommended - there are several nuances and "tricks" to bidding, and they lay it out for you. Knowing the free rebid zones is particularly helpful. Reading those sites will save you money, as well as help you secure a much better hotel.

I would also keep in mind whether you would like a boutique hotel - there are several Kimptons that get good reviews and are 4* quality.

Good luck!

djkbooks

I agree with GoTravel - it doesn't sound like you've done enough homework yet to think about bidding on Priceline. You could make a serious mistake overbidding, bidding incorrectly, or just get an undesirable hotel or one not nicely located.

And, agree with beth that you should check Hotwire, after reviewing betterbidding.com

I got a terrific deal for DC in June with Hotwire.

chip

on my priceline bid...original bid was for 4 days...I just updated and was able to add another night without any problem at the same rate at same hotel.

this was first time using...so don't know if this is typical or not

suze1

I booked a hotel in Georgetown at the Latham Hotel for $139 a night. It sounded like a good deal so I did it. Thanks to all of you for your great advice.

agilepagile

Did you even try Priceline? Did you check out Better bidding and Bidding for travel?

JJ5

That's a good price.

DC is high, and 17% is added in tax beyond the $139 per day, you know of your accepted fee.

You did the better thing.

Priceline for DC for 5 days is a difficult deal, I tried three different months, and there is no go if you have a weekday in there, IMHO.

It's the opposite of a lot of cities, in that the hotels ran higher on weekday nights that weekend nights, regardless of discount brokers or any other factor.

I would, if not wanting to do priceline, use hotwire exact picks, or quikbooks for a 5 day stay.

You did the best by reserving now for that much money, unless you wanted to spend a whole lot of time trying to bid and paying this far out.

tuscanlifeedit

Years ago, I got a very good price at the Latham, but the room was so weird. It had no windows, because it was in the basement. There was a kind of fake hallway in the basement, with this room in it. It wasn't bad inside the room, just no windows. We did get a very good rate.

A year or so ago, we did quite well on Priceline, getting a 4 star in the Embassy area. Very nice room, very nice hotel. Don't think we paid more than about 120.

LN

Sounds good!!

If you're not comfortable with Priceline - don't worry about it.

Someday bid a one night stay (4 star) and check it that way. We started on the short side and then when we were ready to head to Europe we were "almost" pros. For 90% of our stays we did really well and we couldn't complain at all about that 10% that wasn't as wonderful.

mark99

PRICELINE SUCKS...read my recent experience on them. I told them I would spread the word if they would not correct my problem, and they could care less....so now I am spreading the message....do not use these guys!!!

easytraveler

suze: That's a good rate and I'd stay with that hotel if you don't want to do any more work on getting a hotel.

I just checked biddingfortravel.com and 4* hotels are going for $80 to $92 at the moment.

HOWEVER, do NOT bid on Priceline until you know that you will definitely use those rooms. Once you bid and your bid is accepted, then you have to pay immediately for the rooms. Whether you use the rooms or not, you're stuck with them. So the advice from the previous poster for you to NOT bid until you are 200% of the dates is excellent advice.

The other piece of really excellent advice that you got is to DO your RESEARCH. Please don't bid on Priceline until you have read biddingforravel.com and you know exactly what you are getting into.

If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to come back and ask. Fodorites are extremely helpful people!