03-10-2011, 11:05 AM
This is a page with posted recent Priceline wins for the Big Island.
http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/forums/...nd-Molokai
As you can see, Sheraton is going for $85-$90, Marriott from $100--$115, Hilton about $120. During the bad recession, the Prince was being won for $75, but apparently the Prince isn't competing for Priceline these days. Haven't seen a Prince win in some time.
If you bid Resort Kohala, you will likely get the Marriott, which is perfectly nice. You can use Hilo as your free rebid. If you decide to bid for the Sheraton, you can start low and use Kohala as a free rebid in that you are unlikely to get a Kohala resort in the league you should be bidding for the Sheraton. That way you get two free rebids for Kona.
I just got the Hyatt Regency Waikiki for $120 on Priceline, prices were not great because of Spring Break, but still a very good hotel at a great price. (Business trip, not pleasure, but I still don't like staying in dumps.)
If you do bid Priceline, you are not guaranteed one or two beds, but if you call the front desk, I have found no problems getting the bed request. I find that if I am humble, as I am paying bargain basement, they are good about moving me to a quiet room. Just cannot demand anything ...
robguz, I found this out after accepting a counteroffer to raise my bid:
that offer is not necessary. Getting the counter means you are close. Typically if you cut the counter in half you are in the ballpark for an acceptance, but it could be you are $5 away. Just close the browser and start a new bid if you have a re-bid, or else wait 24 hours. Not a big deal to overbid for a short stay, but I am cheap, so I am trying to learn all I can to avoid overbidding. [
]
I did some searches on kama'aina rates when I was pricing out Oahu this last week. I lot of people seemed to agree that hotels reserve the worst rooms for kama'aina discounts. Kind of sad, although not surprising. Some people think that presenting a loyalty card for the chain, even a new card with no points, gets you a little more respect.
Of course, not all hotels have a section of bad rooms, and most hotels will try to give you the best they can so you'll be happy, but when they block the rooms out they do look at whether you are Priceline or kama'aina, and put you below others, putting their platinum members and such in the best rooms.
But hey, it's still fun to go away. I'm just saying that the "discount" may be a bit of an illusion, as they use it to get rid of undesirable rooms. Would that stop me from using the discount, not at all.
Of course when the occupancy was way down, people got great rooms at a discount. But right now the occupancy is way up, and from now to Easter is Spring Break.
I hope you share with us what you get. I would love to do what you're planning.
http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/forums/...nd-Molokai
As you can see, Sheraton is going for $85-$90, Marriott from $100--$115, Hilton about $120. During the bad recession, the Prince was being won for $75, but apparently the Prince isn't competing for Priceline these days. Haven't seen a Prince win in some time.
If you bid Resort Kohala, you will likely get the Marriott, which is perfectly nice. You can use Hilo as your free rebid. If you decide to bid for the Sheraton, you can start low and use Kohala as a free rebid in that you are unlikely to get a Kohala resort in the league you should be bidding for the Sheraton. That way you get two free rebids for Kona.
I just got the Hyatt Regency Waikiki for $120 on Priceline, prices were not great because of Spring Break, but still a very good hotel at a great price. (Business trip, not pleasure, but I still don't like staying in dumps.)
If you do bid Priceline, you are not guaranteed one or two beds, but if you call the front desk, I have found no problems getting the bed request. I find that if I am humble, as I am paying bargain basement, they are good about moving me to a quiet room. Just cannot demand anything ...
robguz, I found this out after accepting a counteroffer to raise my bid:
that offer is not necessary. Getting the counter means you are close. Typically if you cut the counter in half you are in the ballpark for an acceptance, but it could be you are $5 away. Just close the browser and start a new bid if you have a re-bid, or else wait 24 hours. Not a big deal to overbid for a short stay, but I am cheap, so I am trying to learn all I can to avoid overbidding. [
]I did some searches on kama'aina rates when I was pricing out Oahu this last week. I lot of people seemed to agree that hotels reserve the worst rooms for kama'aina discounts. Kind of sad, although not surprising. Some people think that presenting a loyalty card for the chain, even a new card with no points, gets you a little more respect.
Of course, not all hotels have a section of bad rooms, and most hotels will try to give you the best they can so you'll be happy, but when they block the rooms out they do look at whether you are Priceline or kama'aina, and put you below others, putting their platinum members and such in the best rooms.
But hey, it's still fun to go away. I'm just saying that the "discount" may be a bit of an illusion, as they use it to get rid of undesirable rooms. Would that stop me from using the discount, not at all.
Of course when the occupancy was way down, people got great rooms at a discount. But right now the occupancy is way up, and from now to Easter is Spring Break.
I hope you share with us what you get. I would love to do what you're planning.